Policies 2018

January

Department for Transport Consultation on Reforming the Heavy Goods Vehicle Road User Levy

The TPS response stated that revisions to the RUL should follow certain key objectives if it is to be successful: creating a better balance between efficiency and competitiveness; reflecting the external costs of HGVs; minimising the environmental and safety impacts of HGVs; encouraging greater efficiency in terms of fair competition between modes; and limiting use of the largest HGVs with the greatest impacts. It considers principles for a revised RUL, possible ways forward, levels of charge and vehicle sizes, and possible outcomes.

Click here to read the TPS response on the Road User Levy.pdf

February

Highways England Shaping the Future of England’s strategic roads (RIS2) – February 2018

The TPS response acknowledges the extent to which Highways England’s analytical approach has developed over recent years. However, it raises concerns about the ability of HE’s approach to identify unmanaged traffic growth resulting from network enhancements and, in particular, the impacts on local roads in addition to the A-roads and B-roads included in the RTM’s. The consultation document accepts that there is more model development work to be done. We feel that this is particularly necessary to facilitate a full understanding of the function of the SRN and its impact on all other aspects of society, the economy and the environment.

Click here to read the TPS Response HE RIS2.pdf

March

DfT Proposals for the creation of a Major Road Network – March 2018

The TPS response raises concerns that the proposals for the MRN will have the effect of prioritising inter-urban road improvements over wider intra-urban transport needs, exacerbating these problems. In addition to any such redirection of central funding, we see a risk that local authorities will be incentivised to spend more of their own funds on the MRN (given the attraction of Government support) than on the same roads now, leaving reduced levels of funding for purely local schemes.

Click here to read the TPS response to DfT MRN c...nsultation DRAFT v03..pdf

May

MHCLG consultation ‘National Planning Policy Framework’- March 2018

The TPS response stated that accessibility is a major consideration in the locational choices made by households and businesses. Most of these choices (for homes about 90% each year) are from the existing stock of buildings, and the pattern of demand and prices thus created sets the tone of the market both for new development, and for the regeneration of existing areas. The provision of transport services and infrastructure is thus a major driver of patterns of settlement, social interaction and economic activity, and should have a lead role in place-making.

Click here to read the TPS response to MHCLG consultation on NPPF