Travelling Light Responds to Chancellors Spending Review
In December Chancellor Rachel Reeves launched Phase 2 of the Spending Review, which will deliver the government’s Plan for Change. Organisations were asked to submit feedback on government spending priorities, and to suggest policy ideas that could inform decisions about departmental budgets, and resource allocation over the multi-year Spending. A Hope Valley Climate Action volunteer and transport campaigner submitted a response on behalf of Travelling Light;
- Invest in public transport and active travel now to create transformational change for residents and visitors in rural areas. Provide consistent adequate long term funding to allow authorities to integrate and manage bus/tram/rail and other modes. Review and simplify all rail fares; freeze rail fares until the review is complete. Invest in a single national app for travel planning across all modes and tracking of public transport. Invest in data gathering from users on present/future travel needs by all modes to plan services that meet people’s needs. Together these measures will deliver for the economy, give more travel choices for the public,c and reduce carbon emissions. They will also bring social and health benefits and improve people’s quality of life.
- HVCA plans to initiate a nationally significant pilot, investigating and then demonstrating what integrated public transport in a much-visited rural area could look like (see attached file). At the heart of the Peak District National Park, the Hope Valley welcomes between three and five million visitors a year, 80-90% of whom arrive by car. HVCA aims to draw on the best experience from across Europe. Please help us to progress it.
- Disincentivise car travel now and stop car dependency, which is undermining public transport use and active travel. Reverse the freeze on fuel duty. Bring in national road user charging—Hypothecate revenue from both to fund public transport and active travel.
Do you agree with our submission? We are always keen to hear from residents of the Hope Valley who are interested in improving travel and transport into and within the Hope Valley. If this is you and you are not currently engaged with our Travelling Light team, please pop an email to travelgroup@hopevalleyclimateaction.org.uk.
