Accessible Communities
The CHART LSP Board (2nd December 2011) and Bolsover LSP Executive Board (5th January 2012) have acknowledged that the remit of the North Eastern Derbyshire Accessibility Partnership is redundant and agreed the dissolution of the group based on the following factors:
- The Department for Transport’s rejection of the Derbyshire Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid in mid-2011 and consequent loss of resources to support development of accessibility initiatives in the area
- Derbyshire County Council Highways separately meet all accessibility service deliverers who are represented on the group (e.g. Community Transport operators, the Ways to Work Steering Group) and are therefore able to negotiate service provision/development directly.
- Accessibility actions are not instigated via the group, but by relevant partners directly.
- Where responsive action is required, for example facilitating transport to employment sites, partners are approached directly because waiting for the next meeting is not viable.
The 2026 Vision 'accessible key services for residents, employers, service providers and visitors throughout Chesterfield and North East Derbyshire'
To ensure delivery of the Sustainable Community Strategies for the respective LSP areas, work which NEDAP contributed towards will be maintained through the following mechanisms:
- Improve access to public transport information – this remains a DCC responsibility, with Traveline widely available to members of the public.
- Research road accident causes and develop an accident reduction plan - this remains a DCC responsibility, to be consulted with partners as appropriate.
- Promote healthier lifestyles including walking and cycling - addressed via the Bolsover LSP Health & Wellbeing and Housing & Environment Groups; CHART LSP Healthier Lifestyle Flagship Project Group.
- Better walking and cycling access to public transport - this remains a DCC responsibility.
- Make routes to school safer - this remains a DCC responsibility.
- Provide better options for those travelling to work, including via the Ways to Work programme - addressed through North Eastern Derbyshire Strategic Employment Partnership (NEDSEP) and Ways to Work Steering Group
- Expand strategic cycle networks - this remains a DCC responsibility, to be consulted with partners as appropriate.
- Encourage take up of travel plans - addressed more effectively by DCC representation at NEDSEP.
- Improve bus penetration, service and integrated timetabling into rural areas – the delivery of this activity will be difficult due to recent funding cuts and impact on subsidised bus services. NEDAP did not play a significant influencing role in this area of work.
Partners and representatives who have previously attended the NEDAP meetings will still be able to engage within the LSP structures to ensure that their views are provided through other groups such as the CHART LSP Forum, theme groups or liaison groups.
DCC Highways Department will be represented on the NEDSEP meeting to ensure the priority of access to employment and training is maintained and also be consulted with on any transport and accessibility issues arising from other LSP groups.
Community and stakeholder issues (e.g. re bus service provision or standards) can be raised with DCC directly, who will negotiate with the provider, which is a more efficient procedure than waiting for the next NEDAP meeting to convene.
Monitoring of these communication processes will be ongoing, to ensure that partnership and service delivery on accessibility issues is not diminished by this change taking effect.
For more information on the Accessible Communities aims and sub aims please visit the Sustainable Community Strategy.
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