Liberal Democrat Local Transport Minister Norman Baker has announced that more than 300,000 school children will learn to cycle safely, competently and confidently on the road over the next year, thanks to nearly £11million worth of government funding allocated today.

Funding has been allocated to local highway authorities and schools across the country for the national Bikeability scheme which provides cycling proficiency for the 21st century.

As well as the £11million of grants agreed for this year, a further £24million will be allocated by the Department for Transport over the following two years. This includes an extra £2million to support expansion of the scheme on top of money originally earmarked for Bikeability. Additional local contributions worth around £11.5million are expected over the next three years.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“Cycling brings many benefits, and as a government we are keen to encourage its uptake as a healthy and sustainable transport choice, which eases congestion and helps cut carbon.

“It is vital that the next generation of cyclists is well prepared with the skills and confidence to ride safely and well on modern roads and this funding ensures that many more thousands of children will receive the solid grounding to set them up as lifelong cyclists.”

Big winners this year include Merseytravel who are receiving over £400,000, Hampshire, where children will benefit from almost £500,000 worth of training, Staffordshire receiving more than £350,000 and Kent, where total funding is over £380,000.

The Department has also published a report looking at the number of children cycling to school since the introduction of the Bikeability scheme five years ago. In March the scheme celebrated five years of delivering training for children in schools.

This report shows that where there is a longer history of delivering cycle training, a higher proportion of children are cycling to secondary school. Further, those authorities that have received higher levels of Bikeability funding have seen larger increases in cycling to secondary school.

Local authorities across England have been given advice on how to tackle the problem of potholes on their roads following the publication of a review commissioned by Liberal Democrat Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

The Pothole Review, which is part of the Coalition Government’s £6milliuon Highways Maintenance Efficiency Programme, looks at how best to fix potholes once they have formed but also how to prevent them from appearing in the first place. The recommendations for Central Government, local highway authorities and the highways sector fall into three main themes:

• Prevention is better than cure – intervening at the right time will reduce the amount of potholes forming and prevent bigger problems later.

• Right First Time – do it once and get it right, rather than face continuous bills.

• Clarity for the public – local highway authorities need to communicate to the public what is being done and how it is being done.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“We all know the misery that potholes can cause to highway users and local communities and the recent series of harsh winters has only served to intensify the situation.

“We’ve given £3 billion to councils for road maintenance over the next four years but money can only go so far and the old adage rings true: prevention is indeed better than cure.

“I would urge all those involved with highways maintenance, including councillors, chief executives, local highway practitioners, those in the utility sector and contractors to adopt the approaches set out in this report, not only to make real cost savings but also to provide a high quality service that both the road user and local residents deserve.”

Today’s Review investigates the issue of potholes from an engineering perspective plus explores the wider issues around potholes, including public expectations, the impact of long term maintenance strategies, decision making arrangements, the processes of reporting, prioritising and repairing, guidance and wider operational arrangements within local highways authorities.

Matthew Lugg, President of the Association of Directors of Economy, Environment, Planning and Transport, who led the Pothole Review, said:

“This Review has focused on key principles and strategies to reduce potholes in the future. There are a number of key recommendations, which when implemented by the highway sector will lead to more effective outcomes for the highway users and the economy. I would encourage all parties to take on board the recommendations. I am thankful for the help and assistance that was provided by colleagues from both the public and private sector including key stakeholder organisations.”

The final report can be found at: http://www.dft.gov.uk/publications/pothole-review

Measures to boost safety for motorcyclists and lorry and bus drivers have been put forward in Parliament.

The measures – which also strengthen requirements for driving examiners and impact on the rules for drivers towing trailers – will come in to force on 19 January 2013 as part of new European requirements aimed at improving road safety.

The changes are being implemented by the Department for Transport in conjunction with the Driving Standards Agency (DSA) and the Driver and Vehicle Licensing Agency (DVLA).

The main aspects of the new rules are:

• Motorcyclists – Access to more powerful bikes will be staged subject to competence, age and previous experience. The minimum age to ride the largest bikes without previous experience will rise from 21 to 24.

• Licence renewals for bus and lorry drivers – At present, drivers of medium-sized and large buses and lorries need to renew their licences every five years once they reach the age of 45. Over 45s also need to demonstrate their fitness to drive through a full medical report. From 2013, all new or renewed bus and lorry licences will be renewable every five years. However, drivers under 45 will not require a full medical report and will still only need to renew their photograph every 10 years. All other drivers and riders will continue to renew their driving licences every 10 years as is currently the case.

• Driving examiners – Compulsory initial qualification, periodic training and quality assurance checks will be required for driving examiners. Britain already fulfils most of these requirements but the new rules will enhance the Driving Standards Agency’s existing arrangements.

• Trailer towing – Under the new rules car drivers will be limited to towing 3.5 tonnes.

DSA chief executive, Rosemary Thew, said:

“Britain already has some of the safest roads in the world. These changes build on our existing standards and recognise the importance of our examiners’ professionalism. They will also help to ensure that new motorcyclists gain the right skills and experience before riding bigger bikes.”

DVLA chief executive, Simon Tse, said:

“These changes will provide a useful additional reminder for bus and lorry drivers. They will help to ensure that drivers of these vehicles will continue to operate to high levels of levels of safety by ensuring that they are fit to drive.”

The European requirements are being introduced in Great Britain in line with feedback from a public consultation, which included responses from driver and rider training bodies, trade associations and road safety groups.

Full details about the changes can be found at direct.gov.uk/driving.

Humberside Fire and Rescue Service understands the difficulties that a possible petrol dispute may cause individuals. However, the Service is strongly urging residents not to store petrol because of the risks it can cause to occupiers and firefighters.

Pete Baron from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service said:

“Public safety is our main concern and the storing of petrol can be extremely dangerous. I would ask residents not to store fuel at all. However, I accept that some people will, so would ask that anyone considering this to stick to the following guidelines.”

• Never store petrol in a domestic dwelling

• Petrol must be stored in a building that is completely separate to a dwelling

• Petrol must be stored in an approved plastic or metal container – the type you would typically buy from filling stations

• A maximum 30 litres can be stored in two 10 litre metal containers and two five-litre plastic containers

• Never over-fill containers beyond the capacity marked on the container

• Containers should be marked ‘petroleum spirit’ and ‘highly flammable’

Petrol is a dangerous substance that can dramatically increase the risk of fire. Humberside Fire and Rescue Service recommends that members of the public keep any storage to a minimum.

Anyone wishing to request free safety advice can contact Humberside Fire & Rescue Service on 0300 303 8242

For further information and safety advice from Humberside Fire and Rescue Service please visit www.humbersidefire.gov.uk.

Commuters and bus passengers across England will see better buses, more innovative services, and greater value for money. This is thanks to a series of changes announced today by Local Liberal Democrat Transport Minister Norman Baker.

These changes will help encourage more people to travel by bus, helping to cut congestion and carbon emissions. It will also give greater control to transport authorities in dealing with bus issues at a local level.

The latest reforms include:

•New regulations to ensure healthy competition between bus companies. This is in response to the Competition Commission report in to the local bus market;

•Support to local authorities in delivering effective, innovative public transport services for local communities through the Bus Service Operators Grant; and

•An extra £15 million to help increase investment in smart ticketing equipment, particularly among small and medium-sized bus companies.

Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“My vision is for a bus service that is reliable, flexible, offers competitive prices, smarter ticketing and provides passengers with a service they want to use time and again. Hard on the heels of the announcement of over £100 million of new funding for better and greener buses, today I have agreed an additional £15 million for smart ticketing. By devolving funding to local authorities it now gives them the power to tackle local issues on the ground and develop practical solutions to community problems.

“This cannot be a one size fits all approach. Each local bus market has its own issues and challenges. The focus over the coming months is on guiding, empowering and encouraging local partners to be efficient, innovative and creative in coming up with solutions to the transport needs of local people.&rdquo:

The new proposals are a response to the need to reform bus subsidy (Bus Service Operators Grant) and the recently concluded Competition Commission investigation into the bus market. Having worked closely with bus operators, local councils, Local Government Association, the Passenger Transport Executive Group, the Confederation for Passenger Transport and the Community Transport Association, there are several changes being brought in:

•Subsidy payments: a proportion of these will now be devolved to local authorities, rather than paid to bus companies. The government recognises that every area has their own travel issues and transport needs. It will now be up to authorities to decide how this money is spent;

•Competition barriers: will be eliminated and new regulations developed to prevent anti-competitive practices by bus operators. The Department will work closely with local councils to offer guidance on developing reasonably-priced tickets that can be used on any bus; and

•Smart ticketing: we are providing an extra £15 million to operators of local bus services that do not have smart ticketing equipment installed on their buses. This will help meet the aim that by 2014, the majority of journeys by public transport be made using a smartcard.

Lib Dem Transport Minister Norman Baker MP has today announced an extra £31 million of Government funding for green buses and bus improvements. Since autumn last year Liberal Democrats in Government have announced more than £120 million of new funding for British buses.

Julian Huppert MP, Co-Chair of the Liberal Democrat Transport Committee, said:

“That is a fantastic achievement. Low carbon public transport is critical if we are to wean ourselves off fossil fuels. So too is a cheap and reliable transport system, otherwise people will simply choose to drive.

“The new spending announced today proves that Liberal Democrats in Government are dedicated to providing the quality local bus service which this country is so desperately lacking.

“Local Authorities will be able to provide real time travel information, smart ticketing, extra buses, Wi-Fi, improved accessibility, new bus stops, bus lanes, junction improvements and better traffic management.

“These reforms are exactly what local transport needs and they are exactly why Liberal Democrats in Government are committed to delivering on our manifesto commitment to meet our climate change goals and build a cheap, reliable transport service in every community

Commuters and bus passengers across England will see more eco-friendly buses on the roads, congestion reduced and services upgraded, thanks to a new £101 million package of improvements approved by Local Transport Minister Norman Baker.

Today’s announcement will see:

• £31 million spent on 439 low carbon buses, part of the Government’s Green Bus Fund which aims to bring down fuel emission and air pollution levels and encourage bus operators and local councils to make the switch to hybrid-electric, fully electric or gas buses.
• Winning local authorities across England will also receive a share of £70 million under the Better Bus Area (BBA) fund to boost growth, improve partnerships with bus companies and increase bus passenger numbers.

Liberal Democrat Local Transport Minister Norman Baker said:

“This funding means a better deal for passengers and encourages more people to travel by bus. It updates and improves services and infrastructure, reduces congestion, gives quieter journeys and with the introduction of new carbon friendly buses, reduces fuel costs and CO2 emissions, creating a greener network.”

The £70 million will be shared between 24 local authorities who have impressed the Department with their bid for funding. They will benefit from up to £5 million each. This will support a range of targeted improvements including:

• smarter multi-operator tickets

• traffic lights that can help buses beat the queue

• real time information

• improvements to shelters and stops

Following a two month bidding process the department has also provided funding for 439 new eco-friendly buses for 2012/2013. Passengers will see 128 single-decked and 311 double-decker buses in service from spring 2013, saving over 9,000 tonnes of carbon dioxide (CO2) emissions per year. The 26 bus operators including Stagecoach, Arriva and First are receiving more than £22 million, with more than £8 million split between five local authorities.

Five bus manufacturers will benefit from orders for their eco-friendly hybrid, electric and gas buses. They comprise: Volvo, Wrightbus, Optare, MAN and Alexander Dennis Limited, all of which are based in, or partly in, the UK.

By switching to low carbon buses, the winners will also be eligible to claim additional government subsidy through the Bus Service Operators Grant to run these buses. Bus operators and local authorities will be given six pence per kilometre to support them with operational costs.

Utility firms in parts of Yorkshire will have to cut the disruption caused by their road works after Transport Minister Norman Baker approved the county’s first road works permit scheme today.

The scheme – the fifth in the country – will give six Yorkshire councils more powers to coordinate road works and take tough action when they overrun. The councils included in the scheme are Barnsley, Doncaster, Kirklees, Leeds, Rotherham and Sheffield. The scheme will allow the councils to require anyone carrying out road works to apply for a permit in advance and to set conditions on timing, coordination or the amount of road space to be left available to road users during the works. Those companies who break the terms of their permit or work without a permit will have to pay a fine.

Norman Baker said:

“I am delighted to be able to give the go ahead for the Yorkshire permit scheme.

“Although we all know that road works are sometimes unavoidable, the disruption they cause can be a hugely frustrating for drivers, cyclists, motorcyclists and pedestrians as well as costing businesses time and money. That is why it is important that councils use the powers they have to make sure utility firms carry out works with consideration for those who use the road.

“We are determined to tackle problem road works and make sure that those who dig up the road are made accountable when disruption occurs.”

The Yorkshire permit scheme is the fifth permit scheme to gain approval. Kent County Council, Northamptonshire County Council, London councils and St Helens have had their schemes approved in the last two years. These councils will be monitoring their schemes to make sure that they are producing benefits for local residents and feeding this information back to the Department for Transport.

Notes

1. The six Yorkshire councils are the first English local authorities in the North to have their applications for a street works permit scheme approved by the Government as meeting the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and The Traffic Management Permit Scheme (England) Regulations 2007.

2. The six Yorkshire councils have been asked to nominate the preferred date for their permit schemes to come into effect. DfT officials will work with the Council to give effect to the scheme on that date, by means of a Statutory Instrument.

3. A council running a permit scheme is able to charge companies for providing a permit although any charge should cover costs and should not result in a surplus. It will be a criminal offence to work without a permit. The maximum fine will be £5,000. It will be an offence to not meet a permit condition, for which the maximum fine is £2,500. Fixed Penalty Notices, as an alternative enforcement mechanism, can also be given for working without a permit or not meeting a permit condition. Councils in England have been able to apply to the Department for Transport to run their own street works permit schemes since the relevant Regulations came into force in April 2008.

4. The six Yorkshire councils are responsible for the details of its scheme, and the timetable for its introduction.

5. Permit schemes are already in place in Kent, London and Northamptonshire.

Utility companies who take too long to complete their road works will face higher charges, Liberal Democrat Transport Minister, Norman Baker, announced today.

All utility companies who dig up the road must agree a time frame for their works with the local council. If a firm overstays this period and has not negotiated the additional time with the local council then they face an ‘overrun charge’ for each additional day they spend on the road.

Currently, the maximum daily overrun charge is £2,500, depending on the type of works and the sort of street being occupied. From 1st October 2012 this will rise on the busiest roads to £5,000 a day for the first three extra days, rising to £10,000 a day from the fourth extra day onward. Councils must spend overrun charge income on implementing transport policies.

Norman Baker said:

“We know that utility firms need to dig up the road to maintain the infrastructure we all rely upon but sometimes this work takes far too long to complete, causing disruption and frustration for everyone using the road.

“Increasing these charges means that utilities will pay penalties which reflect the cost of the disruption suffered when works go on longer than they should.

“The increases will also provide an incentive for utilities to finish works on time and prevent people sitting in unnecessary traffic jams in the first place.”

The Department is also changing the way overrun charges are structured to reflect the fact that all overruns cause the same level of disruption regardless of how long the work was originally planned for.

The Government’s response to the consultation on overrun charges can be found here: www.dft.gov.uk/consultations/dft-2010-13. Regulations will be laid in Parliament shortly and are due to come in to force in October 2012.

The Government has also recently put forward proposals for councils to use lane rental schemes which would see utilities pay a daily charge to do works on the busiest roads as well as measures to reduce bureaucracy for councils wanting to implement road works permit schemes. Both consultations can be found on the Department’s website.

Commenting on “Reforming our Railways: Putting the Customer First” Liberal Democrat Parliamentary Transport Committee member, Simon Wright said:

“These proposals deliver on Liberal Democrat priorities by putting the passenger at the heart of the system and allowing investment in the long term future of the railways.

“For too long the railways relied on ever increasing public subsidy, yet under Labour, train fares rocketed by an astonishing 66% in cash terms.

“The Coalition Government’s proposals set out how we can drive down ticket costs by improving efficiency across the network, and work towards the Lib Dem policy of ending above inflation hikes to train fares.

“Liberal Democrats have long championed many of the proposals in this paper including expanding rail electrification, devolution of control over railways, increasing the role of Passenger Focus, and more freight transported by rail.”