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East Sussex Local Transport Plan 2006 – 2011 March 2006 East Sussex Accessibility Strategy

Organisation Area Name Position East Sussex County Council County Jon Freeman Councillor East Sussex County Council County Godfrey Daniel Councilor East Sussex County Council County Anthony Reid Deputy Leader of East Sussex County Council East Sussex County Council County Angela Crumplin East Sussex Services for Children East Sussex County Council County Shelagh Powell Economic Development Manager East Sussex County Council Borough Mick Bacon Group Manager, Hastings Library East Sussex County Council County Paul Tredgould Group Manager, Strategic Policy & Information East Sussex County Council County Geoff Evans Head of Admissions and Transport East Sussex County Council County Gary Langford Manager of Strategic Planning & Asset

Management East Sussex County Council County Neil Maguire Passenger Services Manager East Sussex County Council County Richard Collins Passenger Services Team East Sussex County Council County Nick Smith Passenger Services Team East Sussex County Council County Alex Sava Policy Performance Asset Manager East Sussex County Council County Matthew Bartle Principal Transport Planner - Transport Policy &

Monitoring East Sussex County Council County Andrew Keer School Travel Plan Officer East Sussex County Council County Mark Amis Section Manager, Development Control East Sussex County Council County John Robbins Section Manager, Transport Strategy East Sussex County Council County Graham Arr-Jones Strategic Policy Geo-Monitor East Sussex County Council County Katy Thomas Strategic Projects Officer East Sussex County Council County Owen South Strategy & Planning Officer, Passenger

Transport East Sussex County Council County Eric Portchmouth Transport Policy & Monitoring Manager East Sussex County Council County Chris Tree Transport Strategist East Sussex County Council County Ruth China Transport Strategist East Sussex County Council County Jon Wheeler Transport Strategy Section Manager (East) East Sussex County Council County James Harris Transport Strategy Team Leader (East) East Sussex County Healthcare NHS Trust

Mental health; most East Sussex

Stephanie Parkes-Crick

Chief Executive

East Sussex Disability Association County Marianne Gray East Sussex Disability Association County Gary Woods East Sussex Disability Association County Marianne Gray East Sussex Disability Association County Dennis Yates Director East Sussex Economic Partnership County Max Goodison Executive Manager East Sussex Federation of Womens' Institutes

County Dorothy Pope

East Sussex Hospitals NHS Trust Eastbourne & Hailsham

Annette Sergeant Chief Executive

East Sussex Rural Transport Partnership

County Phil Ayers

East Sussex Strategic Partnership County Diana Francombe Strategic Partnership Co-ordinator East Sussex Transport 2000 County Derrick Coffee County Officer Eastbourne & District Chamber of Commerce Limited

Eastbourne David Cooper President

Eastbourne Borough Council Borough Tim Cookson Planning Manager Eastbourne Buses Eastbourne &

Centre Steve Barnett Managing Director

Eastbourne Downs PCT Southern Wealden district

Nigel Hussey Action Associate Director of Corporate Affairs and Organisational Development

Eastbourne Local Strategic Partnership

Borough Barbara Pratt ESP Co-ordinator

Eastbourne Reborn District Paul Quanstrom SRB Co-Ordinator


Organisation Area Name Position Ethnic Minorities Representative Council

County Abduljalil Sajid JP Secretary

Food & Health Partnership County Clare Millet Freight Transport Association Region Sue Moody Friends of the Earth South East County Brenda Pollack Regional Campaigns Officer Government Office for the South East Region Lee Sambrook Transport Team Leader (Surrey, East & West

Sussex Area) Team Greater Hollington Partnership Hollington Hannah Knight Area Support Officer Greater Hollington Partnership Hollington Donna Meenan Area Support Officer Greenpeace County Joan Timms Hailsham & District Chamber of Commerce

Hailsham Robin Kempe Chairman

Hastings & St Leonards PCT Borough Toni Wilkinson Chief Executive Hastings & St. Leonards Chamber of Commerce

Hastings Paul Evans Chairman

Hastings Borough Council District Sarah Watson Hastings Borough Council District Glyn Carter Hastings Borough Council District Stephanie Roots Assistant Planner Hastings Borough Council Borough Melanie Bonney-Kane Community Involvement Officer Hastings Borough Council District Mary Denning Economic Inclusion Officer Hastings Borough Council Borough Jane Jackson Planning Policy Manager Hastings Borough Council District Monica Adams-Acton Regeneration Department Hastings Borough Council District Timothy Stephens Research & Information Officer Hastings College of Art & Technology Hastings Julie Walker Principal Hastings Local Strategic Partnership Borough Leslie Brissett Hastings Local Strategic Partnership Borough Sarah Isnell Transport Planner Heathfield & District Chamber of Trade & Commerce

Heathfield Trevor Goldsmith

J Sainsbury County Corporate Responsibility Department JobCentre Plus - Sussex District Office

County Pauline Sedgwick

Kent County Council County Tim Read Transport Policy Manager Kent County Council County James Lewis Transport Strategy Officer Lewes & Area Access Committee Lewes S Hall Lewes Chamber of Commerce Lewes Joanne Yates President Lewes District Council District Sue Moffatt Assistant Director of Planning Lewes District Council District Ian Kedge Head of Environmental Health Lewes District Council District Debbie Portchmouth Principal Planner (LDF) Lewes District Council District James Mant Senior Planning Officer Lewes Local Strategic Partnership District Sally Harper Community Development Manager Living Streets County Michael Cahill Marsh Link Action Group East of County Richard Holmes Chairman Metrobus North of County B King National Trust - Kent & East Sussex Regional Office

County S Mann

Newhaven Chamber of Commerce Newhaven Paul Cartwright President Plumpton College County John Brookham Principal Polegate Chamber of Commerce Polegate Chris Berry President Rail Passengers' Committee Southern England

County Damion Braithwaite Stakeholder Relations Co-Ordinator

Railfuture London & SE County Keith Dyall Chairman Ramblers' Association - Sussex Area County Nigel Sloan Secretary


Organisation Area Name Position RDH Services Mid Sussex Tom Hawthorne Partner - Bus and Coach Operations Rother District Council District Graham Burgess Acting Head of Regeneration Rother District Council District Scott Lavocah Policy Officer Rother Local Strategic Partnership District Brenda Mason Head of Policy & Performance Rye & District Chamber of Commerce Ltd

Rye Kate Hemmings Chairwoman

Seaford Chamber of Commerce Seaford Pat Berry President South Central Trains Region David Franks Managing Director South Downs Health NHS Trust Mental health;

Brighton & part East Sussex

Andrew Horne Chief Executive

South Downs Health NHS Trust Mental health; Brighton & part East Sussex

Lynne Thomson Director of Nursing, Operations and Primary Care

South Downs Health NHS Trust Mental health; Brighton & part East Sussex

Sarah Hood Executive Director for Capital Planning

South East England Development Agency

Region Paul Lovejoy Area Director (Sussex & Surrey)

South East England Development Agency

Region Mike Gwilliam Director of Planning & Transport

South East England Regional Assembly

Region Martin Tugwell Head of Regional Transport Planning

South East England Tourist Board Region Robert Collier Managing Director South East Forum for Sustainability Region South Eastern Trains Region Michael Holden Managing Director Stagecoach in East Sussex East of County Tom Bridge Stagecoach in the South Downs West of County Andrew Dyer Managing Director Strategic Rail Authority Region Laura Wren Head of Stakeholder Relations Strategic Rail Authority Region James Waight Regional Planning Manager Surrey & Sussex Strategic Health Authority

County Simon Robbins Chief Executive

Surrey County Council County George Burnett Group Manager, Local Transport Planning Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust

County Ken Walter

Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust

County David Griffiths Chief Executive

Sussex Ambulance Service NHS Trust

County Andrew Cashman Operations ADC

Sussex Downs & Weald PCT Lewes district (bar Seaford) and north Wealden district

Fiona Henniker Chief Executive

Sussex Downs College Eastbourne Paul Standen Facilities Manager Sussex Downs Conservation Board South of County Nicola Redwood Strategic Access Officer Sussex Enterprise County Chief Executive Sussex Learning & Skills Council County Hannah Caldwell Area Team Manager (East) Sussex Learning & Skills Council County Paul Stoggles Executive Director Sussex Learning Partnership County Debra Shandley Manager Sussex Police County Elizabeth Harding Community Safety Department Sustrans Region Ray Blackwell Traffic Engineer & Area Manager Suzy Lamplugh Trust County Julie Bentley Chief Executive Tesco County Corporate Responsibility Department Uckfield & District Chamber of Commerce

Uckfield Ian Blackaller Secretary


Organisation Area Name Position University of Brighton National/internatio

nal catchment Stuart Laing Environmental Action Network Chairman

University of Sussex National/international catchment

Amanda Hastings Environment Officer

Waitrose County Head of Environmental Management Wealden District Council District Mick Oldham Head of Policy & Development Wealden District Council District Amanda Talbot Market Towns Officer Wealden District Council District Jacqueline Watson Planning Policy Manager Wealden Line Campaign Central Brian Hart Campaign Director Wealden Local Strategic Partnership District Caroline Adcock LSP Co-ordinator West Sussex County Council County Kate Smith Tranbsport Policy Officer West Sussex County Council County Kirsty Routledge Transport Planner Wm Morrison Supermarkets plc County Corporate Responsibility Department Youth Development Service County Kristina Small Disability Awareness Worker Youth Development Service County Melanie Parr Youth Participation Worker Youth Offending Team - East East of County Gill Barwick Youth Offending Team - West West of County Ros Thirlwell


Appendix D Workshop Outputs


Workshop Outputs Summary of key points considered by and/or raised at the workshops Strategic Accessibility Workshop Reducing physical barriers to travel

− Mobility impaired people treated as special group – mindset issue − Should be looked at as part of wider general travelling public − Need for accessible vehicles − Do disabled want to have separate transport? − Reducing barriers to travel will help accessibility for all travellers − Many groups are working separately to provide accessible transport – disjointed efforts − In rural areas disabled are particularly isolated and this is a critical problem − Funding is often precarious for transporting disabled people − Need for accessible taxis − Shuttles between stations and hospitals − Disabled people cannot undertake journeys spontaneously − Use of powered buggies

Integration

− Through ticketing would be a great help − Often in a monopoly – same company running bus and train (as is case with GoVia in Brighton

or First in Bristol) − Integrated Kent Franchise – First as franchise bidder have mentioned this in their documents − Through ticketing is generally accepted as good thing where there are frequent bus links, but

not necessarily so when marketing routes with infrequent links (rural areas) − Parking at stations could help transfer journeys to railway eg Cooksbridge

Partner organisations

− Why PT operators not involved – explained were invited − Rural Transport Partnership - channel to speak to operators − Need to involve bordering authorities – Mid Sussex as service centre for west of county − People’s accessibility does not stop at county boundary

Information

− Can be improved in the short term, as opposed to infrastructure in the long term − County Council as information co-ordinator − Need information before the journey is made – this allows the mode to be modified before a

commitment is made − Need prompts on telephone journey planning

Transport modes

− Context of strong rail passenger growth – this can be a problem as well as benefit − Rail is a fixed asset, bus is seen by DfT as easy tool to improve PT − Buses are perceived to be temporary and easily subject to withdrawals − Lewes: Taxirider buses − Problem is patchiness of services/ mode − Freight cannot be divided from notion of personal accessibility: one can replace the other.

Home deliveries of purchased goods used to be typical − Bus should not be first and only solution considered – it tends to represent a compromise of

several disparate needs, never an individual’s exactly (otherwise it would be a car?!)


Strategic Accessibility Workshop Safety

− Move towards a situation where public transport is an experience to be enjoyed − Need to deal with anti-social behaviour – threat − Image problems

Car

− There are few things which dissuade people from using car − Parking can be a huge tool to modify travel behaviour − Do alternative modes have to compete directly with the car? − Many South Coast journeys are short and not strategic − Should problems with short journeys be the subject of improvements? − Applicability of electric short-range vehicles

Land use planning

− Housing on edge of towns is now too far away for realistic walking − East Sussex’s elderly population: implications for walking and cycling from new housing − Housing areas previously inaccessible to buses − Information produced for the accessibility strategy would be useful for the LDF work

undertaken by local planning authorities − Small sites make developer contributions unachievable/lot of effort − County Council does not have schemes in readiness to tap into developer contributions as they

come forward − Residential allocations which occur on the edge of urban areas or pepper potted within them

tend to assume that people will automatically be able to access services − Concept of central places – SE Plan recognises need to deal with smaller settlements too − Many of the major towns have reached their environmental limits (in terms of geographic urban

extensions) – 2 major locations identified for peripheral development − There is a desire by many people to move out of urban areas – counter to policy efforts − Blanket increases in housing densities are seen as naïve and over-simple response to housing

allocation − Small developments cannot support extra services alone − Changes in land use planning take time to take place and have long-term benefits

Access and health:

− School travel plans have particular emphasis on healthy travel Psychology, Rural problem

− Human nature is to protect self – NIMBYism − Need to communicate with individuals on issues/ solutions − Appealing to have more services locally – stated behaviour versus actual behaviour − Rural areas have changed socially – urban accessibility expectations brought to rural

environment − Concept of ‘rural city’ – urban activities in rural context − Social norm to own car − Displacement of rural people to other accessible locations − People find excuses for not using PT

Mobile/remote services:

− Wider social benefits – overcoming deprivation, allowing integration − Stigmatisation in rural areas of using mobile services – visible attendance at health clinic etc − Visiting mobile library etc as social activity


Strategic Accessibility Workshop

− Broadband can allow previously urban activities to take place in rural areas − Do we take as read the desire for more communication? − Difficult to do ‘Mobile’ for Education and Employment – easier for the other categories − Healthy Food and Health Facilities – can meet ½ way to encourage mobile services

Employment:

− Unemployed have limited time horizons for travel − Sacrifices are made in order to retain use of car − Need to know how much of county’s employment is covered by employment zones identified

on maps − Areas of high unemployment tend to have good bus access – what else prevents job take-up? − Gatwick is a huge employer – cleaners are specifically bussed in from Hastings because of

acute shortages nearby − Transport is thus of interest to employers − Trend to greater commuting distances − Who works to standard hours?

Education

− Should the maps not include VI form centres at Secondary Schools? This would alter the pattern considerably

− Use of rail is considerable − Students do not attend standard hours – part-days − Private schools have particular journey patterns – but are excluded – some run their own bus

services − Education – Eastbourne, Universities − Further Education Prospectus’ – contain little or no public transport information

General Issues

− No blanket solutions because no blanket problems − Transport on demand, as opposed to run-up-and-go? − Need to move towards long-term planning − Strategic? What is this? What is the Ideal Strategic Accessibility? Varies depending on

individual priorities − Currently a lack of enthusiastic cross-boundary communication/partnership working –

particularly between Brighton & Hove and East Sussex − Need to integrate ideas, partnership working cross boundary − Key shopping areas: Brighton, Newhaven, Seaford − Need to follow good Local Practice − Very little access to the northern areas of the County − The cost of buses is a problem, deters people from using them − Hastings doesn’t necessarily want enhanced links to London – as with this comes problems

such as Brighton has experienced – increased house prices, cost of living − Accessing wider margins − Need to concentrate on East/West and North/South links − West Sussex, experiences similar problems – coastal regeneration, elderly population with a

lack of car ownership − Elderly – more independent these days due to higher car ownership at an older age − Hastings – good integrated bus fares: 50p return fare, if bought with rail ticket. £1.40 single trip

to Brighton − Companies – should encourage more ‘Flexi-time’ and ‘Out of Hours’ internet use – otherwise

difficult for those without Internet at home to order/use services online


Strategic Accessibility Workshop

− Concerns over security of transactions on work computer and Internet Cafes, this will reduce people using on line services

− Uplands Community College – has taken steps to overcome transport problems by School Minibuses

− Rural – There is opportunities to use rail, minimal bus services, Ideas include: Demand Responsive service, Train Taxi service, ‘Doris’, Wheels to work/Scooters for younger people

− Deprivation occurs in rural and urban areas − Cost of Solutions to the problems are often too expensive – eg Urban Bus Challenge, 3 years

funded – not long enough to make a long-term difference − There needs to be a Consistency of Public Transport to enable a good alternative to the private

car. Need to look long-term − Accessibility issues are often very different between Short Trips & Long Trips – both pose very

different problems/solutions − Training in Accessibility issues would be a good idea for Members − Need both Carrotts (encouragers) and Sticks (restrictions/thing to deter) if the Accessibility

initiatives are going to work. − Essential for East Sussex residents to have ‘Choice’ to services – this really lacks in rural areas

in particular − Need to consider Disabled public transport users – including mainstream transport services

(not just Community Transport) Suggestions for Actions:

− Employment & Education are the priority out of the 4 key services − What are ‘Healthy’, affordable foods? − Must improve Public Transport − Need to improve Public Transport info on FE Prospectus’ etc − Hastings Buses are unreliable and expensive – can be £1.20/mile − Need to build a relationships between local stores & larger stores − Need to encourage Town to Rural trips as well as Rural to Town trips − Education: No existing Rye to Bexhill through service − Mobile Services – would improve/encourage Social Enterprise and Local Employment − Companies to be accommodating in employees using Internet out of hours − Rural Transport: Problems in Rye and the far Eastern areas of the County in particular − Need more flexible bus services − Hastings Bus: Need ‘Step Change’ for Public Transport − Needs to be a Cultural and Attitudinal Shift - difficult to achieve, takes time − Are local shops still declining? Is there still a shift toward out of town services? − Mobile Services: Concerns that may lose the ‘Social’ side of shopping – important to many

people in particular the Elderly − Need to raise the capacity of Community Transport − Need to enhance Cross-Boundary working − Local road trips and Long Distance road trips have very different Accessibility issues − Need marketing and publicity of existing and proposed services to enhance interest/knowledge

of these services


Healthy Affordable Food Workshop Main Issues Discussed Define healthy food

− Where can this be obtained? − Reliance/presumption that supermarkets satisfactory – is this overkill? − Availability of fresh produce versus informed choice − Ability to purchase enough to live for a week? − Basic foodstuffs? − Need it all be bought in the same place, at the same time?

Farmers’ markets: − Neither cheap nor wholesale appeal − Middle class domain?

Farm shops − Rural enterprise is supported by local authorities and planning policy − Travel implications of dispersed rural shops

Growing your own food − Healthy activity − Middle class?

Corner shops − reduced selection, more expensive − reliance upon these places by socially excluded members of society?

County Councils: − Resolve to sell healthy food in all its premises? − Have little control over supply − involvement: DEFRA/Food Standards Agency/ trading standards/ environmental health/

directors of public health? − LSP as co-ordinator?

Engage with local people – ask them where they access food shops Need to concentrate on social exclusion – breaking the vicious circle Data: supermarkets hold a lot of data themselves Supermarkets as rural transport hubs – the Helston bus interchange example

− Need to insist on acceptable interchange facilities − Sainsbury’s, Newhaven – what not to do

Doorstep deliveries – milk, newspapers The culture/ acceptance of low food prices – not conducive to healthy, well-produced food Speciality food for ethnic minorities – Chinese supermarkets etc: ethnic minorities concentrated in Brighton & Hastings Education & Information:

− links are not well-made between health, well-being and food − non-financial benefits and knock-on effects for NHS treatments − need to emphasise importance

Potential for collection points − communal place (eg village hall) from which to collect groceries − Role for parish councils

Specific Points Raised

− Supermarkets are not in the town centres − ASDA – provides a bus service twice a week from Lewes – mainly used by OAP’s, Mothers

with young children – encouraging social inclusion − ‘Social’ and ‘Safety’ aspect is important as the bus drivers get to know the regular customers − ADSA Café - Customers go for the whole ‘shopping experience’ – Important to them − Sovereign Harbour – also important area


Healthy Affordable Food Workshop

− Cookmere Community Bus – provides a journey at 10/10:30 to Churchill Sq, Brighton and then returns at 3pm – anyone can use this service.

− Heathfield, Battle, Ringmer – Important to provide services to this Rural Hinterland, served by local shops – Butchers, Greengrocers, Forbuoys etc

− Rural areas don’t necessarily want or need larger services (supermarkets) to come in to the area – ruin the Rural Idyll

− Accession Plot 13:00-14:00 – Big void around the Heathfield area as no accessibility to Eastbourne/Other areas – this is true but are more local stores that are not shown on the plots.

− A329 – Sustainability Area therefore prevents development/enhancing − Brighton: Kempton/Great Eastern Road, Marina – important shopping area for South-West

areas of E.Sussex − 30 minute journey time to Supermarkets in E.Sussex is realistic − Stores such as Budgens, Tesco Express, Forbuoys etc aren’t shown on the plots – these

provide essential local services to people esp in rural areas − Lewes, Brighton – prone to bad traffic congestion − Need to enhance the extent of ‘Choice’ − Currently an exclusion of those already ‘Socially Excluded’ − Petrol Station (Tesco Express) provide local service – how ‘healthy and affordable’ is food? − Would be a useful analysis to see how many people have access to 2 or more food outlets –

from this we will be able to determine the level of ‘Choice’ − Increased use of Convenience Foods – partly due to lack of cookery skills (Education) − Supermarkets: Should be providing a service out to rural areas (more Asda Buses) − Deprivation: Rye/Camber, Eastbourne and coastal areas − Deprivation can be financial, physical, social… − Would be useful to show an overlay of Population – to give an idea of those who are without

services in the grey areas or whether it is unpopulated land − Village shops are developing – offer more variety of food than they used to (due to support

from Rural Partnerships) − 70-80% of East Sussex population live in Southern area of the County in Urban/Coastal strip − Farmstores also provide a valuable source of Healthy Foods at affordable prices − Need to focus on areas where there are problems/low car ownership – tend to go hand-in-hand − Meals on Wheels – not healthy – tend to be traditional school food standard – 50p - £1 each − Rail information on Accession plots would help define areas with no public transport provision − Quality of Fruit & Veg in large supermarkets is generally poor (sprayed with chemicals to

lengthen shelf life etc). Tend to get a better quality in local Convenience stores – supplied by local farmers. Therefore, supermarkets aren’t always the best provider of ‘Healthy’ foods

− On housing estates, quality of food in Convenience Stores is generally poor (eg Whitehawk – 1 of the 5 most deprived areas in UK)

− Accession plots: Don’t show the free bus services – ASDA etc − Allotments – have a middle-class image attached to them? − Need Local Strategic bodies (LSP’s) to help to address issues in the County − To breakdown the problems, Local Authorities need to ‘measure’ their local accessibility, in

particular Public Transport − Safety Concerns – on and waiting for buses − Cost is an issue – need to look at season tickets etc − Accessible – not all buses are low-floor for wheelchairs/push chairs − Would be good to investigate a Share-Taxi scheme – like they do in Taunton and Devon − Need to Develop Partnerships to provide solutions − Farmers Markets – generally expensive and middle-class − Education needed as well as providing accessibility – Marketing/Publicity eg Jamie Oliver’s

programmes, TV works well to encourage these things.


Education Workshop Maps

− Why no contracted bus network? − Local rail services are particularly important for students accessing education − Need to feed information back to the DfT regarding these drawbacks

Transport is a key issue for the colleges

− Travel by rail important − Accessibility issues at City College and Sussex Downs College (Eastbourne) polarised − Students may want to drive, rather than need to drive − Cost is a key issue − Accessibility and attendance to education and skills must be fitted around (and is dependent

on) jobs and childcare City College

− has restricted parking and thus students tend to rely on other means − Annexes are poorly linked by PT − Tendency towards centralisation to overcome annexe accessibility issues…but… − Potential for annexe on CoMArt site: distant; accessibility issues − This new site has adequate parking − This was not a long-term planned move but prompted by site acquisition possibility − Better facilities offset accessibility difficulties?

Sussex Downs College

− centralised operations at Eastbourne − Site has lots of parking but parking problems − Parking problems most severe in morning – clamping will begin shortly − Adjoins hospital who charge for parking – overspill issues − Site as travel destination for 5-6,000 people − Bus and rail access not generally bad − Relatively good cycle provision – CCTV, lockers, showers − No car sharing schemes and no allocation of parking − Students tend not to do set hours of 9 -5. Monday – Thursday mornings are busiest

School locations

− Many schools have huge rural catchments, such as Chailey − This is particularly so of special schools − 16+ education: location travelled to not so much dictated by ‘choice’ per se but rather which

college teaches your specialism − Centres of Excellence (CoEs) – tendency towards each post-16 establishment having key

specialism – sport, media, arts etc. Unlikely two in the county will have same specialism awarded to them

− Method of providing IV form education is largely historic and differs across the county – dependent on when 11 plus was abolished?

− Vocational courses often have need for more space in which courses can be run – eg vehicle maintenance

Contracted bus services

− County Council act as agent − Examine PT as first option before contracted services − VI formers must pay £450/yr – which equates to £75.12p/ half term up-front for contracted bus


Education Workshop

travel – this does not act as an incentive − Disproportionate amount is spent on transporting special needs pupils

Information

− No information is tailored to needs of students accessing education Innovation

− Sussex Downs use outreach centres in surrounding settlements as way of providing education closer to rural people

Employment Workshop Main Points Raised and Issues Discussed

− Coast and Rural issues are quite different – majority of employment is located on the coastal fringe

− The 9-5 Office hours need to be more flexible to accommodate public transport. Encourage flexi-time

− Poor accessibility to employment limits opportunity – in turn, that leads to social exclusion − LTP can’t operate in isolation – needs to be influenced by planning, needs to be integrated with

other policies, including those of the emerging Local Development Frameworks at the district level (replacement for local plans) and the Regional Spatial Strategy

− Contribution to improving accessibility is vital from as many people as possible − 71,000 (approx.) a day commute out of the coastal belt of the region (E.Sussex, W.Sussex,

Brighton & Hove) − A27 heading West is a problem for commuters in the morning and heading East in the evening,

reflecting the attraction of Brighton and Hove as an employment focus − Accessibility could significantly widen economic base. E Sussex is too reliant on tertiary

services – mainly tourism, which is poorly paid and unreliable (weather). Good accessibility to service firms' requirements is particularly important for manufacturing and distribution sectors

− Remote working – has economic and social advantages. Advance of broadband and social change is increasing incidence of remote working. Can reduce number of journeys by private car

− ESCC are considering moving their offices from Lewes and have discussed moving in to several different offices – therefore employees may be able to work from their local office (a "drop-in centre"), which would reduce the need/cost to travel. Maybe more large companies would be able to look in to this?

− Local Authorities are large employers in the area. Council employees could use ‘Drop-in centres’ for employees to work in closer to their homes, could be a community building – doesn’t have to be an office. (re-ordered to juxtapose inter-related points)

− Walden DC are also considering moving in to several other offices − There are many smaller businesses in Rother district – some with less than 10 employees – is

difficult for these companies to implement Travel Plans etc − Small companies may be able to collaborate with other local companies to produce Travel

Plan, Car Share, Voucher schemes etc. However, it is difficult to compel such organisations to compel their employees to travel to work in a particular way. There need to be economic incentives

− Rother does not have a significant unemployment issue, but do need to raise wages − Improve ICT communication is a priority in the County − Need to improve infrastructure for economic development – generally ok, but definitely room for

improvement. Lack of commitment to improve rail infrastructure because of short-term rail contracts


Employment Workshop

− Improving infrastructure may also encourage people to leave the County as well, which would be worse for local economy – therefore need a balance

− A priority should be to increase the wage levels in the area to entice new business and prevent people travelling out of the county. Wage levels are likely to be enhanced by improvements in education and training opportunities. Therefore, accessibility to such facilities also needs to be improved

− Higher skills base often equals the need to travel further to appropriate jobs (re-ordered to juxtapose inter-related points)

− Need to increase skills training to change the current predominance on low paid service sector work. Low paid work leads to social exclusion. (re-ordered to juxtapose inter-related points)

− Issues in E Sussex are always political, partly due to the fact that the land is Environmentally sensitive (Sussex Downs - likely to be included within a South Downs National Park) which can prevent economic growth/development

− Hastings bypass was turned down, and unlikely to proceed − Chicken & Egg situation with rail. East-West movement by rail is poor, therefore people don’t

use it. Nevertheless, the service is improving, and the replacement of "slam-door" trains has made train travel more comfortable

− Agreed that the LTP should look at ‘vision’ – what is going to happen re: economy in the ‘future’/long term, not just near future

− The Maresfield (employment site, just North of Uckfield) – redundant land that is lying dormant as planning permission has never been granted. Permission has been delayed because of cost of providing good access, imposed upon developers as part of a S106 agreement

− Essential that organisations work in partnership to fund provision of infrastructure. Considered that the onus lies too much with developers, who are often unable to bear the cost alone

− Shouldn’t spend too much time on encouraging new business in to the area – should also concentrate on expanding existing businesses to reduce migration/commuting

− Areas like Hailsham are stuck in a rut – can’t afford travel/education therefore unable to enhance skills. Greater Hollington Partnership have CV advice drop-in centres/sessions to help.

− Can’t tell people where to live but, by providing opportunities, can enable choice − Eastbourne Hotel Association – PT isn’t really an option as unsociable hours and concerns

about security when finishing shifts late at night in hotels. Shift patterns don’t coincide with peak periods. This work is often low-paid therefore PT can be too expensive. Association considering options on how to bring employees to/from work

− Public Transport providers should be working in partnership with local businesses to synchronise demand

− A local employer: Glyndebourne – big tourist attraction in E Sussex, has its own mini buses to access the site

− Another local employer: Drusilla’s (zoo), NW of Eastbourne – Often problems getting back from there on Public Transport – therefore buses are not a preferred option for staff or visitors. Typical of PT not serving employers in rural areas, nor helping with development of tourism or informal recreation

− E Sussex roads are often poor quality – with poor alignments and sight lines − Social employment trends – flexi-time, paternity leave etc – it is starting to change to adapt to

today’s society. Council members are supportive of these changes on the whole − Disincentives for rail are the ‘whole journey’ – gaining access to, including walking, and parking

at the railway stations can add time/be difficult – therefore deterring people from using trains when they can do the ‘whole journey’ in the car. Also, more business people carry laptops etc so generally have more to carry which can be inconvenient on Public Transport. Uphill battle against the convenience of the car

− Should investigate opportunities to use disused rail lines as segregated PT routes. Lewes – Uckfield railway link. There are also 2 lines running North from Newhaven which are possible


Employment Workshop

lines – could link with local employment sites/areas? The Council has no commitment for these lines and no funding for development at present

− South Downs AONB/becoming a National Park – will bring more restrictions for planning/development. The National Park proposals are not supported by the Council, however are popular with some local residents, to enhance E Sussex’s profile and bring in more tourism, and thus likely to lead to further congestion on roads

− Generally need to bring in more jobs/money to the region – this requires investment − Travel Plans – need a business case to develop or it isn’t worth producing? − Improving Strategic communication can encourage people to commute out of the area – need

to strike a balance Health Workshop Main Points Raised and Issues Discussed

− Greater Hollington Partnership (www.greaterhollington.info) – located NW of Hastings, provides amongst other initiatives, a Demand Responsive Bus Service (20 Seater, fully accessible) – as a result of the Urban Bus Challenge – is a Pilot Scheme, funded for 3 years. Users phone it like a taxi service. Popular. Runs Monday to Friday, 7am – 8pm approx - including Hospital runs. Also operates on Saturday

− Well used by local residents, nurses and people accessing local Industrial Estates − Doesn’t run on Sunday – therefore can be a difficult day to access Hospitals etc – popular

visiting day − Flexi-ticketing, demand responsive tickets should be able to use on other bus services too. − Castleton – 49% (approx.) of residents have no car, Hollington – 40% ( approx.) of residents

have no car − Community Transport for Lewes Area (CTLA) – reducing services − Local Accessible taxis – cost too much − CT own 3 coaches – but possibility of not providing this service anymore due to funding

problems, would mean a lack of this transport for 1700 Disabled users − Need to increase ‘Opposed Drop down kerbs’ in the area for Disabled – no point of low-floor

buses if disabled users can’t get across the road to the bus stop − Need Infrastructure investment in the County − Agreed that bus network is generally becoming more accessible. Eastbourne buses in

particular has increased the number of ‘low-floor’ buses as part of its investment in its fleet − Quality Bus Corridor: Eastbourne-Hailsham would be ideal route due to Hospital and Colleges. − Workplace Travel Plans – Hospitals should be pushing for these − Decrim. Parking has to happen for the above to work − Need travel information on Hospital website – to encourage PT use (Addenbrookes,

Cambridge is a good example) − More flexible appointments (to help to coincide with bus times etc) − Appointment notification (cards, emails etc) should include travel information − Joint-working between Social Services/Community Transport (non blue light vehicles) to

enhance services − West Sussex County Council are pushing for a shared-taxi scheme − Rural Areas – social excluded in many areas – seems to be extremes happening across the

County − Not always those who are physically disabled who cannot drive – also included those with

Epilepsy etc or those who are not financially able to travel around − The move of the Tunbridge Wells hospital to Pembury is bound to cause problems – especially

for those in the north of the County, will cause a big North/South divide re: which Hospital will


Health Workshop

be used as there will be the 2 extremes – Tunbridge Wells to the North, Eastbourne to the South

− Haywards Heath/Brighton Hospitals – have different demands according to which treatment is required – have different specialities

− District General Hospital (Eastbourne) – had high level of dissatisfaction − No Park & Ride in E.Sussex at present – with no plans to due to lack of land, shortage of

housing land, South Down AONB etc − Healthcare to People − There are currently mobile baby-weighing, milk clinics – seems to be very baby-orientated − At the other extreme are home services for the elderly − Eastbourne does provide Domiciliary (in the home) services – eg Dental − NHS Walk-in centres – the group was not aware of any? − Healthcare is becoming more flexible – blood tests can now be done at Doctors, used to be

Hospitals only – taken the pressure off − Health Promotion – Should be the PCT responsibility – what are they doing towards this? − Need less reactive and more preventative initiatives − ‘Active Hastings’ – over the next 3 years, is run by PCT/Council www.activeinhastings.co.uk − ‘Pedal back the years’, run by CTC – enables elderly people to enjoy cycling − There is a lot of ‘suppressed’ cycling in the County − Eastbourne Cycle Route – does not have good links to town centre, but the periphery is ok.

The seafront cycle route has been closed down due to Anti-social cyclists − Grove School – has overcome cycle storage issue which was deterring people from cycling by

providing secure cycle parking facilities − Cycle racks at Eastbourne railway station are well used – therefore there is a demand for

cycling in the area − National busplus does not operate in the area (rail/bus joint ticketing), instead there is a better

local alternative – should be better promoted. Health facilities/websites could help in promoting this

− There are generally good bus links between main railway stations and hospitals − DGH – some buses run past the site. Conquest – Higher frequency of services past the site.

Still a problem with lack of services on Sundays − ‘Wheels to Work’ doesn’t currently happen in E.Sussex – is up to LA to choose whether to

adopt these types of schemes – may need encouragement − Hastings – Topography deters people from cycling. A solution could be for the buses to be

equipped with bike racks to take passengers and their bikes, this would help visitors to the Conquest/Ridge

− Publicity – PCT’s need to improve information − Need synergies – Hospitals and demand responsive transport providers − Improved pedestrian signage to Hospitals/GP Surgeries − Longer times for get prescriptions/Appointment time – to fit in with Public Transport − Community Transport – experiencing a demise due to lack of funding. If services are cut this

will affect 19 social groups, 1000’s of people will be affected


Appendix E Local Accessibility Maps – Rye Area Pilots HEALTHCARE Destination(s) Mode Interchange? Day/Time Period Walk Conquest Hospital BUS Yes Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m Conquest Hospital BUS No Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m GP Surgeries in Rye – existing BUS Yes Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m GP Surgeries in Rye – existing BUS No Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m GP Surgeries in Rye – existing WALK - - - GP Surgeries in Rye – existing CYCLE - - - GP Surgeries in Rye – future BUS Yes Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m GP Surgeries in Rye – future BUS No Tuesday 08:00-12:00 800m GP Surgeries in Rye – future WALK - - - GP Surgeries in Rye – future CYCLE - - -

Note: Rye Study area origins used for all runs EMPLOYMENT Destination(s) Mode Interchange? Day/Time Period Walk Rye Town centre BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m Rye Town centre WALK - - - Rye Town centre CYCLE - - - Rye Harbour industrial estates (Harbour Road)

BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m

Rye Harbour industrial estates (Harbour Road)

WALK - - -

Rye Harbour industrial estates (Harbour Road)

CYCLE - - -

Camber centre BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m Camber centre WALK - - - Camber centre CYCLE - - - Hastings centre BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m Hastings Industrial Estates BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m Conquest Hospital BUS Yes Tuesday 07:00-09:00 800m

Note: Rye Study area origins used for all runs

organisation area name position - east sussex · organisation area name position ... surrey county...

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