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4 Environmental Problems and Opportunities
The review of otherplans and programmes and the collation of the environmental baseline data aidedthe identification of transport, social, economic and environmental problemsand opportunities that could be addressed by, or affect the strategies andmeasures developed in the LTP. These arepresented in Table 4-1.
Table 4-1 Problems, opportunities and
issues identified
Key issue
Evidence (see Appendix C Baseline)
Implications
Social and Economic Issues
Poor health
The health of the residents of the WWMA area is generally worse than that of the West Midlands population as a whole, which in turn is generally worse than that of Englands population: there is more long-term illness, general health is perceived as worse, and incidences of diabetes and hypertension are significantly higher than national figures. On the other hand, the number of people killed or seriously injured in traffic accidents had declined over time and is roughly on par with national figures. Nationally, obesity is increasing, due in part to lack of exercise.
The LTP should emphasise walking, cycling and public transport over car use where appropriate: this should help to decrease accidents, improve fitness, and reduce air pollution, noise etc. which contribute to health problems.
High level of robberies and racial incidents in parts of the WMMA area
The WMMA area is roughly comparable with other metropolitan areas in terms of crime, though higher than the England average. However the percentage of people robbed is high and the number of racial incidents in Birmingham and Dudley is more than three times the England average, and roughly twice the metropolitan area average.
The LTP should promote safety, e.g. in the form of safe design of roads, Public Rights of Way etc; CCTV etc.
Declining historic heritage
Little baseline data on the historic heritage exists by which to judge the status of the West Midlands region. However the West Midlands has the highest proportion of listed buildings and archaeological monuments at immediate risk of deterioration of all the regions.
The LTP should aim to prevent further damage to listed buildings, archaeological sites etc.
The LTP could support sensitive design of street furniture and infrastructure to preserve the historical character of areas.
Economic deprivation
Birmingham and Sandwell are amongst the 10% most deprived districts in the country.
Noise pollution
Birmingham City Council produced noise maps in the late 1990s (both day and night time). These indicated that there were high noise levels in the vicinity of Birmingham International Airport and the elevated M6 corridor. Similar evidence is not available for other areas although with the introduction of the European Noise directive, it is anticipated that noise issues will become more prominent over the LTP2 period.
The LTP should recognise the impact that transport has in creating noise, and seek ways to reduce the impact.
Transport / accessibility issues
High bus use, limited use of other forms of public transport cycling and walking.
Slightly more people in the WMMA area have a journey of less than 5km to work than England and regional averages. Also considerably more people take the bus: 14.5%, compared with 8.8% (West Midlands) and 7.4% (England). Rail journeys (heavy and light) comprise a relatively small proportion of total travel to work journeys and remain lower than a number of comparable areas.
Total rail journeys per annum, however, have increased significantly. Between 2000/1 and 2004/5 the total number of journeys grew from 22.8 million to 29.3 million (28%). At peak periods there are capacity problems, particularly at New Street Station.
In terms of light rail, patronage on Midland Metro Line 1 is close to capacity at peak periods although patronage is going down slightly overall.
Levels of walking and cycling to work are lower than other metropolitan areas.
The LTP should continue to promote public transport, but give particular support to walking and cycling.
High levels of congestion on trunk roads
In 2001, the West Midlands region had the lowest AM and PM peak speeds in England outside London, and was the only region where average AM/PM peak speeds did not increase. In this period the Regions trunk road AM Peak speeds decreased by 6%, whilst nationally they increased by 8%.
The LTP should aim to reduce congestion.
Some large employment sites far from public transport
The majority of new houses and employment sites (2001/02) were within 400m of a bus stop, though only approximately one quarter were within 800m of a rail or tram station. The larger employment sites developed were further from public transport nodes than smaller sites.
The location of property development is not within the remit of the LTP. However the LTP should aim to be responsive to large-scale developments that may emerge over the LTP period. Policies could be set for LDDs to take account of, and in the securing of, S106 agreements.
Low public transport accessibility in some areas of the WMMA</p>
Public transport accessibility is low in the rural areas of the WMMA, particularly in the Meriden gap between Solihull and Coventry, and also in some peripheral estates.
The LTP should help to improve public transport accessibility generally, but particularly in the rural areas, including the Meriden Gap
Environmental Issues
Poor air quality
Air quality is a problem in Birmingham and Wolverhampton, where the whole of the cities are designated as an Air Quality Management Area (AQMA), although this does not mean that the whole area exceeds emission thresholds. Coventry, Dudley, Sandwell and Walsall also have AQMAs. All are designated because of high levels of NO2, which primarily comes from vehicles. Wolverhampton AQMA is also designated for particulates (PM10). Annual emissions of NO2 and particulates in much of the region are also near the national air quality standards. The background trend is one of increasing car use, adding to these problems.
The LTP should reduce traffic levels and congestion in areas of already high air pollution; and have a general aim to reduce the need to travel and promote a modal shift away from car use and towards walking, cycling and public transport.
Pressure on the Green Belt
The West Midlands Green Belt is under strong pressure. About 13% of the Green Belt around Solihull has been lost since 1960, notably through the National Exhibition Centre and Birmingham International Airport expansion in the mid-1990s. The M6 toll route to the north and east of the West Midlands runs through the Green Belt. The Green Belt faces further pressures in the form of a second runway at Birmingham International Airport, housing and employment development.
The LTP should be aware of the importance of the role of the Green Belt in restricting the spread of development.
Low, and possibly decreasing, biodiversity
The WMMA has more built-up and fewer natural areas than the England average, and a comparatively low percentage of land with biodiversity designations. There is not enough data to be able to say whether biodiversity in the region is getting better or worse.
The LTP should aim to preserve existing biodiversity, e.g. through sensitive management of existing transport infrastructure and careful siting and design of new infrastructure. It should enhance biodiversity where possible, e.g. through new hedges, woodlands, ponds etc. as part of new transport infrastructure.
Climate change
Nationally, trends show an overall decrease in emissions of greenhouse gases, but at a much slower rate than that needed to prevent considerable future climate change. However emissions due to transport are increasing, and are predicted to continue doing so.
The LTP should aim to reduce the need to travel and promote a modal shift from the car to walking, cycling and public transport.
The use of alternatively fuelled vehicles should also be encouraged.
Adaption to the impacts of climate change should also be addressed.
Changes to landscape character
One of the three main landscape character areas in the area, Arden is undergoing marked changes inconsistent with its character, due in part to high rates of development and the upgrading of route corridors, including the A45 and the M42 corridor. Another landscape character area, the Mid-Severn Plateau<b> </b>of the Stour and Severn Valleys, is subject to similar but more limited changes due to hamlets and villages being enveloped in the peri-urban zone, and development of the M54 corridor.
The design of LTP schemes within these landscapes should respect local character and adopt lighting and signing strategies that minimise intrusion.
Light pollution
Light pollution is increasing throughout the country. Although light pollution has not increased in the WMMA over the last ten years, this is against a background of already high levels of the WMMA already having some of the highest light pollution levels in the country.
Design and retrofit transport schemes and highways so as to minimise light pollution.
Impact of infrastructure development on the soil and water environment.
Pollution caused by run-off from roads, and by discharges resulting from accidental spillages, has the potential to adversely affect the water and soil regimes.
Highways and bridge maintenance works also provide the potential for soil loss and damage and water pollution, as does the construction of major schemes.
Flood risk is also an issue which should be addressed.
The LTP should encourage highways authorities to develop maintenance protocols which help to reduce the impact on soil and water resources.
Planning for flooding should also be encouraged.
The Local TransportPlan as informed by the SEA should address problems and issues that will ariseover the length of the plan cycle and beyond.