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7 Alternative Strategies of the LTP
TheSEA Directive and implementing Regulations state that the Environmental Reportneeds to consider reasonable alternatives and explain why the course of actionproposed was selected. The SEA Directiverequires that:
*“_the likely significant effects on the environment of implementing the plan or programme, and reasonable alternatives taking into account the objectives and the geographical scope of the plan or programme, are identified, described and evaluated. The information to be given for this purpose is referred to in Annex I”_ (Article 5.1).
- when a plan or programme is adopted, a statement is made available summarizing “_the reasons for choosing the plan or programme as adopted, in the light of the other reasonable alternatives dealt with_” (Article 9.1b).
Annex I of the Directive requires the provision of information on:
“(h) an outline of the reasons for selecting the alternatives dealt with…”
This section discusses the alternatives considered as part of the development of the West Midlands LTP. As for any LTP, the main ‘alternativesÂ’ available for theWest Midlands LTP2 are different combinations and prioritisations of major andmore minor schemes. Although one couldtheoretically compare different broad approaches to transport provision in theregion – for instance demand management or an emphasis on public transport – inpractice this boils down to different clusters of schemes and proposals. In practice the LTP is alsoconstrained in what alternatives it can consider (see later).
Inpreparing LTP2, the West Midlands has not beenstarting with a clean sheet. Aconsiderable amount of work had been done and decisions made prior to itspreparation. A number of proposals werealready significantly advanced and had broad stakeholder buy-in so going backto the drawing board was not a viable option, particularly as the West Midlands prepared an ‘interim’ LTP in 2003 inresponse to the Government’s authoritative and exhaustive West Midlands AreaMulti-Modal Study (WMAMMS).
LTP2is also a tool for delivering the policies and strategies of other agencies, inparticular the GovernmentÂ’s transport strategy and the Regional Economic andSpatial Strategies. This has a bearingon the range of options that can be considered.
Section7.1 discusses how LTP2 has been developed against this backdrop and how variousstrategic policy options have been considered along the way. Section 7.2 then proceeds to consider morespecifically those options and alternatives that have and will continue to beconsidered as part of the preparation of LTP2 and explains why certain coursesof action were proposed.