A national expert on transport issues is to visit Nottingham to see if the city should claim a prestigious award.
Professor David Begg, who is chairman of the Commission for Integrated Transport which advises the Government on transport issues, is a judge for the National Transport Awards 2002. He recently described Nottingham as European leaders on some transport issues, in an Observer article. When he visits on Monday April 22, he will gauge for himself the progress which the city is making in improving transport and travel, against other award finalists Leeds, Surrey and Oxfordshire.
He will be shown work which is underway on Nottingham Express Transit Line One and told by council officers and elected members about other projects which form the Integrated Transport Strategy for Greater Nottingham. This strategy has already received praise from the Government, which granted the City and County councils the status of Centre of Excellence for Integrated Transport for their joint transport vision.
In its award entry which will be judged on innovation, forging effective partnerships and delivering improvements, the City Council outlined how traffic levels in Nottingham have stabilised at a time when the city is attracting more jobs, reducing unemployment and increasing the use of public transport.
Schemes outlined in the entry include:
- Introduction of state-of-the-art digital speed cameras with fines ring-fenced
for local transport improvements
- Solar-powered pay and display machines with fees and fines ring-fenced
for local transport improvements
- Introduction of the Clear Zone to improve the city centre environment
- Setting up partnerships such as the Greater Nottingham Transport Partnership
and the Commuter Planners Club to co-ordinate better ways of getting the city's
workforce to work without adding to the congestion
Deputy Leader of the City Council, Councillor Brian Parbutt, who will greet Prof Begg at the Council House, said: "We believe we are setting the standard in Britain for planning for future transport needs and we know that Professor Begg is impressed with what we are doing here.
"It will be a great chance to bring him up to speed with our pioneering transport projects and we hope it will stand us in good stead for the awards."
