Local sustainable transport fund bid
The Local Sustainable Transport Fund (or LSTF) is a Department for Transport fund for projects which stimulate economic growth whilst reducing carbon emissions.
Hampshire County Council has submitted a £3.9M bid covering the New Forest and South Downs National Parks, with the support of the five additional local highway authorities which administer areas of both Parks. The bid represents a significant opportunity for reducing the impact of traffic and transport on the special qualities of the National Parks.
The bid focuses on the following four key objectives:-
- Improving key public transport gateways into the two National Parks
- Making it easy to reach key attractions within the two National Parks
- Promoting sustainable travel packages to visitors before they arrive and while they are in the National Parks
- Managing traffic effectively with the Parks, so that is does not detract from the visitors’ experience
The LSTF guidance makes it clear that the fund is not designed to support major infrastructure. Instead the fund favours behavioural change initiatives, supported by minor infrastructure improvements, which seek to make public transport, walking and cycling the most attractive transport options.
The outcome is expected in May 2012.