Campaigning Tool Kit
We eagerly await the arrival of the Cyclescape campaigners tool kit. Until then, here is some information that is hopefully of use to the new cycle campaigner. If you have any comments on the information on this page or would like anything added please leave a comment below.
Local Transport Plan
The Local Transport Plan sets out the transport strategy for Hertfordshire. The Plan covers all modes of transport – including walking, cycling, public transport, car based travel and freight – and takes account of the effect of transport on wider aspects including the economy, environment, climate change and social inclusion.
The latest plan (LTP3) covers the period 2011-2031. The Cycling Strategy daughter document is being reviewed in 2011/2012.
Local Sustainable Transport Fund
Local transport authorities can apply for funding for small packages of measures under £5 million or larger packages up to £50 million. While the Government is not setting conditions, supported measures are expected to include initiatives to promote walking and cycling, encourage modal shift, manage effectively demands on the network, secure better traffic management, improve road safety and improve access and mobility for local communities. Hertfordshire County Council have submitted a bid for funding entitled BIGHEARTSBIGIDEAS. More information can be found here.
Herts Cycle Forum
The Herts Cycle Forum meets twice a year and representatives of all cycling groups are encouraged to attend. Meeting minutes should be published here but unfortunately the page has not been updated since 2009.
Planning Obligations (S106)
The following quote is from the TRDC website and sums up what planning obligations are quite succinctly:
Planning obligations are private agreements negotiated, usually in the context of planning applications, between local planning authorities and persons with an interest in a piece of land. They are intended to make acceptable development which would otherwise be unacceptable in planning terms.
There are two types of obligations. These are a bilateral agreement known commonly as a “Section 106 Agreement”, or a “unilateral undertaking”. Both are entered into under Section 106 of the Town and Country Planning Act.
Section 106 Agreements can be used to improve conditions for cyclists.
Each local administrative area has their own page on planning obligations:
- Hertfordshire County Council
- Broxbourne Borough Council
- Dacorum Borough Council
- East Herts District Council
- Hertsmere Borough Council
- North Herts Borough Council
- St Albans District Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Three Rivers District Council
- Watford Borough Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Traffic Regulation Orders
From the Herts Direct website:
A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) is a legal order, which allows the Highway Authority (Hertfordshire County Council) to regulate the speed, movement and parking of vehicles. The act governing Traffic Orders is the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 and is enforceable by law.
On this page, you will be able to download and view all the traffic regulation orders that are currently being implemented in each of the local administrative areas.
Consultations
From Wikipedia:
Consultation is a regulatory process by which the public’s input on matters affecting them is sought. Its main goals are in improving the efficiency, transparencyand public involvement in large-scale projects or laws and policies. It usually involves notification (to publicise the matter to be consuled on), consultation (a two-way flow of information and opinion exchange) as well as participation (involving interest groups in the drafting of policy or legislation).
You can find out more about Hertfordshire County Council consultations and e-petitions here.
Write to Them
The Write to Them website, produced by the mysociety.org project, makes it easy to contact local councillors.
Council Meetings
Keep abreast of council proceedings. This page has a calendar of forthcoming meetings and minutes of previous meetings of Hertfordshire County Council. Links to local council meeting minutes are listed below:
- Broxbourne Borough Council
- Dacorum Borough Council
- East Herts District Council
- Hertsmere Borough Council
- North Herts Borough Council
- St Albans District Council
- Stevenage Borough Council
- Three Rivers District Council
- Watford Borough Council
- Welwyn Hatfield Borough Council
Identify black spots
This map shows nearly every reported fatality and injury that occurred on roads in Great Britain in the period 2000 to 2010 as a result of a collision involving a motor vehicle.
Record good and bad infrastructure
The CycleStreets Photomap is an excellent place to quickly record examples of good and bad cycling infrastructure. Apps are available for smartphones to upload pictures with captions and automatically place them on the map using your phone’s GPS.