Comment

Representation ID: 987

Received: 25/11/2024

Respondent: Dennis R Whittaker

Walking is only practical over short distances. Cycling is a leisure option and, for a few people commuting over short distances but, for the vast majority of commuters, it is not practical - especially when considering the English weather and the hilly terrain of the Borough. Infrastructure should be provided but, as it caters for a small minority, it would be illogical to prioritise it at the expense of considerably improving the Public Transport Network and the needs of Motorists. Public Transport usage could be encouraged by Park & Ride schemes. There's only one on the Brierley Hill Metro.

Support

Representation ID: 1040

Received: 28/11/2024

Respondent: Sandwell Council

There are longstanding arrangements for cooperation across the four Black Country authorities in establishing transport strategy, and Sandwell Council looks forward to continuing to work with Dudley and the other Black Country councils to bring forward transport improvements to aid in delivering that strategy.
Sandwell Council recognises how important Dudley Port railway station is to Dudley MBC, and welcomes the support indicated in the Dudley Local Plan for the proposals, at this location, to develop a multi-modal interchange linking metro, rail and bus

Support

Representation ID: 1055

Received: 28/11/2024

Respondent: TfWM and WMCA

TfWM welcomes the policies in the Draft Local Plan which seek to support and encourage the use of bus including securing investment from developers where appropriate. Decisions on where and how new development is designed alongside measures to provide priority and reallocate road space can support the region achieve its ambitions to improve bus services and grow bus use in the region. Should the region choose to pursue bus franchising it can provide an opportunity to improve how the bus network is planned and integrated with new developments.

The table related to Policy DLP67 The Transport Network should have a heading for Bus and the West Midlands Core Bus Network and Cross-city bus packages should be referenced under this heading

Paragraph 16.8. should include the following text in red and read as follows: “It is vital that new development has access to high quality sustainable/active travel and public transport infrastructure and services from the outset as this will ensure that people travelling to and from these areas do not establish unsustainable travel patterns”

Paragraph 16.9 should also reference the West Midlands Core Bus Network

Whilst the plan refers to the National Bus Strategy and West Midlands Vision for Bus, there is no reference to the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP). For example, Sandwell’s Local Plan states the following: “Therefore, work on the key corridors identified in the West Midlands Bus Service Improvement Plan (BSIP) will play a significant role in delivering this requirement, through a partnership of TfWM, Local Highway Authorities and operators”.

Paragraph 16.26. should include the following text in red and should read as follows:
“Improvements will be made to meet the agreed performance specification for
the links and junctions involved to support bus services, road based rapid transit proposals
such as SPRINT (Bus Rapid Transit) and Metro”

Paragraph 16.26. should include the following text in red and should read as follows: “All improvements to support cycling should seek to adopt the principles contained in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/20 and infrastructure improvements to support bus services should seek to adopt the principles on how to deliver priority for bus services contained in Local Transport Note (LTN) 1/24.

The document has one plan showing Transport and Movement Key Diagram and another plan showing Active Travel routes. There should be a plan showing the West Midlands Core Bus Network in Dudley as done in the Sandwell Local Plan.

Support

Representation ID: 1057

Received: 28/11/2024

Respondent: TfWM and WMCA

Whilst representing a smaller proportion of trips overall, rail remains important in terms of access to central Birmingham and the regional rail network provides links between most of our strategic centres and their inner and outer suburbs and the wider journey to work area.

We broadly support the rail elements of the Draft Dudley Local. This West Midlands Rail Investment Strategy includes Midlands Rail Hub and also outlines further future improvements to local, regional and national rail services serving Dudley.

Comment

Representation ID: 1058

Received: 28/11/2024

Respondent: TfWM and WMCA

Planning policy has a role in helping to reduce the need for people to own a private car by encouraging new development, infrastructure investments and changing land uses to create more sustainable travel behaviours. Shared mobility is a key measure to provide options for travel where traditional public transport is not available or an appropriate option. As such the references to Mobility Hubs/Local Travel Points, car clubs and the West Midlands cycle hire scheme is welcomed. However, we would welcome a stronger reference to the role and approach for encouraging shared mobility in the Transport Chapter.

Object

Representation ID: 1236

Received: 25/11/2024

Respondent: Goldfinch Town Planning Services (West Midlands)

Legally compliant? No

Sound? No

Duty to co-operate? No

71. For far too many years the Black Country Council’s Planning Policy Teams have consistently failed to get a grip of the problem of appropriately dealing with the problem of severe traffic congestion when preparing emerging Local Plan Reviews. These problems and substantial planning policy failures stem all the way back to the adopted Black Country Core Strategy (BCCS) (2011).

Support

Representation ID: 1301

Received: 06/12/2024

Respondent: Worcestershire County Council

We support that highway improvements (para 16.21) will be expected to address the needs of all users, especially pedestrians and cyclists, and to cater for bus priority in line with current Government guidance. We also support ensuring that both new developments and existing facilities identify travel and transportation impacts and proposals for mitigation maximised by Transport Assessments and Travel Plans and there is accessibility by a choice of sustainable modes of transport (para 16.28).

Comment

Representation ID: 1421

Received: 29/11/2024

Respondent: Network Rail

Agent: CBRE Limited

Policy DLP67 – The Transport Network (pp349 to 356)

Policy DLP67 sets out the key transport projects that will be promoted and land safeguarded
(as required) in the Plan to 2041. In terms of rail, this Policy sets out:

• Wolverhampton - Walsall – Willenhall – Aldridge Rail Link;
• Midlands Rail Hub (HS2); and
• Wolverhampton – Shrewsbury Line Improvements.

Network Rail supports the safeguarding of land for these key transport projects. It should also be noted in the Plan that due to the changing landscape of the rail network (with HS2 being a good example of an ongoing variable), the three projects listed above may be subject to change in the future and other priorities may also emerge over the Plan period. For example, the Wolverhampton to Birmingham New Street rail corridor as a whole is not currently an acknowledged key transport project but it may become so as the future of HS2 and the rail needs of the West Midlands become clearer.

Network Rail is still working through the options for rail corridors in the West Midlands and consequently, seek to ensure that sufficient flexibility is built into Policy DLP67 to ensure the Policy does not prevent necessary changes or alternate solutions that may be come forward over the period of the Local Plan. As such, Network Rail requests that Part 2 of Policy DLP67 be expanded to read as follows (new text shown as underlined):

Land needed for the implementation of the priority transport projects listed this Policy, and other priority transport projects that may be identified over the plan period, will be safeguarded to allow for their future delivery.

As noted on page two of this letter, the draft Local Plan identifies various evidence base sources that have been used to inform transport related objectives and policies set out in the Plan, particularly plans, strategies and other documents prepared by Transport for West
Midlands (“TfWM”) and the West Midlands Rail Executive (“WMRE”).

For the reasons explained previously, to ensure that the Plan is sound, including by being justified based on proportionate evidence, Network Rail requests that reference to the West Midlands Strategic Advice 2022 and relevant emerging local studies is made with regards to Policy DLP67. Network Rail supports being recognised as one of the main agencies responsible for delivery of transport priorities, as listed on page 356 of the draft Plan, and as such reference to Network Rail’s strategies relevant to the area should also be acknowledged.

Support

Representation ID: 1503

Received: 29/11/2024

Respondent: Canal and River Trust

Reiterate Regulation 18 comments.

Welcome addition of the Trust as a delivery agency.

Comment

Representation ID: 1562

Received: 29/11/2024

Respondent: Historic England

DLP67 Clause 2

Has the land safeguarded for future transport development been considered based on its potential impact on the historic environment, and deemed an appropriate location?

Support

Representation ID: 1602

Received: 29/11/2024

Respondent: National Highways

We note that the policy remains the same as included in the Regulation 18 consultation and welcome this. Particular reference made to planning applications requirements and expectations for new schemes and active travel.