6: Congestion & Pollution

Whilst this plan area falls outside the West Midlands Metropolitan area, the plan is within the West Midlands 'Journey to Work' area and therefore Centro considers that is important that any plan is consistent with national policy guidance as well as with the West Midlands Local Transport Plan (2011-2026). Centro are happy to assist in the continued development of this plan and provide information and guidance where necessary.
Generally, Centro considers that when preparing Local Development Documents, local authorities must ensure that as far as possible, development and redevelopment proposals make the best use of existing transport infrastructure and services, improve connectivity locally and in the wider area where appropriate and provide high levels of accessibility for all with an emphasis on sustainable modes of travel. This is a key policy within the West Midlands LTP.

In conclusion, Centro stresses that a high quality integrated transport network can assist in sustainable economic growth, job creation and regeneration, whilst also ensuring that the wider West Midlands transport sector contributes to the wider challenges including reducing carbon emissions. It is essential that investment into the provision of high quality integrated transport facilities and services to serve new and existing development is made from the outset in order to encourage use of more sustainable modes.

Centro support objective 4 which aims to "Make sure that new developments are in places that will reduce the need for people to use their cars, and will improve air quality in the district by reducing road congestion and carbon emissions, and encouraging people to live more healthy lifestyles by walking and cycling more".
Further to this Centro also supports objective 13 "To enable transport providers to provide improvements, particularly better and more integrated public transport, cycling and pedestrian facilities, to meet people's current and future needs, improve the safety and efficiency of the transport network, and support sustainable economic growth".
Centro actively supports the HS2 proposal and believes that it represents a major opportunity for the West Midlands in terms of jobs and wider economic benefits. It belives that capacity improvements as a consequence of HS2 will bring about improvements to the 'classic rail' network already in exhistence.