In response to the CPF consultation on The Future of Transportation, we received substantive submissions from 60 CPF groups, representing over 550 members from 88 constituencies. One-in-five (20%) of those who participated had not previously done so. Thank you to everybody who let us know their views. This was the second in our series of three consultations looking beyond the short-term political horizon to the future.
Particular congratulations to the following CPF Groups, which submitted the most noteworthy submissions:
Meriden and Solihull
Rushcliffe
Canterbury
Huddersfield and Colne Valley
Christchurch and East Dorset
Lewes
Esher and Walton
Stafford
Broadland and Fakenham
Brighton and Hove
Grantham and Stamford
Oxford and Abingdon
Below is a snapshot of the top themes raised by CPF groups. A more detailed collation of responses has been sent to the Prime Minister’s Policy Unit, the Party Chairman and the CPF Chairman. As usual, we look forward to publishing a formal response to members’ ideas in due course.
Overview of Top Themes
“The role of Government is to encourage and not over-regulate or set arbitrary targets.”
“Closer integration of rail and road is required to get freight off the road – electrification of rail is easier than electrification of the haulage industry.”
“Sustainability and carbon saving must be considered through the whole life cycle of a vehicle, from production to end of use.”
“Those who do not have access to digital technology must not be excluded.”
“The future construction of transport networks linking the North and South must begin construction in the North—and have both a ‘target’ and an ‘outcome’ built into its design.”
“People want control over their lives and the freedom to choose how and where to travel.”
“Stop imposing urban-based policy on rural communities.”
Over two-in-five CPF groups (42%) called for simplification of planning as “so many of our transport-related issues are linked to the various over-regulated planning processes.”
Over one-in-four CPF Groups (27%) raised questions about how the insurance contract for autonomous vehicles would work.
CPF Groups want to see better integrated transport with multimodal apps.
Other specific proposals included:
Transport more freight by rail, canal and ship around the coast, rather than by road.
Conduct a proper cost-benefit analysis into the backing of electric power.
Revisit MaaS (Mobility as a Service) Digital Transport Services to source and manage the provision of transport related services, which meet the mobility needs of customers.
Revisit Total Transport to deliver integrated passenger transport services across health, school and local authority transport, saving up to £2bn/year.
Make bus and tram journeys free within a travel zone, paid for by a £3.5bn per year saving from reduced bureaucracy in administering the many different fare systems.
Fund more R&D so that Britain leads the way and transport contributes to our economy, including into biomass, hydrogen and synthetic-fuelled internal combustion engines.
Publish a long-term plan for the National Grid with achievable timelines that demonstrably show power availability to match the projected expansion of EV use.
Groups believe it would be simpler and fairer to “equalise tax rates for petrol/diesel and for electricity” without delay, especially as “EVs are heavier and do more damage to roads.”
Require a standardised national specification for vehicle charging points.
Support domestic firms developing hydrogen-based and low carbon fuels, and electric aircraft, such as Lockheed Martin’s hybrid airship and Israel’s Eviation Alice.
Implement the conclusion of the Department for Transport’s 2003 policy paper The Future of Air Transport to “encourage the growth of regional airports”.
Expand the Travel Training program to include the elderly.
All public transport should have concessionary free travel for pensioners and students.
Give a tax break if you live within a certain radius of your parents: studies have shown this to support cohesive society, with childcare support and support of elderly parents.
Legislate public transport minimum service levels.