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Ministers Issue New Guidance On Cross-Pavement Solutions For Electric Vehicle Charging

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  The Department for Transport (DfT) and the Office for Zero Emission Vehicles (OZEV) published guidance to assist local authorities’ development of policies on how cross-pavement electric vehicle (EV) charging solutions can be safely and effectively used.  What is contained within the guidance, and what is its significance?  The guidance, applicable only to England, sets out information on the areas, regulations, and processes that local authorities are advised to consider when devising policies in relation to charging solutions for EVs. Included in the guidance are case studies of local authorities that have achieved success with installation trials.  The Government stated that while the market for cross-pavement charging solutions was “at an early stage”, local authorities had already tried out various solutions. Details are provided on the processes that local authorities have adopted, and the associated learning points.  The DfT and OZEV stated th...
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Newly Established Healthy Low-Carbon Transport Hub Sets Out To Explore Net Zero’s Health Benefits

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  With the aim of ensuring the UK’s transition to net zero protects and promotes physical and mental health, seven new transdisciplinary research hubs are being launched, with funding from UK Research and Innovation (UKRI) and the National Institute for Health and Care Research (NIHR).  One of those hubs that will be of particular interest to many transport consultants and their clients, is the Healthy Low-carbon Transport Hub (HLTH).  This research hub has been established to lead studies into the potential to maximise the health benefits arising from low-carbon transport.  The importance of faster transport decarbonisation – and the associated health advantages  As the UK seeks to meet its statutory targets for greenhouse gas (CO2e) emissions, the acceleration of its transport decarbonisation drive will play an integral role.  In the past, measures to reduce CO2e emissions haven’t tended to systematically consider physical and mental health i...
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Chief Medical Officer’s Report Draws Attention To The Role Of Transport In The Health Of Cities

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  The annual report – for which England’s Chief Medical Officer (CMO), Sir Chris Whitty, was the author – looked at the health of the UK’s largest cities, and considered some of the specific health challenges these highly urbanised areas present.  Of particular interest to many transport consultants and their clients, however, will be the spotlight the CMO placed in his report on the role of transport in improving health outcomes.  How crucial a part does transport play as an enabler of health?  The CMO’s publication highlighted the power that cities can have in helping to optimise the health of their residents. Such localities provide an environment that can lend itself to greater levels of active travel for brief journeys.  In the words of the report: “Cities should be ideal places for enabling active travel with shorter distances to the things we need or want on a regular basis, including supermarkets, places of leisure, work, or healthcare.” ...
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National Highways And Natural England Put Signatures To Landmark Environmental Agreement - TPA

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  A historic agreement has been reached between National Highways – the government-owned company responsible for maintaining England’s motorways and major A roads – and Natural England.  According to a National Highways press release, the deal between the two bodies is aimed at supporting the delivery of world-class national infrastructure, at the same time as ensuring improved environmental outcomes.  The Memorandum of Understanding (MoU) was signed at the landscape-led A417 Missing Link project. This reflects the aim behind the scheme to deliver four miles of a safer road with smoother traffic flow, while conserving and enhancing the Cotswold National Landscape’s special character, natural beauty, and wildlife.   What does the organisations’ partnership seek to accomplish?  The news release stated that the principal objective of the agreement was the improvement of environmental outcomes along the Strategic Road Network (SRN).  It is anti...
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