Transport Planning Associates (TPA)

  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.” ...

  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...