Peterborough City Council awarded Beacon Status for Improving Accessibility 2008-2009

 

  

 

What is the Beacon Scheme?

The Beacon Scheme is an award that allows best practice to be shared in service delivery across local government organisations.
 
Ten themes are selected for each round of the scheme by government ministers. The themes represent issues which are important in the day-to-day lives of the public and reflect key government priorities.
 
Beacon Status is granted to those authorities that can demonstrate a clear vision, excellent service and a willingness to innovate within a theme. Peterborough City Council submitted a successful bid for the theme of Improving Accessibility.
 
 
What is Improving Accessibility?
This theme is about improving everyone's ability to access key services such as health, education, employment, healthy affordable foods and leisure.
 
The idea of Accessibility came from the 2003 report 'Making the Connections' and this report found that problems with transport provision and the location of services can reinforce social exclusion through preventing people accessing key local services or activities.
 
 

Why is Peterborough a Beacon Council for Improving Accessibility?

Peterborough City Council was recognised as having excellent practices and services within the field of Accessibility. Some examples of these are below:
 
  • Transport to health and social care:
 
The council publishes a Transport to Healthcare leaflet that has information on sustainable transport modes, dial-a-ride and community car schemes as well as information on patient transport services and the Hospital Travel Costs Scheme. The leaflets also contain a map which shows all healthcare sites. In addition to this the council runs a door-to-door Health Link service to both the Peterborough District Hospital and the Edith Cavell Hospital.
 
  • Partnership Working:

 

Through Peterborough City Council working with Stagecoach (the major bus operator within Peterborough), a 12% increase in public transport passengers has been achieved. These figures are against the national trend and show that public transport is becoming more accessible in Peterborough.This increase is accompanied by a 17% increase in satisfaction with local bus services and a 10% increase in satisfaction with travel information. 
 
Partnership working with the Peterborough Primary Care Trust has lead to the production of an 'Easy Read Guide' to transport in Peterborough and other initiatives such as the Travel Trainer project. Both of these innovative schemes have encouraged independent travel for vulnerable groups.
 
  • My Travelchoice:
 
Awarded Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town status and branded locally as Travelchoice, the Travelchoice team continue to implement a number of innovate soft measures to improve accessibility, particularly through the 'individualised travel marketing' project. 30,000 houses were approached and offered travel information tailored to their individual needs. This initiative aimed to change travel patterns through the provision of walking, cycling, car share and public transport information.
 
  • Local Link:

 

The Council operates the Local Link bus services which provide accessible services to key areas of employment, education, health and affordable food shops. The network comprises of twelve routes all operating with hail and ride and demand responsive sections.
 
  • Community Link:

 

The Council operates a dial-a-ride service, branded as Community Link, from all urban areas of the city. Other council-funded community transport services include the rural dial-a-ride service and the WRVS (Women's Royal Voluntary Services) social car scheme.

 

 

  • Community Engagement:

 

The Council actively improves its services through consultation and engagement with community groups.  Such initiatives as the bus forums held in the city centre and in the wards are particularly successful in gathering information and influencing bus service changes.  These forums are widely publicised and held in partnership with bus operators at varying times to accommodate the community needs.
 

Sharing Best Practice:

There is great importance placed on Beacon's to share information and disseminate best practice. Peterborough City Council will be participating and hosting a number of events that will promote the services and initiatives that have improved accessibility in Peterborough.
 
The council will also engage and seek to learn from other authorities and organisations so that improvements can be made that will positively affect the citizens and visitors of Peterborough.
 

Learning Exchange:

Peterborough City Council took part in the Improving Accessibility Learning Exchange that was held in London on 17 September 2008. The event was attended by other local authorities and organisations with an interest in improving accessibility. Peterborough held a workshop on the 'individualised travel marketing' project. The other Beacon Authorities held their workshops on the following:
 
  •        MerseyTravel access to employment  
  •        London Borough of Greenwich - local labour and business
  •        Lancashire County Council - rural issues, leisure, well being
  •        Nottinghamshire - improving access to health
 

Peterborough's Open Day:

Peterborough City Council will be holding an Improving Accessibility Open Day on Wednesday 26 November 2008. Please see attached flyer for further information.
 
 
 

Further Information:

For further information on Peterborough City Council's Beacon Status for Improving Accessibility contact:
 
 
For further information on all the Beacon initiatives go to the Beacon Scheme website
 
Peterborough City Council. Town Hall, Bridge Street, Peterborough, PE1 1QT - (01733) 747474 - DX12310 Peterborough 1