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.
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 held an Improving Accessibility Open
Day on Wednesday 26 November 2008. The event was held at the Bull
Hotel in Peterborough and was attended by other local authorities,
bus operators and local organisations. The day was an opportunity
for delegates to learn what the city council and its partners are
doing to improve accessibility in Peterborough. City council
officers presented on work carried out by the Travelchoice team and
gave an overview of transport in Peterborough. Attendees were also
shown a twenty minute DVD of Peterborough's good practice. There
was a joint workshop between the city council and Stagecoach on
Peterborough's award winning bus services and infrastructure.
There were two guest speakers at the event: The first was a
consultant with the RNIB who discussed the challenges that visually
impaired people face and what can be done to help. The second
speaker was from the University of Westminster who talked
about the value of new transport in deprived areas. The day was
well attended and the feedback received was really positive. Please
see the attached programme for further details.
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Beacon open day programme
(120KB, 1 pages)
Contact details