Transport issues are covered by the Planning, Highways and Transport departments of your local authority. These departments will have responsibility for implementing the transport planning policies in the Development Plan. These policies should focus on the creation of an accessible pedestrian environment that is served by accessible public transport services. There should also be adequate provision of parking spaces for disabled people in accessible locations.

Transport planning is considered nationally as follows:

In England – within Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport
In Wales – within Planning Policy Wales

The paragraphs below, taken from these two documents, sum up some of the key points relating to accessibility.

Planning Policy Guidance 13: Transport

'A key planning objective is to ensure that jobs, shopping, leisure facilities and services are accessible by public transport, walking, and cycling. This is important for all, but especially for those who do not have regular use of a car, and to promote social inclusion.'

(Accessibility – Paragraph 19)

'The Government wants to promote public transport that is accessible to disabled people and a pedestrian environment that enables them to make use of it. However, for some disabled people there is no substitute for the private car. Local authorities, developers and transport providers should work together to seek to meet the accessibility needs of disabled people in all developments by:

1. taking account of their needs, in terms of access arrangements and parking spaces, in location and parking policies. In particular, policies to reduce the level of parking must ensure that there are adequate numbers of suitably designed parking spaces for disabled people;

2. giving attention to the needs of disabled people in the design, layout, physical conditions and inter-relationship of uses. In particular, ensuring that town centres and residential areas have well defined and safe access arrangements for disabled motorists, disabled public transport users and disabled pedestrians, including those who are blind or partially sighted; and

3. ensuring developments, including transport infrastructure, are accessible to and usable by disabled people as motorists, public transport users and pedestrians - through decisions on location, design and layout'

(Mobility Issues – Paragraph 31)

Planning Policy Wales

'Land use planning can help to achieve the Assembly Government’s objectives for transport through….ensuring that transport is accessible to all, taking into account the needs of disabled and less mobile people.'

(Transport Objectives – Paragraph 8.1.3)