West London’s new “Ten Point Transport Plan for West London” was launched by the West London Partnership (WLP) at their meeting on the 7th February 2008 with Peter Hendy, London’s Transport Commissioner.

The Ten Point Transport Plan has been published by the WLP as its response to the challenges that face residents and businesses wanting to move around in, and travel to and from, West London.

In launching the Plan at the meeting, John Izett, joint chair of the West London Partnership, said that the Ten Point Plan was produced by the WLP “ because of the importance of transport to West London businesses and communities; to set out how in West London we can collectively work to improve the transport situation; to support the implementation of London’s transport strategy and the intentions of the London Plan; and to help us influence future strategy and investment decisions by the Mayor and the government – particularly the next Mayor’s transport strategy”. He also acknowledged TfL’s support in putting the Plan together.

Responding to the Plan, Peter Hendy welcomed the WLP’s strong interest in transport issues and said it was in line with TfL’s and the Mayor’s intentions to work with the new London sub-regions. He said that one of TfL’s next steps would be to engage with the WLP on a new West London Transport Study.

Suresh Kamath, chair of the West London Strategic Transport Group, made a presentation on the Plan at the meeting which can be downloaded here.

Peter Hendy set out TfL’s strategy in a second presentation here.

Peter Handcock, of GSK and West London Business, also provided an update for the meeting on the proposals that his business had been supporting for a new West London Orbital route (see last slide of Suresh Kamath presentation).

The 10-point plan for transport looks at the strategic ways to improve transport.

 On tackling congestion, the plan looks to make the best use of “smart” travel, through school and workplace travel plans and close monitoring of the new trials of individualised travel planning and the future options for pricing of road use.

 It also aims to keep trips local, by improving local facilities and the public realm, thus avoiding the need to travel longer distances for work, shopping and personal business, and by improving the options for walking and cycling for those shorter journeys.

 For public transport the plan seeks to improve orbital services, develop better interchanges, and to promote a more customer friendly approach to service provision and marketing, including the development of a west London transport map. It supports the taking forward the proposals for a new “FastBus” route between Wembley and Ealing through Park Royal.

 The plan seeks better integration of new development with the transport network, including a new long-term commitment to develop transport infrastructure proposals.

 The Plan argues that for the longer term major investment in new transport infrastructure is essential and, for instance, wants the proposal for a new West London Orbital line explored.

 Finally the Plan also draws attention to the specific transport challenges of Heathrow airport and its related activities, and the needs of the freight industry, to promote efficient deliveries while protecting local environments.  

The Plan was produced for the West London partners by the West London Strategic Transport Group, comprising representatives with an expertise or strong interest in transport issues from businesses, the borough councils in West London and local community and voluntary groups

For more information about the Plan contact the West London Alliance Director, Ian Nichol, ian.nichol@westlondonalliance.org.