Page 20 - Ickford NP Background Evidence

20 ICKFORD NEIGHBOURHOOD PLAN : BACKGROUND EVIDENCE REPORT

Transport and Air Quality

European and UK transport policies and plans place emphasis Travel to school
on the modernisation and sustainability of the transport
network. Specific objectives include reducing pollution and Travel to school can have large traffic implications on a
road congestion through improvements to public transport, settlement and can often account for a large number of
walking and cycling networks and reducing the need to travel. journeys made at peak times. All school children have to
National policy also focuses on the need for the transport be taken by car or school bus to the closest primary school
network to support sustainable economic growth. at Ickford or by car to the primary school at Oakley. There
The plans and programmes highlight that congestion is also a school bus for Wheatley Park School (Secondary
and poor air quality resulting from transport are key issues. education).
Local plans should therefore focus on appropriate design,
location and layout of development, increasing investment Air Quality
in infrastructure, improving the quality and accessibility
of public transport, supporting walking and cycling, and Air quality in the Buckinghamshire is generally good, but
enhancing road safety. there are still occasional unacceptably high levels of
There is no train station or nearby station within Ickford, pollution originating mainly from vehicle emissions on busy
the nearest is Haddenham &Thame Parkway which is about roads. These areas are designated as Air Quality
15 minutes drive away. There are no off road surfaced Management Areas. For Ickford there are no Air Quality
cycling links in the neighbourhood area. Management Areas and air quality is not seen as an issue.
Traffic is generated within Ickford village from local
journeys as well as through-traffic.
Currently, the only public transport is the number 110 Box 7: Key transport and air quality
bus, which runs only four times during a weekday and goes issues for Ickford
to Thame and Aylesbury via surrounding villages, taking • Public transport is the biggest issue for Ickford
over an hour to get to Aylesbury. The bus timetable is due to its rural nature. A more regular service
specifically geared to school children – the last bus back would make the service more usable.
into the village arrives back at 17.03 and is hence unsuitable • Congestion through the village is a concern.
for commuters, and in school holidays a different timetable • There are no air quality issues for Ickford.
is in place. The only way to get to Haddenham and its station
or to Oxford is to catch a connecting bus service in Thame.

VISION FOR ICKFORD – NEIGHBOURHOOD DEVELOPMENT PLAN
www.visionforickford.co.uk