Darlington Borough Council Message Board

Have your say about accessible travel in Darlington

Fri, 11 May 2012 14:18:21 GMT

Funding made available by Darlington Borough Council’s successful Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) bid and the Community Transport Grant both funded by the Department for Transport (DfT), is able to fund an accessible taxi and community transport solution for the Darlington area. A feasibility study, carried out by consultants JMP on behalf of the Council, is underway looking into the options.

Transport in Darlington has significantly changed over the last few years, including the withdrawal of Ring-a-Ride and taxi vouchers, and the impending withdrawal of supported bus services, which currently serve the rural areas (for more information please view http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Localmotion/Accessible_Transport_Study-Report_1-Key_Findings_and_Option_Development.pdf)

A number of possible options for accessible transport have been identified through the study. These are listed below (or for more details please view http://www.darlington.gov.uk/dar_public/documents/Localmotion/Accessible_Transport_Study-Report_2-Option_Development_and_Appraisal_Final.pdf)

The next stage is for local people, communities and groups to see how these options could work for their needs.

The Council will help interested parties come together in order to bid for the funding, but will not be operating any of the following 6 transport options:

Option 1 - Additional accessible vehicle (one that can take a wheelchair)

Purchase or lease a new accessible vehicle to provide additional capacity that is required by people with mobility difficulties in the peak periods i.e. at the busy times of day when most of the accessible vehicles are transporting children to school. This vehicle could then be used to provide a service for the remainder of the day exclusively either for those that need a wheelchair accessible vehicle or more widely to communities with a transport need.

This vehicle would be placed in the hands of an existing operator (either commercial or voluntary sector), operating to a specification agreed by interested parties. This could be undertaken under a contract or service level agreement. Arrangements for the taking of bookings would need to be made.

Option 2 - Rural community transport scheme

This option involves the provision of a ‘community-based’ transport scheme, aimed specifically at meeting the needs of the rural (and certain urban) areas that have needs not met by the mainstream bus network.

It would involve either the purchase of a new dedicated vehicle, or the deployment of an under-utilised existing vehicle or vehicles. The vehicle is likely to be a 12 to 16-seat accessible minibus, mainly providing scheduled services between the villages and Darlington town centre.

Option 3 - Expand Link2 to include Darlington

Link2 is a dedicated service that operates across County Durham to meet those needs not met by the conventional bus network. It is essentially a pre-booked dial-a-ride service, which uses accessible minibuses. Bookings are made via Durham County Council’s dedicated Travel Response Centre.

Option 4 - Support voluntary car schemes

There are currently four voluntary car schemes operating in the Darlington area:

• Women’s Royal Voluntary Service

• Age UK

• The Friends of Darlington Memorial Hospital (FoDMH)

• Town Mission

This option would involve providing additional support to these organisations (perhaps in the recruitment and vetting of volunteers, or in more comprehensive co-ordination of activities) to extend these schemes to help meet the unmet needs of people in rural communities.

Option 5 - A combination of options 1 and 2

Option 6 - A combination of any of the option 1 to 4

We would like to know your comments. These could be on:

Routes

Service provision (frequency, times and days)

Payment method (for example, would you prefer to pay per mile or a fixed fare?)

Vehicle type

Forum: Accessible Transport Study

Welcome to Darlington Borough Council Discussion Forum

Tue, 10 Apr 2012 12:26:09 GMT

This forum has been set up for you to have your say about certain issues. We will use your feedback to help make decisions.

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Forum: Welcome to Darlington Borough Council discussion forum

Talking Together about Type 2 diabetes and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Fri, 02 Mar 2012 11:23:44 GMT

Do you have Type 2 diabetes or COPD? If you do, we would like you to come to a Talking Together event on:

Date: Wednesday 21 March 2012

Time: 10am – 12.30pm (lunch will be served when the event closes)

Location: Darlington Arts Centre, Vane Terrace, Darlington, DL3 7AX

This is an informal event and we want you to let us know:

What works well in managing your condition?

What doesn’t work so well?

How we can support you in managing your condition?

Everyone is welcome to come along, ask questions and give their views. Places are limited so please book as soon as possible by ringing Joanne Evans on (01325) 746126 or e-mail joanne.evans7@nhs.net

If you can't make the event, you can contribute by ringing or e-mailing Joanne (see above) or you can post your comments in this discussion thread.

Forum: Type 2 diabetes and Chronic obstructive pulmonary disease

Potential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Thu, 23 Feb 2012 10:29:55 GMT

The council is commencing a consultation on potential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople. The consultation seeks to identify potential new sites for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople pitches to meet the needs for the next 15 years and will run from 13 March to 24 April 2012.

The purpose of the consultation is to:

• Tell us what you think about the potential sites identified;

• Identify permanent pitches (excludes transit pitches);

• Discuss the planning issues around providing Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople sites; and

• To enable you to suggest alternative sites for Gypsy, Traveller and Travelling Showpeople pitches.

Views are being invited on all aspects of the study, but in particular:

1 Do you have any information about any of the potential sites that we are consulting on which will help us to decide whether they are suitable, available and deliverable for Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople provision?

2 Do you know of any other sites which the council should be considering for future Gypsy, Traveller or Travelling Showpeople provision?

3 Do you have any additional comments to make on the potential sites and issues raised through this consultation?

Your comments will feed into the preparation of the next stage of the Making Places and Accommodating Growth Development Plan Document, Preferred Options Report. All comments must be received by Tuesday 24 April 2012, 5pm.

Should you wish to make any comments on the consultation, you can do so in this discussion thread. Alternatively you can:

E-mail: planning.policy@darlington.gov.uk

Or write to us at: Head of Place Strategy and Commissioning, Town Hall, Darlington, DL1 5QT

For further information on the consultation, visit the Council’s website: http://www.darlington.gov.uk/Living/Planning+and+Building+Control/Planning+Services/Planning+Policy/travellerconsultation.htm

Or you can follow us on Facebook (http://www.facebook.com/pages/Darlington-Borough-Council/48243507113)and Twitter (http://www.twitter.com/darlingtonbc)

Forum: Potential sites for Gypsies, Travellers and Travelling Showpeople

Masterplan consultation

Fri, 10 Feb 2012 10:56:20 GMT

http://www.darlington.gov.uk/centralpark

Central Park is a 30-hectare brownfield site, situated between Haughton Road, Yarm Road, Hundens Lane and the railway. It has been selected as one of the regeneration flagship projects for the Tees Valley and is to be developed over the coming few years.

Darlington Borough Council and the Homes and Community Agency (HCA) are working with the selected developer consortium CKY (comprising Commercial Estates Group, Keepmoat Homes and Yuill Homes) to bring forward the mixed use development.

The scheme represents a tremendous opportunity to revitalise a key strategic site near the centre of Darlington, bringing investment and jobs which will spread benefit throughout the town and beyond.

Should you wish to make comments on the forthcoming masterplan you can do so in this discussion thread.

Alternatively you can write to:

Jill Thwaite

Projects and Programmes – Place;

Darlington Borough Council

Town Hall

Darlington

DL1 5QT

If you have any questions or would like any further information please contact Jill Thwaite on 01325 388269.

Partners are working to a tight timetable, and are seeking to gain Cabinet endorsement of the masterplan in April 2012.

To meet this deadline, the masterplan needs to be finalised by the end of February. The closing date for comments is therefore 20th February 2012.

Once the masterplan has been finalised and endorsed by DBC Cabinet and the HCA Exectutive, partners will work towards gaining planning consent for the development. An outline planning application and a detailed phase 1 are anticipated in the spring 2012.

A further opportunity to get involved will be made available at the pre-application stage as well as a statutory consultation on the planning application itself.

Forum: Central Park, Darlington

[91] Leisure/Cultural Trust

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:49:45 GMT

The Council is exploring the feasibility of putting its leisure facilities into a trust.

Financial Savings (£000)

2015/16 - £300

Forum: Budget Proposals 2011/12

[90] Who delivers Services

Wed, 16 Nov 2011 14:49:11 GMT

- The Council is working closely with other partners including Hartlepool Council to look at sharing services

Financial Savings (£000)

2015/16 - £2000

Forum: Budget Proposals 2011/12