As the District grows, we need to find more sustainable transport solutions, to cut the amount of private car use, traffic and resultant pollution. We need to help people be more active (to walk and to cycle more) as part of their daily travel routine. We need to facilitate this through the provision of high quality public realm and landscape design, to create streets where people can enjoy walking, cycling or just spending time. Delivering on this ambition will lead to improved health through an increase in physical activity; reduced congestion on the highway network by providing better travel choices; and safer active travel.
In view of the climate change emergency that the Council has declared there needs to be a major shift in how people view car ownership and use the private car, particularly for short journeys, to tackle climate change, reduce carbon emissions and improve air quality. New developments need to provide a range of 'smarter' sustainable transport options to give people the choice to not use their car for every journey, which will enable people to live healthier and more sustainable lives. This needs to be balanced with the need to address car parking for new developments on-site to ensure that it does not lead to parking overspill and have an adverse impact on neighbouring streets.
There is a need to ensure any necessary highway improvements on the local and strategic road network can be delivered. Further, there is a need to work with our partners to improve strategic traffic management to, and through Dover Town whilst minimising the negative impact of cross-channel traffic.