Work areas

Transport and accessibility

In recent years CAG has developed expertise in transport planning and accessibility, and has established a track record of successful delivery from the level of national policy to more local consultation programmes and needs assessments for transport strategies, urban design processes, sustainability appraisals and planning enquiries. Our work in this field draws on our expertise in community and stakeholder involvement and our understanding of social exclusion issues. We also have an excellent grasp of strategic planning and design issues in developing transport and accessibility strategies.

We offer

• strategic research and policy advice and development on transport and accessibility for government and other national and local public agencies
• planning and delivery of community and stakeholder engagement on transport and accessibility issues
• strategy development, with a focus on community and stakeholder engagement
• sustainability appraisals of transport plans and strategies

Some examples of our work include:

The Countryside Agency North West Region, Rural Transport Partnership Forward Planning

CAG Consultants were asked to facilitate and manage an options appraisal process for the Countryside Agency in North-West England looking at options for the development and continued management of the Rural Transport Partnership programme. Working in conjunction with marketing specialists, CAG gave support and advice to RTP officers on methods of disseminating good-practice within the RTP network to potential key funders.

LB Lewisham "Streets for People"

CAG designed and facilitated two community forums for LB Lewisham related to its planned use of funds from Transport for London to develop town centre proposals with a view to delivering the London Mayor's "Streets for People" objectives. The purpose of the forum was to feedback results of an 'Enhancing Sydenham high street' questionnaire survey and results of related information gathering; to allow discussion around those results and further comment on issues facing Sydenham to be considered in the development of design proposals; and introduce the designers for the project. CAG produced detailed proceedings of the two forum events. CAG was then engaged to undertake further consultation with high street businesses and reported on their findings to LB Lewisham.

LB Hounslow Urban Design and Community Engagement Workshop

CAG designed and facilitated the Brentford Urban Design and Community Engagement Workshop for the London Borough of Hounslow. Some 60 stakeholders were invited, representing residents groups, businesses, developers and others with an interest in the urban design future of Brentford to draw together local knowledge and share opinions on the characteristics that make up Brentford's unique environment and those that are detrimental to the overall quality of the townscape. The results of the workshop, documented in detailed Proceedings developed by CAG, are helping to shape the emerging Brentford Area Action Plan.

Department for Transport Accessibility Planning Pilot

CAG Consultants undertook the lead role on a pilot project on access to health in rural Lincolnshire, as part of a wider project for DfT to pilot approaches to accessibility planning.  CAG also ran a workshop to present results of the overall study and receive feedback from key stakeholders.

Research into the benefits of access to health care in rural areas

On behalf of the Countryside Agency, CAG completed a major research project examining the benefits of providing access to health care in rural areas. The work was carried out in conjunction with the TAS Partnership. Click here for further information.

Social and economic assessment of Clear Zones for DTLR

CAG Consultants worked with SRA Ltd and Levett-Therivel to develop a methodology for the assessment of the social and economic impacts of Clear Zones on behalf of DTLR.  The monitoring framework was piloted in two Trailblazer sites and documented in the final report, which is available on the Clear Zone website.

Clear Zones Consultation Programme in Covent Garden, Fitzrovia, Bloomsbury and Hatton Garden

CAG ran area based consultations on streetscape and traffic issues for LB Camden, Westminster Council and the Corporation of London. Each process included a wide scale community survey and interactive exhibition in which participants ‘voted’ on traffic reduction initiatives and solutions to street management issues. The results have been used to develop traffic management proposals that were in turn subject to consultation run by CAG with local communities followed by installation in key locations.

Consultation on the A1 Borough Strategy for LB Islington

CAG ran a consultation programme with local residents and visitors on social, economic and environmental issues for the A1 corridor from Archway to Goswell Road. CAG ran a number of focus groups, stakeholder meetings and made a vox pops film to explore problems and opportunities for improving the streetscape and accessibility of the corridor in future. The findings influenced the Briefs being prepared to master plan key sections of the corridor.

Safer routes to public transport for LB Islington

CAG completed a consultation programme on the Bemerton Estate to explore issues about personal safety when accessing public transport. Techniques included community walkabouts, and an estate based exhibition of findings and proposed solutions. Findings have been used to make infrastructure improvements on the estate and surrounding area and are feeding into broader regeneration initiatives in the Kings Cross area.

Consultation on Lowestoft Transport Plan for Waveney District Council

CAG Consultants designed and led a consultation process on potentially contentious issues in the Local Transport Plan.  This involved creating, and working with, a Transport Panel involving representatives from the major stakeholder groups.  The Panel helped to plan a one-day visioning event involving a wider range of stakeholders, which identified problems within the town and agreed priorities for solutions to these problems.

Transport Conference, Gloucestershire

CAG Consultants were commissioned by Vision 21 to prepare and facilitate a Future Search conference on transport issues in Gloucestershire.  This involved careful identification of stakeholders from residents, specific interest groups, the County Council, the transport industry and other businesses.  It resulted in the establishment of a number of partnerships and working groups to take forward specific project ideas emerging from the conference.

Future transport strategy for LB Lambeth

CAG designed and ran a community consultation on the transport strategy for LB Lambeth. The consultation involved meetings and mind mapping of problems and issues with transport and access in and around on the borough’s five Town centres and involved a diversity of local stakeholders.

Planning inquiry for LB Ealing

CAG Consultants assisted the LB Ealing in a planning inquiry relating to a proposed megastore which would have depended largely on car-using customers.  This involved identification of alternative retail options which would be less car dependent, and research on the evidence for and against these options.

Planning for Real on traffic management for LB Southwark

CAG prepared and ran a Planning for Real style event on traffic management issues in the Consort and Friary wards of the London Borough of Southwark.  The project involved the construction of a large 3-D model of the area on which residents were invited to mark problems and suggestions.

Parking for Orange and Green Badge holders in LB Camden

CAG Consultants worked with Ramya de Silva to consult Orange and Green Badge holders on parking issues facing disabled people in Camden.  Telephone interviews with a random sample of badgeholders were followed by a series of meetings with badgeholders, council officers and with both groups together.  The process culminated in the creation of an ongoing consultative panel on transport issues affecting disabled people in the borough.

For more information contact:

Susan Parham
020 7704 0018
sp@cagconsult.co.uk

Mary Anderson
01892 619070
ma@cagconsult.co.uk