Postscript - Transport Policy and Planning in Great Britain - page 444

new city regions without being able to guarantee the transport wherewithal to sustain
them. Logically the development of integrated inter-town public transport networks
needs to be planned and funded at the regional or sub-regional levels and would best
accompany a devolution from Central Government of funding support for local rail
services. This is a prospect which is emerging in Scotland and Wales but as yet can
scarcely be glimpsed in the English regions.
25.7 Conclusion
This final chapter has focused on transport and the future of urban areas in Britain
over the longer term bearing in mind the demands of a larger and wealthier population
coupled with the need for sustainable development and the wisdom of adopting the
precautionary principle.
It has been argued that a solution can be found by taking a holistic view, linking
reduced car use on peak-time journeys with a broader strategy of lessening individual
car ownership. This in turn provides scope for personalised marketing and sustainable
transport programmes aimed at breaking the habit of people using their own cars as an
all-purpose 'mode of first resort' for the very different requirements of urban and inter-
urban journeys and for different journey purposes. Lessening the stock of conventional
cars privately owned would have major benefits in more efficient and more attractive
urban development.
The particular prescription offered here challenging conventional wisdom and
the prolongation of 'business as usual' represents a personal view. There will be many
other ideas and perspectives to be heard if in fact the official straitjacket is removed
sufficiently to allow useful debate to take place.
Much of this topic has concentrated on the means available for delivering prevailing
policy objectives - since that inevitably is where the bulk of professional activity lies.
But this should not obscure the more fundamental rationale of planning, which is to
assert our collective ability to influence the future for the better and to illuminate the
choices available as to what that future might be.