August 2012 Archives

Helen Drury, Policy Advisor at BCSC, discusses the ramifications of increasing rail fares.

With the closing of the Olympics on Sunday, we seem to have definitely returned to pre-games life.  On my commute into work on Monday morning, there were glum faces galore and a chaotic train service.  The Olympic hangover has certainly set in.

However, announcements this week go beyond the resumption of service as normal - normal for the UK anyway.  Last week the announcement of greater investment in the rail network was welcomed as a way to improve service, help the economy with better transport links and the environment with low-carbon trains.  This week, however, we have found this investment comes at cost to commuters, as government subsidy will decrease. At a time when purse strings are extremely tight, with wages falling in real terms, this will squeeze people even further when the 11% increase comes into effect in December this year.

While there is promise of improved service and sustainability of train services, this will not outweigh the impact on commuters.  In addition, no matter how sustainable the trains are, if people are choosing the cheaper car alternative, this will in fact increase emissions.  In fact, as fuel duty rises were scrapped last month in the infamous omni-shambles incident to help hard hit commuters, it gives the signal that this government is not the greenest ever, nor does it even to pertain to be anymore.

Sustainability of course encompasses not only the environmental aspects, but society and economy as well; and the impacts on these are perhaps greater than the environmental implications of people using their cars more.  If people are priced out of using the train network, social exclusion will increase and social mobility will decrease.  The Campaign for Better Transport has shown that towns and cities with good rail networks thrive more than those without as they have higher densities, bringing economic benefits as retailers service these populations.

So the Government needs to look at the bigger picture - rather than just the revenue gained from higher fares - of a Britain where rail is supported as a primary transport method, bringing together cities and increasing social mobility.  If Osborne can make cuts for fuel to help commuters, it is even more important that he does it for rail travel too.

Helen Drury, Policy Advisor at BCSC, assesses the legacy of London 2012.

Last Friday saw the opening of the London 2012 Olympic Games with a spectacular show by Danny Boyle.  Spirits are high for British medals, especially after winning our first two gold medals in the rowing and cycling today.

Our aspirations for our competitors are certainly high, but how about the ambitions for the London 2012 Games to be the most sustainable ever?

The Olympic stadium stands on what was some of London's most degraded land and contaminated waterways.  In the run up to the Olympics, great efforts were taken to remediate the land; the stadium itself is mostly made from recycled materials, renewable energy is being used to power the stadium and there is a zero-waste to landfill policy.

Sustainability does not just mean green though; it also encompasses economic and social improvement as well.  Certainly the increased number of visitors will help to boost the economy in the short term, and hopefully into the long term with increased tourism.  Local Authorities have also been getting in on the action, hosting Olympic events, community parties and sports schemes at schools and leisure centres.

I have been impressed with the use of the existing infrastructure in London, with the three day eventing seamlessly slotted into Greenwich Park and the cyclists winding through South West London to the finish at Pall Mall.  But this isn't only special to London, the sailing is taking place at Weymouth Sailing Pavilion and will hopefully drive tourism to the area in the future as it has been showcased across the world with the coverage of the Games.

Undeniably, the ambition for sustainability this year has set the bar for future Games very high.  Success, however, ultimately depends on the legacy and how much the spirit of the Olympic Games is passed through to lasting change in the UK.  A legacy strategy has been in place since 2009 and there are high hopes for the success of this; the athlete's village will be converted to housing following the Games and the park will be converted into a landscaped park for Stratford residents.  What I think will be most interesting to see will be how much the sustainability of the site itself inspires other areas and businesses in the UK.  In particular, East London's economy will undoubtedly benefit in the long term from such vast capital investment - including the new sustainable Westfield Shopping Centre - and four weeks of incredible showcasing.  Will this area of London become a bubble of sustainable design and living?