'Making the Connections', a 2003 report by the Social Exclusion Unit, identified that improving access to opportunities that are likely to have the most impact on life changes - such as employment, education, healthcare and food shopping - would contribute to social inclusion, economic regeneration and welfare to work, reduce health inequalities, and improve participation and attendance in education.

Barriers that can prevent people from accessing essential services include:

• the availability and suitability of transport options
• services and activities located in inappropriate places
• cost of transport options
• safety and security
• limited travel horizons and lack of information

Accessibility planning provides a way for local authorities, working in partnership with other organisations, to solve local accessibility problems relating to whether people can reach the services they need to ensure that planning decisions are informed by evidence resulting from analysis of local accessibility factors.

The Greater Nottingham Accessibility Strategy, which is part of the Local Transport Plan for Greater Nottingham 2006/07 to 2010/11, sets out how Nottingham City and Nottinghamshire County Councils will improve accessibility by:

• making access to transport services easier
• reducing the need for people to travel
• ensuring key services are located in the right places

Beacon Award for Improving Accessibility

Nottingham City Council and Nottinghamshire County Council have jointly been awarded Beacon status for Improving Accessibility in 2008. The authorities will be organising a series of workshops to explore approaches to improving access to jobs and essential services through partnership working during Spring 2009.

For more information email the Beacon Co-ordinator at accessibility.beacon@nottscc.gov.uk

 Click here to download the Accessibility Strategy [23Mb]

 Click here to download the Accessibility Strategy Annexes [3Mb]