Low Carbon Transport

Comments gathered from members of Transition Stirling: There doesn’t seem to be any sense of integration between this plan and the recently published Scottish Government Heat and Building Strategy. For example, within the table there is an interim target of 100% EPC C or better by 2040 for all homes in the Stirling Council area. In the Scottish Government strategy, there is an interim target of 100% by 2035. This would suggest this strategy hasn’t been consulted at all. It only talks briefly about fuel poverty, but this is a huge area and we feel there should be more detail. It talks about promoting opportunities for jobs and economic prosperity. This is key as right now Scottish Government wants to go toward a post-covid green recovery and a lot of people will be affected by redundancies. Scottish Government has put a lot of funding into green jobs and upskilling. This report should discuss how exactly that will be promoted and used in the Stirling Council area and how it will bridge the skills gaps to what is needed for the future supply chain, such as increasing accredited insulation installers. For example, will Stirling Council work in partnership with Energy Skills Partnership and Forth Valley College to do this? It is great that it says that businesses will be inspired to take action. It’s good that it mentions Zero Waste Scotland’s resource efficient Scotland but this has since been renamed. The report says all new homes will be required to use renewable or low carbon heating. This will be going into legislation so all new builds will need low carbon or zero carbon main sources of heating anyway. For developments to be agreed, they should include planners, developers and architects etc. who will go above and beyond the legal minimum and reach objectives in terms of sustainability. There is not much mention of how University of Stirling will be involved with the Environment Centre. Members suggested these examples of interesting things being achieved elsewhere as inspiration: • https://www.edinburghsolar.coop/ • https://static1.squarespace.com/static/5d30896202a18c0001b49180/t/5de7e8b2b3cba52aa92f9ad4/1575479486917/PoweringParks.pdf

Safe cycle lanes in more rural areas are of benifit to the communities and also encouraging tourism. The A811 from buchlyvie to stirling needs a cycle lane, the topography would encourage more cycle users especially the rise of electric bike use.

Comments collected from members of Biological & Environmental Science, Stirling University: • Better cycle lanes But not just in Stirling itself, need better cycle lane links to surrounding towns/villages too • What is the “Behaviour Change Strategy”? This strategy needs to be based on evidence • Some focus on major walking routes to schools is needed to improve the experience of walking to school, alongside health benefits of e.g. lower pollution

Your goals here, whilst laudable, seem to be diametrically opposed to the council's actions with the reopening of Murrayshall Quarry. This will put between 110 to 220 extra HGV journeys carrying rock on the roads heading across many children's school routes crossing Polmaise Road from Cambusbarron, Kenningknowes, Batterflats, and Dalmorglen Park and then going past Kings Park. Many parents will be forced to get back into the car as a result of safety concerns and children being intimidated by these vehicles passing.

I live in St Ninian's/Torbrex and I always try to think about the more environmentally friendly options ie active travel/public transport before using a private vehicle but it's not easy at the moment and it needs to be easier so people can make the change. Although there has been work done to develop safe cycle routes we need car free cycle routes. If there was a car free cycle route to town I would have used it from the time my children were young. I have found cycling on the current route with children way too stressful and have always had to choose to walk instead which takes up more time. A car free cycle route out along the A811 to Gargunnock and beyond would make cycling a lot easier and safer and I think it could help develop tourism in the council area. Imagine if there was a car free route all the way out west to the national park.. I think local motorists need to be educated about vehicle idling as I often see drivers running their engines outside the school or at Lidl. It is so frustrating when I am trying to limit using a private vehicle to see other motorists creating emissions going nowhere. I feel the Peak is too far to walk or cycle from St Ninians/Torbrex especially with children and I have looked into using the bus but it takes two buses to do the journey. We need bus routes where people can make the journey they want to make on one bus. Buses are also expensive. In my experience it is cheaper and easier to get a taxi to get home from the train station than to use a bus if I have my children with me. Buses need to be the cheaper option in comparison to private cars and taxis if people are going to use them. I think we will have to be really ambitious if we really want people to switch from private vehicles to public transport and active travel. I think it would be worth it not just in terms of the climate crisis but also in terms of public health benefits from increased exercise.

I live in a area that has no connecting footpath, cycle lane or even public transport from the village nearby. Our ONLY option is to use a private vehicle. Pedestrianisation of Stirling city centre would be beneficial, but a series of safe footpaths linking villages to villages and restoring previously existing public transport would be life changing.

Need to Prioritise a Safe Integrated Cycle Network - cycling offers enormous potential in and around Stirling and helps all wheeled users and inclusion. Plan, build and sign safe cycling routes. Still waiting to draw key routes on the 2016 ATP Map Plan! People will cycle when they feel safe - we have seen that recently. Communities have been asking for many years for safe routes into Stirling; Dunblane to Bridge of Allan, Kildean (pipe bridge) and Craigforth, Gargunnock, Cowie, Durieshill, Manor Powis. Needs to be much better integrated planning and delivery between SC departments and developers, and much greater awareness of councillors and officers of the issues and potential routes. So many lost opportunities to build in AT cheaply into new developments recently. Just building in car dependence. More practical action please.

During the presentation last week it was stated that reducing emissions in transport would be difficult to achieve I believe the opposite is true Commercial EVs are so much cheaper to run and maintain that, as soon as they become readily available , every carrier will convert Car drivers are likely to follow when they see the benefits and have access to the much cheaper vehicles which will inevitably come from China The council could accelerate the transition with the introduction of clean air zones

I commend the Council in its achievements so far but there needs to be more radical action. We need a city centre that is wholly pedestrian, walking and cycle friendly and well served by eco friendly public transport.

The improvements to the cycle network set out in the recent walk, cycle live consultation are welcome. However, beyond the routes in question and the increased segregation there also needs to be a commitment to gritting and maintaining off-road routes throughout the winter months. Only then will residents have the confidence to make a permanent modal shift to cycling from private cars and vehicles.