Problems with the Transport System In The Town Hartlepool

Introduction

Hartlepool is a town of the county called Durham of England. The town lies between north Middlesbrough and south of Sunderland at distance 7 and 17 miles respectively, on the North Sea. It is governed as part of Borough of Hartlepool, a unitary authority. Hartlepool is having a beautiful coastal line which made Hartlepool a beautiful destiny initially. This is the town which is having a rail facility in the year 1835, the industrial revolution turned this town developing path. In 1838 Ironworks and 1870’s Shipyards in the docks are changed the face of Hartlepool and became incorporated as a municipal borough. Because of this in First World war Germany targeted as a key place in United kingdom to attack. As planned Hartlepool triggered with 1150 shells and 117people were killed. That incident completely changed the Hartlepool path of lifestyle, Again suffered a lot in second world war as well. After the war, both major industries are shut down which leads to becoming the most unemployed place in the UK. From 1983 to 1998 Hartlepool suffered from high-level crime, alcohol and drug dependency and mainly by economic poverty. By Lieutenancies Act 1997 again this town came under the modern ceremonial County Durham.

How Is Now:

Now Hartlepool is Town having a population of 92,600 with a growth rate of 0.18% (2011-2014) which is 0.144% of the UK population. From the begin, this town economy relates to the maritime industry, which still reflects this town economy. PD ports own the Hartlepool dock and giving employment for around 1700 people and few people work in Tata Steel Europe in the manufacturing of Steel tubes. An AGR type nuclear power station which is opened in the 1980s provides the job for 1% of the total population of the town, which is large and dependent for Hartlepool people. Tourism is an asset for Hartlepool as it is having a number of beaches and large Docks which attracts travellers to have a stay. A surprising fact is that in the year 2009 tourism was worth 48 million pounds to the Hartlepool town.

On the other side the crime rate is still going up and a rate of 116 crimes for every 1000 people which is above than the England and Wales average which is 82. The growth rate of the population very low as around 0.2% which one of major lowest places in Briton. Every day there is Robbery or theft crime taking place and sexual harassment is becoming a major issue here.

Why is Hartlepool Still Struggling?

After going through the great history that this beautiful Industrial town, Why this town is facing trouble to get into development path. Even though by having strong seaport, extraordinary beaches and number of industries, what stopping Hartlepool to get advance? May be accessibility and mobility! Is Transport system is failing to give this to the people? Is there is a need for a sustainable transport system? A big yes requires here.

What Is a Sustainable Transport System?

Before going there, first get what transport is, In Oxford English Dictionary it is defined as:

To take or carry (people or goods) from one place to another by means of a vehicle, aircraft, or ship. Where sustainability is Ensuring that development meets the needs of the present without compromising the ability of future generations to meet their own needs as The Brundtland Report (1987). The EU transport council has defined a sustainable transport system as a system that: allows the basic access and development needs of society to be met safely and in a manner consistent with the human and ecosystem health, and promotes equity within and between successive generations. In some other times, sustainable transport defines as Green Transport which doesn’t use or depend on non-renewable resources like fuel and oil which give a major impact on the environment and run with renewable resources.

Informally we can say it as considering of people, planet and profit which we call ‘triple bottom line’ which has defined in Brundtland commission of the USA in 1987: Triple bottom line(TBL) accounting expands the traditional reporting framework to take into social and environmental performance in addition to financial performance.

What Is Present Transport System In The Town Hartlepool :

Roads

This city served by a couple of primary routes is the A179 and the A689 roads. The A179 road connecting this city to the north-west which leads Tyneside, Sunderland and Durham, the A689 leads to the south-west towards Middlesbrough, Stockton and Yock. Two other roads A178 and A1086 also connect this city towards south and north.

Rail

Hartlepool city lies on Durham coastline and having two railway stations Hartlepool and Seaton Carew which are operated by Northern. Hartlepool is having a direct link to London which takes three and a half hours to reach. Grand central running a service from Sunderland to London Kings cross for every one hour.

Bus

Local bus services provided by stagecoach North East around the town. From the city Stagecoach operates faster service 1 to Middlesbrough via seton Carew and port Clarence and another service 36 from Hartlepool to Billingham, Stockton and Middlesbrough,

Other operators Arriva northeast and Go North East also facilitating services from this town to Peterlee, Durham, Seaham and Sunderland.

Walking Routes:

In this case, The authority of the Hartlepool Borough council focused on footpaths and cycling ways within the city. The walking paths along the coastal side give the best experience in the evenings. Most of the people if we consider in economical, are just not poor who have sufficient money to move on, for them, these paths seem royal to go out. In some places, the wastage which is thrown on the paths catches your eyes, which is a bit not okay.

SEA :

Hartlepool lies on the sea which is provided with the lavishness of having major seaport since this city is formed. This city also having a bank of fishing heritage. There is a huge number of new docks were created during the industrial revolution on the southern side of the channel running below the headland, which gave rise to the town of West Hartlepool.

Other Consideration

In Hartlepool still, we can find some junctions without having signal lights and people who ran on roads without having any signs or indication which is still there to solve. Most of the roads are seems empty in most of the hours in a day and not that safe at night time if we consider the crime rate the city which is high when you compare with other neighbour cities. The uncleaned roads with wastage and somewhere a few dirty back streets give some not-impressed feeling. The empty stations in the evening times wait for someone to travel.

Having A Car:

Now, this is the main issue of Hartlepool is facing. Yes, the number of people having a car in a town when you compared Hartlepool with same standard towns. This is just because here people not use public transport for various reasons which giving most emissions to the environment.

What Is The True Problem Is :

As we mentioned at the starting of this report the main concern about the Hartlepool people is that they are not having proper employment. If they want to work in some other city they need to travel every day according to there shift or working hours. When it’s a day time, there may no objections, but when you need to travel in night time there are few problems to look at.

1. Frequency of buses or trains to town from various nearby cities.
2. Timing and availability of bus and trains.
3. Routes are a major thing to consider.
4. Fair fluctuations, especially in trains.
5. Connecting in between different routes.
6. Safety also has to be in consideration.
7. Travelling time

With these all problems to deal people opting their vehicle even though it’s a bit expensive.

Here the requirement of Sustainable transport finds the voice. A sustainable transport system provides a good service and profits the operators and passengers with less impact on the environment. It’s the government’s responsibility to provide accessibility and mobility for the cities.