FEWER road casualties and better bus services are two of the highlights of a progress report into Hertfordshire County Council's transport plan, released last month.

However, suggestions for improvements in bus delays and performance monitoring were put forward by inspectors from the Audit Commission.

Developing better ways of communicating with customers and integrating environmental, school and social services transport policies more closely to reduce congestion were recommended.

Exploring different ways of managing services to save money and devising a clearly priced programme of improvements would help the plan, they said.

Comparing the council's performance over the last year against targets, the report recognises the installation of 70 out of 1,000 planned new bus shelters and the appointment of a school travel plan co-ordinator.

The launching of a countywide Explorer bus ticket and a reduction of 626 road casualties over the last year was applauded.

Councillor Iris Tarry, executive member for environment, said: "The report is good news, showing we are delivering on our commitments.

"Great efforts have been made to ensure that transport schemes bring wider benefits to the local community, as well as delivering the eight key objectives set out in the Local Transport Plan.

"We now need to make sure that this good work continues over the coming years."

The article includes four new policies - based on social exclusion, transport issues for the disabled, cycle facilities and the use of bus lanes by other vehicles - which were made after consultation with more than 500 local organisations.

The report and a summary document will be available from August in every library in the county, at council offices and at the website <www.hertsdirect.org>.

July 4, 2002 15:30