Great Langdale Valley, Cumbria: An Analysis of the viability of road-user charging as a Demand Management Tool for motor-vehicle dependent recreation

This research was focused on analysing the potential application of road-user charging to the Transportation Demand Management Strategy for Great Langdale Valley in the Lake District National Park. There were three research objectives: firstly, to investigate the response of motorists to the hypothetical imposition of monetary road-user charges for entry to Great Langdale Valley (Bovaird et al, 1984); secondly, observe the impact of road-user charging on the host community of Great Langdale Valley (Holding, 1998); thirdly, to examine the suitability of the Contingent Valuation Methodology to elicit monetary preferences for road-user charging in a non-laboratory setting. The research methodology employed to elicit behavioural responses to certain price levels for road use was the Contingent Valuation Method (Mitchell and Carson, 1989). Three stakeholder samples were surveyed: visitor, resident and businessoperator samples. All three were administered with mail-back questionnaires containing hypothetical Contingent Valuation scenarios. Willingness To Pay (WTP) questions to elicit monetary preferences for road use were posed to the visitor and resident samples, whereas the business operator sample respondents were asked for their Willingness To Accept (WTA) a compensation payment for the potential impact of the road-user charging scheme on their trade. The research findings determined that a road-user charge would result in a considerable reduction in the visitor sample's intention to use a private motor-vehicle on the Great Langdale valley road network. The residential population expressed limited support for themselves or visitors being subject to a road-user charge. In addition, the business operator sample demonstrated similar opposition to the road- user charging proposal. In conclusion, road-user charging was not deemed a viable Transportation Demand Management strategy for Great Langdale Valley due to the socio-economic equity implications involved exceeding any potential road network efficiency gains

A critical analysis of the effectiveness of secure training centres: Conceptualising policy intent and outcomes for children

This thesis addresses the effectiveness of Secure Training Centres (STCs) in the rehabilitation of young offenders considered too vulnerable for prison. The notion of incarcerating children is a controversial issue and has been criticised on the grounds that there are concerns about the vulnerability of children, suffering and abuse during detention, societal implications and disregard for children’s rights. They have been accused for depriving detainees of justice, fairness and redress and even of inhumane and degrading treatment. There have been attempts to analyse the experience of custody in STCs. However these do not relate directly to the expressed aims of education and rehabilitation, protection from harm, the opportunity for the development of individuals and the prevention of reoffending. Previous analysis has been used as secondary sources of data to consider the ways in which STCs meet the needs of young vulnerable offenders in the ways that were intended. The approach to this analysis is based on the six principles of immanent critique as the basis of a structured critical analysis of this model of custody. Two important contributions to the discourse on STCs are brought to light within the thesis. Firstly, it highlights the deficiencies in these institutions and secondly, it considers the implications of them for rehabilitation and the prevention of youth reoffending, currently standing at 75%. STCs emerge as lacking penal legitimacy and their implementation is not in keeping with the STC Rules 1998. Furthermore, when the administration of welfare and the outcomes of custody are examined, STCs are in breach of Articles 3(3), 6(2), 19(1), 25, 37(b) and 39 of the 54 articles of the United Nations Convention on the Rights of the Child (UNCRC) 1989. In conclusion this thesis suggests that STCs are the latest in a sequence of initiatives that have failed when addressing youth offending; that there is a need for policy reform and finally that, wherever possible, the smallest minority of young offenders possible should be subject to custody

Reducing car-use for leisure: can organised walking groups switch from car travel to bus and train walks?

This paper deals with the significant leisure travel sector, focusing on the attitudes of organised walking groups towards public transport use. A series of interviews with walking group leaders explored the design of organised walks, and factors affecting journeys to and from start points. The themes presented suggest an overlying group culture involving mainly circular walks, reached by car. The research indicates an underlying engrained dependency on cars to reach walks and a degree of opposition to using public transport, which generally contradicts widely–held attitudes towards protecting the environment. Future research should focus more in depth on the long-term removal of psychological barriers to using public transport for leisure, and persuasive measures aimed at groups

Economic Impact of the New Federal Salary Policy in Higher Education

The purpose of the study was to examine and describe higher education administrators’ perspectives regarding the 2016 proposed changes in FLSA policies, their response to the changes, and the effect of these changes on the economy of the higher education institutions. Higher education administrators from four-year colleges and universities in Tennessee were asked to complete a survey questionnaire. This survey was created to gather information regarding perspectives of higher education administrators on the perceived economic impact of adopting the 2016 proposed Fair Labor Standards Act policy changes on institutions of higher education in Tennessee. Data on the perspectives of higher education administrators was gathered through emails. Results indicated that there were no statistically significant differences in the perspectives of higher education administrators on the financial impact of adopting the 2016 proposed FLSA policy changes based on institutional demographics: A) Public and Private institutions, B) Respondent work experience in the position, C) Respondent department/division, and D) Number of Full Time Equivalent (FTE) staff members. Furthermore, there were no statistically significant differences in the perspectives of higher education administrators on the financial impact of adopting the 2016 proposed FLSA policy changes relative to the strategic plans (3-5 year) of the institution. This study showed that the perspectives of higher education administrators were important for institutions and administrators respectively. Higher education administrators needed to be aware of the salary policy changes and how those changes could affect the economy of the entire institution. Further research in this area is needed to explore how salary policy changes affect students, the employees, and the institution as a whole. Future researchers could examine how leadership styles in higher education affect external and internal fundraising (finances) of the higher education institution