Golden Mile Transport Group

Meeting 19 – Summary

31stJanuary, 2013. 10am – 12pm University of West London, Brentford Campus, Paragon House, Boston Manor Road, Brentford, Middlesex, TW8 9GA

Attendees:

First Name / Surname / Company
Dee / Martin / University of West London (UWL)
Lynn / Straw / University of West London (UWL)
Gurvir / Dhillon / University of West London (UWL)
Tom / Murray - Willis / Contemporary Transport
Colin / Black / Contemporary Transport
Ian / McDonald / Spa-Ltd
Darrell / Goddard / B SkyB
Phillip / Lemon / Allianz
Mark / Rissen / Contract Security Services
David / Beckett / Day Group
Karen / Rankin / JC Decaux
Alex / Cavanagh / BSI Group
John / Simnett / Simnett Consulting
Gemma / McNeilis / Enjoy Work.com
Catherine / Warwick – Wilson / GlaxoSmithKline
Anne / Murphy / GlaxoSmithKline
Chris / Calvin – Freeman / LB Hounslow
Patricia / Huertas / LB Hounslow
Mark / Frost / LB Hounslow
Georgina / Stephens / JMP Consultants
Peter / Moth / TfL
Kate / Meakin / Sustrans
Brian / Burgess / Brentford FC
Tim / Forrester / West Trans
Bridget / Molloy / Walt Disney Co.

Unable to Attend:

First Name / Surname / Company
Carol / Davies / TfL
Tim / Light / Agfa
Duncan / Pickering / IAM
Item no. / Item detail / Lead / Outcome / Objective / Comment
1 / Welcome and introductions / Dee Martin (UWL)
2 / Universityof West London Collaborative Opportunities / Gurvir Dhillon (UWL) / To introduce local businesses to the various opportunities that exist for partnership working with the university / Gurvir presented details of the opportunities available for partnership working with University of West London.
The presentation is available here
3 / Universityof West London Green Travel Days / Dee Martin (UWL) / To introduce the work of the university promoting sustainable travel to staff and students / Dee introduced delegates to the work currently being undertaken by the university to promote sustainable travel by staff and students.
Assistance for these initiatives is provided by West Trans. The initiatives include:
  • Green Week: including a Travel Plan Day, Climate Change Day, Waste Reduction Day
  • GlaxoSmithKline event in the park: including a cycle ride, Dr Bike sessions, eco-simulators and a ‘Green Quiz’ for students
  • Free breakfast provided for students who walk / cycle to university during Green Week.
  • These initiatives are currently mainly based in Ealing, however it is proposed to expand these further to Brentford Campus.
The University is undertaking a travel survey of staff and students in order to evaluate current travel patterns and to help in identifying a baseline carbon footprint for the university, and subsequently identify the areas where carbon could be reduced. This is part of the university’s Carbon Management Plan and contributes to the planning permission as part of a £35 million investment to redevelop the site.
The university is promoting video conferencing, car sharing, the existing travel Golden Mile bike loan scheme and the cycle to work salary sacrifice scheme in an effort to reduce carbon emissions.
Cycle facilities are also undergoing improvement and car park charging through permits or smart cards is in discussion.
Dee Martin then enquired whether other companies/organisations have Carbon Plans. Anne Murphy (GSK) and Darrell Goddard (BskyB) confirmed that both companies have initiatives to reduce carbon emissions.
4 / Update on Old Oak Common Rail Link from Brentford / Peter Moth (TfL) / To update the group on proposals to introduce a new rail line from Hounslow to Old Oak Common (via Brentford) as part of the High Speed 2 proposals / Peter Moth presented details of the proposed new rail line from Hounslow to Old Oak Common.
The presentation is available here:
The issue was raised of putting forward support of the proposed line and it was suggested by Peter Moth that the Golden Mile businesses should compose a letter to the Secretary of State, detailing their support and the expected benefits of the project.
Actions: Peter Moth will provide LB Hounslow with an example letter to the Secretary of State.
5 / Brentford Connection / Patricia Huertas (LBH) / To update the group on proposals to improve connectivity between the Great West Road, Canal and the High Street / River. / Patricia Huertas presented details of the connectivity and public realm improvements proposed in Brentford. The improvements aim to increase the vibrancy of the town centre, with construction proposed to commence in Summer 2013. The aim of the improvements are to increase connectivity as well as encouraging visitors from the Great West Road to Brentford High Street.
The presentation is available here:
6 / Brentford FC – Redevelopment at Lionel Road / Brian Burgess (Brentford FC) / To update the group on plans for a new stadium and associated residential development in Lionel Road / Brian Burgess presented details on the Lionel Road Stadium and associated development.
More information is available from the website:
Brian raised the point that Brentford FC will be aiming to use business car parking along the Golden Mile for visitors to the stadium on match days in conjunction with a Park & Ride scheme. It was also identified that cycling had not been included in the mode split for the stadium. This is due to the fact that there are no cycle facilities at the existing stadium. It is proposed that the new stadium will have provision of 1000 cycle parking spaces with the target of increasing cycling mode share of visitors to 5%.
For the planned residential development, the issue of the impact of new residents on infrastructure such as schools and doctors was raised. Brian responded that the residential development at GriffinParkwill be more family orientated, with approximately 130 homes. The Lionel Road site will have approximately 900 units. There are current discussions with the council regarding facilities and infrastructure.
Peter Moth enquired whether free bus travel would be included on the ticket in order to encourage more sustainable travel to / from the site. Brian responded that free bus travel will be considered if a suitable site for bus interchange can be identified. Chris Calvi-Freeman stated that the site is well-served by a number of public bus routes. Brian Burgess also identified that the Old Oak Common rail proposals (Item 4) would improve travel times and options for those living within one hour travel of the site.
Actions: Planning application submission is due in May 2013 and so Brian is to explain, in more detail, the benefits and impacts of the scheme at the Golden Mile meeting in April. Brian Burgess proposes to host the next meeting.
7 / A4 Car Share / Tom Murray-Willis (Contemporary Transport) / To promote the new A4 Car Share system, including reward module for those that actively share lifts / Tom Murray-Willis introduced the new A4 car sharing scheme
The presentation is available here
Tom identified the issue that there are numerous businesses along the Golden Mile, but there is not currently the capacity individually for a successful car share scheme as at least 1000 members are needed. The solution proposed is a ‘corridor scheme’ including all businesses along the Golden Mile. This would increase membership and potential car share matches. The scheme is free to sign up to and is secure for Golden Mile businesses as a work email is required in order for an individual to register.
Tim Forrester enquired how car sharing journeys are validated to provide clear results of how successful the scheme is. Colin Black responded that members have to log each individual journey and that the passenger in the car share must also be a member of the scheme, not just the driver.
David Beckett enquired about successor funding. Mark Frost responded that funding is dependent on the results over a period of 2 – 3 years and that if the scheme is proven to be a success it would be easier to gain funding.
8 / Olympics Travel Demand Management Case Studies (Drafts) / Georgina Stephens (JMP) / To circulate the games time travel demand management case studies developed at the last meeting / Opportunity to review case studies in draft form before publication.
Draft copy available here:
Action: All businesses mentioned within the case study brochure to check the text relating to their case study example. Any changes to be passed on to either Mark Frost () or Sabrina Ishfaq ()
9 / Active Travel Champions – chance for businesses to get involved / Kate Meakin (Sustrans) / To inform businesses about the scheme and the opportunities available for their staff to become active travel champions / Kate Meakin gave a presentation on the opportunities for Golden Mile staff members to become active travel champions.
Sustrans is currently working with Hounslow on a voluntary engagement programme and the scheme is meant to complement other initiatives. Champions are trained to become experts on travel advice and become advocates for active travel, promoting walking and cycling to other members of their organisation and community. They will support existing initiatives and disseminate information to their colleagues and peers.
This is beneficial to the workplace as a low-cost, high-gain strategy to improve employee health and reduce carbon emissions. Kate stated that active employees take on average 27% fewer sick days than their fellow employees. Travel champions are also more sustainable in the long term when compared toemploying an outside organisation to increase walking / cycling.
Note: Any interested business can contact Mark Frost or Kate Meakin. There are currently 16 champions in Hounslow with an aim to increase this to 40 (funded places). It should be noted that funded places are limited but that this can also be provided as a non-funded service.
10 / HGV Cycle Safety – Actions for Businesses / Mark Frost (LBH) / To update the group on this campaign and provide further details on what they can do to improve cycle safety around HGVs / Mark Frost presented an update on the HGV Cycle Safety campaign being led by London Cycle Campaign, and which the council are responding to with a number of initiatives.
The campaign involves working with HGV drivers to ensure drivers undertake vulnerable road user training, including a session on bicycles; undertaking cycle training in businesses to show cyclists how to position themselves on the road to ensure they are visible to HGV drivers; providing opportunities to cyclists to ‘exchange places’ with HGV drivers and sit in a cab to observe the visibility splays; and improving roads to incorporate cycle facilities.
Business that are interested in providing safety training to either cyclists or HGV drivers should contact Mark.

Next Meeting of Golden Mile Group – 25th April 2013, 10am -12pm (Meeting 20)

Venue: Brentford FC (address to be confirmed)