TWJLAF Attendance at North East Combined Authority Consultation Event on 13 June 2017
Regional Transport Plan
Walking & Cycling Strategy
- Attendance:
For TWJLAF Liz Bray.(Total including officers and facilitation team was 28.)
- Issues discussed/items of interest to JLAF
- 31% increase in cycling to work in NE region between 2001-2011.
- Systra is an international transport and engineering consultancy. Paul Osborne is their lead on the Cycling and Walking Strategy project and was with Sustrans for some 20 years previously.
- The government’s Cycling and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) was launched on 21 April 2017 and aims to increase cycling, increase walking, reduce cycling casualties and increase numbers walking to school. (See this link for the strategy
- The NECA Regional Transport Plan will include a regional Cycling and Walking 10 year Strategy with 5-yearly implementation plans.
- 1st phase of consultation will end in July. Implementation Plan and Business case will be drafted by end October 2017.
- Consultation includes stakeholder meetings (this is one) workshops, a wider email survey, a strategy/policy review and consistent design standards.
- ROWIPs have a strong link/relationship
- Short introduction provided on role/remit of LAFs. (Need to follow this up with written material as it was clear there is little awareness of what LAFs are.)
- Three Regional LAFs see many benefits in regional working.
- LAFs are statutory bodies providing “advice”. Strong strategic role and not just about countryside access.
- Importance of funding for cycling and walking
- Importance of health benefits and improving air quality.
- Role for new technology to help walkers and cyclists with route planning, reporting problemsetc.
- Planning and development – can source S106 funding for access.
- Success stories locally – national and regional routes, building tourism and economic benefits.
- Good examples: Hadrian’s Way, Land of Oak & Iron, Sandstone Way, IAMP, Acorn Road Jesmond, Cycle Hub Newcastle.