Issue - meetings

There will be a presentation at the meeting. The slides are attached.

The Strategic Director for Place, Louise Fradd gave a presentation covering the following points:

·  Joint Transport Study

·  Rail Electrification

·  Transport Objectives

·  Key Challenges

·  Future Transport Concepts

·  Joint Spatial Plan and Transport Study

·  Timetable

(a copy of this presentation is attached to the agenda papers for this meeting or available from Democratic Services)

Panel members made the following points and asked the following questions:

Councillor Carr stated that the information given contained a lot of questions and the Panel are looking for answers. He added that proposals for devolution are being submitted. The Director responded that this will feed into the Devolution issue and she explained that this report and presentation are about ‘issues and options’ and is meant to offer options to the Council rather than be solution based. She stressed the need to get the best package.

Councillor Romero stated that she had concerns about the electrification process and whether it will be completed and the impact on the bigger plan. The Director explained that Council Officers are in frequent contact with Network Rail and the various implementation stages and that they have not been told that electrification will not go ahead. Councillor Romero commented that the WEP (West of England Partnership) contains 4 authorities but some work (for example getting HGVs off roads) involves other authorities. The Director responded that both LEPs (Local Enterprise Partnership) for Wiltshire and the West of England are included in talks regarding a link road. Councillor Romero asked if there is any progress on a non-road link with the airport. The Director responded that options are being considered as part of the West of England Joint Transport Study and that such comments should be fed back through the consultation process.

Councillor Butters stated that he understood that rail travel will double in the future and that Bristol has done well in terms of the proportion of people travelling by train. He explained that he considers electrification to be on course and that the trains are being built. He agreed that this Council should talk to Wiltshire wherever possible regarding Metro West, particularly Chippenham and Corsham.

Councillor Hale spoke about cycle super highways. He stated that he did not know how much the Twerton and Keynsham to Willmington routes are used. He stated that the Bristol-Bath route is dangerous to pedestrians. The Director agreed that there may need to be an element of segregation for cyclists to travel fast.

Councillor Carr stated that discussion was Bristol centric and that we should balance things to make sure this authority does not miss out. He also asked about ultra-low emission vehicles. The Director agreed on the point about Bristol and explained that electric vehicles are an important aspect such as the freight consolidation project.

Councillor Bull proposed that this Panel look at proposals and compile a list of suggestions and proposals from the Panel (January 2016) meeting. Panel members agreed.