Issue - meetings

Councillor Sarah Warren, Cabinet Member for Climate and Sustainable Travel and Sophie Broadfield, Director of Sustainable Communities, introduced the report and gave a presentation which covered the following:

·  Introduction

·  Vision

·  Objectives

·  How we have consulted so far

·  Consultation findings

·  Better public transport options

·  Providing for Travel by bike or on foot

·  Creating improved places to live and work

·  Cleaner, greener school travel

·  Supporting future mobility

·  Connecting Bath to rural communities and market towns

·  Next steps

·  Have your say

·  The Plan identifies: current projects/Developming projects/Future projects

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

Councillor Karen Warrington stated that the programme is centred around Bath. Rural communities have had public transport cuts recently – residents welcome transport improvements into the City. Also, will you be working with Bristol City Council regarding transport into Bristol. Councillor Warren explained that the document evolved from previous documents about Bath. Bath and access to it is central to the document. CRST rural fund and innovation fund will help. Chew Valley has been suggested for a pilot regarding decarbonisation. Regarding Bristol routes, there will be focus on the A37.

Councillor Hirst stated that it was an exciting document, but the challenge is how we deliver. He asked the following questions, officer/Cabinet Member responses are shown in italics.

·  The table shows that twice the amount of people use public transport in Oxford – how can we learn from them? Councillor Warren stated that she had spoken to her counterpart in Oxford Council. The Director stated that visiting other cities will help with improvements. Councillor Walker stated that while the population is similar in the two cities, Bath has a lot more hills.

·  Can we take the issues such as air pollution and transport out of the political sphere? There could be a cross party advisory board which would mean there would be no stall due to a change in administration. Councillor Warren stated that she would think about this suggestion.

Councillor Dr Kumar stated that this was a grandiose wish list. He asked how cleaner, greener schools would be achieved and what the plan is to encourage independent and healthy travel. He asked if schools would be funded to help them improve their environment. Councillor Warren gave the example of Amsterdam in the 1970’s which was choked with cars. She explained that this situation was addressed by someone first having a vision. She explained that step one is the vision from which the business case can be put together which is how local government funding works. She further explained that the basis of the plan is putting in safe and segregated cycle routes so that parents would feel safe allowing children to cycle to school. We want to show more residents the potential of e-bikes. She explained that the document contains a bold vision but has been broken down in current/futures plans.

Councillor Dr Kumar stated that cycle lanes are 1.5metres and roads in Bath are too narrow and a lot of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60