A session on how we can work towards reducing car journeys in the Devizes Community Area.
· Introduction
· Presentations, including:
o LTP4 and Sustainable Transport
o Devizes LCWIP
o Bus service improvements / DRT
o School Travel Plans and Devizes Railway Station
· Workshop
Group discussions, focused on answering the following questions:
o How can we increase the number of journeys taken to school by sustainable transport / active travel?
o How can we increase the number of journeys within Devizes by sustainable transport / active travel?
o How can we connect and support the villages with Devizes and other towns through sustainable transport / active travel?
· Feedback / comments / questions
Minutes:
Councillor Tamara Reay introduced the workshop on reducing car journeys in the Devizes community area in a pre-recorded video.
· Devizes LCWIP
Catherine Read from Cycle Friendly Devizes spoke on the ambition to reduce motor travel dependency over the next 20 years, suggesting that they should prioritise developing the infrastructure of a walking and cycling network to make alternative means of travel more viable for the future.
· Bus service improvements / DRT
Jason Salter, Head of Service for Passenger Transport at Wiltshire Council, shared the findings of a recent survey on bus usage, and suggested that they would aim to increase the frequency of buses in Devizes.
· School Travel Plans and Devizes Railway Station
Richard Rogers, Strategic Engagement and Partnerships Manager at Wiltshire Council), travel to and from school, drew attention to how much traffic is generated by travel to and from school and the difference a single coach can make. He also noted the high doses of air pollution and higher risk of accident caused by such congestion. He spoke on the School Travel Plan, an advisory document designed to reduce car usage and promote sustainable transport.
Catharine Symington of the Devizes Gateway Project provided an update on the Devizes Railway Station. She explained that work on feasibility started in August 2022 and received lots of feedback. She stated that the proposed station would now be on south side of railway, with access further down the away from a dangerous bend. Walking and cycling plans, as well as bus connections, had all been considered, along with connections to outlying villages. A study is due to finish at the end of March 2023.
· Electric Vehicle Charging Points
Adrian Hampton, Head of Highways Operations at Wiltshire Council, discussed the future of fuels and technology, and the aspiration towards sustainable electric charging points.
The meeting then split up into groups to workshop ideas for promoting sustainable transport in the Devizes community area. The groups then fed back to the meeting. Some of the recurring ideas to arise from discussion were:
· The importance of establishing safe, well-lit pedestrian and cycling routes and readily available bike storage
· Bikeability training
· The importance of a fully integrated plan and a joined up approach
· Variable speed limits near schools
· Upgrading Rights of Way and bridleways
· Walking buses
· Car-sharing
· Resident’s parking permits near schools
· Remapping school bus routes
· An app to encourage parents to walk to school with their children
Graham Martin from Sustainable Devizes addressed the meeting, speaking on the transformative potential of the new government targets, and the importance not to approach them with a scatter gunning of initiatives. He suggested that political willpower was necessary to solve the problem holistically, involving partnerships between several groups and organisations. Members suggested that the Air Quality and Sustainable Transport Group be better utilised to this end as it was an open forum which all interested parties could attend.
The Board also discussed the impact of school admissions on sustainability, touching on the possible remedies to parents driving their children to far-away schools and the Council’s legal obligations surrounding choice.