Agenda item

Tim Nicholson, Transport Policy Planner attended the Forum and gave a presentation to Members on the Sustainable Transport Initiatives.

Members were concerned that people – particularly older people - were becoming more isolated because of the lack of bus services.  There are certain areas of the Park that do not have a regular bus service, and that car ownership inside the Park was higher than outside and a shift was needed to get people back onto public transport. 

Members felt that communication was the key to change the behaviours of people and make them aware of the services available, which will then hopefully encourage them to leave their cars at home. 

Connectivity was also an issue and Rail Partnerships need to work with Bus Companies on connectivity to ensure they work.  People with disabilities have great difficulty getting around the Park so joined up working was needed with transport groups to help people get from A to B.

Members asked whether there were any plans to continue with the Hope Valley Explorer as this was the final year of the pilot project?  Tim reported that due to the high passenger numbers, it was hoped that the project would continue in some form next year, and that they were hoping to secure funding to expand the network to reach other areas of the Park.

Tim said that there were plans to hold a Symposium on sustainable transport in the Peak District in the next few months, and that the LAF would receive an invitation for members to attend.

The Chair thanked Tim for his presentation and said that the Local Access Forum would do its best to support work on sustainable transport, and provide input from an access perspective where possible.

Can we circulate Tim’s slides with the minutes?