To be accompanied by a presentation from Steve Brooks, National Director of Sustrans and Kwaku Opoku-Addo, Policy, Development and Transportation Team Leader, Bridgend County Borough Council.

The Forum received a presentation by Steve Brooks, National Director of Sustrans on the Integrated Network Map for Bridgend. 

He informed the Forum that the definition of Active Travel is walking and cycling as an alternative means to motorised transport for the purpose of making every day journeys.  He stated that Wales is facing a number of serious challenges that Active Travel can help to address, such as: Health; Environment; Economic Development; Equality and Community Cohesion, which in turn represented five of the seven goals of the Well Being of Future Generations Act.  He also stated that Active Travel also improves air quality and reduces road traffic accidents.  

He commented on the vital role Town and Community Councils have in having interaction with their communities and bodies such as schools, employers and Chambers of Trade in engaging in the delivery of the Integrated Network Maps which have to be submitted to the Welsh Government by 24 September 2016.  He stated that Active Travel presented the opportunity to discuss a vision for communities and is about changing the places people live for the better.

The Forum received a presentation by Matthew Gilbert, Transportation Policy and Strategy Officer on the Active Travel (Wales) Act 2013 and what it meant for the Council and to the communities it serves.  He stated that the aim of the Act which came into force on 25 September 2014 is to undertake active travel and to encourage people to leave their cars behind and use active travel where it is suitable for them to do so.

The Transportation Policy and Strategy Officer informed the Forum that the Act placed 24 new duties on local authorities which comprises a map of existing active travel routes (the Existing Routes Map); a map showing plans for active travel over next 15 years (Integrated Network Map); requirements to secure new and improved active travel routes and facilities, and promote active travel journeys and preparation of reports to the Welsh Government.  He stated that the Integrated Network Map applies to 9 settlements in the County Borough but local authorities have discretion to map other areas.  The Transportation Policy and Strategy Officer also stated that Existing Routes Map had been subject to a 16 week consultation supported by events for various stakeholders including schools and community groups.  A total of 36 maps 18 showing pedestrian routes, 18 showing cycle routes were submitted. 

The Transportation Policy and Strategy Officer informed the Forum that the Integrated Network Map shows plans and proposals for active travel over the next 15 years and subject to a 12 week public consultation.  He highlighted the process of preparing for the Integrated Network Map which resulted in the desired routes being addedto identify and assess potential routes and networks for the draft INM.  He stated that the importance of the INM should not be under estimated as any routes not included in the INM were unlikely to receive funding. 

The Forum commented on potential to encourage people to use rural pavements for commuting as cycle paths are used in such a way in Scandinavians countries.  The Forum also commented on the need for the A48 to be looked at due a recent fatality and the pressures on the route from the Broadlands development.  The Merthyr Mawr area has a number of footpaths used for cycling, running and walking and need to be made safer for leisure activities.  The present 60 miles per hour speed limit at Merthyr Mawr south needed to be looked at as roads in the vicinity have become rat runs.  The Leader informed the Forum that the Welsh Government has granted funding to enable the highways authority to carry out a programme of physical improvements and stated that strong evidence was needed to identify improvements to be made.  The Policy, Transport and Development Team Leader informed the Forum that there are three barriers to making changes to the way people commute, namely, planning, funding and culture.  He stated there is a need to plan for the future and to engage with communities so that problems can be identified.  The Leader informed the Forum that the traffic review at Merthyr Mawr would be published.    

The Forum questioned what work was being done in schools to promote active travel.  The National Director of Sustrans informed the Forum of the work undertaken by the Bike IT Officer in schools in Bridgend to promote active travel, which had led to the reduction of school runs, increased bike safety and had got pupils involved in the INM.  He stated there was a need to focus attention on under 5 year olds and aspiring parents on promoting active travel.  The Transportation Policy and Strategy Officer informed the Forum that there is a suite of measures which could be put in place linking with Sustrans to achieve a reduction in car usage. 

A member of the Forum commented at the lack of lockable facilities for bikes and locker rooms in some comprehensive schools which could be a barrier to encouraging pupils to cycle to school.  The Cabinet Member Communities confirmed that Maesteg Comprehensive has bike racks and many pupils cycle to school there. 

A member of the Forum commented that bus companies had ceased operating some routes as buses could not negotiate some roads due to parked vehicles on either side of the road.  It needed to be impressed on residents to park on their drives otherwise bus services could be lost.  A member of the Forum also commented that parents need to be educated when dropping children at school due to indiscriminate parking.  The Cabinet Member Communities commented that the Council is to purchase a parking enforcement vehicle jointly with the Vale of Glamorgan Council to target areas of indiscriminate parking, particularly in the vicinity of schools.   The National Director of Sustrans commented that there had been a lot of problems of street parking since Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen had opened.  A member of the Forum commented that retail parks had encouraged the use of more car journeys.  A member of the Forum also commented on the need for a cycle route to be developed to go to Porthcawl. 

A member of the Forum commented that narrower roads had been developed at Parc Derwen designed to reduce speed but this had caused parking problems. 

RESOLVED:             That the Forum noted the report.