Active Travel Board meeting: 27 July 2023
Summary of the Active Travel Board meeting held on 27 July 2023.
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Minutes of previous meeting
It is expected that the Active Travel Delivery Plan will be published by Welsh Government in early autumn 2023.
The Board supported the intention to extend the update of network maps from 3 to 5 years.
Leadership and capabilities of local authorities in Wales
There were various constraints noted on the ability for local authorities to lead, such as recruiting active travel experts in-house because longer term funding for these posts is uncertain. Welsh Government said that multi-year funding commitments are made. The Board recommended that Welsh Government and Transport for Wales (TfW) review how they allocate and communicate so that longer term appointments can be made.
Active travel should be a focus across multiple portfolios which would help to raise the awareness of the benefits and importance of active travel for decision makers.
The Board wants to highlight examples of well-designed active travel measures and how this benefits the community and agreed to work to bring examples of good practice together.
Active Travel to School
The Board agreed the remit of the Active Travel to School group.
Public Health Wales presented their work promoting and influencing active travel to schools in Wales. Overall, active travel made up less than 40 per cent of journeys to school and it appears that the number of children actively travelling to school has reduced.
Welsh Government explained that Sustrans are working on active travel plans for schools and reported that active travel is part of the education investment programme and funding conditions. Welsh Government is reviewing its design guidance which and agreed to share a draft with the Board.