Consultative Draft Regional Transport Plan
Introduction and summary of the Plan
Bridgend County Borough Council is a member of Sewta, the South East Wales Transport Alliance, which is one of four Regional Transport Consortia within Wales, set up by the Welsh Assembly Government to deliver the Assembly’s Transport agenda. The production of the Regional Transport Plan (RTP) is a requirement of the Welsh Assembly Government.
The draft Regional Transport Plan, which has now begun a period of formal consultation, has been produced by the ten Councils which make up Sewta, working in partnership. The Sewta consortium is made up of the following Councils - Blaenau Gwent, Bridgend, Caerphilly, Cardiff, Merthyr Tydfil, Monmouthshire, Newport, Rhondda-Cynon-Taf, Torfaen and the Vale of Glamorgan.
Sewta works closely with all of its partners and stakeholders; including representatives of the Confederation of Passenger Transport, Network Rail, Bus Users UK, Arriva Trains Wales, Passenger Focus and Sustrans, to improve transport for South East Wales. Previous consultation exercises have been undertaken during the development of the draft Regional transport Plan to ensure that the community has had the opportunity to influence the direction of the policies and proposals contained within this consultative draft.
Summary of the Plan
The Regional Transport Plan replaces existing Local Transport Plans and the consultative draft Regional Transport Plan contains a balanced programme for investment and support for all modes of travel, a programme of projects which link transport planning with land-use and public service planning and balances the competing need to protect the environment, address problems of social exclusion and promote economic growth.
The Regional Transport Plan vision is “To provide a modern, integrated and sustainable transport system for South East Wales that increases opportunity, promotes prosperity and protects the environment; where public transport, walking, cycling and sustainable freight provide real travel alternatives”.
How to access the Consultation Documents
1. The full Consultative Draft Regional Transport Plan is available to read here.
A wide range of additional background and supporting documents (including previous participation reports and a report on current base-line conditions in the Sewta area) can be found on-line by visiting the Sewta website and following the links. A Welsh-language version of the consultation document will also be available on the website shortly.
2. Copies of the Consultative Draft Regional Transport Plan will be available to view on CD in every library within the County Borough, during normal working hours.
3. If you require the consultation document in a different format, including hard copies, please contact sewtaconsultation@capita.co.uk
How do you make your views known?
Sewta would now like to receive your comments on the draft Plan. Please send us your comments in one of the following ways
• By e-mail direct to sewtaconsultation@capita.co.uk
• By completing the short questionnaire is also available to download in English or Welsh, complete and return to sewtaconsultation@capita.co.uk
Should you require any further information or assistance in respect of the Consultative Draft Regional Transport Plan please contact sewtaconsultation@capita.co.uk , or, for information specifically related to Bridgend County Borough Council, please telephone Richard Metford, Transportation Policy and Strategy Manager on 01656 642520 or email Richard.Metford@bridgend.gov.uk
Consultation Period
The deadline for responses is 30th September 2008
What are the next steps?
Once the consultation period has ended, Sewta plans to publish the comments it has received, together with its response to those comments, as part of its public participation statement. No personal information or contact details will be published, only your name, or if you are responding on behalf of an organisation, its name.
The final Regional Transport Plan will be produced, taking account of the views and comments flowing from this consultation exercise, for adoption by Sewta and the ten individual constituent local authorities, before being delivered to the Welsh Assembly in December 2008, for their approval, in March 2009.
