Season’s greetings and a happy New Year from all the team at Western Gateway STB
December newsletter
This issue we have new developments for our work on coaches and rural mobility, information on registering for the STB Conference in February, and the news from our local authorities and partners.
Rural mobility pilots
As part of the next phase of our work on rural mobility, undertaken jointly with Peninsula Transport, we will be hosting a stakeholder workshop on Friday 19th January in Taunton to help identify new approaches to transport in the South West’s rural and coastal communities.
We will be looking to work with our local authorities to define what pilots should be taken forward and where, with the focus on approaches that can be delivered as partnerships between local authorities, businesses and community organisations.
Email WesternGatewaySTB@westofengland-ca.gov.uk to find out more.
Register now for the STB Conference
Registration is now open for the STB Conference which takes place on Wednesday 28th February in Manchester. Registration is free and online here.
The annual STB Conference brings together England’s seven Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs) to show how we can create a more integrated, resilient and low carbon transport infrastructure through developing innovative solutions and facilitating joined-up delivery.
View the STB Conference programme here.
Coach strategy work commences
We are pleased to announce that AECOM have been commissioned to take our Western Gateway Coach Strategy work into its next phase.
This will focus on two key parts of work: setting up our South West Coach Forum and undertaking a feasibility study on one of three potential new coach routes as identified in our strategy.
Job alert!
We’re looking for a Transport Officer to join our friendly and busy team, to help us in the important and rewarding work of preparing, implementing and monitoring our long-term Strategic Transport Plan and associated strategies.
So if you are looking for a new challenge for the New Year, please take a look and get in touch: https://careersearch.westofengland-ca.gov.uk/jobs/job/Transport-Officer/469
Closing date: 7th January 2024
In case you missed it…
Here’s a round-up of the latest news as seen on our social media channels. You can find us on X, formerly Twitter and LinkedIn.
BANES has been consulting on cycling and bus transport in Bath, while North Somerset Council is running a consultation on bus services and invited residents, community groups and businesses to attend its Bus User Forum.
South Gloucestershire’s plans for the new M49 junction link road have been given planning permission.
Good news in North Somerset: the 126 bus service linking Wells to Weston-super-Mare is back in the New Year thanks to a partnership between North Somerset Council and Somerset Council.
We shared BCP’s great calculation that since its Bike Share scheme was introduced in 2019, their e-bikes and e-scooters have travelled the equivalent of 160 times around the world!
National Highways journeyed back in time to learn more about the construction of the South West’s iconic M5 Wynhol Viaduct, 50 years on.
Important new research from Sustrans and the University of the West of England warned that young people cannot access work, education and social opportunities due to transport barriers.
In global news, history was made with the first transatlantic flight by a commercial airline powered by 100% sustainable aviation fuel.
While at COP28 the Department for Transport launched a £70 million pilot scheme to power up motorway service areas and pave the way for ultra-rapid EV chargepoints.
You can keep up to date with all our work by following us on LinkedIn www.linkedin.com/company/western-gateway-stb and X, formerly Twitter @WestGatewaySTB and subscribing to our newsletters by emailing westerngateway_stb@westofengland-ca.gov.uk
