This month we are looking for SME hauliers to take part in a load-matching trial to reduce empty running lorries. Plus we have news on our upcoming issues and opportunities paper, where we will be asking for your views to help us develop our long-term Strategic Transport Plan.
This month we have updates on our rail work. Plus find out how we are working to help move more freight onto rail, reduce empty running lorries and develop our alternative fuels for freight strategy.
As we head into 2023, we take a look back at our highlights from 2022 and peek ahead to what’s in the pipeline for Western Gateway STB in the coming months.
This month we update on two upcoming reports that have been shared with our stakeholders and Department for Transport sponsors. We have news on the launch of our monitoring reports which will track and share progress on our freight strategy, plus the latest Western Gateway STB job vacancies.
The first sub-national Rural Mobility Strategy in England has been launched by the Western Gateway and Peninsula Transport Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs). The joint strategy covers South West England and sets out how the two STBs will deliver an ambitious vision to improve rural mobility for the communities that need it most.
The Western Gateway and Peninsula Transport Sub-national Transport Bodies (STBs) have launched the first joint freight strategy for the South West. The strategy addresses the challenges, opportunities and priorities for the South West over the next 30 years, to 2050, and reflects many of the priorities in the Government’s recently published Future of Freight Plan.
Rural communities are facing ongoing reduction in passenger transport services which inevitably results in a greater dependency on the private car. To address this, the Western Gateway STB together with Peninsula Transport STB have commissioned consultants WSP to undertake a rural mobility study covering the South West of England.
The Western Gateway STB is pleased to confirm that we have commissioned Sustrans and Atkins to identify and develop plans for a strategic cycle network across the Western Gateway area. This network will link key settlements and include smaller towns and transport hubs.
The Western Gateway STB is delighted that the Chancellor has announced funding for a number of transport initiatives across the Western Gateway area; the principal one being enhancements to the Chippenham Bypass (A350) which will now proceed to the next stage of development. It is planned to dual a section of the bypass and improve capacity and safety at two roundabouts with construction expected to start in 2023.