Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Principal Transport Planner

The report presented by the Principal Transport Planner, detailed the Active Travel Infrastructure Plan outlined improvements needed for walking, cycling, and wheeling networks in Dorset, prioritising key areas to support the Climate and Ecological Emergency strategy and the Dorset Council travel plan. Public feedback from nearly 1,000 responses in late 2023 and early 2024 informed the network plans and the presentation covered the prioritisation approach in action using a couple of examples.

Following the discussion there was a comprehensive discussion that highlighted several key areas

·       The importance of partnership working with teams such as planning, rights of way, town and parish councils and National Highways to ensure that the plan flexes and adapts to future needs and accesses the highest levels of funding available.

·       Childrens school travel was discussed and the importance of encouraging active travel for those in proximity to schools.

·       The importance of clear communication and engagement with communities to avoid the feeling of being done to was discussed and was seen as essential in the plan.

·       The prioritisation of routes and areas was discussed and the weighting given to leisure activities, tourism, and the potential impact in terms of realising value for money.

·       Discussion around funding sources for the initial developments and the importance of considering the cost of maintenance for the developments once completed.

Following this conversation the committee recognised the scale of the work that was needed across Dorset and a return to a future Overview Committee meeting was to be scheduled.