Agenda and minutes

To receive any apologies for absence.

Apologies were received from Cllrs Diogo Rodrigues and Lance Duddridge.

To receive and note any declarations of interests in respect of any matters included on the agenda for consideration at this meeting.

(The other registrable interests of Councillors of Somerset Council, arising from membership of City, Town or Parish Councils and other Local Authorities will automatically be recorded in the minutes: City, Town & Parish Twin Hatters - Somerset Councillors 2023 )

No additional declarations of interest were made.

To approve the notes from the previous meeting.

The notes of the previous meeting held on 20 November 2023 were confirmed as a correct record.

The Chair to advise of any questions, statements or petitions received that are not covered by items on the agenda for the meeting on which members of the public have requested to speak.

The only question raised was about the financial situation of Somerset Council, which Kate Hellard briefly addressed and she referred to the upcoming budget decisions to be made by the council on the 20^th February. She said that the city, town and parish councils had been updated regularly on the assets and services that were likely to be devolved. The latest proposals would be considered by both the Executive and Scrutiny and that more information could be found on the Council's website.

It was explained that the group had met for the first time on 9 January and at this meeting Gary Perrett of the Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign had given a presentation on safe travel in and around Bridgwater which was then given to the LCN highlighting:

·         Bridgwater Area Cycling Campaign’s vision and drive

·         The infrastructure issues

§  The need for inner and outer routes around Bridgwater

§  The pinch points of Bath Road and Westonzoyland Road bridges

·         Bridgwater LCNs priorities:

§  Smarter Towns

§  Reducing congestion

§  Introducing Low Traffic Neighbourhoods

§  Creating 20 mph zones and pedestrianized areas

§  Opening up green spaces to active travel

§  Street design

§  Public Safety & Schools

§  Embed active travel into schools

§  Safe routes (traffic free?) across town

§  Street and path lighting

§  Paths regularly maintained

§  Local Businesses

§  Working with employers

§  Supporting local businesses and the High Street

§  Improving health and wellbeing

§  Leisure and tourism

§  Active Travel Hub

§  Community hubs for all (cyclists, pedestrians, wheelchair users etc.)

§  Bike hire, share scheme, servicing and sales

§  Secure undercover parking hub

§  Café and a restful location

§  Raising Awareness

§  Asking for people’s thoughts

§  At local events and markets

§  Running regular led and social rides

§  Creating good awareness communications

§  Bridgwater Transport Forum

Kerry Jones, of Transport Development for Somerset Council, gave an outline of the Mobility Hub plans for Taunton. She explained that mobility hubs were recognised places that connected different transport modes, supplemented and supplemented and enhanced facilities and information to attract and benefit the traveller. As well as being an active travel hub it could organised to facilitate easy access between different modes of transport e.g. cycles, scooters, car clubs as well as access to public transport.

In Taunton they were currently going through the design process for the repurposing of the old bus station on Tower Street, near Castle Street. They were hoping to develop it into a mobility hub, and also establishing it as more of a community centre where there will be access to bike stands, top-up water facilities, a café and all the components that might appear at an active travel hub, but with a bit more to it. There would also be access to Wi-Fi, signposting for information. If anyone was interested in looking at more information she recommended www.como.org.uk as CoMoUK, were one of the leaders in mobility hubs.

The LCN then split into groups to consider the following questions:

Each group then fed back one and all the following points were captured:

Key Priorities for active travel in Bridgwater:

Ø  Safe and secure routes

Ø  Joining up existing cycle routes – using off-road routes

Ø  Secure bike parking – CCTV

Ø  Improved cycle routes

Ø  More money!

Ø  Infrastructure of routes

Ø  Links to the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The Vice-Chair explained that the Working Group had met on the 15 January 2024 and had heard from PC Charmaine Dyne about the Youth Violence Programme and the Safe Space initiative and also, from Jessica Hanson on the Barnardos and Co-Op partnership that aimed to provide a youth-led service providing access to food, activities and services.

The Working Group was still putting together  ‘map’ of youth provision in Bridgwater. This ‘live’ map would be easily accessible to the community, particularly young people, and would be regularly updated. He encouraged everyone to keep the Group updated with any youth provisions that they may be aware of, or actively working with.

It was confirmed that the actions would be collated and the priorities around active travel fed back to the Working Group and any youth provisions that they were not aware of would be added to the ‘live’ map.

The date of the next meeting was stated as 20^th March 2024.

UPDATE

The date of the next meeting has now been CONFIRMED as Monday 11^th March 2024 – Venue To Be Confirmed.

The AGM has now been scheduled for Wednesday 5^th June 2024.