SOUTH WEST WALES CRP

TEMPORARY STEERING GROUP – 26TH June 2020

If you would like to be part of the temporary steering group, or if you have feedback or input you would like to contribute, please email Jennifer@SouthWestWales.co, or call 07917 587073.

Here follows a report of the second virtual meeting of the temporary steering group on 26th June 2020.  You can find the agenda circulated for the steering group meeting, as well as a write up of notes from the event below.

 

You can listen to an audio recording of the full 2 hour meeting below:

 

 

 

Audio Recording of the Meeting<br />

South West Wales CRP - Temporary Steering Group - 26th June 2020

UPDATE ON SOUTH WEST WALES CONNECTED

Following a press release from Pembrokeshire County Council, almost £1.8m of funding will be allocated towards various transport improvements. £667,000 of the grant will go to the Local Transport Fund, which will fund the detailed design and planning of three major transport schemes in Haverfordwest, Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock.

Under the Welsh transport appraisal guidance (WelTAG) framework provided by the Welsh Government, Haverfordwest is currently at Stage Three, which is a full business case, whilst Milford Haven and Pembroke Dock are at Stage One & Two. (You can find a detailed explanation of each stage here.)

In Haverfordwest, the initiative comprises a new bus station, coach parking, active travel facilities and multi-storey car park. In Pembroke Dock the funding will be used to draw up a ‘preliminary design’ to improve links to the public transport interchange between the town’s rail station, the London road nearby retail park and Water Street.

Finally, in Milford Haven, it includes plans to improve the existing rail station and associated coach provision The local transport grant will allow for revision of a design drawn up in 2014 intended to improve upon transport links and active travel facilities.

Meetings between South West Wales Connected and Milford Placeboard have highlighted a shared goal of redefining Milford Haven as a welcoming and positive location to arrive at by rail. A new station building could provide opportunities for community hubs and organisations to be set up and friendlier public transport links could encourage more footfall to Milford Haven’s various festivals and celebrations whilst reducing congestion and environmental impact. 

With regards to South West Wales Connected’s website, we need to converse with relevant parties in regards to integration of content being produced by councils and tourism partners. Our aim is to develop an inclusive and accessible website that is helpful to tourists and residents from across the region and signpost towards resources provided by other organisations, whilst still providing our own content, such as blogs, events and community news.

reflections on the discussion

  • Website – Local authority Tourism pages align with Visit Wales – Year of the Outdoors extended to 2021.  Ensure SWW Connected website is accessible for all, maps for assisted technology users.
  • Public Transport message – Essential travel only remains the key message.  As recovery continues, the public may be wary of public transport.  When the time is right, the railway will be promoted as ‘open’ and ‘safe’
  • Community projects – funding to be applied for to support community schemes and activities.
  • Transforming Towns’ – Welsh Government’s focus on regeneration  – encouragement of food markets in towns one idea amongst many.
  • Community gardens and community growing projects – researched across the region.