SOUTH WEST WALES CRP
WIDER STEERING GROUP – 24/09/2020

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
Here follows a report of the virtual meeting of the wider steering group on the 24th September 2020. You can find a write up of notes from the steering group meeting below.
UPDATE ON SOUTH WEST WALES CONNECTED
Marketing & Comms
The group discussed ideas on content to share across social media and blog material.
- Sharing community events on social media as an incentive to explore the rail network. These could include monthly farmer markets, festivals, arts and crafts fairs, etc.
- Blog articles about businesses that have adapted to lockdown. Fishguard & Goodwick café have takeaway meals during lockdown.
- Events, festivals and recommended places to visit. Days out by rail.
- John suggested a future campaign to “Love our Trains” to welcome people back to rail transport.
Community and Partnership Projects
- Jennifer met with Wales on Rails. The Wales on Rails website seeks to identify missing gaps between public transport links. This is currently being built.
- Wales on Rails will show all points of interest near local stations and all Welsh CRPs are involved.
- Jennifer is working in partnership with Ramblers Cymru to produce walks along the rail network.
- Walks are ready to be uploaded on the website, beginning at the east of the region and travelling west.
- There are issues with rights of way in Neath which are currently being resolved.
Signage
- Poster timetables/signs can easily and very quickly become outdated.
- Digital solutions such as screens would help to remedy this, saving time and costs on paper signage.
- Access to digital information may be hindered by lack of mobile connection or poor Wi-Fi at stations.
- Touch screens would be a concern due to current circumstances. Hugh has expressed that such screens planned would be touchless.
- There’s opportunity to work with Ferry operators to deliver information on port ends to show the opportunities within Wales.
- Port Talbot Station is very grey. Potential for signage and content, “branding the region.”
Biodiversity & Community Gardens
Incredible Edible are interested in becoming involved with Llanelli’s Westbound Platform.
- Geraint explained that Llanelli is due for a new bridge as part of the Access for All scheme. The land for the garden may be impacted by this.
- Ideas arising at Swansea station for a community garden in the back of the station. A Heritage Lottery bid is currently being written.
- No current access to the space behind the station. Focus on building that access.
MEMBER UPDATES
- Iwan shared with the group that PLANED is in the process of digitising leaflets on Pembrokeshire walks across all communities.
- Digital leaflets will be on PLANED and Echoes (Pembs Heritage) and may include video content of the walks.
- Geraldine will invite Carmarthenshire and more Swansea council contacts to join the group.
- Lewis suggested developing a strategy for next year.
- Hugh is looking at overcoming issues with digital solutions in conjunction with a number of organisations.
- Hugh has stated there is a plan for a café at Port Talbot Station.
NEXT STEPS
- Haverfordwest Shared Vision Meeting to take place.
- Jennifer to continue working with Ramblers Cymru on the Walks project.
- Find representation for Carmarthenshire and invite them to join the group.
- Continue discussions surrounding Llanelli station. A shared vision meeting to take place in future.
ATTENDEES
- Zoe Antrobus, Evie Redford – 4theRegion
- Jennifer Barfoot – South West Wales Connected CRP
- Becky Lloyd – Transition Bro Gwain
- Hatti Woakes – North Pembrokeshire Transport Forum
- Hugh Evans, Geraint Morgan, Arron Bevan-John – Transport for Wales
- Kevin Rodericks – Traveline Cymru
- John Davies – BayTrans
- Rhiannon-Jane Raftery – Wales & Borders, Community Rail Network
- Peter Absolon – Pembroke Rail Travelers Association
- Lewis Ward, Emma Morris – Great Western Railway
- Iwan Thomas – PLANED
- Liz Williams – Pembrokeshire Tourism
- Jeremy Martineau – Fishguard & Goodwick Chamber of Trade & Tourism
- Laura Webley – Neath Port Talbot Tourism
- Philip McDonnell – Low Carbon Swansea Bay & Swansea Environmental Forum
- Geraldine Williams – Swansea Council
- Kirsty Thomas, Stuart Thomas – Natural Resources Wales