Local authorities offered free sustainable mobility training
Local authorities in Wales and England are being invited to sign up to a series of free training sessions on sustainable urban mobility.
Starting in April, these training sessions are aimed at transport planning officers and any local authority staff and Councillors whose work involves or affects travel modes in their locality. The training sessions are being delivered by Sustrans Cymru, PTRC which is part of the Chartered Institute of Logistics and Transport, and the University of the West of England.
The most engaged local authorities that attend the training will then be eligible to receive free coaching and specialist support to develop their sustainable mobility ideas into concrete, practical projects over 2015.
Audrey Healy at Severn Wye Energy Agency is organising the training sessions. She explained why they are important: "Four in ten people across Europe experience problems with urban mobility; air pollution, congestion and travel costs are among the biggest issues for people. The European Commission is stepping up its support to towns and cities and is strongly encouraging local authorities to incorporate sustainable mobility into their planning. These training sessions are designed to help local authorities to do just that.”
Drawing on European case studies, the training sessions will enable participants to learn about best practice, develop their own ideas and learn from one other. Topics include active travel, applying for European funding and communicating with key stakeholders. The training sessions are part of a European project called Boosting Urban Mobility Plans, or BUMP, which is being managed by Gloucestershire-based charity Severn Wye Energy Agency in the UK.
The project aims to increase sustainable mobility planning across Europe. It is being developed and delivered by nine partners across ten countries.
Severn Wye is an independent charity and not-for-profit company with offices in Gloucester and Llandrindod Wells, which aims to promote sustainable energy and affordable warmth through partnership, awareness-raising, innovation and strategic action.
The training sessions start at the beginning of April 2014 and there are places for ten local authorities to take part running through to July 2014. They will be held in Cardiff.
If your local authority would like to take part, please visit the project website www.bump-mobility.eu , complete the application form and return it to Audrey Healy at Severn Wye Energy Agency
audreyh@severnwye.org.uk or
bump@severnwye.org.uk by Monday 10 March 2014.
To find out more about the project, please contact Audrey Healy on 01452 835060 or email
audreyh@severnwye.org.uk