Conference aims to resolve the future of city transport

A conference to address the city’s transport issues is hoping to bring together urban transport experts to inform politicians and the public about what they are planning to do about it. The Future of Transport in Bath: Shaping and Delivering a City Transport Plan conference will also be a neutral platform to allow each of the Bath political groups to present their broad approach to Bath transport in anticipation of the local election in May 2019. Bath MP Wera Hobhouse, pictured, is opening the event, which is taking place next month, and will discuss the priority of addressing Bath’s transport issues. The first part of the conference, which is sponsored by Bath Alliance for Transport and Public Realms, will be headed by Richard de Cani of Arup and former director of planning and strategy at Transport for London. Mr de Cani will deliver the keynote speech on Urban Transport in 2018, which is a global review of best practice among cities and how the most successful are resolving their transport challenges. Other guest urban transport experts will offer perspectives and lessons to learn from Transport Challenges for Local Authorities, including Nick Lester-davis, a consultant and former director of transport for London councils, James Freeman, managing director of First West of England and Ian Stokes, head of transport strategy at City of York Council. Once the speeches have finished they will form a discussion panel to consider whether Bath can resolve its transport issues. The second part of the conference will serve as a neutral platform to allow each of the five Bath political groups to present their 2019 Transport Previews, giving the public an early opportunity to hear how the Bath political groups are developing their transport proposals in preparation for the May 2019 local elections. Following each conference speaker there will be a question and answer session which will allow members of the public to participate, ask questions and scrutinise. The sponsors are preparing for up to 200 registered attendees at the conference to include invited guests, Bath politicians, stakeholders of the Alliance members, other members of the public and the media. The conference, supported by the Chronicle will take place on Friday, November 16, between 8.30am and 1pm. Register at eventbrite.com