Community transport project to be launched in Haltwhistle

The Royal College of Art (RCA) said the Covid-19 pandemic has highlighted the importance of our local communities, jobs and natural environment. The project will work with industry partners, local councils and charities in

Lynda Addison OBE, former chair of the Transport Planning Society and chair of CIHT Sustainable Transport Panel said: "We need to create a 'plastics' moment, as Sir David Attenborough did for oceans, in the approach to community and transport planning.

"We want to create places where local services and activities are truly local or accessible and we need to give confidence to all sectors of society that this is deliverable, essential given the major challenges in society, and effective.

"This will require a paradigm shift in thinking and action and will only be achieved if it is supported and led by local communities as well as politicians and industry partners.”

Julie Gibbon, Secretary of Tyne Valley Community Rail Partnership and Chairman of the Haltwhistle Partnership, added: "We are delighted to be supporting this very worthwhile project by encouraging those who live, work and visit Haltwhistle and its surrounding parishes to share their thoughts about the area and how they move around it.

"It is a real opportunity for the community to be able to influence how things might be in the future rather than having to accept the ’top down’ approach that is currently the normal.

"The team from the RCA want to engage with individuals of all ages and backgrounds as well as organisations, businesses and public bodies to really understand the issues and help the community have their say and we look forward to the outcome."

Stakeholders who have agreed to provide additional knowledge include Living Streets, Sustrans, The RAC Foundation, The National Association of Local Councils, The Centre for Ageing Better and Social Research Associates Ltd.

Design insights and a prototype proposal from the project will be shared in November.