Great Western Coffee Shop

Posted at 16:12
More walking and cycling 'needed to get people back to work'

Transport Secretary Grant Shapps is now setting out what he describes as an "ambitious programme" to prepare the transport network for the "critical role" it will play as the UK moves to the next stage of the pandemic.

The need to maintain social distancing will mean the public transport system cannot go back to normal - and with social distancing in place there would only be effective capacity for around one in 10 passengers on many parts of the network, Shapps says.

So many more people will need to walk and cycle to get the country back to work and prevent roads becoming gridlocked with cars, he adds.

Shapps says this also presents a "health opportunity" for people to become fitter and improve their physical and mental health.

Posted at 16:18
£2bn package for cycling and walking announced
Shapps also announces a £2bn package to put cycling and walking at heart of the UK government's transport policy.

There will also be a national cycling plan published in June to help double cycling and increase walking by 2025.

"Swift emergency plans" to be put in place include pop-up bike lanes, wider pavements for pedestrians and cycle and bus-only streets, Shapps says.

The government will also publish fast-tracked statutory guidance requiring councils in England to cater for increased numbers of cycling and pedestrians.

16:22
Road use 'slightly up'
Jonathan Van-Tam, the deputy chief medical officer for England, says the UK public are continuing to show “remarkable” and “enormous restraint” to reduce their travel.

He described the low use of public transport as “extremely impressive” but acknowledged that overall road use appeared to be gradually increasing as lockdown wears on.

(http://www.wellho.net/pix/trandrop20200509.jpg)

16:45
Shapps questioned on airport quarantine policy
BBC political correspondent Ben Wright asks Transport Secretary Grant Shapps about the reports of a policy requiring arrivals into the UK to quarantine for 14 days.

Wright asks why such a policy has been decided now and about the potential damage it could do to the already suffering airline industry.

Responding to the question, Shapps says details will be clarified by the prime minister tomorrow but says it makes sense to look at arrivals at the border as things get under control, with increased testing and lower infection rates inside the country.

He also points out that the government previously had a self-isolation policy in place from arrivals from high-risk areas before lockdown began.

Posted at 16:47
'Bespoke conversations' possible for aviation industry

Shapps is asked about the impact of quarantine measures on the airline industry whether the government is still open to negotiation on any quarantine arrangement for people arriving in the UK.

In response he says the chancellor has already made a number of packages available for businesses including furlough schemes and loans.

However, if that doesn't work he says "bespoke conversations" with industries are possible and "that is happening in a number of different aviation cases".

16:57

Impossible to give 'blanket' travel advice: Shapps
The next question comes from Ben Kentish at LBC. He first asks the transport secretary if he can "level" with the population about the likelihood of any of their summer holiday plans going ahead.

Shapps points to advice from the Foreign and Commonwealth Office advising strongly against international travel. He also says with local situations varying, it is impossible to give any "blanket" advice for the months ahead.

Kentish also asks Van-Tam about why it has been so difficult to protect the population in care homes.

The deputy chief medical officer for England says he is"extremely sorry" for the many deaths that have occurred, but described conditions for the virus spreading in such facilities as a "perfect storm".

He says many of the residents are elderly and have underlying health conditions, which is known to increase the likelihood of Covid-19 causing serious illness and death.

He says NHS England is putting an "enormous amount of effort" to solving these problems, with advice and support being given to individual facilities.

Posted at 17:01
'Please stay at home this weekend' - Shapps

Toby Helm, the political editor of the Observer, asks about rumours earlier in the week that the government was planning on dropping its "stay at home" message and if the public should still remain inside.

"Please follow the guidance, it's still written here," the transport secretary responded, referring to the slogan on his podium as "unequiovcal".

He urged the public not to throw away the "great work" achieved in the last seven weeks amid good weekend weather.

He also reiterated that any loosening of restrictions would have to be done with an "unbelievable degree of caution".

I'll put a link to the DfT cycling stuff on the Cycling section

http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=23427.0 (http://www.firstgreatwestern.info/coffeeshop/index.php?topic=23427.0)

Sid