Linking user groups in Wiltshire

[whole diary]

[grahame]

I've often felt that co-ordinating user groups across all modes of transport would be useful, and with the LSTF^▸ (Local Sustainable Transport Fund) work in Wiltshire about rail and linkages to rail too, now seems an excellent time to do it.   Not only will it help groups understand the issues their "neighbours" have but it will allow the pooling of common knowledge, and it will help the finances and providers by (hopefully) having a much more joined up set of community inputs.

I blogged the idea here a couple of weeks ago, and to my surprise was "parachuted" into a brief open spot to tell everyone about it at TravelWatch last weekend.  Cutting a long story short:

* Saturday, 1st December 2012.  From 10:15 to 14:30 at the Laverton in Westbury
* ALL interested groups / organisations in or near Wiltshire welcome to send representatives

Full details at http://atrebatia.info/link.html

Sign up via that link

Please share the link

Suggestions welcome via here or via email

[grahame]

We've now got this much more clearly set up ... and starting to get people signed up to come along.  We can really benefit from a very wide variety of knowledge; everyone with an interest in getting transport to work and to work together in Wiltshire (and beyond the county's borders where there are common interests too) is welcome.  The only proviso we're making is that we don't want a big crowd from any one group / route swamping the day.

There's an event page on facebook: http://www.facebook.com/events/170815516391591/
There's more detail and a form hosted on the TransWilts web site: http://atrebatia.info/link.html
- sign up either way, or email or p.m. me here if you prefer.

And - please - pass on those links.  We really want to shout loud about this one to reach very wide indeed.




Edit Note: typo corrected. CfN.

[grahame]

Coming along well ... can I ask EVERYONE who lives in or near Wiltshire to pass on my invite to their local passenger user group (or if you're a member, sign up to come along and speak for them    ) - Thank you

We're doing well .. getting more signups every day, speaker in place, lots of support and a powerful agenda ... BUT we want to reach more, and make sure that as few people as possible say "I wish I had known" ....

Wiltshire and Swindon Transport User group meeting - invite

Dear

I'm writing to invite you to the first "Wiltshire Link" meeting of transport user groups from across Wiltshire, and from neighbouring areas who share some of our Transport facilities.

Although the meeting is headlined as 'Transport User Groups', we're also inviting, with open arms, representatives of transport providers, local authorities and special interest groups - we feel there's a very real need to discuss and learn from each other and to coordinate - to the mutual advantage of all involved including the specifiers and providers.

The current time, with improvements planned under LSTF^▸ (Local Sustainable Transport Fund), with the future of rail services for the next 15 years being decided, with bus operators making significant changes, and with schemes to route 300 extra lorries a day (North / South) through Wiltshire dead but probably not buried, is an ideal time to co-ordinate so that we can help plan transport fit for the future.

This meeting will be held as follows:
   Date: Saturday 1st December, from 10:15 for 10:45
   Venue: The Laverton, Westbury
There are further details, including information on how to get to The Laverton, on the website at
   http://atrebatia.info/link.html
and there's a Facebook even page at
   http://www.facebook.com/events/170815516391591/

* Please visit that page and sign up if you're interested (we would also like to know if you are interested, but can't make it!)

* Please circulate this invitation to other interested parties. One of our aims is to locate all groups and interested individuals where there is no grouping.

The meeting is being sponsored by the TransWilts Community Rail Partnership. We've taken on this potentially "pump priming" task as we've probably got wider coverage across the county (Swindon, Chippenham, Melksham, Trowbridge, Westbury, Warminster and Salisbury) than most, and we're already heavily committted to working with the local councils and industry for very real improvements - not only to train, but also to bus access, and private car and cycle access too.

As I write, around 20 groups / representatives have said they'll come, from around a dozen towns right across the county. Please add your name, and encourage others too.

I look forward to seeing you

Graham

--
Graham Ellis - graham@atrebatia.info
Press and publicity, TransWilts Community Rail Partnership
TransWilts CRP^▸ (Community Rail Partnership), 48, Spa Road, Melksham, Wilts, SN12 7NY
http://atrebatia.info - 0845 459 0153

Edit Note: typos corrected. CfN. 

[grahame]

Full agenda posted at http://www.wellho.net/mouth/3937_.html

40 to 50 groups expected, from around 20 to 25 different towns / areas.   4 excellent speakers, and plenty of time to network and discuss current issues, the future, and co-ordination.

It's at Westbury which is just about the most easily reached place within Wiltshire by various means of transport, and it's free.  And it's timed to connect with buses and trains.

If you're available and interested, please sign up and come along via http://atrebatia.info/link.html

[grahame]

Excellent meeting ... rapt audience:



and superb follow up prospects.   These are times with exciting opportunities  . Just a picture tonight ...

[Chris from Nailsea]

Thanks for posting that, grahame. 

I'm really sorry that I wasn't able to attend, due to work commitments, but I do look forward to reading more about that meeting.

It was indeed a very wrapped audience, apparently ...