TravelWatch SouthWest, Taunton, 8th October

[whole diary]

[grahame]

TravelWatch SouthWest's twice a year general meeting - first Saturday in March and October.

Membership of the TravelWatch SouthWest CIC^▸ (Community Interest Company ) is open to every ‘not-for-profit’ organisation in the South West of England whose sole or principal purpose is to represent the users of any public transport service or to promote the development of public transport services – membership is also open to other ‘not-for-profit’ organisations’ in the South West England who represent the interests of special and potential classes of public transport users e.g. the disabled or the elderly. TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) currently has over one hundred affiliated organisations.

TWSW, which is a social enterprise company, acts as an advocate for passengers to lobby for the improvement of public transport in the region and works closely with local authorities, business organisations, partnerships and other stakeholder groups – with the dissolution of the former Rail Passengers Committee for Western England in July 2005, TWSW is the representative body for public transport users throughout the South West of England.

The twice yearly meetings were invaluable to our "Save the Train" and (now) TransWilts team as we campaigned (and now partner) for an appropriate, successful, permanent train service from Swindon and / or Chippenham to / via Westbury.   Some 100 organisations are members, and the majority send representatives twice a year to these general meetings.   It's not only an opportunity to learn from (and question) key speakers from public transport industry and government related positions, but also to network with other organisations and contacts. Public transport campaigning/partnering is very rarely about competing with other campaigns/partnerships, and we're all very much looking to meet parallel objectives for our own areas.

If you (dear reader) are part of an organisation that's already a part of TravelWatch SouthWest, I look forward to seeing you / your representative there.   If you're a fledgling group or an individual with an idea or interest and you feel it could be useful, please get in touch - personal message or email ( grahamellis at transwilts.org ). A key element of "TWSW" is that a very early welcome is extended to those who want and might benefit from that welcome.

Area covered - Gloucestershire, Swindon, Wiltshire, Dorset and everywhere to the south west thereof.   Also fully aware of cross boundary services and influences, so don't be put off if you're from Wantage, Hungerford, Evesham, Mottisfont ...

[ChrisB]

Might be worth checking - I think we were informed that the October meeting is on the 8th...that's certainly what I put in my diary

[grahame]

Might be worth checking - I think we were informed that the October meeting is on the 8th...that's certainly what I put in my diary

I WILL check that Chris ... thanks for the "heads up".

[bobm]

Their website has the meeting set "provisionally" for 1st October.

http://travelwatchsouthwest.org/meetings/

[ChrisB]

That's a fairly recent change then....but good for me as I had a big clash on the 8th & was going to have to choose between being in Taunton or Shrewsbury!

[grahame]

There will be a discussion and (I imagine) a final decision on the date at the TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) board meeting later this month; with ACoRP^▸ (Association of Community Rail Partnerships) on 29th September in Southport, Tory party conference 2nd to 5th October, 1st isn't a great choice.  We loose rail people who are recovering from their trip to Southport, and politicians who are headed for Birmingham.  But there is comment that on 8th there are engineering works effecting trains?

[grahame]

The TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) team met yesterday ... definite for 8th October now.   For those of you who wanted 1st - sorry!

8th is a date clear of a lot of other things and on balance suits more people ... gives us the larger audience, and an opportunity to attract speakers who certainly wouldn't have felt it clever to be in Taunton on 1st.  I will post the speakers list as I have it confirmed.

[Chris from Nailsea]

And from the timings, it looks like delegates to that meeting will be able to take a return trip out to Bishop's Lydiard before or after the meeting. 

At some cost - I presume only accessible with a WSR awayday ticket?

From that, might I assume that you may be joining us at TravelWatch SouthWest in Taunton from Cherwell, ChrisB?

If so, we look forward to enjoying a pint with you in The Plough after the meeting. 

[ChrisB]

50/50 at the moment, as I'm also supposed to be in Shrewsbury - and they're a tad too far apart to split my time & cover both!

So I'm waiting for the agenda to see how much Rail it contains, and will have to send my apologies in one direction or the other.

[JayMac]

This meeting on 8th October 2016 will be in the Albermarle Centre, Albermarle St, Taunton. Just off Station Road.

[grahame]

This meeting on 8th October 2016 will be in the Albermarle Centre.

Yes indeed - full details have sent out with invites.

A representative from each / any group interested in public and sustainable transport to, from or within the SouthWest (Gloucestershire, Wiltshire, Dorset, and southwest thereof is welcome / encouraged to attend. This includes groups for who travel and transport is one of a number of issues in their coverage - for example the meetings are attended by representatives of some Chambers of Commerce, equality groups, Women's institutes, etc..   Public Transport, local government and interested unaffiliated individuals are also welcome.

That may sound like a very wide ranging and inclusive list (it's intended to be such), and if you're a member of any such group / company that's not already represented, you'll be welcomed with open arms by prior invite.  However, the TWSW^» (TravelWatch SouthWest - website) general meeting stops short of being a public meeting as the purpose is for groups to liaise and for representatives to return home informed or inform the meeting.  Where important / relevant, an invite can be arranged for a group to be double-represented, but the organisers and sponsors do have to draw the line at whole groups turning up unannounced as their autumn day out.  Established forum members -  please let me know (persononal message or email fine) if you would an invite as you fit in (or come close) with the wide description above.

This Autumn, we include among our speakers: Andrew Wickham, Managing Director of bus and coach company Go South Coast and Damien Jones, Head of Services for Communities at Devon County Council. The Board will facilitate a discussion of the future franchise awards affecting the region and a workshop with TravelWatch SouthWest’s Chair, Vinita Nawathe. The agenda will also include the ever-popular 'Just a Minute' session which gives the opportunity for a maximum of ten delegates to speak on a public transport issue affecting the South West of England .

[broadgage]

And from the timings, it looks like delegates to that meeting will be able to take a return trip out to Bishop's Lydiard before or after the meeting. 

At some cost - I presume only accessible with a WSR awayday ticket?

From that, might I assume that you may be joining us at TravelWatch SouthWest in Taunton from Cherwell, ChrisB?
If so, we look forward to enjoying a pint with you in The Plough after the meeting. 

Is the taking of refreshment in the Plough confirmed ? At roughly what time ?

[ChrisB]

Be good if the agwnda could be published....I may have to tender my apologies if the rail content isn't particularly 'strong' as I have another engagement wanting my attendance in Shrewsbury

[Chris from Nailsea]

I have to concur with ChrisB on this one - it would be good if the agenda could be published, fairly soon. 

Also, as a long-standing (albeit intermittent, due to prior work commitments!) attendee at such meetings, I'm slightly concerned that I haven't received any invitation to this particular meeting. 

Have I possibly been struck off the register? 

[Chris from Nailsea]

As far as I'm concerned, broadgage, the partaking of refreshments in The Pough is confirmed, from about 3:00pm onwards.

The venue of the TravelWatch SouthWest meeting has been changed, but that, if anything, makes it even easier for delegates to call in at The Plough on their way to, _cough, Taunton Station. 

I'll be there, with my orange hi-viz.