The New Forest National Park Authority brought together local communities and organisations to create vision of integrated sustainable transport during inaugural transport summit.
Around 100 people from across local parishes, community groups, businesses, elected representatives and local organisations attended the first New Forest National Park Transport Summit.
The flagship event took place at Brockenhurst Village Hall last Thursday (20 November) to co-create a vision and actions for how people move around the National Park in ways that protect and enhance its special, working landscape.
There were several panels throughout the sold-out Summit on active travel (such as walking, cycling, running), sustainable public transport and the relationship between travel and local businesses and attractions. Panellists included sustainable transport planners, representatives from MoreBus, South Western Railway, Wightlink, Go New Forest, and Beaulieu National Motor Museum, as well as residents who regularly get around without a car.
Talks also took place on the New Forest Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, wayfinding, transport emissions, a Lymington to Lyndhurst active travel corridor, speed on New Forest roads, and public transport innovation in the Lake District National Park.
Attendees were invited to share ideas on what is good about transport to and within the National Park and what they would like to see improved.
There were active travel demonstrations outside throughout the day on a fleet of specialist and adapted cycles. This included New Forest Inclusive Cycling charity PEDALL, New Forest bike hire company Cyclexperience, Jorvik tricycles, and a local carpenter who runs his business from his adapted cargo bike and electric van.
Two guided walks also took place around the village, using Brockenhurst as an example of how to conduct a case study using a ‘Healthy Streets’ framework.
Local transport, environment and public health communications and engagement specialist Charlotte Baker chaired the event. She said: ‘Transport is fundamental to how we live our lives; it’s like breathing. That means everyone has a view and lived experience. What was fantastic was not only were there lots of people sharing their experiences but also ideas for how we build on what we have and improve things going forward.
‘It’s about giving people options about how they move around so they feel they don’t have to always take cars. We saw lots of people wanting to sign up for that vision too and it was really inspiring.
‘I live here in Brockenhurst, in the middle of the New Forest and I love where I live, so for me it was such a privilege to facilitate and be involved in this event. We have fantastic communities that really want to get together and harness the passion and energy of the Summit to improve things.’
Leader of Hampshire County Council, Councillor Nick Adams-King, said: ‘We thank all those who attended the New Forest Transport Summit and their valued input into what was a day of thoughtful consideration of the existing and future movement needs of residents and visitors. The contributions from all those who attended will help Hampshire County Council develop future transport policies and projects.’
New Forest National Park Authority access and learning manager Jim Mitchell said: ‘In the 20th anniversary year of the National Park, the New Forest Transport Summit was a unique opportunity to bring people together to shape a fresh vision, which gets people where they need to go in a way that is sustainable, healthy, and above all protects our National Park for the future.
‘We are delighted with the enthusiasm and engagement from the community at the Summit. We will now be writing up and sharing the thoughts and ideas more widely so people can join in the conversation. We want to follow up the Summit with clear actions that can make a difference to how we all move around the New Forest more sustainably.’
The New Forest National Park Transport Summit was hosted by the New Forest National Park Authority in partnership with Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council and Go New Forest. The event was supported by Active Travel England’s National Park Capability Fund.