Transport Minister visits wmsnt

On Wednesday 9th March, the Local and Regional Transport Minister, Liberal Democrat MP Norman Baker visited wmsnt Head Office at Park Road in Aston, Birmingham.

After discussions with the Chairman of the Charity's Board of Trustees, Hon Ald Stewart Stacey, Chief Executive, Peter Maggs, and Operations Manager, Des Rogers, the Minister had a short tour of the North Birmingham Depot.

The Minister had a short time in the scheduling office and the operations room, before visiting the garage, where the picture on the right was taken.

Before departing, the Minister had a quick briefing in the new training facility, and impressed the Senior Training Officer, John Gidlow, by correctly answering the Highway Code question which was being displayed. The Minister then gave a keynote speech to community transport representatives from voluntary organisations and public sector transport partners from across the region when he attended their event at the Coventry Transport Museum after lunch on Wednesday 9th March.

The event, organised by the West Midlands Voluntary and Community Sector Transport Policy Group, was entitled 'Driving change in transport through the voluntary and community sector. It explored ways in which community transport for the most vulnerable people in our society must evolve to meet environmental and economic challenges and the demands of the big society.

In his speech Norman Baker said; “Community transport is a real lifeline to many people in our society and I welcome the work being done in the West Midlands to support the sector. Money invested wisely in local transport initiatives can both help the economy and cut carbon. It's a win-win for local people and for the country as a whole. Central to our strategy is an unprecedented £560m fund to encourage more sustainable modes of transport at the local level, this includes the opportunity for local authorities to work in partnership with community and voluntary groups in their bids for funding."

Chair of the Transport Policy Group Mike Barnes (Ring and Ride District Manager for Coventry) said “We are delighted that Norman Baker MP agreed to attend this event following our meeting with him in November 2010. In light of the public sector cuts the role of community transport groups across the region will become ever more important. This event provides them with the opportunity to explore how these services might develop and how low carbon priorities and innovative partnerships might enhance services they offer."

A new report entitled 'The contribution of the voluntary and community sector to transport in the West Midlands' was also launched at the event. The report identifies the value that the voluntary sector adds to transport services for the most vulnerable in our communities. The report has been commissioned by the Transport Policy Group and funded through RAWM's Sustaining Influence and Change Programme.