BADENOCH & STRATHSPEY TRANSPORT and ACCESS GROUP

Notes of Meeting held on 6th June. 2018 at 10:00

Grant Arms Hotel, Grantown on Spey

Present: Mr Richard Gillings B&S Access Panel Member (Chair) Mr David Clyne Recreation and Access Manager, CNPA Mr Richard Gerring Transport Planning Manager, Development & Infrastructure Service, the Council Ms Maggie Lawson, MBE CT Development Manager, B&S Community Transport Company Mr Donald MacDonald Scottish Ambulance Service Gregor Rimell Chair, B&S Disability Access Panel Mr Kenny Rodgers Head of Finance South & Mid Division, NHS Highland and B&S Healthcare Redesign Project Team member Mrs Sandra South Disability Access Mr David Summers Principal Transport Officer, Highland Council

Apologies Ms. Karen Derrick Chief Executive Officer, Voluntary Action Badenoch & Strathspey Mr Dave Fallows Community CNPA Representative Cllr Bill Lobban Ms Anne Maclean Inclusive Cairngorm Ms Susan Owen ACC PTS Manager, Scottish Ambulance Service Ms Rhiannon Pitt Area Manager, Mid & Badenoch & Strathspey Mrs Joan Steele Chair, B&S Community Transport Group

In Attendance Vicki Gosling, Hospital Administrator, St. Vincent’s Hospital, Kingussie

Welcome and introductions Richard Gillings welcomed everyone to the meeting.

Note of Last Meeting Notes were accepted as a true record.

Matters Arising No matters arising

Update on Meeting to Discuss the Hospital External Site Plan – Report

The Chair commented about the frequency of buses using the bus station. A lengthy discussion took place around the service provision. The No 31 bus will run but there are no guarantees that bus numbers 32 and 34 will continue. David Summers to clarify. The new site must be capable of receiving vehicles of all sizes including buses. The main aim is for the community to access the new hospital.

Action - Kenny Rodgers and David Clyne to confirm size of vehicles/transport and feedback on the architectural design.

Provision of Public Transport in Strathspey and Badenoch

The Chair has been provided with a draft train timetable and noted that the – Glasgow/Edinburgh trains will all pass through and provide a much improved service. However, there is the issue that trains may arrive on Platform 2 and this will be an issue for wheelchair access or any individual with a physical disability as the Platform can only be accessed by walking over the footbridge and this in itself has a wide range of implications. Discussion followed around the current access to Platform 2, footbridge, ½ mile drive from Platform 1 to Platform 2 or a 20 minute walk. Maggie Lawson suggested that anyone who has booked assisted travel, through BSCTC, would advise their clients to arrive at the railway station ½ hour earlier to ensure that the client has assistance to get to Platform 2 if required. With the ever increasing volume of tourists to the area the footbridge can become extremely congested and a risk.

Maggie Lawson’s vision would be the installation of a lift and a new footbridge as the current footbridge can be problematic on a daily basis let along during winter,

The Chair updated the group advising that the Stagecoach demonstration has not happened. He has had further conversation with Jim Mooney who has stated that the demonstration will take place and a date and location is to be confirmed.

Post Meeting note by the Chair

In the light of no action the Chair had had local conversations about this might be actioned. David Summers has agreed to follow this up with Jim Mooney.

Action – Maggie Lawson will liaise with Aviemore Railway Station staff for any issues in regard to wheelchair access.

Chair has emailed Scotrail outlining potential problems with the footbridge and will forward their response to the group once received.

Parking at New Hospital/Healthcare Facility

The architectural team, Kenny Rodgers, Maggie Lawson, Morag, Kerry and the NHS technical team met and discussed the implications of community transport which included buses, electric vehicle charging points and disabled parting. There are 128 car park spaces which are adequate for staff and visitors and the mobile screening caravan has a designated space. It was confirmed that there will be no reserved parking. Work on signage has been done but some have now been removed, along with the scooter cover, as there was a Health & Safety risk to the public.

Conversation followed in regard to the reception/waiting area of the hospital having sight of the bus stop for inclement weather; what formulas were used to design the car park and David Clyne, Richard Gerring and Kenny Rodgers teams working together.

Contact with Other Agencies

Richard Gerring did a presentation for the group on Grampian Road/Dalfaber Drive – NHS Transport Forum. This presentation revolved around Active Aviemore Partners identifying active travel infrastructure solutions along Grampian Road and Dalfaber Drive since March 2018.

The Chair thanked Richard for attending the meeting and for a very informative presentation.

Action - A report for the ‘Active Aviemore Project’ would be submitted to the Badenoch & Strathspey Committee (per the presentation slide).

Update of B&S Healthcare Redesign Project

Mr Kenny Rodgers informed the group that they are still working through the missives with multiple parties i.e. Upland Development and Seafield Estate in regard to the access road and this is taking time. As it is the Scottish Ministers who procure the land, not NHS, there are further hurdles to overcome.

Mr Kenny Rodgers left the meeting at 1130.

Next steps

 Richard Gerring and David Clyne, Active, confirmed that the final designs were in place for the end of this financial year. They will be approaching Sustrans and other appropriate agencies/bodies for funding. They have asked for a support letter from B&S Transport and Access Group. Richard will email the group with further information.

 David Summers will converse with Stagecoach regarding Services 32 and 34. Minor changes to the timetables are in preparation and these should be available in the near future.

 It was agreed to invite a representative from Hitrans to future meetings.

AOCB

David Clyne attended a travel conference in Perth which highlighted a dedicated bicycle carriage on trains and lobbying to take place with Transport .

The Chair distributed the new Disabled Access Guide, Badenoch & Strathspey.

Future Meeting

September, date and venue to be confirmed

Meeting closed 1145

Post Meeting Note from Richard Gerring

Highland Council and Authority staff are actively developing active travel projects for the area, including the ‘Active Aviemore Project’ (see presentation). Unfortunately the aspirations of both these public sector organisations are inhibited by the lack of available funding needed to match/draw down available funding sources. An initial approach to external funders seeking recognition of the investment in active travel associated with the overall A9 Dualling Project has not received a positive response. The Badenoch & Strathspey Transport & Access Group is politely requested to provide a letter of support to Highland Council and CNPA, for the recognition by potential funders of the value of the A9 spend on active travel, with a view to unlocking future funding bids for active travel infrastructure.