Planning Aid for Scotland (pas) says that as they have been successful in gaining project funding from the Paths for All ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ fund to create mini, transport-focused action plans, they are seeking Expressions of Interest (EOIs) by 28 September.
PAS writes:
We have been successful in gaining project funding from the Paths for All ‘Smarter Choices, Smarter Places’ fund which supports sustainable travel are now seeking expression of interest in projects from local authorities or community groups to create mini, transport-focused action plans and are seeking expression of interest. The project grant requires match funding, which we are currently seeking. We are currently inviting expressions of interest from local authorities and community groups to take part in this project. We aim to confirm project locations by early October 2020. The deadline for expressions of interest is 28 September.
The project will take place in up to 10 locations across Scotland. We will work with economically disadvantaged and isolated communities in urban and rural Scotland who currently underutilise, or have poor access to, sustainable transport and active travel opportunities. The project will help to develop an increased evidence base to support sustainable transport interventions, and will focus on those communities that don’t have an evidence base to help make decisions to promote sustainable transport in their area. A focus will be placed on those seldom heard in the planning system, who may most benefit from the increase in active travel solutions.
PAS will help communities address sustainable travel aspirations by providing impartial and technical knowledge to create unique action plans that encourage conversations about opportunities for walking and cycling. Using the Place Standard Tool to initiate conversations around place, and with the emphasis on moving around to ensure that ideas and aspirations can be embedded in the action plans, we will establish a network of community facilitators. Through awareness raising workshops with key decision makers and elected representatives, we will sustain ongoing engagement and behavioural change beyond the duration of this project. We have experience of facilitating intergenerational dialogue to ensure all ages are involved, leading to action plans owned by the whole community.
Criteria for project locations:
- within the top 10% of the Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation and/or can be defined as a place of climate disadvantage
- communities where there has been little recent engagement on transport/planning
- have a poor evidence base to support sustainable transport change
In addition to this we try to select communities where there is an observed need to address sustainable transport (SIMD: Access Measurement of 1-5), with a balance/spread of locations from urban to rural settings, and across at least five different local authority areas. When considering the above project criteria, please also review if any of the following barriers to sustainable travel apply to your proposed location:
- Physical and environmental barriers, e.g. there may be insufficient active travel infrastructure (e.g. path networks) and public transport services, and some spaces may be lacking in seating, toilets and accessibility which deter active travel.
- Limited transport choices.
- Challenges of getting about in a rural area i.e. rural settings are more likely to require a private vehicle to travel, both short and long distances
- There may also be issues associated with land use e.g. vacant and derelict land may be an obstacle or barrier to the development of sustainable transport opportunities
- Low income / transport poverty.
- Health and wellbeing impediments to accessing sustainable travel.
- Lack of opportunity to inform transport planning and decision making.
- Lack of representative groups to voice local views.
- Lack of confidence and knowledge to engage with the planning system and broader stakeholders involved in public services.
Please submit your expression of interest to take part in the project as one of the ten project locations by completing the form below. For any specific enquiries, please contact Rob Piggot at rob@pas.org.uk.
