A new forum has been set up for residents and organisations to share their views on ways to improve transport and tackle the climate emergency across Bath and North East Somerset.

Bath & North East Somerset Council has established the Journey to Net Zero Transport Forum to listen to and work with local organisations and communities across the district, to make the area a healthier place with less congestion, cleaner air and more opportunities for walking, cycling and public transport. 

The first meeting of the Journey to Net Zero Transport Forum will be held on May 4. It will be independently facilitated and will concentrate on collectively developing the role of the forum and the context within which it will operate.

Councillor Sarah Warren, deputy leader and cabinet member for Climate and Sustainable Travel, said: "We want to make sure local views are heard and the forum creates the opportunity for open dialogue between the council and communities.  With transport accounting for 29% of the district's carbon emissions we need bold new thinking on transport if we are to meet our 2030 net zero ambition. We also need to consider the health benefits of using alternatives to the car and look at ways of reducing congestion on our roads. We all need to be part of the journey to net zero and using the forum people can have their say on ways to achieve this."

Earlier this year Bath & North East Somerset Cabinet approved £129.39m of local transport schemes to be funded from the City Region Sustainable Transport Settlement (CRSTS) fund. 

 Areas for funding include:

• Improvements to public transport and cycling and walking infrastructure on the A4 corridor from Bath to Bristol, including upgrading the Bristol to Bath Railway Path, creating a new transport hub at Hicks Gate and improving cycling and walking connections in and around Keynsham and Saltford.
• Improvements to public transport and walking, cycling and the public realm on the A37 corridor between the Somer Valley and Bristol and the A367 corridor between the Somer Valley and Bath.
• Improvements to public transport, walking and cycling infrastructure in Bath city centre to support delivery of the council's improvement plans for Bath Quays and Milsom Quarter. This would include the prioritisation of buses to improve journey times.
• Walking and cycling improvements in Bath and Midsomer Norton, identified through the Local Cycling and Walking Investment Plan. This would include. In Bath segregated cycleways and new upgraded controlled crossings would be installed in Lower Weston to improve routes between the city centre and Oldfield School and a new scheme would be developed to connect secondary schools in the south of the city and the University. Midsomer Norton would see improvements to pedestrian routes between the High Street, Norton Hill School and Fosseway via Charlton Road and the provision of the missing section of the off-road route between the proposed Silver Street housing development and Charlton Road.
• Further investment in Liveable Neighbourhoods.