Apologies:
Tony Plumbe, Bingley Environmental Transport Association (BETA), Pam Ashton CTC/Bradford Cycling Action Group, Anne Robinson Campaign for the Protection of Rural England (CPRE) South Yorkshire, Stephen Platt Doncaster Green Party.

Present:
Dorian Speakman, YHTAR; Steve Broadbent, Transport 2000 (T2000) West Yorkshire; Ray Wilkes T2000 West Yorks; John Scullion, T2000 Harrogate; Tony Ross, Rail Development Society (RDS)/T2000 Hull; Nic Stoker Cyclists' Touring Club (CTC)/Hull Cycle Campaign; Ron Healey, T2000 North Yorks/CTC North Yorks; David Cove, CPRE West Yorks; Martin Bright, CTC/Right to Ride South Yorks; Terry Finnemore, York Cycle Campaign/CTC; Brian Witty, Youth Hostels Association/CPRE East Riding/CTC/Hull Cycle Campaign/Hull & East Riding Rail Users' Association/T2000/RDS; Jim Burton, CPRE, Yorkshire region; Richard Butler, BETA.

LTP Settlements
It was noted that there is an increase of 70-100% in the budget for public transport and cycling which YHTAR supports. However there are also a large number of road schemes in West Yorkshire.

In North Yorkshire the settlement budget is largely aimed at road bridge maintenance. Positive aspects include the Harrogate Cycling Scheme - a result of the lobbying by the Harrogate cycling group. Therefore there is positive progress with the North Yorkshire LTP, except for the Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme which includes a £17 million road scheme.

The Hull LTP had only just arrived on the day of the meeting for YHTAR's East Yorkshire groups.

It is possible to get a view of the LTP settlements on the web via the governments' DETR web site.

It was noted that whilst the allocation of money has been finalised, it is still possible to force local enquiries on major road schemes.

Regional Transport Priorities: The Yorkshire Forward (Regional Chamber) process
Six priorities have been put forward by Yorkshire Forward:
· Trans Pennine routes (rail and road)
· Leeds - Sheffield corridor
· Access to Strategic Economic Zones (e.g. coalfields area)
· Port access
· Congestion (this was integration, now more likely to mean road building)
· Air transport development

The meeting noted that this process is being "hijacked" in an environmentally unsustainable way; Yorkshire Forward are keen to press ahead with new roads in South Yorkshire and to link Finningley Airport.

It is of concern that there is now electronic information from Yorkshire Forward and it is difficult to disseminate information. There are repeated consultations which have being steered in a particular direction: trying to meet unlimited road and air transport demand.

A Return to road building?
Three Strategic Economic Zones are being pushed: the M1 corridor, the M18 corridor and the Dearne Valley. The M1 corridor includes links to the coalfield road schemes. There are set to be additional road schemes to these corridors.

Friends of the Earth (FoE) and Transport 2000 are producing a report on road schemes in each region, but this is seen to be too late. Government policy has switched back to a "Roads to Prosperity" policy of the previous administration.

Jim Burton has been invited to speak to Yorkshire Labour MPs and there is a possibility to talk about transport and road building, which needs linking to current concerns about global warming.

To YHTAR's disappointment FoE's general election campaign will be NOT lobbying against road building but for more bus lanes and spending on cycling facilities - something that this government is doing anyway, along with the increased expenditure on road building. This raises the question whether road building will be made an issue or not. It was also noted by some that the consequences of road building need to be highlighted, rather than just what could be perceived as a purely negative campaign.

Currently the received wisdom of the government is that congestion is reduced by road building. Because congestion is equated with increasing global warming, road building is therefore good to counteract global warming (neatly forgetting that new road capacity increases overall traffic and only temporarily reduces congestion or moves it elsewhere).

Progress of DETR Multi-Modal and Road Studies: A66, A1, and S & W York's Motorway Box
The A66 safety scheme.
YHTAR has been invited to various multi-modal studies, and after two meetings with the government office the consultants, who have done a poor assessment are likely to recommend dualling. There is a risk of a situation similar to that which occurred in Hastings: an open conclusion which led politicians to opt for the road expansion option. YHTAR believe that road schemes should be assessed against non-road options. On the A66, the non-dualling option has been totally disregarded. Dual carriageways are not necessarily safer for pedestrians who need to cross the road - e.g. Tadcaster on the A64 has seen a recent spate of accidents.

A1 Steering Committee.
The majority of the committee are pushing for the road (Bramham - Scotch Corner) to be converted to a motorway, whilst JIM Burton is pressing for traffic calming, because traffic travelling at around 50 mph is both safer and produces less pollution. The death rate from air pollution from traffic at 70 mph is higher than the accident rate. So if average speeds were to increase, although the accident rate might be reduced on the new A1 motorway, this saving would be cancelled out by increases in air pollution related deaths.

W & S Yorkshire Motorway box Study
This large study is currently at the data collection and modelling stage. Anthony Rae has tried to get modal shift to be included in the objective but this was refused. The objectives to reduced congestion now looks different form previously: the rail option is not sponsored and it is most likely that a road based solution will emerge as the only option. Anthony Rae will be leaving the study group so YHTAR will be needing a representative.

Hull Multi Modal Study (HuMMS)
This study is just starting, Nic Stoker is on the Steering Group for cycling interests and Alan Fowler is represent the city of Hull Environmental Forum. There is a website for HuMMS: www.humms.org.uk . There are concerns that the proposal for a grade-separated junction at Melton (to the West of Hull) is being pushed through by the Highways Agency before the HuMMS report, and suggests that the Highways Agency has either assumed that the outcome will be road-based or isn't interested in the Study.

Rail services in Yorkshire and the Humber region
It was felt that the proposed Malton to Pickering line should not just be seen as a local rail link, but one of regional significance. North Yorkshire County Council have proposed the feasibility study for the line. In the meantime Safeway have proposed development for a supermarket which would run in the path of the line - the site, a coal yard, is currently owned by British Fuels. Ryedale District council a compiling a report, due out in February; anyone who would who like to submit information must write to Ryedale District Council in Malton. Currently there is support for the rail scheme from the Forestry Commission, the quarries, local business, and tacit support from North York Moors National Park (with some reservations). The National Park is interested in a Park and Ride scheme which would link to Flamingoland.

Other rail schemes under consideration include the re-opening of the line to Otley, which has the support of Otley Council. There is support in Yorkshire for the re-opening of the Skipton-Colne line despite Lancashire County Council's attempt to build an A56 bypass along much of its trackbed. A re-opening of the line between York and Beverley has bee mooted, but this is not under York City Council's priorities who want to open stations along existing railways.

With the concerns over train running and reliability it was noted that YHTAR needs to press for more information regarding day to day running of trains. Northern Spirit are now more open to suggestions from the public.

Rail Re-franchising
The re-franchising process is done in secret- with the likely result that all the current problems will be replicated with new franchises. This matter has been raised with our national organisations. There is a need for increased pressure for the franchising process to be made more open. There is a possibility of a Strategic Rail Authority opening an office in the north as they have been seen as being out of touch. The Shadow Strategic Rail Authority has remained silent on how it views Arriva's bid for Northern Spirit.

Aviation consultation Paper
The DETR has a free booklet on the future of Aviation. Up to five copies are available from:-

DETR Free Literature, PO Box 236, Wetherby, W Yorkshire LS23 7NB
Tel: 0870 1226 236 ; fax: 0870 1226 237

So far YHTAR has not focused on aviation. A government roadshow will feature on how can the massive increase in demand for aviation can be catered for. Air is a bigger threat than the increases in road transport. There is increasing danger in the skies as they become more crowded. The problem is the increase in short haul flights to European destination which are the natural market for High Speed Trains. In addition increasing air transport sucks in more road traffic connecting to airports.

Opportunities through the European Commission's (EC) Complaints procedure
The deficit in implementation of the EC directive on Environmental Impact Assessment (1985) worries the EC. the deficit refers to the lack of compliance with the intention of the directive by the member states. NGOs have a key role to play in enforcing compliance often because it is only through complaints submitted to the commission that they know about infringements. there is no separate monitoring procedure. the highway agency claim that their "procedures covered the intentions of the directive"; as far as the Bingley relief road is concerned, this is strongly refuted by beta. as a result of the investigation by the EC into beta's compliant, it is worth members of YHTAR looking at proposals and not hesitate to look at environmental impact assessments (EIA). countries that do not comply risk regional aid being withheld by the EC. they can also face fines; Greece is currently facing a €1½ million fine (which is increasing on a daily basis) over a non-compliant waste site. in the UK a development at crystal palace was given the go-ahead by john Prescott despite a lack of an EIA. this development has been ruled illegal by the European court of justice.

Arrangements with the Countryside Agency
It was decided that YHTAR will formalise its constitution and produce financial reports for the requirements for full funding from the Countryside agency.

A full job description will be issued for acquiring a new co-ordinator for YHTAR.