Published on Monday 24 March 2025
Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole (BCP) Council is gearing up to host its first major transport conference.
Transport experts, local businesses and invited stakeholders will come together on 26 and 27 March to engage on a range of issues - including decarbonisation, public transport integration, and other critical issues that will shape how people live, work, and move around BCP.
The views of residents are crucial to shaping policy and an external research company is already conducting face-to-face surveys to ensure the public can have a direct say.
Businesses are also being consulted through a Business Travel Survey to enable the council to better understand the travel and transport requirements of local stakeholders.
Together, this range of engagement will help BCP Council and Dorset Council to create a joint Local Transport Plan 4 (LTP4) - setting out a vision for how transport policy is delivered across Dorset for the next 10-15 years.
Councillor Andy Martin, Portfolio Holder for Customer, Communications and Culture at BCP Council, said: “This is the first time we’ve hosted an event like this, and it’s a great opportunity to bring together different voices to discuss the future of transport in our region.
“Transport affects everyone, and as we develop the next Local Transport Plan, we want to ensure the decisions are informed by meaningful discussions with local businesses and key stakeholders.”
The conference provides an additional level of face-to-face engagement between policymakers and leading experts across a variety of transport related topics with an opening headline speech from David Metz from University College London
Professor David Metz, UCL, said: “Cars are convenient and work well with people’s personal economics. However, the way we travel is changing, and events like this are essential to ensure future transport strategies reflect both technological advancements and real-world needs. I’m looking forward to discussing what this can mean for Bournemouth, Christchurch and Poole.”
Once the council has received feedback from the full range of pre-engagement processes, BCP Council and Dorset Council intend to undertake a broader public consultation on the draft strategy and implementation plan later this year.
Businesses looking to take part in the Business Travel Survey are invited to contact the transport team at LTP@bcpcouncil.gov.uk.