It was really encouraging to see so many people attend this community transport event, organised by AVOW, Community Transport Association and Renew Wales. Its aim was to follow up on a similar event held last year, getting local people together with decision makers for a thoughtful and focussed discussion around local transport issues and solutions. Credit to Jayne Mills, our co-ordinator there for galvanising interest from nearly 60 people who attended for some part of the day- it was a good mix of local people representing local groups and organisations, support agencies, local politicians and local authority officers.
John Gallanders, AVOW’s Chief Officer chaired the day and local AM and Minister for Economy and Transport, Ken Skates, opened the event by encouraging delegates to be innovate and challenging with their ideas and suggestions for local transport, which was great to hear!
Kate Hamilton, Renew Wales’ Director outlined the need for change in behaviours towards travel and transport due to climate change and the need to live more sustainably and encouraged collaboration to arrive at solutions. Michelle Clarke from Community Transport Association echoed the wishes for collaboration and told attendees of the support that CTA can offer groups in the area.
We then set about identifying the local transport issues with energetic discussion amongst the groups who all had varying experiences of travel in the area and contributed extensively to the flipcharts of notes! Buses, trains, issues for older people and young people were highlighted as were problems about cycling and walking. On the flip side, there was also a feeling of ‘we’ve been here before and nothing changes’ amongst some who were keen to get something tangible out of this gathering.
After a hearty and delicious lunch, a panel discussion took place where the speakers were joined by Kim Bryan from Remarc Cymru, who work with communities under the European LEADER Programme, to look for solutions that deal with climate change challenges. Some solutions and developments were considered including participants wanting to establish a group to take matters forward and work towards creating a community -led transport plan. Renew Wales is committed, along with other agencies, to supporting this to happen.
A report from the event will be circulated in due course to the attendees but there was much positivity about working collaboratively and we look forward to being a part of what happens next!
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Roedd yn hynod o galonogol i weld cynifer wedi ymgynull i’r diwrnod hwn i drafod materion trafnidiaeth, a drefnwyd gan AVOW, Cymdeithas Trafnidiaeth Gymunedol (CTA) ac Adfywio Cymru. Y bwriad oedd i adeiladau ar ddigwyddiad tebyg llynedd, sef dod a phobl lleol ynghyd a pobl sy’n gwneud penderfyniadau, am gyfle am drafod ystyrlon wedi’i ffocysu ar faterion trafnidiaeth lleol ac atebion.
Clod i Jayne Mills, ein cydlwynwr yno, am ymgaslgu diddordeb ymysg bron i 60 o bobl ya ddaeth yno ar rhyw adeg yn ystod y dydd- roedd yn gymysgwch dda o bobl leol yn cynrychioli grwpiau, asiantau cefnogol, gwleidyddion lleol a swyddogion o’r cyngor.
Cadeirydd y dydd oedd John Gallanders, sef Prif Swyddog AVOW a agorwyd y sesiwn gan Ken Skates, yr AC lleol a Gweinidog dros yr Economi a Thrafnidiaeth a anogodd y cynrychiolwyr i fod yn feiddgar ac yn heriol gyda’u awgrymiadau a syniadau ar gyfer cludiant cymunedol- roedd hwn yn dda i glywed! Gwnaeth Kate Hamilton, Cyfarwyddwr Adfywio Cymru son am yr angen i newid ein hymddygiad am deithio a thrafnidiaeth yng nghyswllt newid yn yr hinsawdd a byw yn fwy gynaliadwy gan annog cydweithio i gyrraedd atebion. Ategodd Michelle Clarke o Gymdeithas Trafnidiaeth Gymunedol y dymuniad am gydweithio ac esboniodd am y gefnogaeth gallant gynnig i grwpiau yn yr ardal.
Yna, aethom ati i ganfod y problemau gyda cludiant lleol ac roedd yna drafod brwd ymysg y grwpiau gyda’r cyfraniad yn fawr i’r ‘flipcharts’!! Cafwyd materion ynghlyn a bysiau, trenau, pobl hyn a phobl ifanc eu rhestru a hefyd am seiclo a cherdded. Ar yr ochr arall, roedd yna deimlad oddi wrth rhai tebyg i ‘ry’ ni wedi bod yma o’r blaen a does dim byd yn newid’ ac roeddynt yn awyddus i gael rhywbeth cadarn a gwirioneddol allan o’r diwrnod.
Ar ol cinio hyfryd a chalonnog cynhaliwyd sesiwn banel lle ymunodd Kim Bryan o Remarc a’r siaradwyr eraill. Mae Remarc y gweithio gyda cymunedau o dan y Rhaglen Ewropeaidd LEADER i edrych am atebion sy’n delio gyda’r her o newid yn yr hinsawdd. Cyngiwyd ac ystriwyd atebion a ffyrdd o symud ymlaen, gan gynnwys y cyfranogwyr eisiau sefydlu grwp i weithio tuag at creu cynllun trafnidiaeth cymunedol. Mae Adywio Cymru yn ymroddedig, ynghyd ag asiantau eraill i gefnogi hyn i ddigwydd.
Bydd adroddiad o’r digwyddiad yn cael ei anfon i bawb oedd yno ond roedd lawer o bositifrwydd ynghlyn a chydweithio ac edrychwn ymlaen at fod yn rhan o beth sy’n digwydd nesaf!