After the long summer Parliamentary recess, the autumn ‘term’ has started with a flurry of activity at DfT. A meeting has been held with the new Secretary of State Louise Haigh and the Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood, on day one of the new session (October 7th).
Louise Haigh called in a range of organisations to kick off discussions on developing a new Road Safety Strategy, with this aimed to be the first in several years. Several safety NGOs and transport sector groups were present, with the motorcycle sector being represented by the National Motorcyclists Council (NMC). The meeting focussed on broad themes rather than on specific details, though several ideas were put forward by the different bodies present. The NMC said to Ministers that several issues remained outstanding, such as work on motorcycle training and testing reform, bus lane access and the need to refresh the 2005 Government Motorcycle Strategy. The Secretary of State welcomed contributions from the groups present and said that detailed work on a wide range of safety issues would now commence.
This meeting was followed a week later by a Pothole Partnership meeting with Future of Roads Minister Lilian Greenwood. The Partnership founder members were present; the AA, British Cycling, JCB and the NMC. This was essentially a ‘kick off’ meeting to discuss how to bring Labour’s manifesto commitment on potholes and related issues to life. Technical issues relating to permanent pothole repair was discussed and an exchange of views held on how to turn policy into practical benefit for motorcyclists, cyclists and other road users. Overall, a positive session with an agreement to develop the work needed in this area.
NMC Executive Director, Craig Carey-Clinch said: “With the General Election called early and almost immediately followed by the summer recess and also the party conferences recess, there has been little indication of the new Government’s intentions on a range of matters affecting motorcycling. Although it’s still early days for this new administration, the two ministerial meetings have set the scene regarding safety issues.
“However, safety is but one area where we seek action from the new Government and now the post-election ‘hiatus’ is over, the NMC looks forward to working with the Government on a range of policy areas, including those all important outstanding areas of licensing regulations and bus lane access. We are also looking to the Government to bring clarity on motorcycle decarbonisation policy. But overall, there is the need to finally bring motorcycling into the mainstream of transport policy through a new motorcycle strategy. This will be the best way to ensure there is proper investment in rider safety and also recognition in other policies of motorcycling as a transport mode,”