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MINISTERIAL FOREWORD
Regional transport partnerships came into being on 1 December 2005. Their most important task will be to draw up comprehensive transport strategies for their regions by April 2007.
Each regional transport strategy will focus on the travel needs of people and business in their region. Travel plays an important part in all our lives, so policy and delivery must be joined up with, and respond to, the demands of society for access to jobs, to schools, to services, to leisure and recreation and to products and markets. Transport planning must be integrated ever more closely with land-use and development planning. This will support our efforts to boost economic growth in a way that is consistent with our commitment to safeguard our environment, locally and globally.
Regional transport partnerships will be at their best when they work in genuine partnership: between the constituent councils in each region; between councillor and non-councillor members; with planning authorities, economic development bodies, health boards, transport operators, business interests and users.
In 2007 Ministers will be asked to approve the first strategies from the 7 regional transport partnerships. I am confident that, if this guidance is followed, they will all pass that test with flying colours. This devolved government is investing record amounts in transport: high-quality regional strategies, informed by meaningful public engagement, will ensure that these resources achieve the best results.
I look forward to working with the partnerships on this important task.
TAVISH SCOTT MSP
Minister for Transport
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