What are Fenland’s rural transport needs and how could these be better met in future?

These are some of the questions being asked at a series of public meetings launched by the Fenland Transport and Access Group (TAG) and Fenland District Council.

The five transport focus group meetings will feature discussions on travel by rail, road and bus, walking and cycling.

The focus groups will be held at Fenland Hall, County Road, March, on the following dates.

• Thursday, November 1, 2018, 1pm to 3pm (railway)

• Thursday, November 8, 2018, 10am to noon (local highways)

• Thursday, January 10, 2019, 1pm to 3pm (bus services)

• Wednesday, January 23, 2019, 10am to noon (walking)

• Wednesday, January 30, 2019, 10am to noon (cycling)

To book a place at the meeting email: neighbourhoodstrategy@fenland.gov.uk or call 01354 622318.

Places must be booked at least 48 hours beforehand.

Anyone can attend the meetings, but organisers hope to hear from public transport users and representatives from local groups, charities and schools.

Councillor David Oliver, Fenland District Council’s cabinet member for transport, said: “Good transport services play a vital role in connecting rural communities like Fenland.

“They provide access to local services, opportunities for employment and leisure and promote social inclusion.

“These meetings will form part of the ongoing development of a new strategy to meet our transport needs and help us to gain further understanding of the projects we need to focus on in future.

“We also need to see whether our views on each topic area are in line with the public’s view, and if not, why not? The more input we have from the public the better.”

If demand to attend the focus groups is high, additional sessions will be organised.