The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership is delighted to welcome West Lothian Councillor Sally Pattle as the new Chair of the partnership board. Cllr Pattle takes over the reins from Cllr Colin Davidson, of Fife Council, who steps down as the Chair of the partnership board.
Cllr Pattle, one of the first women to become Chair of a regional transport partnership board in Scotland, will be leading at an important time for the region. Immediate priorities for SEStran include developing a region-wide bus strategy to transform and extend the bus service in the region, and developing a People and Place plan to help increase walking, wheeling and cycling across the region – active travel.
Cllr Sally Pattle, said: “I am extremely pleased and excited to be taking up this new role. Transport is an essential part of our lives. Whether we’re travelling to work, meeting friends and family, attending healthcare appointments or buying food, we all need to be able to safely get where we’re going, so it is vital that our transport system is effective, efficient and accessible to all.
“At the same time, we are living in a climate emergency, so it has never been more important that the way we travel is sustainable. Encouraging people to rely less on the private car is key, but for this to work we need safe and accessible routes for people to walk, cycle or wheel*. And, to complement this, we also need to prioritise creating an excellent public transport network available to everyone, wherever they live in our region. We need a sustainable public transport system that can take people where they need to go, when they need to get there.
“I am looking forward to supporting the development of a transport system that provides everyone living in the south east of Scotland with improved access to healthcare, education, public services and employment opportunities, whilst also enabling businesses to function effectively.”
The South East of Scotland Transport Partnership Director, Brian Butler, commented: “Cllr Pattle brings with her a wealth of knowledge, passion and enthusiasm. We are delighted to welcome her to the role of Chair of the partnership board and looking forward to working closely with her.
“I would also like to take this opportunity to thank Cllr Davidson for all his hard work over the last two and a half years.”
Previously, Cllr Pattle was one of three Deputy Chairs for the partnership board.
