After railway electrification, action called for on Welsh Sea and Air Ports

Following Monday's announcement of the electrification of the railway line from Paddington to Swansea and Valleys lines, I came across this report from the Assembly's Business Committee published a few weeks ago calling for more help to develop Welsh sea and airports for business and passengers, the timing  couldn't be better.

The Committee made 19 recommendations below and the full report is HERE

Recommendation 1. Seek to influence the UK Government’s forthcoming aviation framework so that it both recognises the potential of Cardiff Airport in addressing UK airport capacity needs and also serves the needs of Welsh businesses and passengers.

Recommendation 2. Formulate a clear, strategic, evidence-based position for developing air transport in Wales, based on a thorough assessment of the economic impact of aviation in Wales, which sets out where air services are needed, what kind of routes can support Wales‟s sustainable economic development objectives, and how this can best be delivered.

Recommendation 3. Continue to explore the case for devolving Air Passenger Duty to Wales for 

those services that generate sustainable inward tourism and business investment opportunities.

Recommendation 4. Continue to press the managers of Cardiff Airport to invest in its development and the development of a new Master Plan, and commission an independent assessment of the airport‟s future viability to function as an international gateway for passengers and freight.

Recommendation 5. Introduce an improved, dedicated express bus service between Cardiff Airport and the city centre, and explore options for funding that service with partners and other key stakeholders, should this be supported by the independent assessment suggested in Recommendation 4.

Recommendation 6. Explore the business case for a frequent, direct train service to Cardiff Airport, should this be supported by the independent assessment suggested in Recommendation 4.

Recommendation 7. Exploit all available channels to demonstrate to the European Commission the adverse impact that current aviation State Aid guidance can have, and how Aid could be used differently to develop Cardiff Airport as a destination of choice for international business and tourist travellers.

Recommendation 8. Integrate connectivity to Welsh airports with transport and infrastructure policy for Wales as a whole, and seek to negotiate the provision of better cross-border transport links and prospective electrification of rail services such as for Swansea and the Valleys.

Recommendation 9. Continue to facilitate and commit to effective engagement with the UK Government on ports policy, including discussion on the suitability of the existing devolutionary settlement and any changes that are necessary to benefit Wales.

Recommendation 10. Publish a revised Wales Freight Strategy, which has a greater emphasis on rail freight, by the end of 2012, and negotiate the needs of rail freight in Wales for the next Network Rail Control Period.

Recommendation 11. Commission feasibility studies into the development of short sea shipping and port-centric logistics at Welsh ports to identify potential opportunities as well as obstacles to development.

Recommendation 12. Champion the interests of Welsh ports and ferry operators in relation to debates on port border checks and EU sulphur emissions limits.

Recommendation 13. Press the UK Government to examine the business case for electrification of relief lines on the Great Western Main Line to ensure rail freight containers can travel easily to and from Welsh ports. Gauge clearance should also be advocated for all current and future rail infrastructure proposals for the same reason.

Recommendation 14. Press the Department for Transport to submit Welsh rail projects eligible for funding under the Connecting Europe Facility so that Wales can benefit fully from resources available to develop the Trans-European Transport Network.

Recommendation 15. Clarify its intentions for Enterprise Zones that include Welsh ports or airports so that Wales can fully benefit from this initiative.

Recommendation 16. Reflect the strategic importance of ports in the renewable energy supply chain in Welsh energy policies and seek optimum benefits for Wales from UK renewable energy opportunities.

Recommendation 17. Encourage port operators to improve the tourist experience at their facilities and consult potential stakeholders on how best to fund berthing facilities that will attract cruise liners.

Recommendation 18. Support Cruise Wales to devise and implement, in conjunction with Visit Wales, a strategic marketing plan to promote Wales‟s tourist offer and selected Welsh port destinations to international cruise operators.

Recommendation 19. Ensure the sustainable development of Welsh ports and airports is addressed through Local Development Plans, and encourage local authorities to collaborate with each other where the impacts of those developments have wider regional implications.

Any source