HIA in Transport Planning in Wales Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit Liz Green HIA Development Officer

Political Context  Devolved Government  Emphasis on: Health and wellbeing Addressing inequalities within population Sustainable Development Citizen centred public services Partnership working Integrated agenda

HIA and Transport Planning  One Wales  Development of Welsh Public Health Strategic Framework  Making the Connections  Consideration of Health in All Policies  SEA/EIA - consideration of ‘human health’ and ‘population health’  Welsh Transport Planning Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG)

Welsh Transport Appraisal Guidance (WelTAG)  Published June 2008  Guidance for Transport Planners/Consultants  New Road Builds or Improvement Schemes  26 appraisal criteria including HIA  Promotes consideration of health and wellbeing  Broad and participatory model of HIA

Process  Liaise with WHIASU  Tie in with Sustainability Appraisals  Stage 1: Screening and Scoping of broad number of options  Stage 2: More in depth study of defined options – includes community engagement

Case Study: A483/A489 Transportation Study, Mid-Wales  January 2008 – Consultants appointed  WHIASU approached by Consultants for support in HIA  Meetings held – evidence gathered/options identified  June Training Session in HIA held  November 2008 – Stage 1 workshops  June 2009 – Stage 2 workshops  November 2009 – Public consultation

Stage One Workshop  11 Options considered  Screening for impacts on:  Environment  Economic  Social  Sustainability  Separate workshop for health impacts - included local stakeholders/public health

Overview of options

 Positive and negative impacts and gaps identified  Evidence provided on community/health profiles  Raised awareness of importance of health and wellbeing  Highlighted inequality and social issues

Stage Two Workshop  6 Options considered  Participatory workshop including:  Local public health personnel  Community and voluntary sector representatives  Local elected members  Sustainable development and transport organisations

 Supported planners/decision makers - 2 ‘best’ options  Local knowledge changed assumptions made previously  Identified further quantitative evidence  Community transport and health impacts identified  Consultants saw benefits to the HIA process

Practical issues  WelTAG new to all  Lack of consultants experience in HIA/Public Health in Transport  Political context  Jargon  Understanding of health/wellbeing

Challenges  Differences between impact/option appraisal processes/frameworks  Overlap of HIA topics and other transport assessments  Nature of evidence to be considered  Community engagement/participation

Outcomes  Development of services for local needs - identified impacts that had not been recognised  Addressed specific vulnerable groups and health inequalities  Made people ‘think out of the box’ and away from ‘silo mentalities’  Informed decision making process and has led to amendments to the emerging options  Democratic and open engagement for community  Increased the understanding of health/wellbeing within the transport planning/engineering sector

Opportunities for future  Wales Transport Plan 2009/10  More transportation schemes  Dissemination of results and learnings – WHIASU website  Increased awareness of wellbeing within sector –training sessions  Intersectorial and partnership working

Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit