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

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

3. 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)

4. 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

5. 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

6. 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 2008 -Training Session in HIA held  November 2008 – Stage 1 workshops  June 2009 – Stage 2 workshops  November 2009 – Public consultation

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

8. Overview of options

9.  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

10. 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

11.  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

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

13. 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

14. 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

15. 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

16. Wales Health Impact Assessment Support Unit www.whiasu.wales.nhs.uk Liz.green@wch.wales.nhs.uk