A number of Gwynedd and Anglesey public organisations have pledged to assist people with making small changes that can have a great impact on everyone’s health and well-being.

At an extra-ordinary event, in the presence of Ken Skates, Cabinet Secretary for Transport and North Wales, organisations from both counties co-signed the Healthy Travel Charter.

Healthy Travel encourages people to leave the car at home and use alternative ways of getting from A to B, either by using public transport, walking or cycling. As the alternative ways have some form of physical activity, there are obvious benefits to the health and well-being of individuals, as well as being better for the environment by reducing the use of fossil fuel and carbon emissions.

Cyngor Gwynedd, Isle of Anglesey County Council, North Wales Fire and Rescue Service and Natural Resources Wales, as well as Bangor University and Medrwn Môn as invited Board members have taken the first steps during the extra-ordinary meeting of the Board that was held yesterday at Anglesey Business Centre, Llangefni.

In signing the Charter, the organisations have pledged to deliver on the 15 steps which contribute to promoting healthy travel, for the benefit of staff and users of the services, which include:

• Alternative ways of travel rather than travelling by car, especially among staff when travelling on business or their daily commute (to and from work).
• Support and encourage staff and visitors to walk and cycle more.
• Using public transport.
• Changing to electric vehicles where possible.

The launch of the Charter is a result of enthusiastic collaboration between the organisations to reach the target of carbon net zero inline with the Board’s Well-Being Plan 2023-25.

Professor Andrew Edwards, Deputy Vice-Chancellor, Bangor University and Chair of Gwynedd & Anglesey Public Services Board, said:

“Huge steps have been taken by the organisations who are here today to sign, and co-sign the Healthy Travel Charter to embed active travel and make it easier for staff to take the small steps to switch to walking, cycling and Public Transport for work-related travel.

The Gwynedd and Anglesey Public Services Board is fortunate to have a pro-active and supportive Healthy Travel Charter Sub-Group which is supportive of each other, those organisations who are here today, to reach this significant milestone of signing the Charter.

As they embark on this exciting journey, we are looking forward to seeing other Board members joining them and signing the Charter, so that the public organisations in Gwynedd and Anglesey will make a difference, reduce carbon emissions, and promote the significant benefits for the health of their staff, the public and the planet.”

Over the next few months, more Board members will embark on the journey to sign the Charter.