hia in transport planning in wales wales health impact assessment support unit liz green hia...
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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 2008 -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
