This is a 1.5 hour panel discussion. The panel will highlight important issues and experiences of people who are experiencing transport austerity and the main challenges for tackling these problems within the local context. This will be followed by an open discussion with members of the audience. Members of the local press will also be invited along. The objective here is to have a public conversation about the hot topic of transport austerity.
Economic austerity policies since 2010 have widened and deepened poverty across the UK and with the costs of living set to rise again, this is an urgent national and local policy issue. Transport poverty has recently been recognised as an additional financial burden that many low-income households are struggling with at the present time. Although this issue is well-documented within transport research, we currently know very little about how people on the ground are experiencing transport austerity alongside the cost of living crisis. Equally, local transport policies, anti-poverty strategies and planned programmes do not directly confront the transport poverty issue.
This event will open up dialogue between these currently siloed research and policy arenas to encourage researchers and key stakeholders to engage with local communities concerning their transport poverty challenges in the Greater Manchester area. A second aim is to offer a forum to begin to coproduce a local action agenda to address current transport poverty challenges.
Dr Karen Lucas, University of Manchester
Professor Sarah Marie Hall, University of Manchester
Dr Graeme Sherriff, University of Salford
Dr Joanna Barrow, University of Manchester
Dr Eda Beyazit (visiting USF fellow, Istanbul)
Emma Tsoneva, University of Manchester
All
This event will be of interest to students, academics, local policy practitioners and third sector and campaigning organisations as well as members of the general public with an interest in transport-related social and economic disadvantage.
Refreshments available from 4.30