The Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, has announced the appointment of a Sustainable Travel Ambassador for the East Midlands Combined County Authority (EMCCA) region.
Alan Simpson has been named as the Sustainable Travel Ambassador for the East Midlands. One of the key pledges made by the Mayor has been to make it easier and safer for people to walk, cycle, and get around our region, connecting local communities so they can make the easy choice to travel more sustainably.
Alan Simpson brings a wealth of expertise and knowledge of sustainability to the role, having spent much of his working life focusing on environmental issues. From his time in Parliament and his career since, Alan has always strived to put the climate emergency front and centre of policy, both locally and nationally. He has worked for Friends of the Earth as an Advisor on Energy and Climate and was an Expert Advisor to the Environment Committee Inquiry into Climate and Energy Security for the Welsh Assembly.
Mayor of the East Midlands, Claire Ward, said: “I am delighted to welcome Alan to the EMCCA team and to this critical role focusing on sustainable travel. I have made this a key pledge of mine, and I am determined to improve the ways people get around the region, be it for work or leisure, and to make the sustainable choice the easiest choice—whether by bike, scooter, or on foot.
“Alan is well placed to take on the role, as he has been a passionate advocate for environmental policies for decades, and I am keen to see the added value he can bring to this project.
“This year will be critical to setting the tone for how we invest in travel and connectivity because we will be developing our first Local Transport Plan. Bringing in someone like Alan, who is visionary, knowledgeable, and connected to communities, will ensure that EMCCA’s priorities are the people’s priorities.”
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Sustainable Travel Ambassador, Alan Simpson, said: “I am over the moon to accept the role of Sustainable Travel Ambassador—not only because I know I can bring my experience to it, but also because it shows how important this work is to Mayor Claire. She is committed to making this region the best region for sustainable travel, encouraging more people to walk or cycle, which is great for the region’s health and for tackling the climate emergency.”
