Barry Moore, Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport

"I started my career as a research chemist, but soon realised transport was much more interesting..."

Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport

Transport campaigning doesn’t always make the headlines, as Barry Moore is the first to admit. “But we manage to wear away at the stone,” he says of his group, Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport.

The group’s stone of choice – bad transport – is a particularly big and ugly one. They tackle it by getting stuck into the policy-making process, especially by responding to local and national consultation documents.

They have gained a reputation for good, policy-based campaigning, and are sometimes asked to advise other groups. Not only this, but they’ve had some clear successes. “We helped to get better bus information in the area,” Barry says. “A great bus service is no good if people don’t know how to use it. We found parish councils to be the best bodies to approach about this. We persuaded our parish to publish and distribute a summary leaflet about local bus services.”

Through the County Council's Rail Passenger Group, Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport helped convince ‘one’ railway to improve the rail service to the town of Brandon. The service is now hourly, and well-promoted through a coloured A5 leaflet. The group has also been instrumental in distributing information about the improved service to Needham Market.

Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport also submitted evidence to the consultation on SnOasis, a winter sports centre that would be close to Ipswich and include the biggest indoor ski slope in the world. “We didn’t feel it was our place to comment on whether or not SnOasis was a good idea. But with 450 new homes planned as well as the ski centre itself, we wanted to make sure they got the transport elements right. We were pleased to see that the issues we had raised were included in the planning application.”

Barry explains his motivations for campaigning in transport: “I started my career as a research chemist, but soon realised transport was much more interesting. Now that I’m retired, I spend a lot of my time campaigning on transport issues because I feel that things aren’t being addressed properly. I’m especially concerned with safe walking routes. Pedestrians often aren’t listened to, and a walking route is no good if it includes one unsafe road crossing.”

Be realistic

“Money for transport doesn’t grow on trees. If you’re realistic in what you ask for, and take practical management issues into account, you’ll find people are more willing to listen to you.”

Spread your skills

“A good group has a wide range of skills and interests. It’s important not to focus all your energies on one area to the detriment of others, particularly if that one area is your enthusiasm.”

The media is your friend

“Make friends with your local newspaper and radio station,” Barry says. Get known as a voice for sustainable transport in your area, whether it’s by writing letters to the letters page (“Keep them punchy and relevant”) or offering to take part in a discussion programme. “It’s possible to get a foot in the door if you find out who to contact and keep your tone positive.”

Name names

Rather than sending letters addressed to ‘Dear Sir or Madam’, you should always try and identify the person responsible for a particular area, Barry advises. “Then you can get them on your side.”

If you don’t know, ask

If you don’t know very much about a subject, says Barry, “Don’t be afraid to ring someone who does, whether they’re within your own group or a parallel organisation. Transport and environmental organisations support one another and are usually happy to share their knowledge.”

Contact Ipswich and East Suffolk Campaign for Better Transport

Tel: 01473 831168
Send an email