Wednesday, 8th July 2009 - 10:40
ITS United Kingdom promotes Intelligent Transport Systems at the Houses of Parliament
The resounding success of the recent ITS (UK) Evening Reception on the Terraces of the Houses of Parliament has been recognised and widely reported through emails, letters, messages and phone calls received by ITS (UK). The event took place at this prestigious setting overlooking the River Thames on a balmy evening in mid-June and allowed ITS (UK) to reflect on just how far the Society has progressed in recent years so that it can occupy a highly sought venue and converse directly with influential Parliamentarians.
As expected the main purpose of the Evening Reception was devoted to Parliamentarians and transportation experts engaging in lively discussions on how current and future mobility can be influenced by ITS. Steve Norris and Mike Schofield made short speeches in their respective capacities as ITS (UK) President and Chairman with Theresa Villiers MP, the Shadow Secretary of State for Transport and the Parliamentary host, responding. She recognised the current and future value of ITS and focused on how it can contribute to attaining environmental targets and helping with the delivery of transport projects that may be constrained by finite budgets. A range of documentation was available to reinforce the discussions; this included a recently published Parliamentary POSTnote on Intelligent Transportation, an ITS (UK) ‘one-page’ briefing note aimed at addressing issues and questions that Parliamentarians were likely to ask and sponsors’ corporate publications.
It will come as no surprise that considerable planning had been devoted to the event in preceding months to guarantee that the appropriate Parliamentarians and associated staff and agencies with a strong cross-representational attendance had been identified and invited; this created the forum whereby Parliamentarians and ITS (UK) members were able to conduct effective and informative dialogue on ITS related matters in an informal setting. The event was made financially viable through contribution from sponsors from within the ITS (UK) membership. These included Mouchel (Diamond sponsors), Logica and HS Technology Group (Gold), Kapsch, Egis, and RedSpeed (Silver), as well as AECOM and ITSO (Bronze), whose details were prominently displayed throughout the evening as well as featuring on the ITS (UK) members’ House of Parliament webpage. ITS (UK) is extremely grateful for their support and contribution, without which the event would not have taken place.
Ends
Picture shows Theresa Villiers MP and Steven Norris at the ITS United Kingdom Parliamentary Reception.
ENQUIRIES:
For further information, please contact:
Neal Skelton
ITS (UK) Tel:
+44(0) 774 037 5962
Email:
mailbox@its-uk.org.uk
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