Contact: L Newman, ext 6051

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out progress on several studies and schemes currently being undertaken to implement the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) policy, as follows:

(i) Transport Interchanges - Farnborough Station

(ii) Disabled Provision at Stations in North East Hampshire

(iii) Surrey County Council's A325 Study

(iv) Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route

(v) B3272 Route Strategy including Yateley Town Centre

(vi) Blackwater Valley Mass Transit Study

2. Transport Interchanges - Farnborough Station

2.1 A consultation meeting was held on 23 August 2001 to discuss improved interchange facilities as part of a potential development of Farnborough Main Rail Station and the immediate surrounding area. The meeting was hosted by TPK Consulting on behalf of Railtrack Property. Participants included Hampshire County Council officers and representatives of Rushmoor Borough Council, South West Trains, Stagecoach Hants & Surrey and the Rail Passengers Committee.

2.2 The purpose of the meeting was for TPK Consulting to obtain feedback from stakeholders on current transport issues at Farnborough Station, and how the development could provide improved interchange between transport modes.

2.3 The next stage is for TPK Consulting to provide some initial interchange designs, taking into account the feedback from the meeting. A further consultation meeting will follow.

3. Disabled Provision at Stations in North East Hampshire

3.1 Members may recall that at the meeting on 21 March 2001 there was discussion about the implications of the new South West Trains franchise regarding disabled access provision at Hook, Winchfield, Fleet, Farnborough and Aldershot stations.

3.2 Stagecoach has now been selected as the `preferred' bidder for the franchise. This means there is a clearer indication of what kind of facilities are likely to be provided and by what date. However, that information is conditional on the successful conclusion of negotiations on the franchise agreement which are likely to take until November 2001. Therefore, until it is known what precisely is going to be funded a proper assessment of whether the proposed facilities will be adequate cannot be made. It is known that Stagecoach proposes to provide disabled access to and between all platforms, with the year 2014 as the deadline for completion of the last station.

3.3 The remaining NEHTS stations, Blackwater and Farnborough North, will go through a similar process when the Thames Trains franchise is renegotiated.

3.4 It should be emphasised that the Strategic Rail Authority has been made aware of the importance local authorities place on the early provision of disabled access at rail stations throughout the network.

4. A325 Corridor - Coxbridge Roundabout to County Boundary Multi-Modal Study

4.1 Surrey County Council has commissioned consultants to undertake a multi-modal transport study for the A325 corridor within Surrey, to the south of Farnham, between the A31 Coxbridge roundabout and the Surrey/Hampshire border at Rowledge.

4.2 The section of the A325 corridor in Surrey covers the residential areas of South Farnham, including Wrecclesham where the road bisects the village resulting in community severance and concerns about road safety.

4.3 The County Council and East Hampshire District Council have been invited by Surrey County Council to nominate Councillor representatives for a Steering Group to oversee the study. This formal approach is welcomed, given that Hampshire County Council has an adopted Route Strategy (December 1996) for the section of the A325 between the county boundary with Surrey and the A3 at Greatham to the south. It is intended to keep Members informed on the progress of the study.

5. Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route

5.1 Members may recall the presentation to the informal meeting of this Panel on 27 July 2001, at which the results of the public consultation on the first phase were discussed. At that time 87% of the respondents had supported the local authorities in making improvements to public transport in the Blackwater Valley. More frequent and reliable buses were high priorities by members of the public and there was broad support for most of the measures between Boundary Road and Bradford's roundabout in Farnborough. A number of adjustments were made to the scheme proposals in the light of comments received during the consultation. The most fundamental change was the retention of the access to Farnborough Hill School on Farnborough Road, rather than the access off Highgate Lane, as originally proposed. It was also proposed to curtail the northbound bus lane on the approach to Bradford's roundabout, since modelling had suggested an adverse impact on general traffic at peak hours, without an additional traffic lane being provided. Members requested that officers pursue the suggestion of reducing the central reservation between Prospect Avenue and Bradford's roundabout in order to provide the bus lane, whilst retaining a sufficient area of road space for queueing general traffic. This is now being investigated as part of the design for Phase 1 of the scheme. A further report will be presented to Members with the results.

5.2 Members also felt that the County Council's Environment Policy Review Committee should be invited to consider the scheme at its September meeting, prior to the Executive Member for Environment approving it in October for design and construction. It is planned, subject to the Executive Member's approval, to seek tenders for the work involved in Phase 1, subject to a number of supplementary works (including the central reservation mentioned above) and detailed implementation issues.

5.3 The works are programmed to commence at the southern end, at Boundary Road, and proceed northwards along Farnborough Road to Bradford's roundabout. The opportunity will be taken to incorporate essential carriageway maintenance, together with improvements to lighting, pedestrian and cycle routes, and new bus stops and shelters. The programme of works is planned for the period February-December 2002 in stages.

5.4 In the meantime, public consultation has commenced on Phase 2 covering the Frimley to Camberley and The Meadows section (in Surrey). Consultation reflected very closely the results from the Hampshire exhibitions, with 90% of respondents supporting improvements to public transport, especially to frequency and reliability, together with more measured support for bus lanes along the A30 and associated roads.

5.5 In readiness for the implementation of the physical measures, bus operator Stagecoach has improved the frequency on bus route 1 from every 20 minutes to every 15 minutes and intends to introduce low floor accessible buses for the route in November. To mark the collaborative working established with this priority project, it is planned to launch a local Quality Partnership during the autumn. This will provide an opportunity for all authorities to make a public commitment to deliver the measures that have received such strong support from the public.

6. B3272 Route Management Strategy (Eversley to Blackwater, including Yateley Town Centre)

6.1 Following the last Panel meeting the County Council's consultants have commenced work on the B3272 Route Management Strategy (RMS). The Strategy aims to deliver improvements in safety for all road users, integration between alternative modes of transport, a traffic management scheme to encourage through traffic to use the A327 and A30 roads, and to tackle severance through Yateley, Frogmore and Eversley. The Strategy will also be reassessing the road for the A327 Eversley bypass.

6.2 The B3272 RMS will form part of an inclusive approach, with the work being undertaken as part of the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas scheme for Yateley town centre.

7. Blackwater Valley Mass Transit Study

7.1 Members may recall that in November 2000 a workshop was held with various stakeholders and organisations to discuss the 10 year vision for the NEHTS area. The issue of mass transit was highlighted as an area which needed further investigation. Progress has now been made and a draft brief for consultants has been prepared.

7.2 The brief sets out the requirements for a scoping exercise to be carried out by consultants as a first stage in investigating whether a mass transit system should be developed in the area forming the Blackwater Valley in the north-east of Hampshire and west of Surrey and extending into the heart of the borough of Bracknell Forest.

7.3 The study will require the consultants to consider the need for a mass transit system for the area and identify the market conditions needed to support it, and to provide an indication of the sort of mass transit system that would be appropriate. The three specific objectives which will need to be addressed during the course of the study are:

(i) to identify potential routes which would form part of a mass transit system;

(ii) to identify a number of scenarios with different levels of provision by different modes, with appropriate cost/benefit analysis; and

(iii) in circumstances where it is considered that mass transit would not be viable, to provide an assessment of alternatives which could be introduced to alleviate current road traffic congestion and rail congestion.

7.4 It is anticipated to send the brief out to tender by the end of September 2001, with the deadline for completion of the study the end of March 2002. Members will be kept informed on the progress of the study and, once the study is completed, will receive a presentation of the findings of the final report. The study will provide an important link with the Blackwater Valley Sub-Regional Study which the local authorities are promoting for the sub-region. Regional Planning Guidance (RPG9) recognises the status of the Blackwater Valley as a special sub-region of economic importance.

Recommendation

That Members note the progress being made on studies and schemes undertaken to implement the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1. Published works.

2. Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

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