Archived decisions

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1. Summary

1.1 A number of proposed schemes are being devised for the rural area included in the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST) and for the towns of Whitchurch and Overton. These have involved consultation with the local communities affected and have been coordinated to provide maximum benefit to local people.

2. Background

2.1 The rural communities can experience a number of transport problems, some of which are currently being addressed. A number of initiatives have been introduced in the rural part of the Borough, including:

(i) Whitchurch Community Bus;

(ii) provision of cycle lockers at railway stations;

(iii) bus shelter improvements;

(iv) introduction of a mobile shop/post office; and

(v) Cliddesden traffic calming as part of the Basingstoke Rural Strategy.

2.2 A strategy is to be developed for the B3400 corridor between Basingstoke and Andover (partly in the Andover Transport Strategy area). This will include Whitchurch and Overton, although these two settlements are being addressed currently, reflecting their priority within the overall BEST programme.

3. Schemes Proposed in Whitchurch

3.1 The key objective for Whitchurch is to accommodate more safely the needs of cyclists and vulnerable road users. Measures are aimed at encouraging walking and cycling in particular, linked with improved access to the railway station and school initiatives. External funding has been obtained to support implementation of such measures.

3.2 Dialogue has taken place between the County Council, the Borough Council and Whitchurch Town Council.

3.3 Measures currently under consideration include:

(i) new hard standing and footways to bus stops in London Road;

(ii) improve passenger waiting facilities at the Newbury Road bus stop;

(iii) provide a continuous footway on London Road between Whitchurch and Overton;

(iv) upgrade the existing footpath between The Gables and the Hillside residential development for shared pedestrian and cycle use;

(v) widen narrow footways on London Road between Newbury Street and Hillside, and narrow carriageway to encourage pedestrian use and reduce vehicle speeds;

(vi) upgrade the Fulling Mill footpath between The Weir and Church Street to accommodate both pedestrians and cyclists, subject to land acquisition;

(vii) relocate existing cycle stands and provide additional cycle parking at the Silk Mill;

(viii) provide additional cycle parking at Whitchurch Station and investigate the possibility of additional secure cycle lockers;

(ix) provide new cycle parking at the public library in Bell Street;

(x) investigate car parking arrangements to improve safety at the Micheldever Road/Winchester Road junction in relation to Safer Routes to School;

(xi) consultation with local shops to avoid obstructions caused by delivery vehicles;

(xii) review of drainage covers to avoid hazards to cyclists;

(xiii) upgrade existing footpath between McFauld Way and Town Mill Lane to accommodate shared pedestrian and cycle use;

(xiv) investigate signing provision for advisory cycle routes; and

(xv) assess the scope for accommodating safer cycle movements at the Church Street/Fulling Mill, Wells Lane/Church Street, Micheldever Road/Alliston Way, Newbury Street/Winchester Street, Station Road/Newbury Road and Lower Evingar Road/Bell Street junctions.

3.4 These proposals will be evaluated against BEST objectives to assess their relative merits.

3.5 Discussions have taken place with South West Trains with a view to improving parking at Whitchurch Station. In addition, a future phase of the proposed parking decriminalisation includes the introduction of controlled parking in Whitchurch. This will provide the opportunity to reduce inappropriate and illegal parking.

4. Schemes Proposed in Overton

4.1 It is proposed to develop a number of schemes in Overton along similar principles as those for Whitchurch, involving detailed discussions with local people. It is expected that a meeting with interested parties will take place in late November 2001.

4.2 Although in the initial stages, proposals are expected to include:

(i) improvements in the vicinity of Overton Primary School to reduce conflicts between child pedestrians and vehicles;

(ii) improved access to Overton Station, particularly for pedestrians;

(iii) improving the frequency of the Overton Shuttle bus service; and

(iv) creating and improving pedestrian and cycle routes.

4.3 These proposals are coordinated with funding for transport improvements from the Overton Hill development, such as improved parking at Overton Station. The Overton Hill development itself will require access from the B3400 (agreed by the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 28 February 2000). The planning application suggests that this will be a roundabout.

4.4 The proposed parking decriminalisation will apply in Overton.

5. Parish Partnership Schemes and Other Initiatives

5.1 The Parish Partnership scheme has been successful throughout the county in achieving measures that meet the needs of the local community with the close cooperation of local people. Parish councils have provided funding which has been matched by County Council funding to devise schemes, such as traffic calming measures.

5.2 More recently, with the new funding arrangements afforded by the Local Transport Plan process, it has been possible in some cases to design more extensive schemes without requiring funding contributions from parish councils. The recently completed traffic calming scheme for Bramley has demonstrated how greater resources can provide an effective solution to local problems of speeding traffic.

5.3 Schemes recently completed, currently under way and proposed through the Parish Partnership programme include:

1999/00

Pamber, Tadley and Whitchurch.

2000/01

Baughurst, Highclere, Pamber, Silchester, Stratfield Saye and Tadley.

2001/02

Pamber and Sherborne St John.

5.4 The investigation into small-scale rural traffic calming schemes revealed the need for larger scale schemes in several locations. Whereas the small-scale rural traffic calming schemes are funded from the Local Transport Plan minor works allocation, it is intended that larger strategic schemes will be funded from the BEST programme.

5.5 Schemes being considered or under way include:

(i) Sherfield-on-Loddon traffic calming;

(ii) Little London trial scheme to be made permanent and a further trial to be undertaken;

(iii) Kingsclere island designed;

(iv) Wootton St Lawrence/Ramsdell and Monk Sherborne to be considered for speed limit reductions; and

(v) Weston Patrick, and Brown and Chilton Candover to be considered for lining and signing measures.

5.6 The BEST investment programme has been used to contribute towards a scheme in Ashford Hill to provide improved pedestrian links to local facilities. A further contribution is expected to be used for a traffic calming scheme in North Waltham.

6. Community Transport

6.1 Coordination of transport issues is vitally important in the rural area. It is likely that greater consideration will be given to the link between community transport provision, such as Dial-a-Ride, the Whitchurch Community Bus and Basingstoke Community Transport, and mainstream public transport in accordance with the recommendations of the Review of Passenger Transport in the Basingstoke Area (see agenda item 4). Social inclusion is strongly influenced by transport links, particularly in terms of access to employment. A recent scheme brought a mobile shop and post office to the rural community, reducing the need for people in isolated communities to travel to facilities elsewhere.

6.2 The current financial support for local bus services in the Borough is £453,000 per annum. In addition, the County Council subsidises Basingstoke Dial-a-Ride (approximately £92,000 per annum). The Whitchurch Community Bus is jointly financed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and the Rural Transport Partnership scheme at a cost of £3,500. The County Council's Social Services fund a post at Basingstoke Community Transport (at a cost of approximately £26,000). Additional funding is provided for the concessionary fares scheme operating in the Borough.

6.3 The County Council is working with the district councils, health authorities and the voluntary sector to finalise a Community Transport Development Plan which will identify the costs associated with developing and sustaining an appropriate level of community transport infrastructure for each district council area. This will help to ensure that adequate resources are available to address provision and is in accordance with the recommendations of the Review of Passenger Transport (see agenda item 4).

7. Conclusion

7.1 A number of initiatives are being pursued in the rural BEST area in support of local communities and to encourage walking and cycling for local journeys, and bus and rail use. An investment programme is being developed to bring rural capital and other schemes together in a coordinated way.

Recommendation

That the Panel notes the current position regarding transport schemes in the rural Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport area, and Whitchurch and Overton.

6805/NR