Contact: Nick Richardson, ext 5429

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines proposals for the Station Interchange/City Road junction scheme and presents the outcome of the public consultation exercise held in October 2001. The scheme is intended to improve interchange at Winchester Station between trains, buses, taxis, cyclists and pedestrians. The interchange improvements are linked with improvements at the City Road junction designed to help pedestrians and give greater priority to bus movements while not constraining traffic flows.

2. Introduction

2.1 The City Road/Sussex Street/Station Hill/Stockbridge Road/Andover Road/Swan Lane junction is a key location for car, bus, cycle and pedestrian traffic. The location of the railway station near the City Road junction offers the potential to improve interchange arrangements at this important location. The current road layout provides a bus and taxi only link on Station Hill from City Road to Station Road, used by outbound buses serving the Romsey Road corridor.

2.2 Strong pedestrian flows are evident from the railway station and Peter Symonds College, and there are movements to and from a range of other directions. However, pedestrians crossing at the junction experience difficulties of restricted space on the footway, an absence of at-grade facilities across Sussex Street and confusing traffic movements.

2.3 The proposed improvement scheme includes a number of measures aimed at improving bus reliability, interchange arrangements, traffic flows and pedestrian movements (see attached plans). The main features of the scheme are:

(i) introducing two-way bus flow on Station Hill;

(ii) new traffic signal arrangements to optimise signal timings and traffic flows;

(iii) improved bus/rail interchange with new stopping arrangements and passenger facilities;

(iv) all round at-grade pedestrian crossing facilities at the City Road junction;

(v) footway improvements in Stockbridge Road and the tunnel beneath the railway;

(vi) banned left turn movement from Stockbridge Road into Andover Road;

(vii) new pedestrian crossing of Stockbridge Road near the Cranworth Road junction; and

(viii) associated works, including signing.

2.4 Coordination of the scheme will provide major benefits for buses. At least 12 buses per hour in the outbound direction would use the Station Hill link (as at present) and a similar number inbound, plus Park and Ride buses. Inbound buses would be diverted from the present route via Gladstone Street and Sussex Street and avoid queuing at the signals. Stagecoach in Hampshire has expressed strong support for the scheme in view of the improvement in interchange and bus service reliability.

2.5 Railtrack and South West Trains have offered support in implementing the scheme in recognition of the improved interchange arrangements. Peter Symonds College has expressed support for a pedestrian crossing on Stockbridge Road in view of the number of students travelling by train and bus to the railway station.

2.6 Implementation of the scheme is dependent on careful programming to avoid conflict with other works on key radial routes to the city. It is expected that the scheme can be undertaken in the summer holiday period in 2002 when the impact can be minimised.

3. Public Consultation

3.1 A public consultation exercise was held from Monday, 1 October to Saturday, 6 October 2001. This set out the concept for the improvements as outlined above and a questionnaire was available for people to express their views. A web site (www.hants.gov.uk\environment\ltp\consultations) advertised on the front page of Hantsweb was also made available for people to register their views in response to an outline of the proposals.

3.2 The consultation was preceded by the distribution of approximately 600 letters to all properties in the immediate area (Sussex Street, Upper High Street, City Road, Stockbridge Road, Andover Road, etc). Press releases were distributed to the media covering both the Winchester and wider areas, and posters displayed at the railway station. Letters were also sent to interested parties, including all members of the Winchester Commuter Forum, local schools, train, bus and taxi operators, the Winchester City Centre Manager, Sustrans, local amenity and residents' groups, Freight Transport Association, and County Council and City Council Members. The wide catchment for the consultation was intended to reflect the origins of people using the station and the junction, many of whom may be unwilling to visit an exhibition but are regular users of trains or the local road network. People using the City Road area comprise commuters, students, visitors and others from various destinations, many beyond the urban area of Winchester.

3.3 It is intended to pursue further dialogue with rail, bus and taxi operators, Railtrack, local businesses and residents, cyclists and disabled people about the proposals to ensure that the detailed design optimises the opportunities available.

4. Consultation Outcome

4.1 A total of 122 responses were received. A majority of respondents (53%) indicated their support for the proposals. Of the 28% of respondents who objected to the proposals, the majority were opposed to the proposed left turn ban from Stockbridge Road into Andover Road and many indicated that they supported other elements of the proposed scheme.

4.2 The responses showed that all types of traveller using the City Road junction were represented in the responses, including car drivers (28%), pedestrians (27%) and bus passengers (23%). The highest proportion of journeys to and from the railway station made by respondents was on foot (42%).

4.3 A written response was received from Hampshire Cycling indicating some support, with suggestions for other measures to assist cyclists but objecting to the addition of pedestrian refuges on Andover Road that might result in limited carriageway space for safe cycling. Correspondence from the Winchester Owners and Drivers Taxi Association suggested that traffic signals were not an appropriate control mechanism at the City Road junction and that taxis should be afforded similar priority to buses. A few comments were also received by e-mail, generally seeking matters of clarification.

4.4 A total of 67 responses were registered from the web site compared with 55 posted questionnaires. This is the first time that the County Council's web site has been used for consultation on transport proposals and provides a model for similar future consultations. In addition to the questions on the proposals, web site users were asked for their views on the web site and if they found it a useful means of communication (see attached appendix) and a few respondents indicated that they would prefer more space for comments. The respondents were asked for their postcode to indicate where they lived and to prevent multiple entries. Most respondents originated from outside Winchester and none had visited the exhibition, suggesting that their views on the proposals might not otherwise have been registered. Most indicated that they were happy with the web site as a means of expressing their views and would use this method for other consultations. Future consultations by this means could benefit from the addition of an optional entry for respondents to provide an e-mail address.

4.5 Most people visiting the exhibition (mainly as a result of the local letter distribution) expressed their support for improved arrangements for pedestrians and buses. Many of the comments referred to the proposed left turn ban for traffic from Stockbridge Road into Andover Road with responses from both, local residents and traders. It was felt that this created additional traffic movements and safety problems and would be inconvenient. Objections to the proposed left turn ban formed the main reason for respondents to indicate a `neutral' or `do not support' view.

4.6 A number of other comments were received, including:

(i) the effect of restricting capacity for traffic on Andover Road approaching the City Road junction;

(ii) support for pedestrian improvements;

(iii) support for the proposed revision to the Swan Lane access;

(iv) detrimental impact on residents' parking;

(v) support for two-way bus access to the railway station;

(vi) concerns about rephasing the traffic signals, enforcement of measures;

(vii) dangers at the Stockbridge Road tunnel, particularly for cyclists and pedestrians;

(viii) difficulties for residents of Swan Lane;

(ix) inconvenience for taxi drivers;

(x) scheme proposed is mainly cosmetic;

(xi) need to help pedestrians from the railway station to Sussex Street/County Council offices;

(xii) need for more measures to help cyclists; and

(xiii) proposals seen as anti-motorist.

5. Scheme Progress

5.1 The consultation provided views on matters of detail which will be considered as the proposals are taken forward. The element of the proposals that generated most comments, the left turn ban from Stockbridge Road into Andover Road, will be reviewed in the light of comments received. It may be possible to retain this turning movement but extend the footway to accommodate pedestrians. Other details raised by respondents will be considered as the design develops.

5.2 Further dialogue with South West Trains has taken place and is expected to result in design modifications to improve the bus/rail interchange by repositioning the taxi rank to allow both RailLink and service buses to use the station forecourt.

5.3 It is intended to take the scheme to detailed design in early 2002 so that implementation can be programmed for summer 2002. It is expected that the main works, upgrading traffic signals, creating two-way bus movements on Station Hill, constructing new bus stops and resurfacing works, will take place in August 2002. Other works, including improvements to the Stockbridge Road tunnel, the station pedestrian tunnel, a new pedestrian crossing and footway upgrading in Stockbridge Road, and Andover Road improvements, could take place subsequently.

6. Conclusion

6.1 The proposals for the Station Interchange/City Road junction offer opportunities to improve interchange arrangements and encourage walking in the area. Public consultation indicated overall support for the proposals and it is proposed to implement the scheme during 2002.

Recommendations

1. That the Panel notes the outcome of the public consultation on the Station Interchange/City Road junction proposals.

2. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the scheme be approved.

6829/NR

APPENDIX

Station Interchange/City Road Junction Proposals

Public Consultation 1 to 6 October 2001 Questionnaire Responses (%)

For web site users only: