AT A MEETING of the NEW FOREST TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Thursday 6 December 2001.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks; J.E. Coles

Councillors F.J. Bright; M.J. Kendal; Mrs E.M.F. Randall and A.W. Rice, TD were also in attendance as local County Councillors.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: M.H.G. Fidler; M.J. Shand

Councillor G. Spikins also attended as a local District Councillor.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillor B.I. Palmer

1. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 February 2001 were confirmed by the Panel and signed by the Chairman.

2. TERMS OF REFERENCE (REVISED)

The Panel received a report of the Chief Executive (Item 2 in the Minute Book) on amendments to the Panel's Terms of Reference following the constitutional changes to the County Council.

RESOLVED:

That the revised Terms of Reference be noted.

3. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN - ANNUAL PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel received a report of the County Surveyor (Item 3 in the Minute Book) on progress made on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) and on the County Council's first Annual Progress Report (APR) which was submitted to the Government Office for the South East (GOSE) on 31 August 2001. Confirmation of funding for 2002/03 was dependent on progress being made in implementing the LTP, hence the importance of the APR. Early indications suggested that the County Council was on target to meet its LTP objectives. A formal response from GOSE was expected within the next few weeks.


RESOLVED:

That the progress made on the delivery of the Local Transport Plan be noted.

4. DRAFT STRATEGY FOR CONSULTATION

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 4 in the Minute Book) which set out progress on the development of the revised New Forest Transportation Strategy. It was recognised that changes in policy had made it necessary for the Strategy to be updated.

Members welcomed the Draft Strategy but it was agreed that it required further refinement and in view of this amended the recommendation as follows:

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment

That the Draft Strategy be progressed and the consultation plan be approved.

5. NEW FOREST TRANSPORT STRATEGY PROGRESS

The Panel received a report of the County Surveyor (Item 5 in the Minute Book) which set out progress made on the Local Transport Plan Capital Programme's 2001/02 schemes within the New Forest Transport Strategy area. The following matters arose (inter alia) in the course of the ensuing discussion:-

(i) Lyndhurst High Street Phase 2b

The County Surveyor reported that following five months of construction the scheme had been completed at the beginning of April 2001. An official opening took place on 26 June 2001 in the High Street. Early indications showed the scheme to be working well.


(ii) Lyndhurst Village Cycle Network

Designs for a cycle network were still in the early stages. Once a comprehensive system of routes had been agreed, consultations with local representatives would take place followed by a full public consultation, which was hoped for Spring 2002.


(iii) Fordingbridge High Street

The County Surveyor reported that an allocation of £80,000 had been made in the Local Transport Plan's Capital Programme for measures in Fordingbridge High Street. It had been agreed that the design work should be focused in the vicinity of the High Street/Provost Street (Market Place) junction. Preliminary design work was being undertaken and it was hoped to carry out a full public consultation in early 2002.


(iv) Brockenhurst Transport Interchange

Interchange works at Brockenhurst Station had been completed.


(v) Sway Footways

An allocation of £10,000 had been made for footways. Several key issues had been identified following the St. Lukes School Travel Plan. A progress report would be brought to a future meeting of the Panel.


(vi) School Travel Plans

Two schemes were currently being progressed; St. Lukes School, Sway and Northfield Road, Ringwood. Members stressed the importance of school involvement in the development of transport plans.


RESOLVED:


That the position of the schemes within the Capital Programme be noted.

6. A326S TO A35W RIGHT-TURN FACILITY AT COLBURY - CONSULTATION PLAN

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which outlined the proposed consultation plan for the development of traffic measures along the A35 through Ashurst. A preferred layout for the right-turn facility at Colbury had been agreed and further detailed work carried out. The next stage of the process would be a public consultation exercise, which was expected to commence in early 2002.

Members suggested other suitable venues for public exhibitions further to the three locations currently proposed. Officers welcomed any further suggestions Members might have to ensure full consultation took place.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member of Environment

That the consultation plan for the right-turn facility at Colbury and associated traffic management measures be approved.

7. BROCKENHURST SCHOOL SAFETY ZONE PROGRESS REPORT

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 7 in the Minute Book) which set out progress made on the Brockenhurst School Safety Zone scheme following a public consultation exercise undertaken in July 2000.

The County Surveyor reported that due to concerns raised over the initial consultation exercise it was agreed that further consultation was required. During February 2001, a leaflet which contained the aims and objectives of the proposed scheme along with a plan, had been distributed to over 1,200 households in the school catchment area. Following responses received an amended scheme had been designed and a project appraisal was to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment.

RESOLVED:

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment


(i) That the scheme for implementation be approved.


(ii) That, subject to approval to (i) above, and its subsequent construction, the speed of traffic be monitored and a 20 miles per hour limit applied to this section of Sway Road, if technically justified in accordance with the guidance from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.


2. That the progress on the Brockenhurst C.E. School safety zone scheme be noted.

8. TOTTON AND WATERSIDE TRANSPORT STRATEGY - REPORT ON PUBLIC CONSULTATION

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which updated on work undertaken in developing a transport strategy for the Totton and Waterside area of the New Forest.

The County Surveyor reported that public consultation on the strategy had taken place during July and August last year, and on the whole had produced a positive response. There were, however, two proposals which were not well supported, reduction of parking spaces in town centre areas and consent for heavy goods vehicles sharing proposed bus lanes. In light of those responses received it was agreed that further work would be required prior to decisions being made.

RESOLVED:

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment


(i) That the policies and proposals be updated to reflect the outcome of public consultation; and


(ii) That the Totton and Waterside Transport Strategy be adopted as a local policy document to guide future transport improvements and published in summary form.


2. That the results of the Totton and Waterside Transport Strategy public consultation be noted.

9. COASTAL TOWNS STRATEGY PROGRESS

The Panel considered a report of the County Surveyor (Item 9 in the Minute Book) which set out the investment programme for the Coastal Towns area and progress made on individual schemes within the Strategy area. The following matters arose (inter alia) in the course of the ensuing discussions:-

(i) Lymington Quay

The County Surveyor reported that the work on Lymington Quay had now been completed.


(ii) New Milton Town Centre Improvements

The Capital Programme currently contained four schemes for New Milton. It was recommended that those schemes which would relieve congestion in the town centre receive priority.

Councillor Mrs Banks, as the local Member, expressed a desire by residents for the present priority between Old Milton and Gore Road be maintained. She also asked that further to the Ashley Road/Spencer Road scheme, consideration be given to a pedestrian crossing at the health centre.


(iii) Lymington Safer Routes to Schools

The County Surveyor reported that there were three schemes in the Lymington area to be funded from the Safer Routes to Schools budget. The A337 Southampton Road/Avenue Road pedestrian phase was presently being implemented; North Street environmental enhancement scheme was programmed for April/May 2002 and the A337 Priestlands controlled crossing for 2002/03.


(iv) Other Schemes and Future Year Schemes

Several schemes had been programmed for future years in the Capital Programme, most of which were still in the preliminary stages of design and consultation.


RESOLVED:


That the position of the schemes within the Coastal Towns Capital Programme be noted, including the submission of the project appraisals to the Executive Member for Environment in respect of North Street, Pennington and Ashley Road/Spencer Road junction, New Milton.

10. TEST VALLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL DECRIMINALISATION OF ON-STREET PARKING ENFORCEMENT

The Panel considered a report of the Head of Technical Services (Test Valley Borough Council) which set out proposals to implement a Special Parking Area for the Borough and a request for funding to be allocated from the Local Transport Plan to assist with capital set up costs.

RESOLVED:

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment

(i) That the joint funding for a Special Parking Area covering the Test Valley Borough area be supported; and


(ii) That the funding be subject to incorporation into the Borough and County Council's Capital Programmes when considered in January 2002.

11. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Panel be held in The Wellington Room, The Castle, Winchester at 10.00 a.m. on Wednesday 27 March 2002.

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