Contact: Karen Walton, ext 6598

1. Summary

1.1 This report brings Members up-to-date on work undertaken on developing a transport strategy for the Totton and Waterside area of the New Forest. It summarises the results of public consultations undertaken in July and August 2000 on the draft Totton and Waterside Transport Strategy (TAWTS). Members are asked to recommend endorsement of the proposed way forward, taking into account the responses received from the public consultation, and to adopt the TAWTS as a local policy document to guide future transport improvements.

2. Background

2.1 The TAWTS has been developed in recognition of growing transport problems and new national policies. It aims to provide a strategy for a more sustainable transport system within the timeframe of the Hampshire County Structure Plan Review (1996-2011).

2.2 The draft strategy includes an assessment of the current situation, identification of current and future problems and a number of transport improvement proposals, including:

(i) junction improvements;

(ii) bus priority measures;

(iii) improvements to the Hythe Ferry and interchange;

(iv) cycle routes;

(v) passenger rail services on the Fawley branch line;

(vi) town/village centre improvements for Totton, Marchwood and Hythe; and

(vii) School Transport Plans.

A copy of the draft strategy is available in the Members' Room.

2.3 The proposed measures outlined in the TAWTS are designed to work together and form an integrated transport system, to address the future needs of the area in a way that contributes to national and local transport policy objectives. These measures fully accord with the approach taken in the Hampshire Local Transport Plan.

2.4 The Totton and Waterside Access Issues Panel has been steering the development of the TAWTS, and on 30 March 2000 endorsed the draft document for public consultation. The results of the consultation, as discussed in this paper, were presented to the Totton and Waterside Access Issues Panel on 18 January 2001, where Members endorsed the strategy, subject to the views of this Panel.

3. Consultation

3.1 A 'targeted' consultation exercise was agreed, seeking comments from key stakeholders and interested parties. These included business interests, transport operators and district and parish councils. An unmanned exhibition of the proposals was also suggested.

3.2 Prior to the public exhibition, letters and copies of the draft strategy document were sent to County and District Councillors, Parish Clerks and interest groups. An advertisement was placed in the local press and press releases issued. Originally planned for four days at two separate venues, the exhibition was extended a further two days at Fawley to give residents at the southern end of the Waterside an opportunity to view the proposals.

3.3 Public exhibitions took place in the Council Chamber, Hythe and Dibden Parish Council on 14 and 15 July; the Committee Room, Totton and Eling Community Association on 21 and 22 July; and the Jubilee Hall, Fawley on 17 and 18 August. Visitors to the exhibitions were able to view detailed plans and proposals, discuss issues and exchange views with County Council officers and local Members, and complete a questionnaire.

3.4 The questionnaires were issued with a return date of 4 September 2000, providing a seven-week consultation period from the date of the first exhibition. Out of 350 people attending the exhibitions, 128 completed and returned the questionnaire. A further 150 responses were received; either in the form of correspondence or comments recorded during the exhibitions.

4. Results

4.1 The questionnaire was designed to determine the extent of support or opposition to each part of the strategy. Consultees were asked to place a tick in the relevant box to show whether they strongly agreed, agreed, disagreed, strongly disagreed or had neutral views on each proposal. In addition to the questionnaires, many letters and comments were received regarding the TAWTS proposals. The issues have been grouped into relevant categories, as follows:

(i) general comments regarding the overall strategy;

(ii) Totton and Waterside road network and A326;

(iii) public transport;

(iv) cyclists and pedestrians; and

(v) freight.

4.2 The public consultation on the strategy produced, on the whole, a very positive response. The following statements, key issues and proposals relating to individual elements of the strategy were also supported by over 50% of the consultees:

(i) traffic congestion is making access to/from Totton and the Waterside more difficult;

(ii) a range of transport alternatives needs to be improved/provided to give people wider travel choices;

(iii) there should be measures to reduce accidents and improve safety, with junction improvements and crossing facilities for pedestrians and cyclists;

(iv) reliability of public transport should be improved with the aim of reducing delays;

(v) passenger services should be re-introduced from Hythe to Southampton Central Station on the Fawley to Totton freight line;

(vi) there should be new railway stations at Hounsdown, Marchwood and Hythe;

(vii) cycle parking, limited car parking, taxi ranks and bus stops should be provided at the three proposed new rail stations;

(viii) bus services should be rescheduled to link with the proposed passenger train timetable;

(ix) real-time travel information should be installed at all transport interchanges and some important bus stops;

(x) integrated bus/ferry ticketing should be extended and promoted;

(xi) Hythe Interchange should be redeveloped, including major maintenance of the pier;

(xii) details of all non-conventional transport services for older and disabled people should be promoted;

(xiii) the greater use of rail for the movement of freight by the oil refinery and other businesses should be encouraged;

(xiv) development that generates movements of heavy commercial vehicles is to be encouraged to locate close to the appropriate transport network and away from residential areas;

(xv) the potential of barging freight from Waterside industrial areas to Southampton across the River Test is to be investigated;

(xvi) 'Safer Routes to School' schemes are to be progressed in cooperation with schools in the Totton and Waterside area; and

(xvii) measures to assist vulnerable road users, rationalise parking and reduce vehicle speeds near schools is to be implemented where appropriate.

4.3 There were, however, two proposals which respondents opposed. These were to:

(i) gradually reduce the number of parking spaces in town centre areas where alternative modes of transport are available. In this instance 10% of the respondents strongly agreed with the proposal, 11% agreed, 21% were neutral, 23% disagreed and some 35% strongly disagreed; and

(ii) allow heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) to share proposed bus lanes. In this instance 17% of the respondents strongly agreed with the proposal, 16% agreed, 26% were neutral, 21% disagreed and 21% strongly disagreed.

4.4 In considering the issues concerning the A326, the principle of improving the reliability and speed of public transport journeys on this route was supported by 87% of respondents. However, support for specific bus priority measures to achieve this was less clear. The Waterside communities will need to be fully involved in the development of these schemes.

5. Conclusion

5.1 The results confirm that the respondents approved of the strategy and the majority of the proposals set out in the TAWTS document.

5.2 However, given the response to the parking and HGV proposals discussed above, it is not intended to investigate the scope for reducing parking provision in the area in advance of the proposed county-wide review of parking policy and standards; but this issue will be revisited at that time. HGV movements and wider freight needs will continue to be discussed as part of the existing Freight Quality Partnership the County Council has signed with the Freight Transport Association. In light of the responses, further work is needed to explore the issues surrounding 'car free' lanes for buses and freight before any decision is taken to develop these further.

5.3 The bulk of the strategy has been well received and the Southampton Area Transport Strategy Members' Panel recommended endorsement of the County Council's wish to consider the engineering, economic feasibility and environmental impact of individual schemes. It is suggested that TAWTS proposals are then considered alongside other priorities for inclusion in future transport investment programmes.

Recommendations

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the Totton and Waterside Transport Strategy:

(i) be adopted as a local policy document to guide future transport improvements; and

(ii) policies and proposals be updated to reflect the outcome of public consultation and published in summary form.

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

6806/KW