Archived decisions

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1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the results of the responses to the B2177 Route Corridor Strategy Focus Consultation (see attached questionnaire) carried out in September and December 2001. Comments were sought from stakeholders and local representatives of communities along the draft route (circulated with the questionnaire), to allow views to be taken into account prior to the finalisation of the strategy.

2. Background

2.1 The Hampshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2001-2006 includes proposals as part of the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS) to develop initiatives on transport corridors to promote strategic bus routes and to improve cycle and pedestrian facilities and connections at transport interchanges. CHARTS includes a commitment to develop three route strategies, one of these being the B2177 (Twyford to Wickham).

2.2 On 9 November 2001 Members received a report on the progress of the B2177 Route Strategy, containing details of the briefing note and questionnaire sent to consultees. The route is approximately 20 kilometres long and has a predominantly rural, though varied, character. Land use patterns, environmental conflict, highway congestion and speed related accidents are major issues along the route, as is the difficulty of providing public transport due to the low density nature of the area. This is exacerbated by the lack of cycle routes through the area and a lack of provision for a connection with the Fareham to Eastleigh railway line (which runs parallel to the road). The strategy aims to address these issues.

3. Focus Consultation

3.1 Consultation packs consisting of the draft proposals, questionnaire and covering letter were sent to 12 parish councils in September 2001. This was followed by the distribution of consultation packs to further parties along the B2177 corridor in December 2001. Major businesses, the emergency services, Post Office, public transport providers and Marwell Zoological Park were contacted in the second consultation process.

3.2 Of the 12 parish councils contacted, 9 had responded by the closing date of 10 October 2001; however, a total of 14 questionnaires were received after three councils also sent responses from councillors and chairmen. Of the additional 40 packs sent out 10 questionnaires have been returned.

3.3 Comments were also accepted from residents along the route on an ad hoc basis and these are available for viewing on request.

4. Consultation Data Analysis

4.1 As a result of the 2001 CHARTS focus consultation, the following was representative of the views of local respondents. Priority was weighted on question 3 of the questionnaires on the basis of first priority being awarded 3 points, second priority 2 points and third priority 1 point. On questions 1 and 2, and the 'local area concepts' sections priority was weighted on the basis of strong agreement being awarded 5 points, slight agreement 4 points, neutrality 3 points, slight disagreement 2 points and strong disagreement 1 point (see Appendix 1).

4.2 The majority of responses (score 172 out of 260 (66 %)) agreed with the overall draft strategy, the objectives and proposals. Of these the two most important proposals are, in order of preference:

(i) improving transport safety; and

(ii) reduction of environmental effects and through traffic;

followed by, in order of preference:

(iii) reinforcing the economy of the area;

(iv) encouraging the use of and improve public transport; and

(v) improving and ensuring access for all.

The remaining objectives received markedly lower support (see Appendix 1).

4.3 Regarding the sum of responses the following is a measure of these responses, divided into areas and parishes:

(i) Wickham Parish Council agreed with the proposals (score 489 out of 695 (70%)), with investigation of the cycle network as the most popular option and traffic calming as the least.

(ii) Waltham Chase Parish Council agreed with the proposals (score 396 out of 560 (71%)), with reduction and enforcement of speed limits as the most popular, and traffic calming through Shedfield as the least.

(iii) Bishops Waltham Parish Council agreed with the proposals (score 313 out of 440 (71%)), with reduction and enforcement of the speed limit as the most popular proposal, and traffic calming along Winchester Road through Newtown as the least.

(iv) Bishops Waltham to Fishers Pond (B2177) - The majority of respondents agreed with the proposals (score 489 out of 575 (85%)), with highway improvements at accident locations the most popular one, and improvement of the public transport links to Eastleigh and Hedge End stations the least popular.

(v) Colden Common to Fishers Pond (B3354 to B3335) - The majority of respondents agreed with the proposals (score 409 out of 540 (76%)), with improving the B2177/B3354 Fishers Pond junction as the most popular and traffic calming through Colden Common the least.

(vi) In the 'additional comments' section of the questionnaire, the most commonly occurring suggestions of parish representatives (including the personal views of individual Parish Councillors) are for speed limit reduction/clearer limit signing and implementing a cycle route strategy connecting settlements to each other and to relevant local public transport providers (see Appendices 2 and 3).

4.4 Substantial additional comments were also made as follows:

(i) A resident of Twyford Moors, a consulting Traffic Engineer (although not representing anyone in this matter), addresses certain ambiguities in the strategy, most notably reference to the B2177 as a 'strategic corridor' when concerned with demand management along said route. Furthermore, he suggests removing HGVs from the B2177, offering the C9 (Belmore Lane) through Morestead to Corhampton as an alternative.

(ii) The Chief Executive Officer (CEO) of Marwell Zoological Park suggests the possibility of joint ticketing with local bus/train services, allowing reduced admission charges to Marwell Zoological Park, on condition that further direct costs to such services (which Marwell currently contributes to) would not be incurred. The CEO also offers to provide secure cycle parking, should such routes be developed.

(iii) The Countryside Service and the 'Friends of Waltham's Wildlife' request that an `otter under-pass' be built near Bishops Waltham Mill Pond.

(iv) A resident of Lower Upham (on the B2177 route) raised concerns about the effectiveness of speed limits through Lower Upham and the increasing propensity for light pollution in rural areas. He offered as a solution speed restriction signing to be placed prior to traffic reaching parts on the route where frontages and roadside developments form the boundary of the current speed limit.

(v) Hampshire Cycling and CTC responded concerning the provision of cycle usage of the B2177 route. The comments were however more suitable to the draft proposals stage of the process as opposed to the early level of a draft strategy and, as such, will be kept on file for further consideration.

(vi) The Forge Garage (Wickham) favours an increase in speed controls and a more vigorous enforcement of speed limits.

(vii) The Ramblers' Association advocates minimising traffic disruption in the countryside, preferring an off-road cycle route strategy, encouraging walking as an alternative mode of transport and increasing opportunities for walking through an extended network of footways away from the main road.

(viii) The Environment Agency favours widening the strategy's aims to include objectives relating to biodiversity, with specific note to provision for the elimination of contaminated run-off from the route.

5. Conclusions

5.1 From the analysis of the questionnaires, it is clear that the majority of respondents support the proposed draft strategy overall, with areas of strong preference being the provision of additional speed restriction and/or signing and the introduction of cycle routes as methods of addressing the issues of the B2177. The least popular proposal amongst respondents is the suggestion for traffic calming measures along the route.

Recommendation

That the Panel notes the outcome of the focus consultation on the draft B2177 Route Strategy and the work to be undertaken on the development of draft proposals for the Twyford to Wickham corridor.

7036/LP