AT A MEETING of the CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE AREA RURAL TRANSPORTATION STRATEGY PANEL held on Wednesday 19 February 2003 at the Guildhall, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs S.M. Glasspool; A.R. Ludlow; P.K. Mason; Sir James J. Scott.

Also in attendance: Councillor J.K. West as local Member.

Winchester City Council

Councillors: Mr F.G. Allgood; Mrs C. Bailey; Mrs G.M.C. Busher; R. Knasel; Mrs C. Sutton.

Also in attendance: Councillors J. Beveridge; P. Davies.

East Hampshire District Council

Councillor Mrs S. Halstead

Also in attendance: Councillor Mrs E. Cartwright

32. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

No declarations of interest were made.

33. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 22 October 2002 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

(i) Minute 26 (Bank Street, Bishops Waltham - Traffic Calming) - Councillor Mrs Busher requested an update in respect of this item. Officers relayed that further public consultation would be undertaken with the Parish Council and residents of Bank Street.

34. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman informed the Panel that it was with regret that he had to announce the death of East Hampshire District Councillor Peter Bradbury earlier this year. As a mark of respect the Panel stood for a minutes silence.

35. DEPUTATIONS

No requests to make a deputation had been received.

36. CAPITAL PROGRAMME - UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 5 in the Minute Book) updating Members on the revised integrated transport programme for 2002/03, a new programme for 2003/04 and the proposed reassessment of schemes for possible inclusion in the 2004/05 programme.

The Chairman announced that a review of the Transportation Strategy Panels would take place later this year. It was considered that there may be three transportation strategy areas.

The Panel were informed of the shortfall in monies available and that it was important to discuss the priority of new start schemes for 2003/04. The Panel were made aware of the £9.39 million available for new start schemes county-wide, importance was placed upon the fact that there were a large number of schemes proposed to begin within 2003/04 subject to the overall financial restraints.

Councillor Mrs Busher raised an issue relating to the division of funding for new start schemes. Officers reiterated the role of the Panel in prioritising schemes for the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS) area.

Councillor Mrs Cartwright queried what Safer Routes to School money was being spent on. Officers explained that once a school travel plan had been received following consultation by the school with pupils and parents, appropriate schemes are investigated to assist the travel plan. Members were informed that recent safer routes to school money had been spent on crossings, footway improvements and cycleways. The Chairman reported that 11 press releases had recently been published asking people to volunteer to be School Crossing Patrol assistants, the Panel were informed that they were needed in areas in over half of the County. It was hoped that a fair response would be received.

Councillor Allgood asked a question regarding Denmead village centre traffic management improvements, he queried whether external funding would be affected as the scheme was being reviewed. Officers assured the Panel that the external funding was not at risk.

Officers guided the Panel through the appendix to the report to prioritise schemes for inclusion in the 2004/05 budget. It was agreed that the following schemes would be included:

(i) A325 corridor, Greatham to County boundary.


(ii) B2177 corridor, Twyford to Wickham.


(iii) Alton Town Centre.


(iv) Denmead Village Centre


(v) CHARTS Village Initiatives (with Easton substituted for Itchen Valley,
and Kingsley, Linford and Itchen Abbas added
to the list).


(vi) CHARTS Cycle Strategy.


RESOLVED:

(i) That the report be noted.

(ii) That the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy schemes for 2004/05
and beyond be considered as part of the County-wide review of the
Transportation Strategy Areas being presented to the Environment Policy
Review Committee on 9 July 2003.

37. POLICY AND SCHEME UPDATE

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 6 in the Minute Book) which set out the progress on several studies and schemes undertaken to implement the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy.

(i) Petersfield Town Centre Improvements and 20 MPH zone

The Panel were updated on the progress of this scheme and it was the general consensus of the Panel that this scheme was proceeding well.


(ii) Alton Town Centre

It was reported that the public consultation for this scheme was on hold while Alton Town Council undertakes consultation on their town plan and vision for Alton. The Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy consultation was due to take place during the Summer 2003.


(iii) B2177 Twyford to Wickham Corridor

The Panel were updated on the progress of this scheme. It was reported that the consultation with Twyford had gone very well but the scheme to be implemented had exceeded the original estimated costs.


(iv) CHARTS Cycling Strategy

The Panel were updated on the progress of the strategy. Councillor Mrs Halstead had concerns on the development of the cycleways which had external funding.


(v) Bank Street, Bishops Waltham

It was reported that a trial traffic calming scheme was now in place and that it would be operational for a period of approximately 6 months. After the trial, further consultation would take place with the Parish Council, local County and District Members, Winchester City Council, local residents, businesses and the Hampshire Constabulary. The Panel were happy with the way this scheme was progressing.


(vi) Denmead Village

The Panel were updated on the progress of this scheme. Councillor Allgood was concerned that the Parish Council was unaware of progress on the scheme and requested that a meeting with them be arranged.


(vii) Village Initiatives

The Panel were updated on the various schemes. Members were generally contented with these but Councillor Mrs Glasspool expressed her disappointment that Itchen Valley had not progressed. However the priority of the schemes was clarified through discussion on the Capital Programme update item.


(viii) A3 Hindhead Improvement Scheme

It was reported that a briefing for the A3 Scheme had been arranged by the Highways Agency for local authority members on Thursday 27 February 2003 at Waverly Borough Council Offices, Godalming. Members from East Hampshire District Council, Hampshire County Council, Surrey County Council and Waverly Borough Council had all been invited. A report would be submitted to a future meeting of the Panel.


RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

38. TAPESTRY UPDATE

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) providing the Panel with an update on Hampshire County Council's Partnership in a three year European Community project for Travel Awareness, Publicity and Education Supporting a Sustainability Strategy in Europe (TAPESTRY) which focused on Stage 2, the development and implementation of an `interactive' marketing campaign, and Stage 3, the `after' monitoring and evaluation of the project.

Members expressed their concerns that this project had not been very good value. It was felt that much time and effort had been placed in the scheme with minimal impact. Officers with other partners trialling alternative initiatives, which had limited its potential effects, highlighted that the project had provided important lessons to be learnt but the focus for the project was marketing. They said that they had worked to very tight deadlines and there was not enough time to make an impact but there were lessons to be learnt.

The Panel were informed that this was not the only initiative within TAPESTRY and if Members and/or the public wanted further information, a website was accessible at: www.eu-tapestry.org

RESOLVED:

That Members note the progress on the TAPESTRY project.

39. CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE RURAL TRANSPORT STRATEGY MONITORING

The Panel considered a report of the Director of Environment (Item 8 in the Minute Book) which summarised the details of the monitoring exercise which was undertaken in 2002 as part of the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS). The report detailed the results of Hampshire County Council's TRANSPOL travel attitude surveys and the results gained from transport surveys including monitoring of the impact of the Tesco store in Petersfield.

Members were generally pleased with the measures that were in place and the gained results. Concerns were raised however regarding the road from Otterbourne to Compton. Members stressed that this was a well used road and should be included. Officers would investigate the monitoring sites for the Winchester Access Movement and Plan and contact the Member concerned.

The Panel were made aware that some of the data had only been collected for a two year period and it would take another two to four years for the data to become comparable.

RESOLVED:

That the Panel note the results of the 2002 Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy monitoring and the TRANSPOL household questionnaire surveys.

40. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

RESOLVED:

That the next meeting of the Central Hampshire Area Rural Transportation Strategy Panel be held on Wednesday 12 November 2003 at 2.00 p.m. at East Hampshire District Council Offices.

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