Contact: Nick Richardson, ext 5429

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines the position with initiatives included in the Winchester Movement and Access Plan (WMAP). Significant progress has been made with scheme delivery in recent months and other initiatives are under way to improve transport for users of all modes in the Winchester area.

2. Schemes Completed

2.1 A number of schemes have been completed during this financial year.

Stockbridge Road/Stoney Lane/Dean Lane

2.2 The Stockbridge Road/Stoney Lane/Dean Lane junction improvement has been completed and provides a signal controlled pedestrian crossing of Stockbridge Road, cycle facilities and a mini-roundabout, in combination with measures to reduce traffic speeds around the junctions.

Station Interchange/City Road Junction

2.3 The Station Interchange/City Road junction scheme involved substantial alterations to the area, including replacement of traffic signals with new pedestrian crossing facilities, a new two-way link on Station Hill for buses, taxis and cyclists, rearrangement of the station forecourt to provide better interchange arrangements, replacement lighting, landscape improvements, new paving, upgrading to footways in Stockbridge Road and Andover Road, alterations to the Swan Lane arm of the junction, improvements to the Stockbridge Road tunnel, re-profiling of the carriageway and resurfacing. The scheme involved the cooperation of a number of stakeholders, including local authorities, South West Trains, Stagecoach, Sustrans and others.

Great Minster Street

2.4 The Great Minster Street scheme was completed to provide an enhanced pedestrian area and carriageway improvement using sympathetic materials in this key location near the Cathedral.

3. Initiatives Under Way

Chesil Street/Bar End Road

3.1 Improvements to slow traffic and assist pedestrians in Chesil Street/Bar End Road will be implemented from March 2003, including improved footways and crossings.

Parking

3.2 Pay-on-foot equipment will be operational in Tower Street and Chesil Street multi-storey car parks from 31 March 2003. This will allow users to pay for their length of stay rather than the previous pay and display arrangements and has been introduced following discussions with the business community. Help points will be available in case of difficulty. Charges for short stay on-street parking will have been introduced on 3 March 2003. New signing has also been introduced to help people walking to city centre destinations.

Romsey Road Corridor

3.3 Consultation on proposals for the Romsey Road corridor has been undertaken. A demonstration project, match funded by the Department for Transport, is under way with major employers in the corridor (including the County Council, Hampshire Constabulary (Headquarters), King Alfred's College and Royal Hampshire County Hospital). The project aims to reduce car use by approaching employees on an individual basis. Transport providers (rail, bus and cycle) are also included in the project which runs until March 2004 (see also agenda item 10).

Easton Lane

3.4 Traffic management proposals for the Easton Lane corridor have been the subject of a recent consultation exercise. The proposed measures aim to help cyclists as part of the wider network and to provide safe crossing facilities in Easton Lane as part of the National Cycle Network Route 23 (Eastleigh-Winchester-Alton-Basingstoke).

MIRACLES

3.5 Initiatives within the European MIRACLES project are under way (see agenda item 7). These complement WMAP initiatives and cover areas such as cycling projects, `soft' measures which aim to involve the community in transport issues and encourage less reliance on car use, alternative fuels and reduced emissions, air quality monitoring, innovative freight measures and related initiatives.

Clear Zones

3.6 Winchester continues to be involved in the Department for Transport's Clear Zones initiative as a `Trailblazer' site. Clear Zones is a grouping of local authority, Government and private sector interests for encouraging innovation and sharing good practice. A Clear Zone is `a defined urban area which exploits new technologies and operational approaches to improve quality of life and support economic growth, whilst minimising the adverse impacts of its transport systems'.

4. Conclusion

4.1 Within the WMAP investment programme, a number of schemes have been completed as planned, with others under way. Related initiatives involve major employers, and initiatives included in the European MIRACLES projects fully complement the WMAP programme.

Recommendations

1. That the report be noted.

2. That the outcome of public consultation on the Easton Lane corridor proposals be reported to the Winchester Highway Management Advisory Panel.

7797/NR