REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Environment

PART II

SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT PROJECT DEVELOPMENT

1. At a meeting of the South East Hampshire Transportation Panel (SEHT) on 26 March 2003, a report detailing progress on a number of projects in the South East Transport Strategy area was considered. These included a proposal to go to public consultation on the Stubbington Bypass.

A decision was taken on 2 April 2003 for the undertaking of a public consultation for the Stubbington Bypass. The intention of the consultation exercise was to raise awareness amongst the local community and the scheme proposals would be outlined by way of a newsletter. Information packs containing a formal questionnaire would be available and a public exhibition was planned for June.

2. The report also informed Members of an innovative partnership led by the Executive Members of Hampshire, Portsmouth and Southampton called "Solent Transport". The partnership had been formed to promote integrated management of strategic transport in South Hampshire by adopting a long-term approach to all aspects of transport provision in the area. It aims to tackle congestion by working together to provide wider travel choice and balanced options whilst recognising that cars would still play an important role in many people's lives. The partnership would be working closely with planning authorities to reduce the need for travel in the first place. Solent Transport was officially launched on 13 March 2003 when a Transport Summit was held at St Mary's Stadium in Southampton, bringing together transport providers and users to develop a vision for transport in the Solent areas for 2025. The launch was attended by Transport Minister, David Jamieson, who addressed the summit and witnessed the signing of The Solent Transport Charter. Many organisations representing motorists, businesses and transport providers signed up to the Charter namely: Highways Agency, Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail (Southern), First Hampshire, South West Trains, Freight Transport Association, Stagecoach, Automobile Association, Southampton International Airport, Hampshire Economic Partnership, Government Office of the South East, South East England Development Agency and South East England Regional Assembly. This was the first such partnership in the country to involve so many organisations and it is hoped that the work carried out by the partnership would improve the co-ordination of objectives and investment in transport.

KEITH B. ESTLIN,

Executive Member

for Environment

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