Contact: Paul Basham, ext 6054 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That the New Forest Transport Strategy document be adopted.

(ii) That the said Strategy document be reviewed in light of the formal definition of the National Park boundary and review of the area strategy boundaries at an appropriate time.

2. Reason

2.1 The need to revise and update the 1998 New Forest Transport Strategy (NFTS) document was recognised in light of changes in planning and transportation policy. In addition, the need to produce a strategy document for the Coastal Towns area, and proposed New Forest National Park boundary covering the New Forest Heritage area, led to the decision to produce one document covering both these areas. On 6 December 2001 the Executive Member for Environment recommended that the NFTS draft document be supported and the consultation plan approved.

2.2 On 18 March 2003 the NFTS Members' Panel advised the Executive Member for Environment that the draft document be adopted. However, there was discussion about the need for some wording amendments, principally on references considering possible additional measures once the current set of proposals, including the Colbury Loop and traffic management measures through Ashurst, were completed. It was resolved that, subject to the inclusion of agreed amendments, the Strategy document be adopted by the County Council and other partners.

2.3 On 28 October 2003 the Panel advised the Executive Member for Environment that the New Forest Transport Strategy document, with the relevant amendments relating to the possible additional measures (paragraph 69 of the document), be adopted by the County Council, New Forest District Council and the New Forest Committee. The final draft of the Strategy document is attached as an appendix.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Taking no action.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Background

7.1 The policies and actions outlined in the New Forest Transport Strategy are designed to work together as part of 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 (LTP).

7.2 On 18 March 2003 a report to the NFTS Members' Panel explained that a `targeted' consultation exercise had been undertaken on the strategy document, seeking comments from key stakeholders and interested parties. These included parish councils, the local business community, interest groups, transport operators, public service providers and educational establishments. The document was also made available in County and District Council offices.

7.3 A total of 361 comments were received on the draft document from a wide variety of interest groups. Many comments supported the NFTS document and welcomed a transport strategy for the New Forest, supported the aims and objectives and were encouraged by monitoring targets set out in the Strategy. Although no objections were made to the NFTS document itself, many comments were received relating to particular issues in the document. A summary of the most frequently raised issues relating to the Strategy was reported to the Panel on 18 March 2003.

7.4 Considerable debate has been generated concerning the extent of the NFTS boundary, particularly in light of the National Park proposals. The inclusion of the Coastal Towns area into the NFTS boundary has been welcomed by New Forest District Council. However, Wiltshire County Council, Dorset County Council, New Forest District Council and the New Forest Committee have raised concerns that the NFTS boundary does not mirror the proposed National Park boundary.

7.5 Once the National Park boundary has been confirmed, and the area strategy boundaries have been reviewed by the Executive Member for Environment, it is considered that it would then be appropriate to revise the boundary in light of these decisions, whether it is wholly in Hampshire or extends into Dorset and Wiltshire, and also to address the option of additional partners in the strategy and the terms of reference of the appropriate Members' Panel.

7.6 On 28 October 2003 it was reported to the Panel that the wording relating to the need for measures additional to the current proposals, for paragraph 69 of the document, had been discussed between the County Council and New Forest District Council, and was amended as follows:

"Lyndhurst in particular, situated at the intersection of the A337 and A35, suffers from severance and traffic in its main shopping area. The measures undertaken through the Transport Strategy have contributed positively to an improved environment in the High Street, particularly for pedestrians.

The main further measure still to be implemented is improvement of the A326/A35 Colbury Junction to allow south-bound traffic to turn west towards Lyndhurst.

Following completion of this work and further traffic flow monitoring, the Councils will assess the impacts of the Colbury right turn and the need for additional measures to relieve local congestion in Lyndhurst being included in the next LTP (2006-11).

If shown to be needed, this could include consideration of a range of options, such as reviewing priorities at junctions and routeing, signing and management of traffic to and through the village. (The possibility of road construction will be reviewed, however, the benefits would need to be very significant in view of the environment designations in and surrounding the village.)

These options would have to be assessed as to their contribution towards the strategy objectives and their potential environmental benefits and disbenefits."

7.7 It is thought that this wording provides the opportunity to consider a range of options in the light of the performance of the current set of measures, rather than being prematurely specific at this time.

7.8 The attached final draft of the NFTS has been amended in light of comments received on the consultation draft (January 2002), and includes the above changes to paragraph 69.

7940/PB