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

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out the progress on a number of studies and schemes being undertaken in the Solent Transport Strategy area as follows:

(i) Solent Transport - Moving Ahead;

(ii) Major Highway Schemes;

(iii) District Local Plans;

(iv) Chandler's Ford Railway Station;

(v) Cango

(vi) Whiteley and Segensworth;

(vii) A32 Fareham - Gosport; and

(viii) INFOMOTION;

2. Solent Transport - Moving Ahead

2.1 Solent Transport originated from a need to coordinate transport provision in South Hampshire to accommodate the sustained growth and pressure on the current network. It traverses traditional constraints of deregulation and fragmentation to meet the varied challenges of planning and providing a transport network that safeguards the economic and environmental future of south Hampshire.

2.2 Solent Transport is responsible for the delivery of the South Hampshire Rapid Transit Network (SHRT), a mass public transport system planned to carry up to 75 million passenger trips per year in south Hampshire. The development of this network falls under the remit of a Solent Transport working group. Major long term projects, such as a light rapid transit (LRT) system from Fareham-Gosport-Portsmouth, are nearing implementation subject to funding, with other schemes planned to follow in the next 20 years.

2.3 In December 2003 a letter was received from the Government Office of the South East (GOSE) about the LRT scheme requesting that the County Council discuss with the project bidders whether an alternative risk sharing model might help to reduce overall costs.

3. Major Highway Schemes

3.1 At a decision making meeting on 23 January 2004, the following provisional Major Scheme Programme (subject to Government financial support) was considered as part of the proposed Environment Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2007/08 in pursuance of Aim 2 and 3 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment and achieving economic prosperity):

1. 2004/05 South Hampshire Rapid Transit

2. 2005/06 Totton Town Centre

3. 2006/07 Chickenhall Lane Link Road

4. 2007/08 Stubbington Bypass

5. 2008/09 Botley Bypass

3.2 When the cost of a local transport scheme is greater than £5 million it must be accepted for funding by the Department for Transport (DfT). An update on the current situation in respect of these schemes and the A3 Bus priority Corridor is detailed below.

A3 Bus Priority Corridor, Havant

3.3 In October 2003 the DfT confirmed that the major scheme appraisal for the A3 Corridor had been approved, with funding being available immediately from the £25.1 million allocated for the project. This will allow the project to be constructed as it was originally conceived and is a major success for Hampshire and its project partners. It had been planned to complete the highway construction work in 2007; the ten month delay in the appraisal result has slowed general progress but work will now be stepped up to make up some of this lost time.

3.4 Section 2a (Purbrook Village) which had been on hold pending the funding issue has now been approved and construction is underway.

3.5 The final proposals for Section 3 Waterlooville Town Centre were exhibited to the public in early February so that approval can be sought and the main works start before the end of 2004.

3.6 Sections 4 and 5 north of Waterlooville to Cowplain and Horndean were not developed while the project funding was being determined. Design resources are now being acquired to investigate, develop, consult and design these northern sections within the original programme timescales.

3.7 Following the approval of the project funding, a Quality Bus Partnership was formally signed by the partners of the scheme in recognition of the work to date and commitment to the future. This was combined with the launch of a new brand for the current A3 Corridor service called `Zip', which will serve to raise public awareness and expectation for the project to be completed.

Totton Town Centre

3.8 It may be possible to bring forward a bid in July 2004 for Totton Town Centre, subject to further detailed work, as plans for the proposals are at an advanced stage and considerable local consultation has been carried out. The scheme is supported by New Forest District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council and will transform the pedestrian environment and help promote regeneration in the town. Early indicators are that making an early bid for Totton in this gap year will not adversely affect the chance of achieving success for the top priority Chickenhall Lane Link Road in 2005.

3.9 Proposals include a package of measures to reduce the amount of through traffic travelling through Totton centre such as traffic management measures, reallocation of pedestrian space, removal of lorry parking and reconfiguration of the car park.

3.10 It should be emphasised that if it is not possible to submit the Totton Town Centre bid in 2004, or the bid be unsuccessful, the scheme would not take precedence over the other schemes in the future Major Transport Schemes Programme.

Chickenhall Lane Link Road, Eastleigh

3.11 Chickenhall Lane Link Road is being progressed as the County Council's top priority major scheme because of the employment opportunities it will provide, together with potential associated improvements in Eastleigh. Eastleigh Borough Council support this and it is anticipated that a full bid be submitted to the DfT for funding in July 2005 at the earliest.

3.12 The scheme has been programmed for a number of years and over time the emphasis of the original objectives has changed in keeping with updated policy guidance.

Stubbington By Pass, Fareham

3.13 A single carriageway bypass around Stubbington village is proposed in order to reduce congestion related delays to traffic accessing the A27 western corridor. Combined with traffic calming within Stubbington, it will also alleviate rat-running and safety and pollution concerns within the village itself. It is intended to implement these measures by 2011 at an initial cost estimate of between £15 million and £30 million. It is proposed that a bid would be made in 2006.

3.14 Detailed work is ongoing to investigate and evaluate the two main options (with minor variations) encompassing issues such as highway engineering, planning, land ownership, transport by all modes and economic, social and environmental impacts. A report (expected spring 2004) will draw together the outcomes of these wide ranging studies and recommend a preferred route after a period of targeted consultation.

4. Changes to the Planning System

4.1 Major changes to the development plans system are proposed as part of the Planning Bill, which is expected to be enacted in June. This will mean that a new Local Development Framework will need to be prepared for each district. This comprises a number of different documents including a Core Strategy, a Proposals Map, Development Control Policies and Supplementary Planning Documents. In addition the Local Planning Authority is required to produce a Local Development Scheme, which sets out its detailed timescale for producing the LDF. It is also required to produce a Statement of Community Involvement which indicates how the community will be able to participate in the LDF process.

5. District Local Plans

Eastleigh Borough Local Plan

5.1 The Eastleigh Borough Local Plan Review was placed on deposit in Spring 2002 and a second deposit version was published in May 2003. The Local Plan Inquiry is programmed to commence on 20 April 2004. The Council published Pre-Inquiry changes in October 2003, with a closing date for comments of 1 December.

Winchester District Local Plan

5.2 The Winchester District Local Plan Review was placed on deposit in autumn 2001 and a Revised deposit version was published in May 2003. The Local Plan Inquiry is programmed to commence on 11 May 2004 and is expected to continue for the rest of 2004. The Council published Pre-Inquiry Changes in January 2004, with a closing date for comments of 23 February.

5.3 There were not a large number of objections to the Local Plan's Transport Chapter. However, there are many 'omission' sites being promoted by developers, some of which raise transport issues. In addition, transportation issues are the subject of large numbers of objections both in relation to the proposed West of Waterlooville Major Development Area (MDA) and the Winchester City (North) reserve MDA.

Test Valley Borough Local Plan

5.4 The Revised Deposit Draft of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan Review was published for public consultation in January 2004. A Public Inquiry is programmed to start in September 2004.

East Hampshire District Local Plan

5.5 A Public Inquiry into the East Hampshire District Local Plan Second Deposit Draft opened in April 2003 and is scheduled to finish at the beginning of April 2004.

Havant Borough Local Plan

5.6 The Revised Deposit version of the Havant Borough District-Wide Local Plan 1996-2011 was published in February 2002 and Pre-Inquiry Changes were published in Autumn 2002. The public inquiry into objections to the plan was held between November 2002 and June 2003. The Inspector who conducted the public inquiry is due to submit his report to the Borough Council in April 2004. It is anticipated that proposed modifications to the plan will be published in late summer 2004 and that the plan will be formally adopted in February 2005.

Gosport Borough Local Plan

5.7 The First Deposit of the Gosport Borough Local Plan Review was published for consultation in December 2002. This resulted in 510 representations being made by individuals and organisations, 387 of these were objections and 123 were representations of support. In the light of these comments a number of changes are being proposed which will be included in the Revised Deposit Gosport Borough Local Plan Review, due to be published in June of this year.

Fareham Borough Local Plan

5.8 Fareham Borough Council adopted their Local Plan in March 2000 to cover until 2006, in light of the proposed changes to the planning system and the Planning Bill. Fareham are not planning to review their Local Plan under the current arrangement, instead, the council are working on an Local Development Framework (LDF).

5.9 The first stage of the LDF is the preparation of a Local Development Scheme (LDS) effectively a three year Planning Period. A provisional LDS is due to be considered by the Executive Member on 22 March 2004.

5.10 The provisional scheme sets out the proposed documents which will be prepared over the next three years.

New Forest District Local Plan

5.11 The New Forest District Local Plan was adopted in November 1999. Work on selected alterations to the plan is well advanced, and a Public Inquiry into objections to the "Deposit First Alteration" was held between 16 September and 11 December 2003. The Inspector's report on the Inquiry is expected during the summer and the First Alteration will cover the period to 2011.

6. Chandler's Ford Railway Station

6.1 Passenger services returned to Chandler's Ford in May 2003, with the station officially opening in October 2003. Against a backdrop of cutbacks within the rail industry, the re-opening of the station was a remarkable achievement. The key to the project was the close partnership between the County Council, the Strategic Rail Authority, Network Rail South West Trains and to continue to support Eastleigh Borough Council.

6.2 The station is now well placed to serve the 22,000 people who live within 1.5 miles of its locality, as well as the numerous businesses that have grown and developed in the area since 1969. Passenger targets have already been exceeded. The re-opening of the rail station also led to an enhanced service by the local bus operator, which is also involved in Solent Transport.

7. Cango

7.1 Cango services represent one of the new innovative ways in which the County Council is developing and promoting public transport services, particularly in the rural areas of Hampshire. Unlike conventional bus services which operate along fixed routes, Cango services are more flexible, travelling where they are needed within their area of operation within set times. Anyone can use Cango although it is necessary to register if people want to pre-book journeys. Bookings can be made even after the bus has set off on its journey due to the technology linking Cango vehicles to the Call Centre.

7.2 Hampshire County Council has been developing and implementing a strategy for introducing these services since the first Cango services were introduced around Andover in June 2002. Over 40% more passengers are now travelling on these services than on the bus services they replaced. Further Cango services have now been introduced in Basingstoke and Deane (Burghclere) and the New Forest (Lymington/New Milton) with others planned for introduction around Alton, Fordingbridge and Romsey during 2004/05.

7.3 Hampshire's only urban Cango service operates in Leigh Park, Havant. Providing Cango services in urban areas has proved more difficult with patronage being much lower and there would seem to be a number of reasons for this. In the rural areas Cango services generally offer the only public transport option because the emphasis has been on converting an existing supported bus service. This provides a passenger base to build on.

7.4 However in urban areas like Leigh Park, where there are alternative frequent commercial services, Cango is only able to serve a smaller segment of the public transport market in order to ensure that it does not conflict with the existing bus services. In the case of the Leigh Park the focus has been on providing direct access to health facilities. Whilst offering important additional travel opportunities to these facilities, this does not, because of the infrequent nature of the journeys themselves, attract the regular patronage which the rural Cango services enjoys. For the reasons outlined above the opportunities for developing urban Cango services would appear to be limited.

Solent Travelcard

7.5 One characteristic of the deregulated bus regime is the lack of an integrated travel ticket. The Solent partnership has developed a new Solent Travelcard valid for the first time on any of the 600 bus routes in the sub-region.

7.6 Solent Travelcard will be launched in early March 2004. The 13 operators have voluntarily signed up to co-operate with the Travelcard and have been fully supported by the three local transport authorities. The new Travelcard will be marketed by the local authorities on behalf of the partnership.

7.7 For the passenger, Solent Travelcard provides greater accessibility to bus use through providing travel across south Hampshire with just one ticket, as opposed to needing several tickets (and several fares).

7.8 The partnership plans to build upon this cooperative approach by extending the Travelcard to local rail and ferry services and to expand it using smartcard technology.

8. Whiteley and Segensworth

8.1 Officers at the County Council are preparing a Position Statement on all schemes in Whiteley and Segensworth. This report is currently in draft form and further work is underway so that recommendations can be made for a coordinated approach to address transport issues around Whiteley and Segensworth.

8.2 It is anticipated that discussions with the district councils will take place once the report is developed further. The scope for major highway improvements is limited but a package of measures with an emphasis on greatly improved public transport services and walking and cycling facilities are being considered.

9. A32 Fareham and Gosport

9.1 As with Whiteley and Segensworth, officers at the County Council are preparing a Position Statement on schemes along the A32 which has included discussions with Fareham Borough Council and Gosport Borough Council. This report is currently in draft form which is reviewing existing proposals and proposing a coordinated package of measures. Further discussions with the borough councils will take place in due course to refine the proposals.

10. InfoMotion

10.1 In August 2003, the County Council appointed a company, Socialdata Ltd, to carry out a wide ranging marketing exercise to promote the busiest bus routes across the County, with a budget of £300,000. The project has been give the title "InfoMotion".

10.2 The areas chosen for this marketing exercise have been split into four waves and activity will be spread over the period from September 2003 until December 2004. Work within the Solent area is summarised below:

Fareham - Gosport Routes 82,83,85,86

Waterlooville Routes 40,41

Havant Routes 21,23

Eastleigh Routes 2,47

10.3 Local residents were offered a range of bus timetables, including one specific to each local bus stop, details of ticket types, ferry and rail timetables and a detailed personal journey plan.

10.4 In total 19,345 households were targeted, with an estimated 43,000 residents. Of these 17,500 residents were contacted or returned questionnaires, a quarter of which regularly use public transport.

10.5 The effect of the marketing will be measured by comparing the passenger numbers of the marketed route with a similar control route in the same area. Early data indicates an increase in patronage of about 10%.

Recommendation

That this report be noted and Members endorse progress to date.

8580/PB