AT A MEETING of the NEW FOREST TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Wednesday 31 March 2004.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: K.B. Estlin (Chairman); Mrs P.G. Banks.

Councillor M.J. Kendal was also in attendance.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: M.H.G. Fidler; D.N. Scott; Mrs P.A. Wyeth

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors: A. Gentle; C. Lewis

1. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

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 debate declare their interest, and having regards 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.

2. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman informed the Panel of the launch of the Open Top Tour of the New Forest which would take place on 1 April 2004 at the National Motor Museum in Beaulieu. Hampshire County Council had purchased a cycle trailer for the bus, which would be run by Solent Blue Line, in order to encourage visitors to use alternatives to the car within the New Forest.

3. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

4. THE ROLES OF THE NEW PANELS AND ADMINISTRATIVE ARRANGEMENTS

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 4 in the Minute Book) setting out the terms of reference and scope of the new Area Transport Panels and their relationship with other relevant panels, in particular the Highway and Transport Advisory Panels.

Officers explained that although there had been a considerable change in the area transport strategy arrangements (with 4 Area Transport Strategy panels replacing 8 Area Transportation Strategy panels) the New Forest panel remained very similar in terms of area. It was intended that the Panel consider cross border issues both with Dorset and Wiltshire and into the Solent area.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

5. REGIONAL AND SUB-REGIONAL SPATIAL STRATEGIES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 5 in the Minute Book) outlining the new framework of regional and sub-regional spatial strategies, the progress being made on the preparation of strategies relating to Hampshire, and the progress on the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS) and other regionally important transport studies and strategies.

Officers explained that multi modal studies were very strategic in nature and investigated how differing modes of transport interacted with each other. Alongside multi modal studies the Highways Agency developed Route Management Strategies to investigate potential improvements to the national network. It was anticipated that the RTS would be used to draw together both of these studies, as well as other strategies such as plans produced by the rail authorities. The conclusions of the RTS could then be used by SEERA to prioritise future schemes for Government funding. The RTS would also be used as a framework by the County Council when preparing the next LTP.

It was confirmed that as Hampshire County Council was well represented at SEERA it was in a strong position to influence the content of the RTS.

In the ensuing discussion Members focused on the following major points:

(i) the Minerals And Waste Local Development Framework which when prepared would take into account previous enquiries relating to the Minerals and Waste Local Plans;

(ii) the expected detrunking of the A36 and the improvements to the Whinwhistle road junction;

(iii) the low level of public transport provision in large parts of the New Forest. This issue was felt to be inappropriate for a multi modal study but would instead be a matter for the New Forest area strategy within the next Local Transport Plan; and

(iv) the problem of congestion at the junction of the M27 and A31.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment be advised to use the report as a background document in the preparation of the next Local Transport Plan.

6. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN AND TRANSPORT STRATEGY DEVELOPMENT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 6 in the Minute Book) summarising the intended development of transport strategies for the four new areas in tandem with the next Hampshire Local Transport Plan (LTP).

Following an `excellent' rating in the Comprehensive Performance Assessment, Hampshire County Council was not required to submit a LTP for 2005, it had nevertheless been agreed that it would be useful to produce one. However the County Council would use the opportunity to be more flexible in its approach to drafting the Plan, for example by not submitting the Plan in accordance with the Governments timetable, further consultation could be undertaken and the final document could be made more accessible.

Although no Government guidance had yet been received it had been indicated that `accessibility' (the ease with which people can travel to the amenities/facilities which they require) would need to be a priority. It was anticipated that the next LTP would be structured in layers focusing on strategies for the county, area and town. At town level individual strategies could be established where necessary, i.e. Lyndhurst and Hythe. Further information concerning the Local Transport Plan would be available to Members at a seminar due to be held on 19 April 2004.

Members expressed particular concern with traffic problems in the Lyndhurst area and suggested that a New Forest Relief Road may be a solution. In addition to this it was felt that an overall strategy was needed to improve traffic flow throughout the New Forest. In order to best consider this issue it was felt that a working group was required. Following a detailed discussion Members concluded that the working group should be chaired by the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy with an additional two County Councillors and two New Forest District Councillors sitting on the Panel which would consider the operation of the road network within the New Forest.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the Panel endorses the approach and timetable of developing strategies for the newly established transport strategy areas.

(ii) That a small working group be established to examine the operation of the road network in the New Forest, and report back to this Panel.

(iii) That the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy chair the meetings of the working group, which would consist of two additional Members from the County Council and two Members from New Forest District Council, to be confirmed in due course.

(iv) That the Head of Transport Policy in the Environment Department convene a meeting of the working group.

7. POLICY AND STRATEGY UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) setting out the progress made on a number of studies and schemes being undertaken in the New Forest Transport Strategy area.

Following an overview of the studies and schemes as set out in the report, officers made copies of the Safety Camera Partnership for Hampshire and the Isle of Wight Annual Review 2002/03 available.

There was general approval of the County Councils policy regarding Safety Cameras, in particular the emphasis placed on the use of cameras exclusively for casualty reduction which was proving to be very successful.

While Members were aware that, as trunk roads, motorways were the responsibility of the Highways Agency, concerns were expressed over temporary speed limit signs remaining active for longer than was necessary. Officers reported that the Highways Agency were aware of the problem and were using `real time' monitoring to reduce the number of occurrences of such incidents.

It was confirmed that the Secretary of State had not yet come to a decision regarding Dibden Bay.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

8. CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the Minute Book) setting out the finalised Capital Programme for 2004/05, the draft programme for 2005/06 and the preparation pool of schemes to be considered beyond 2005/06, focusing particularly on the New Forest area.

Members were asked for comments on the provisional Capital Programme for 2005/06, bearing in mind that the Panel would have a further opportunity to influence the 2005/06 programme at the Autumn meeting. Particular attention was paid to the proposed allocation of £25,000 towards the reconstruction of two bridges along the Longslade Bottom stretch of the cycle route which follows the old Brockenhurst to Ringwood Railway line.

RESOLVED:

(i) That the approved capital programme for 2004/05, together with the addition of the two bridges at Longslade Bottom be noted.

(ii) That the Panel endorses the proposed capital programme for 2005/06.

9. NEW FOREST DISTRICT STRATEGIC CYCLE ROUTES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in the Minute Book) summarising the comments received to the consultation document `New Forest District Strategic Cycle Routes' undertaken in summer 2003 and sets out the working groups responses to them.

Officers reported that due to the responses of several consultees being excluded from the report an updated version of the appendices had been produced (which would be available to Members after the meeting).

It was noted that the proposed routes were a strategic objective and if approved would still be subject to feasibility studies, safety audits etc.

While the Panel were in general support of the strategic cycle routes it was felt that increased emphasis needed to be placed on the availability of public transport with the potential to carry cycles into the New Forest. In particular it was noted that rail operators had significantly reduced capacity for cycles on trains.

RESOLVED:

1. That the Panel:

(i) notes the results of the consultation and the comments made on the representations received be noted;

(ii) endorses the changes to the proposed strategic network as recommended at paragraph 8.1 of the report;

(iii) commends the revised proposals to the County Council for consideration in the 2006-11 Local Transport Plan;

(iv) commends the revised proposals to the New Forest District Council for consideration into its planning policy framework at the next opportunity; and

(v) requests the County Council to review, with the Forestry Commission and Verderers, the need for management and control of cycling on the open Forest, on bridleways within the New Forest District, an in particular those bridleways which give access to the open Forest.

2. That the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy is recommended to approve the proposed changes to the New Forest District Strategic Cycle Routes document for the New Forest, subject to changes to be agreed by officers arising from the responses which were excluded from the report.

3. That officers inform the necessary Rail Authorities of Members concerns regarding the carriage of cycles on trains

10. MINUTES

The Panel noted the comments on the Minutes of the New Forest Transportation Strategy held on 28 October 2003 for onward transmission to the Executive Member for Environment.