Contact: Jonathan Crabb, ext 6047 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers the way forward for Major Schemes within the context of the Regional Spatial Strategy. It also sets out the progress on the A3 Bus Priority Corridor and other significant transport schemes in the Solent Transport Strategy area, and suggests possible themed campaigns for the Panel's consideration.

2. Major Schemes

2.1 On 23 January 2004 the Executive Member for Environment approved the Major Schemes programme (subject to Government financial support) as part of the proposed Environment Capital Programme 2004/05 to 2007/08 as follows:

(i) 2004/05 South Hampshire Rapid Transit

(ii) 2005/06 Totton Town Centre

(iii) 2006/07 Chickenhall Lane Link Road

(iv) 2007/08 Stubbington Bypass

(v) 2008/09 Botley Bypass

2.2 When the cost of a local transport scheme is greater than £5 million it must be individually bid for, supported by significant impact analysis, to be accepted by the Department for Transport (DfT). An update on the current situation in respect of the A3 Bus Priority Corridor (which has previously been accepted for funding) is detailed below.

2.3 A review of the County Council's Major Schemes programme is planned as part of the development of the South East Plan. This process will enable the timescales and priorities to be set for any large scale transportation improvements over the next five years.

2.4 It is clear that the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East may have a significant impact on the scope and scale of any such strategic transportation improvements in the sub-regional South Hampshire area.

2.5 Therefore, it is necessary to incorporate the conclusions of the Regional Spatial Strategy and resultant guidance from Central Government and regional bodies on the long term planning situation for South Hampshire before making final design decisions on the major scheme priorities.

2.6 The development of the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 2006-2011 will include a comprehensive assessment of the issues within the Solent area, leading to the development of an agreed strategy. The opportunity for additional schemes which may require major schemes funding will be considered through this assessment.

2.7 Due to the significant requirements for the preparation and assessment of a major scheme, there is at this time no plan to make a bid for major schemes funding in July 2005. There is, however, always the opportunity to submit a bid at any time during the life of an LTP.

2.8 The Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (PUSH) made a submission to the South East England Regional Assembly (SEERA) on the emerging Regional Spatial Strategy for the South East in early October. A presentation on the key elements of the submission will be given at the meeting.

A3 Bus Priority Corridor, Havant

2.9 Construction work is progressing well with approximately half of the five year construction period completed. There has been a little slippage while the funding process was clarified in 2003 but development of the route north of Waterlooville is being accelerated to help get the project finished by the original completion date. The works undertaken so far are within the project budget.

2.10 Work has started on the advanced works for Section 3 Waterlooville town centre, and the main bus priority and pedestrian improvements are planned to start in early 2005. The proposals for Waterlooville town centre and the A3 Corridor have been developed independently of the West of Waterlooville Major Development Area (MDA) (due to their separate timescales and objectives) but in such a way that they can complement, or be improved by, the emerging MDA highway proposals. The two projects should achieve a synergy in the town centre, with the improvements from the A3 Corridor creating an environment for change and the ability for further incremental improvements if the MDA stimulates any town centre redevelopment.

2.11 The feasibility proposals for Sections 4 and 5 north of Waterlooville have been revisited in light of the major scheme funding to ensure that the initial proposals are appropriate for the problems and character of this part of the A3. In these sections there are several junctions with accident histories, for which improvements that include bus priority have been developed. The existing wide road at Cowplain and complicated mixture of side roads creates an opportunity to separate bus and road traffic to better serve the shopping area. This and a more conventional proposal have been exhibited at recent public exhibitions to gauge public opinion. The proposals will now be developed and fine tuned so that the final proposals can be exhibited in May 2005.

2.12 The original feasibility work showed the route finishing at the Causeway roundabout, Horndean, due to the potential park and ride site being considered at the time. This park and ride site is not part of the A3 Corridor project and there are no plans at present to develop it, which leaves the improvements stopping at an arbitrary finish point. Therefore, the review of the feasibility work has also included what facilities might be considered further north through Horndean and into Clanfield where the existing A3 Corridor bus service terminates. Lower key improvements are being considered, such as new bus shelters, real-time information, closed circuit television surveillance and improved street lighting, along with minor junction improvements, but not bus lanes. If these are favourably received, if funding can be made available from the existing budget and if the DfT agrees that the measures complement and support the project, then they will be included in Section 5. If not undertaken, they may be retained for consideration in case a second phase of the project is developed in the future.

2.13 Although the improvements are being introduced incrementally it is too soon to be able to measure any impact towards the targets of the project. This is because of the lack of a finished product and the disruptive nature of the roadworks which can be a short term detriment to bus services. While measures such as the ZIP service branding will help to counter this, it will not be possible to assess the project's actual performance until after the whole project has been completed and road conditions have settled to the new equilibrium.

3. Other Significant Schemes

West of Waterlooville Major Development Area

3.1 The Hampshire County Structure Plan Review (2001-2011) includes policies MDA1 and MDA2 to promote a major development area to the west of Waterlooville. The site lies within Winchester City Council's and Havant Borough Council's administrative areas.

3.2 The three Councils have been working with development interests to promote the delivery of the site of at least 2,000 dwellings and 30 hectares of employment.

3.3 Part of the site has been considered by the Inspector of the Inquiry into the Havant Borough Local Plan, with the Winchester Local Plan Inquiry currently ongoing.

3.4 The work relating to transport has focused on the potential impact of traffic that will arise from the development, which will be incorporated into a transport assessment accompanying planning applications.

4. What Themed Campaigns should there be?

4.1 The previous report `Key Local Transport Policy Decisions for Hampshire' discussed the possible opportunities for introducing themed approaches in specific areas. Those for the Solent area could include themes such as:

Cycling

- Improvements to access town centres

- Improvements associated with Safer Routes to School

- Complete missing links

Walking

- As for cycling, with the emphasis on accessibility and mobility impaired

- Working with employers to enhance access by foot to employment sites

- Localised improvements to health facilities

Public Transport

- Focus improvements on key routes and corridors between urban centres

- Improvements to bus and rail stations

- Improvements to passenger information provision such as real-time information

Road Network

- Address congestion issues arising from the congestion model

Water Transport

- Consider opportunities to promote accessibility by water

Integration

- Promote effective modal interchange.

Recommendation

That the current status of the schemes detailed in the report be noted, and that the Panel advise the Executive Member for Environment of their views on the suggested themed campaigns within the Solent area.

8956/JC