Contact: Caroline Bonner, ext 6592 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report considers key issues and decisions for the Central Hampshire Transport Strategy area in the context of the new Local Transport Plan (LTP). Members' views are sought on a themed approach to allocating resources, as discussed in agenda item 8. The report also provides an update on specific topics.

2. Key Themes

2.1 As discussed previously in agenda item 8, the next LTP allows the opportunity to consider whether there should be a concentration on certain types of investment in particular areas, a `themed approach'. The aims of this approach would be to provide/maximise return on investment and achieve significant results on the ground.

2.2 The Central Hampshire Transport Strategy (CHTS) area covers a largely rural area, with the larger urban areas of Andover, Winchester, Petersfield and smaller settlements such as Alton, Whitehill/Bordon and New Alresford. The rural and urban areas clearly can have different needs and priorities. The scale of problems also varies widely. Congestion can be an issue to different degrees in the larger settlements; accessibility a serious concern for smaller settlements and the rural area. Proposals for each distinct area will need to be considered against the four key priorities identified by Central Government, namely congestion, safety, accessibility and air quality.

3. What Themes should there be?

3.1 For the Central Hampshire area possible themes include:

Walking

(i) accessibility audits to identify deficiencies;

(ii) improved accessibility to key facilities, including local facilities in smaller settlements;

(iii) completion of missing links and road crossings;

(iv) increased maintenance of footways; and

(v) facilities for the mobility impaired.

Cycling

(i) completion of missing links; and

(ii) cycle parking facilities.

Public Transport

(i) improved interchanges at rail stations;

(ii) new bus station provision in Andover and Winchester;

(iii) development of further park and ride provision in Winchester;

(iv) enhanced information provision, including use of new technology;

(v) development of real-time information both in urban and rural areas; and

(vi) tackling isolation in rural areas through the provision of demand responsive transport.

Travel Behaviour

(i) promotion of school and workplace travel plans.

3.2 Members are asked for their views on the themes identified above.

4. Other Area Specific Issues

Winchester Park and Ride

4.1 The development of a park and ride strategy for Winchester has been a key element of the `Winchester Movement and Access Plan'. As part of the preparation of the next LTP the strategy will need to be reviewed and updated in the context of the Government's four key priorities. The LTP guidance requires `large urban areas' to have congestion targets. However, also in line with the guidance, Winchester is being put forward as an area where congestion targets could be appropriate. In Winchester the package of transport measures outlined in the Winchester Movement and Access Plan strategy rely heavily on the justification of relieving local congestion.

Clearly, park and ride could assist in terms of air quality issues and congestion. However, there would be a need to promote positive restraint to contribute towards meeting congestion reduction targets. Reduced longer stay parking in the city centre and/or charging for road use and/or workplace parking would need to be evaluated.

Selborne

4.2 Traffic conditions have been a source of concern in Selborne over many years in relation to increasing levels of traffic through the village, which is a Conservation Area, environmentally sensitive and an attraction for visitors, particularly in respect of Gilbert White's House and The Oates Museum.

4.3 There has not been a serious accident recorded in Selborne, and this length of road is therefore not a high priority for consideration of improvements as part of the casualty reduction programme. There is an environmental weight restriction to prohibit the use of this route by through lorry traffic in recognition of the character of the road through the village.

4.4 Traffic flows have increased on the B3006, as on many other roads in the county. A permanent count site was introduced south of the village in 2003. This will enable traffic flow changes to be closely monitored.

4.5 A traffic calming scheme was implemented in 1995 which involved a build-out on each approach to the village. This scheme was successful in reducing the speed of vehicles entering Selborne and breaking up the flow of traffic.

4.6 A School Travel Plan has been prepared for Selborne Primary School which identified problems and suggested consideration of measures to improve conditions, particularly for pedestrian routes to the school. A scheme has recently been substantially completed. There are still some elements of this scheme to complete and a further phase is being considered for inclusion in the Safer Routes to Schools programme.

4.7 There have been recent discussions between County Council officers and representatives of Selborne Parish Council to explain the LTP process and discuss issues of concern. It has been agreed that there will be further discussions with the Parish Council on the type of measures that could be considered as part of the development of the next LTP. The priority for such measures would have to be considered in the context of the Government's guidance on key priorities, and their justification relative to other schemes in the CHTS area and the across the county.

Alton

4.8 A range of measures for Alton are in various stages of implementation as part of the capital programme and further schemes may come forward in association with development proposals. A statement is currently being prepared which will pull together these different elements and will be a useful tool for setting the priorities for LTP2.

A3 Hindhead Tunnel Scheme

4.9 The Draft Orders and an Environmental Statement for the A3 Hindhead scheme were published by the Highways Agency in October 2003 for consultation purposes. At the end of the public consultation the Highways Agency received over 600 responses to the draft proposals and 34 alternatives and amendments to the scheme. The main issues in Hampshire relate to the impact on Grayshott Village and Crossways Road.

4.10 In January 2004 the Executive Member for Environment agreed that "Hampshire County Council has no objection to the Draft Orders for that part of the route which lies in Hampshire, subject to the agreement of satisfactory off-route traffic management measures".

4.11 In June and August this year the Highways Agency published three leaflets, showing the alternative schemes and amendments which have been put forward by objectors to the published scheme. The leaflets present alternative proposals, including retention of the existing A3, amended junctions, an underpass and an entirely new route which does not involve a tunnel. Many of the alternatives relate to localised issues within Surrey and do not affect Hampshire. After careful assessment of all alternative proposals, the County Council continues to support the published scheme which includes the closure of the existing A3.

4.12 There have been representations made for the old A3 across the Devil's Punch Bowl to be kept open after the tunnel is completed, for reasons of local access and to cater for emergencies. However, by retaining the old route many of the environmental benefits would be lost. Retaining the existing A3 might provide minor time savings for some local journeys, but it would not have the environmental benefits of the published scheme. The Highways Agency does not believe that the old A3 is required or suitable to be an emergency route, should the tunnel be blocked. Alternatives are being developed with the local authorities to deal with the exceptional circumstances where traffic would have to be diverted away from the tunnel.

4.13 As a consequence of the additional traffic generated by the A3 Hindhead tunnel scheme, off-route traffic management measures are required on some local roads in the area. These roads in Hampshire are Crossways Road in Grayshott, north of the A3, and Sandy Lane, south of the A3. A joint bid has been made to the Government Office for the South East by the affected authorities to enable the Highways Agency to carry out the traffic management works prior to the tunnel opening (expected 2009).

4.14 The Public Inquiry into the objections to the scheme started on 7 September 2004.

The Whitehill/Bordon Opportunity

4.15 The 'Whitehill/Bordon Opportunity' is an initiative to examine the potential for major expansion of the town, with the aim of supporting improved retail, leisure and other facilities, and securing a more sustainable community. The opportunity arises from the potential release of large scale landholdings at Bordon Garrison as a consequence of the Defence Training Review (DTR) being undertaken by the Ministry of Defence (MoD). No decision has yet been made as to whether the School of Electro-Mechanical Engineering will relocate from Bordon Garrison, but an announcement is expected in 2005. If the decision is to relocate (to the Gosport peninsula), then the majority of the 240 hectares of MoD land at Whitehill/Bordon could be potentially available for other, civilian uses from 2008.

4.16 Over the recent months, in anticipation of that decision, representatives of the County Council, East Hampshire District Council, Whitehill Parish Council and the MoD have steered the preparation by consultants of a study of potential major development at Whitehill/Bordon. A Baseline Report has been completed.

4.17 The Baseline Report outlines the existing situation for key topic areas, including planning policy, socio-economic issues, community assets and facilities, environment, transportation and infrastructure. Key issues associated with the potential growth of the town are identified and preliminary options for future growth are described.

4.18 Four options have been identified for further examination. These are all based on the assumption that the majority of the Bordon Garrison land will become available for redevelopment. These are:

Option A A brownfield development option of 3,000 new houses (7,500 population).

Option B A combination of brownfield and greenfield development to achieve the vision of a population increase of 10,000 in 4,000 new houses.

Option C/D Two further brownfield and greenfield development options aimed at delivering 6,000 new houses (15,000 population increase) and 8,000 new houses (20,000 population increase) respectively, and potentially substantial new commercial development opportunities.

4.19 For each option, the new housing would need to be supported by associated development, such as open space, additional education provision and employment development. The larger the population expansion, the greater the opportunity created to attract new commercial development, including retail and leisure facilities. Each growth option therefore seeks to provide a balance of residential and commercial (and associated) development. At this stage, no sites or specific areas for development have been identified.

4.20 Whilst no specific development sites have been identified at this stage, it is considered that Option A could be accommodated entirely on brownfield land (assuming the MoD vacate land at Bordon), while only around a third of development under Option D could be accommodated on brownfield land.

4.21 Further technical work is now to be undertaken focusing particularly on environmental and transport issues. There are significant environmental constraints (notably the proximity of the Woolmer Forest Site of Special Scientific Interest (SSSI), which is also a candidate Special Area of Conservation and part of a Special Protection Area). There will be a need to examine the potential for better public transport links and the impact of traffic on the A325 and the surrounding road network within Hampshire and the neighbouring areas of Surrey. This additional work will enable a submission to be made to the Regional Assembly about the town's future role within the South East Plan.

4.22 Currently, Whitehill/Bordon is far from being a sustainable settlement. Expansion of the town to raise its population to a level where more retail, leisure and other facilities can be justified and viable, thus provides a potential opportunity to create a more sustainable community.

4.23 The Whitehill Town Council has expressed its support in principle for town growth and initial soundings with the public also indicate general support.

4.24 Much depends, however, on whether a substantially higher population would in reality lead to additional retail, leisure and other facilities and whether new firms can be attracted to the town. If there were success on these matters, then the need to travel would be reduced, helping to make the town more sustainable. If on the other hand, housing development and population increase were not complemented by the attraction of new jobs and facilities, then this would worsen the existing unsatisfactory situation.

4.25 Even if a range of jobs, retail and other facilities were developed within the town, some residents will doubtless still choose to travel elsewhere for employment or facilities, while some people would travel in from adjoining areas. Thus it would be important to develop a wide ranging package of improvements to public transport both locally and over a wider area, and to encourage cycling and walking. Nevertheless, a significant number of car trips would still be likely to be undertaken and hence improvements would be required to the local and wider road network.

Test Valley Borough Local Plan Review

4.26 The Public Local Inquiry into the Test Valley Borough Local Plan began on 7 September 2004 and is due to be concluded in early February 2005. County Council and Borough Council officers have worked closely over several years on the development of a transport strategy for Andover, which is reflected in the policies of the local plan, and the selection of appropriate sites for development.

4.27 There are two sites proposed in Andover to meet the County Structure Plan Major Development Area (MDA) housing requirements (Policy MDA5). A development of approximately 1,750 dwellings is proposed for east of Icknield Way (East Anton) and a development of about 700 dwellings at Picket Twenty. Land is safeguarded east of Icknield Way at Picket Twenty and at Picket Piece for further development beyond 2011. The east of Icknield Way site is on the north-eastern edge of the town, the other two are on the south-eastern and eastern side of the town respectively. The selection of these sites as the preferred locations for development will be tested through the inquiry. A number of objectors to these allocations will promote `omission sites' as alternative locations for major housing development.

4.28 The local plan also includes new employment (at the Walworth estate and the Andover Business Park) and other land use proposals.

4.29 A wide ranging package of transport measures and improvements are proposed to accommodate the travel needs of the allocated MDA and employment sites. Particular emphasis is placed on providing good access to local facilities, especially by public transport, walking and cycling. The local plan includes a proposal for the expansion of the bus station and safeguards land for a new rail station, adjacent to the east of Icknield Way MDA.

Traffic Management on Radial Routes into Andover

4.30 Two important schemes have been implemented over recent years, with a third due to commence later this year, to manage traffic demand and encourage sustainable travel in Andover. The schemes focus on key approach roads into the town from the south, west and north-west. These

traffic management measures are aimed at controlling traffic flow, encouraging the use of appropriate roads, reducing speeds, reducing accidents and conflict, and improving provision for pedestrians and cyclists.

4.31 The schemes are:

(i) Salisbury Road/Millway Road traffic management scheme - completed in March 2002. Key features include Safer Routes to Schools measures to the John Hanson Secondary School in the form of an off-road cycle route and toucan crossing and a new roundabout at the Millway Road junction.

(ii) Weyhill Road traffic management scheme - measures were largely completed in February 2004; however, some outstanding remedial works remain relating to areas of imprint surfacing. Key features include the provision of a new roundabout at East Portway junction and an enhancement to the area around the shops, including improved arrangements for parking and pedestrians.

(iii) Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Hatherden Road traffic management scheme - currently programmed to start December 2004, subject to award of contract. Key features include a new roundabout at the Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane junction and improvements for pedestrians and cyclists to assist safer routes to the Harrow Way Secondary School and patients attending the Andover War Memorial Hospital and medical centres.

Recommendation

That the current status of the schemes and issues 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 Central Hampshire area.

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