Contact: Hannah Baker, ext 6594 email:[email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out the progress on significant transport issues and themes in the New Forest Strategy area. It also suggests possible themed campaigns for the Panel's consideration through the Local Transport Plan.

2. Significant Issues

National Park Designation

2.1 On 28 June 2004 Alun Michael, the Rural Affairs Minister, announced his decision that the New Forest will become a National Park and that the Park will be managed by a National Park Authority established under the Environment Act 1995. The decision is in line with the majority of the recommendations made by the Inquiry Inspector after a seven month public inquiry. The boundary is now finalised, apart from land at Fawley Power Station which will be subject to a public hearing.

2.2 The decision ends any uncertainties about the conservation significance of the area, and brings funding from the Government to safeguard the Forest's special qualities in perpetuity. The settlements of Ringwood and Lymington have been left outside the National Park, and the Dibden Bay reclaim and the majority of the Avon Valley will also be beyond the boundary. An area around Eling and land in Test Valley north of the A36(T) have both been left out, having been part of the Heritage Area for many years and, as such, protected by National Park equivalent planning status.

2.3 National Parks have a vital role conserving the natural heritage, but conservation alone is not enough - the Parks must balance environmental priorities with those of the Park communities. The decision to designate the New Forest as a National Park will help protect the unique character of the area, which is valued by so many people and acknowledged as a national treasure, whilst recognising that it is a working, living place with social and economic needs.

2.4 The shadow National Park Authority will be in place in April 2005, with the National Park Authority formally in place in April 2006. The Authority will have a significant input to the preparation of transport policies and the delivery of transport schemes within the Forest.

3. What Themed Campaigns Should There Be?

3.1 `Key Local Transport and Policy Decisions for Hampshire', elsewhere on the agenda, discusses the possible opportunities for introducing themed approaches in specific areas. Those for the New Forest Strategy area could include themes such as:

(i) Cycling

- improvements to access town and village centres

- improvements associated with Safer Routes to Schools

- complete missing links.

(ii) 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.

(iii) 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.

(iv) Road Network

- address congestion issues arising from the congestion model.

(v) Water Transport

- consider opportunities to promote accessibility by water.

(vi) Integration

- promote effective modal interchange.

4. New Forest Visitor Transport Initiative

4.1 Visitors to the New Forest generate significant levels of car traffic but are essential to the local economy. The launch of the New Forest Tour, which ran from April to September this year, has seen over 3,600 passenger journeys and has provided an alternative to the car for accessing major attractions within the district. The tour was linked to the train stations at Beaulieu Road and Brockenhurst and the ferry in Lymington to the Isle of Wight.

4.2 Many people using the tour would have used their car if this service had not been provided. The addition of a cycle trailer to the bus eliminated the need for visitors to drive with cycles attached to their private vehicles from accommodation to places of interest in the New Forest. Promotion of the tour came via a successful bid to the Delegated Fund at Hampshire County Council. Leaflets were distributed through the New Forest Tourism Association and the Forestry Commission camp sites.

4.3 Work in progress includes putting together a coach drivers' handbook, provision of coach parking and providing additional cycling and walking opportunities that link to the New Forest Tour.

5. Update on Sub-Working Groups

Operation of the New Forest Road Network Sub-Group

5.1 This sub-group, involving Members from both Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council, first met at the end of July 2004. The group was arranged to investigate possible solutions to the congestion and transportation issues across the entire New Forest road network. The first meeting considered the latest guidance from the Department for Transport in preparing the next Local Transport Plan (2005-2011), in terms of the key issues of congestion, accessibility, air quality and safety, on which the Government is focusing. The group is considering possible alignments for a Lyndhurst bypass, but this is simply one of a number of options under consideration. The group will meet again in November 2004 to review the options initiated in the first meeting and to establish a way forward.

5.2 The Colbury right turn was opened earlier this year and the changes in traffic flows will be monitored during October to assess the impact of the new junction.

New Forest Parking Charges Sub-Group

5.3 Following a recent decision made by the Executive Member for Environment, a scheme for parking has been adopted for the New Forest, in which the charge of the `parking clock' method has been increased in value (from £5 to £6) and permitted for a further 12 months up to December 2005. The Executive Member for Environment recommended that a sub-group be set up, comprising County and District Council Members and officers, which would consider the future of parking charges in the New Forest and East Hampshire areas. The group would make such considerations alongside the development and adoption of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement.

Recommendation

That the current status of the schemes detailed in the report be noted and that the Panel advises the Executive Member for Environment of its views on the suggested themed campaigns within the New Forest area.

9017/HB