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

1. Summary

1.1 An oral update will be presented to Members on the progress being made in preparing the Local Transport Plan and the proposed consultation strategy. This report seeks Members' endorsement of the proposed policy and programme direction for the New Forest strategy area.

2. Policy and Programme Direction for the Solent area

Overall Approach

2.1 The New Forest strategy area comprises the towns of New Milton, Barton-on-Sea, Milford-on-Sea, Lymington, Brockenhurst, Lymington, Ringwood and Fordingbridge and the remaining rural area within which lie smaller towns and villages.

2.2 Common themes have emerged for the strategy area which focus on improving accessibility, greater travel choices and making the best use of existing assets. These themes are consistent with the County Council's Corporate Strategy objectives of stewardship of the environment, building strong and safe communities and contributing towards economic prosperity.

2.3 A key consideration in any decisions affecting the transport networks within the forest will be the international importance of the National Park status and the environmental designations within the strategy area.

2.4 The opportunity should be taken wherever possible of providing added value through integrating area strategy proposals with county-wide programmes such as casualty reduction, safer routes to school, community transport and influencing travel behaviour. Improving access, particularly to local facilities, can help to enhance health choices and support local economies. Seeking to influence travel behaviour, promoting incentives and providing up to date information through the wide range of media now available can assist in meeting travel needs `at source'. In this way travel demands can be reduced and people made more aware of actual travel choices.

2.5 Within the town centres, and between centres, there is a need and opportunity to develop travel choices both for the short and longer term. Improving these choices over the next five years will put in place measures that will help to address the longer term challenges of increasing car ownership and the extra travel needs from development opportunities proposed in the Local Plan.

2.6 Walking and cycling can be made more attractive and convenient by completing strategic routes, reducing the severance effects of roads and improving the standard and maintenance of existing routes. Better access to local facilities will help reduce travel demands. Schemes should take full account of the requirements of disabled and less mobile people.

2.7 Public transport can be made more accessible through improved infrastructure and better waiting facilities. Information should be a key area for action, making optimum use of modern technology in order to provide an attractive alternative to the car. Partnerships with bus operators will secure improved vehicles and services in return for investment in infrastructure.

2.8 Within the town centres there is the need to promote measures which will contribute towards improving air quality. Walking can be encouraged through new and well maintained infrastructure and the promotion of its health benefits. Walking over shorter distance journeys will contribute towards less use of the car for trips to local facilities. Attention should be given to completing routes and reducing severance by new and improved pedestrian crossing facilities. All schemes should recognise the requirements of disabled people.

2.9 Provision for those wishing to cycle will again help to improve travel choices for journeys within the centres, in particular completing missing links, to provide a comprehensive network where this is cost effective.

2.10 Increased use of bus services can be actively promoted through better infrastructure and information, utilising modern technology. Expansion of partnership working with bus companies will lead to better, more accessible and less polluting vehicles.

2.11 Improving accessibility in the other larger settlements will again seek to facilitate, within the available budgets, walking and cycling for shorter trips. This will seek to improve access to, and encourage the use of, local facilities.

2.12 Within the remaining rural areas and smaller settlements there will be an emphasis on public transport improvements that are best suited to local needs and provide value for money. For villages it is envisaged that there will be some limited funding for improved walking access to local services and reducing the impact and severance caused by traffic.

2.13 The opportunities to provide alternative forms of travel for visitors and tourists will be pursued, along with the options for promoting demand management measures to reduce the environmental impact of vehicular traffic.

2.14 In light of the concerns over the impacts of traffic in the forest, the New Forest Transportation Strategy Panel has set up a Member Sub-Group to consider the `Operation of the Road network in the New Forest'. At present the group is scoping its area of work and reviewing a range of options to improve the transport situation within the forest, in particular the village of Lyndhurst.

2.15 Reducing the severance caused by transport infrastructure will be taken forward through providing improved links to enable local residents to access town centres and other facilities, as part of comprehensive pedestrian networks.

2.16 The economic regeneration benefits of providing enhanced transport links will be a key factor in the development of the LTP, in association with employment and commercial development opportunities.

2.17 The opportunity to increase travel by water will need to be carefully assessed, in particular the links to and from the Isle of Wight and from Hythe to Southampton.

Recommendation

That the Panel advises the Executive Member for Environment that it endorses the policy and programme direction proposed for the New Forest area.

9132/JC