Contact: Dominic McGrath, ext 6054 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Government guidance on preparing the next Local Transport Plan (LTP) requires consultation with stakeholders as an integral part of the LTP process. The County Council sees consultation and engagement with stakeholders as vital to the preparation of a successful LTP. Consultation seminars and workshops have been held as one part of the process. These consultations have provided valuable information about stakeholders concerns, priorities for their area and an indication of some possible solutions. This report presents information on the outputs from the seminars and workshops, a summary of the emerging key themes and how these outputs are influencing the development of the area strategies and programmes.

2. Introduction

2.1 Hampshire County Council officers have already collected a considerable amount of information about local problems and opportunities through ongoing dialogue with District Councils, Local Strategic Partnerships and other local stakeholders. This has been complemented with a series of seminars and workshops which focused on problem identification.

3. The Consultation Process

3.1 The following key consultation events have been held during early 2005:

(i) Local Transport Plan Stakeholders Seminar;

(ii) New Forest District Joint Members and Officers Meeting; and

(iii) Transport Strategy Panel Workshops.

4. Local Transport Plan Stakeholders Seminar

4.1 The LTP Stakeholders Seminar held on 18 March 2005 at the Guildhall, Winchester involved delegates representing a wide variety of groups including transport operators and providers, user groups, representatives from disability groups and Hampshire's Youth Parliament. County Council officers provided updates on the LTP preparation process. One workshop session focussed on the area strategies and the second workshop was based on key themes. The summary of issues raised at the Stakeholder Seminar are included in Appendix 1 to this report.

5. New Forest District Joint Members and Officers Meeting

5.1 This meeting, held on 29 March 2005, was led by Hampshire County Council officers with a representative group of Members and officers from New Forest District Council. The objective of the group was to prioritise the schemes and aspirations as set out at the previous Panel meeting. The summary of issues raised are included in Appendix 2 to this report.

6. Transport Strategy Panel Workshop

6.1 The New Forest Transport Strategy Panel (NFTSP) met on 1 March 2005 with the main part of the meeting given over to the workshop session. A full list of the comments from the NFTSP is set out at Appendix 3.

6.2 From the workshop, a number of key themes have been identified that reflect the concerns and priorities of Panel Members. The key themes for NFTS and how they will be reflected in the next LTP and five year programme are identified below.

7. Key Themes

Key Theme 1 - Freight

7.1 Inappropriate routeing of Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) was seen as a problem across the area. Intrusion of HGVs in certain locations, particularly villages, needed to be addressed.

Key Theme 2 - New Forest National Park

7.2 The newly acquired National Park status is seen as an issue due to concerns over the new pressures this status will bring and potential threats to the existing character. There was particular concern over what affect this would have on isolation in rural parishes and the ability to respond to the transport needs of local communities.

Key Theme 3 - Air Quality

7.3 This issue was raised in general as well as specifically in relation to identified air quality management areas such as Lyndhurst, where queuing traffic through the village is causing pollution.

Key Theme 4 - A326

7.4 This road corridor was highlighted because of particular concerns over road safety, suitable crossing areas and general severance between communities. A recent fatality on the A326 has brought safety issues to the fore. There are concerns about the level of peak time congestion, particularly between Staplewood Road and Trotts Lane junctions. There is also concern that improvements to the A326 will not now happen after the recent decision by Central Government to refuse permission for Dibden Bay port expansion.

Key Theme 5 - Visitor traffic and traffic in Lyndhurst

7.5 This was raised as a key issue largely because of the pressures from increased tourism that the national park is likely to attract. Related concerns included facilities for coach parking, travel plans for tourist attractions, pedestrian links (from car parks to town centres), aesthetically pleasing signing and the added pressure on strategic roads.

7.6 Traffic in Lyndhurst, in particular the long queues through the village, is of considerable concern. The location of the traffic lights at the junction of the A35 and A337 is seen as the cause of the problem, and there was suggestions coming out of the consultation that these lights could be moved further back so that queuing occurred outside of the village.

8. Conclusion

8.1 The seminars and workshops have provided a valuable input into identifying the key themes for the next LTP and the development of the capital programme. Members are asked to note the key themes and the comments made at the Panel workshop and seminars, as listed in the Appendices. Members are invited to comment further if they wish.

Recommendation

That the Panel note the key themes and comments as set out in the report and accompanying Appendices.

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Appendix 1

Local Transport Plan Stakeholders Seminar

Workshop 3: New Forest - Summary of Issues Raised

Key Issues

· National Park status

· Tourism pressures

· Strategic Cycle Network

· Through-traffic, including HGVs

· Animal accidents

· Lyndhurst Air Quality Management Area (AQMA)

National park status

· Pressure on strategic roads

· Will there be a separate authority?

· Joint cross-boundary issues

· Look at other National Park examples

· Are towns appropriate for coaches?

· Availability of coach parking

· Travel plans for tourist attractions

· Pedestrian links from car parks to town centres

· Deliveries - safety issues. Loading bays blocked by parked cars

· Parking enforcement issues

· Signage - particular reference to getting traffic off M27 at Junction 2

· Variable message signing?

· Aesthetic issues re. signing

Social issues

· Elderly population - especially New Milton and Lymington

· Pockets of deprivation in North-West e.g. Calshot

· Isolated rural parishes

Road Safety

· Road safety - HCC has been successful overall but there are still major issue in the New Forest

· Road casualties - A338, A337, A326

· Child safety in cars - mainly local traffic on school-run

· Perceptions of safety i.e. you are statistically in more danger in a car

Public transport

· Solent Blue Line is more generous with concessionary fares than Wiltshire and Dorset Bus

· Rail capacity to London

· Look into informal Park and Ride?

· Station car parking

· Volunteer shortage for community transport

Traffic

· HGVs - cross border/joint working essential

· Strategic road network reaching capacity

· Highways Agency policy is to remove local traffic from strategic network, but A31 is a main route for locals

· Rural centres dominated by traffic

· Dorset CC have problems, perceived by some as resulting from some HCC issues/policies

· A337 low bridge north of Lymington.

· Traffic management in Lyndhurst, includes impacts of HGVs coming into Lymington

· High levels of traffic on B3347

Parking

· Unmet parking demand

· Pressures in Ringwood (P&R)

· Commuters parking on verges and catching train onwards

· Lack of tourist provision in Lyndhurst

· Low provision of parking at Totton station

· Tourists move around the park by car and use different car parks as bases

General

· Need for cross-boundary working with Wiltshire and Dorset County Councils

· Joint officer dialogue should be a high priority

· New Milton town centre study needs reviewing

· General quality of network - lack of pavements

Cycling

· Lack of linked cycle routes

Solutions

· General safety audit/strategy - look at accident statistics

· Comprehensive safety strategy - speed cameras, school travel plans

· Joint working re. HGVs etc.

Appendix 2

New Forest District Members and Officers Joint Meeting

List of issues/schemes

Appendix 3

New Forest Strategy Transport Panel Workshops

Congestion

· Lyndhurst - Air quality over DEFRA

- Traffic

- Could be costly

- Filter from A35 to A337

- HGVs coming illegally at A337

· Air pollution caused by canyon effect at Lyndhurst traffic lights. Queue further up the road by moving lights? Or have more lights.

· BUT Problem of drivers not obeying school crossing. Moving lights might exacerbate this.

- Moving lights might reduce junction capacity.

· HGV/Long vehicle detection to control Traffic Signal filter in Lyndhurst

· A35 Rushington to Southampton HOV - more consideration

- Lack of multi-occupancy car trips - could reduce capacity.

· P&R at Ringwood - Pressure for people from Dorset and Wiltshire to car-share. Town council wants to exclude some people from the car park. Should we be looking to encourage with a strategic car park/park and ride system. Look for funding from Dorset, Wilts and HCC.

· Charging

Air Quality

· Totton AQ - Vehicles turn engines off at traffic lights? Might cause more problems than it should. - depends on length of time level crossing gates are down.

NFTS Sub-group

· Report wanted from working sub-group

-Political Leadership needed

-Wins Heart and mind

-Pick and bypass route and go for it

· Data on Colby right turn to the panel - real time rather they abstract.

Lyndhurst bypass

Other

· Tatchbury Mount link to A326.

· Hospital traffic generating longer journeys - also redevelopment at hospital site. A337 Ampress roundabout.

· Motorised buggies/invalid carriages. More control needed. Instruction and MOTs. Safety.

Heavy Goods Vehicles

· Lorries through Lyndhurst

- automated signals

- Transfer freight to smaller lories

- Colbury right turn bringing HGVs to lower end of High Street

· Route traffic around national park

· Width/weight restriction on vehicle routes inside NFNP (A31/A326/A35/A36 as cordons to area)

· Dorset concerned that HCC lorry bans force the traffic onto their roads

· Needs to interface with national parks authority

· May change nature of the problem - or lorry bans - should not be overhasty

· B3078, B3079, etc. Wilts / HCC - Confusion about voluntary / compulsory ban for HGVs.

· Members want a compulsory ban

· Offices work towards this, with voluntary ban/routing agreements with local operators - carry out surveys first.

· Transport companies look to save money through fuel, so look for shorter journey. Level of fines insufficient, Police reluctant to enforce - need to take up in another forum.

· How to deal with firms who are repeat offenders?

· Problems of traffic using minor roads because main roads are very busy. No simple answer.

· Beaulieu - large HGVs running out of hours through national park. Need a strategic route through the centre.

· Low bridge at `Ampress' A337. New bridge may be needed to remove restriction.

· Road design to deter HGVs but can be unsightly- Less fuel efficient routes.

· Illegal HGVs claiming they are accessing areas e.g. Totton.

· Satellite navigation systems sending HGVs along inappropriate routes - Educating drivers and HGV companies.

· FTA concerned about un-badged/ unmarked HGVs, especially from Ireland.

· Meet major HGV companies and main offenders.

· How many HGVs are offending?

· Communities to send info to HCC officers.

The Waterside

A326 - Fatality recently

· Severance issue as much as safety.

· People drive over A326 rather than walk to access the Heath

· Need crossing for cycles, pedestrians, horses, children

· A326 separates communities from the New Forest. Can we combine funding streams.

· Crossings needed at Marchwood, Hythe and Fawley

· Equine crossing vs preservation of the forest

· Crossings should be horse friendly.

· Applemore crossing to cater for more modes than just cycling.

· But tackling severance can create more congestion.

· Staplewood Lane, Marchwood. Problems of vehicles turning right.

· Dibden Bay decision means that improvements to the A326 are not happening. Still need them.

· Don't improve accessibility along A326 if this means more development through SE Plan.

New Forest National Park

· Tourist Coach Parking in Lymington - lack of

· Congestion - National Park will bring more visitors 12 - 16 million day visitors per year?

· Cheap flights bringing in more visitors

· Better management/use of coaches - give coaches priority through traffic.

· Bashley, North of New Milton, HGVs. Could they be directed elsewhere?

· Isolation in rural parishes - Wider policy context than transport.

Accessibility

· But some communities are affluent and don't have an accessibility problem.

· Shopping centres - traffic - not safe

· High Street Ringwood. Too much parking by blue badge holders. Chaos in High Street is safety concern. Change parking restrictions.

· Park and ride at Ringwood? High Street Parking.

· Keep people out of the centres. But can harm economy/ trade.

· Trips and falls of elderly

· PT offering a visible alternative to the car.

· Bus links need to be coordinated with rail or the different bus operators

Cycles

· Cycle routes

- Ashurst - Lyndhurst

- Look at Lyndhurst - Brockenhurst

- Talk to Forestry commission.

· Cycle provision on trains. Could be added to Train Operating Companies' franchises

· Reducing capacity - causes delay for all passengers

· Promote cycle hire

· Minstead Parish

· Lyndhurst village cycle - should be a low priority

· New Milton town centre study. Pavements about to be transformed by partnership funding. But longer standing proposals about re-routing traffic / pedestrianisation don't seem to figure - combine with town centre work

· But could direct more traffic to Lyndhurst

· Traffic B3347 - roads through town centre of Lyndhurst. Relief around the town? May release land for development

· A338 Slip road car park Fordingbridge. Environmental enhancement - put back on the agenda

· Brockenhurst - Lymington railway line.

· Everton A337/B3058 Roundabout or signals

· Totton AQ

· Ringwood area

· Upgrading of A326 - strategic impact - needs to be improved to M27

· A36 pedestrian crossing linking national park to Test Valley - Blankhill road junction

· Damage has been caused to local roads from rat running due to closure of A36

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