Item 2

AT A MEETING of the NEW FOREST HIGHWAY AND TRANSPORT ADVISORY PANEL held at the District Council Offices, Lyndhurst on 20 September 2005.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Councillors: Mrs P.G. Banks (Chairman); N.R.G. Clarke; L.T. Dunsdon; M.J. Kendal; A.W. Rice; A. Weeks.

New Forest District Council

Councillors: K.F. Ault; M.H.G. Fidler; F.R. Harrison; P.E. Hickman; J. M. Hoy; B.M.F. Pemberton; D.N. Scott; P. Woods; Mrs P.A. Wyeth.

Local Strategic Partnership

Mr N. Hunt

1. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should, normally at the time of debate declare their interest, and having regards to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

2. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on the 8 March 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman, subject to Councillor Fidler's name being spelt correctly in the list of those present.

3. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

The Chairman welcomed Kevin Fuller who had been appointed as Chief Engineer for the New Forest area. The Chairman also welcomed the newly appointed Panel Members representing the Local Strategic Partnership.

4. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

5. PROGRESS UPDATE ON SCHEMES IN THE CAPITAL PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 5 in the Minute Book) providing an update on transport schemes within the 2005/06 Capital Programme which included schemes carried over from the 2004/05 Programme. Officers drew the Panels attention to the Ashurst to Lyndhurst Cycle Route which had been delayed as a result of English Natures stipulation that an Environmental Management Plan be completed and that land be given in mitigation before works began. Both these issues had been resolved and it was hoped that tenders would be sought in October 2005, with works beginning early in 2006.

Several questions were raised regarding specific schemes, in particular it was anticipated that work on Rookes Lane, Lyndhurst would commence in October once the Water Lane, Totton scheme had been completed. Several suggestions were made for potential future schemes, including the need for a review of the A337/B3058 junction in Everton.

Further discussion was had on possible improvements to bus services and related infrastructure, including the upgrading of a number of bus shelters. Following Members' comments, officers agreed to ensure that proposed real time information systems were compatible with technology on Wilts and Dorset's buses.

It was confirmed that the County Council would be using the next Local Transport Plan as a mechanism for adopting a Strategic Cycle Plan for the New Forest.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

6. UPDATE ON HIGHWAY AND MINOR WORKS PROGRAMME 2005/06

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 6 in the Minute Book) outlining progress with regard to the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance and Minor Capital Works Programmes and giving an update on the 2005/06 Highway Maintenance Budget. Officers highlighted two minor errors in appendix 2 to the report. The Walthampton Hill/Main Road, Boldre resurfacing scheme would in fact be undertaken in quarter 4 of the financial year (rather than quarter 1 as stated), and the Goose Green minor capital improvement scheme was for the widening of the road (rather than the provision of a pedestrian refuge).

The Panel were given a detailed overview of the major maintenance scheme on the A35, Holmsley. Works would shortly begin and it was anticipated that they would only cause minimal traffic disruption. Discussion focused on the closure of the A35 and the diversion of traffic onto the A337. Signing would be in place some distance from the closure (i.e. the A31) to encourage the use of appropriate alternative routes. Nevertheless significant concerns were raised that much of the traffic would divert along unsuitable B roads in the locality. It was confirmed that when closing an A road the official alternative route, where possible, had to be on another A road.

Officers appraised Members of the Highway Assessment of Maintenance Priorities system which rates each maintenance scheme submitted for consideration; those with the highest scores receive funding. Members were encouraged to report proposed maintenance schemes to the Area Highways Unit so that they could be rated and potentially enter the programme.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

7. TRAFFIC MANGEMENT PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 7 in the Minute Book) covering the main programme of traffic management work in the New Forest District area in 2005/06. One minor amendment was reported, the Sandleheath C93 Traffic Management scheme referred to in the appendix was `to be investigated' rather than being an Audit Signing and Lining scheme.

The importance of enforcing restrictions on heavy goods vehicles was emphasised. Members felt that the Traffic Management Act should give local authorities the power to enforce weight restrictions and requested that officers follow this up in more detail. It was acknowledged that there were problems in the enforcement of weight restrictions, not least in monitoring which vehicles were delivering within a restricted area and in determining which vehicles weighed more than the specified weight limit. A partial solution to these problems was to impose width rather than weight restrictions.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

8. CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the Minute Book) outlining progress on the Hampshire County Council and Hampshire and Isle of Wight Safety Camera Partnership casualty reduction programmes for 2005/06, together with road casualty reduction progress in Hampshire against Government targets. A copy of the Safety Camera Partnership's `Reducing Road Casualties' leaflet (item 1x in the minute book) was circulated.

It was noted that, while at present there were no safety schemes programmed for the A326, several options were being considered for improving the safety of the road. While safety was a key issue for A326 it had to be balanced with its capacity for vehicles and the need to keep traffic moving. In addition concerns were raised over safety on the A35 Hinton Service Station junction, where it was suggested a roundabout might be more appropriate than the present arrangements. It was noted that this junction had, several years ago, been the subject of a review which had suggested that a roundabout could not be justified, this view could be reassessed, however funding for such a large scheme would be difficult to obtain. Officers would update the Panel of the latest situation at the next meeting.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

9. TRAVEL PLAN PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in the Minutes Book) providing a progress update on the workplace and school travel planning programmes for the New Forest area as well as the Safer Routes to School programme. The Panel were informed of a number changes to the appendix which had resulted from schools attaining a higher travel plan level following the publication of the report. Specific reference was made to the parking problems at Tiptoe Primary School and the funding of works at Poulner Junior School.

RESOLVED:

That the progress made with the delivery of the Workplace and School Travel Plans and Safer Routes to School programmes in the New Forest area, together with the outcomes of the recent `InfoMotion' personalised travel planning project be noted.

10. OTHER HIGHWAY RELATED PROGRAMMES

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 10 in the Minute Book) covering a range of activities undertaken by specialist teams within the Environment Department. Members highlighted an error in appendix two to the report, the Development Off of Sycamore Drive was in District Councillors Dunsdon and Baker's Ward.

Discussion focused on the problems of accessing Lymington Hospital. It was agreed that access issues needed to be addressed before the Hospital opened and that bus services would need to be rerouted via the hospital. One suggested solution was to redirect the Milford to Lymington bus so that it circled the town, via the hospital, before reaching its terminus.

Further debate was had on the following issues:

a) The slow progress being made regarding the ownership of Holmsley Bridge.

b) While Local Highway Engineers were well informed of network issues in their areas, it was suggested that they might like to make more use of fault logs compiled by varies Parish Councils.

c) Varies schemes in Totton were highlighted, it was noted that while the regeneration of Rumbridge Street was progressing well, the other major scheme to the north of the town had met with less success.

d) Requests were made that when replacing aluminium parapets consideration be given to the character of the New Forest.

e) Issues were raised regarding the cleaning of signs, which it was confirmed was carried out under the County Council's Term Maintenance Contract.

f) Officers agreed to investigate the need for the renewal of a lamp post on Congleton Road, Milford.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted.

11. PASSENGER TRANSPORT REPORT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 11 in the minute book) detailing the position on local bus service support, describing the evolving Passenger Transport Strategy for the future and providing an update on bus contract retendering, the Lymington - Bournemouth Quality Bus Partnership and enhancements to Community Transport.

Discussion focused on the withdrawal of certain bus subsidies, during which the following salient points were raised:

a) The Panel expressed its disappointment that it had not been consulted on the County Council's decision to withdraw financial support for several bus services.

b) Questions were raised as to the criteria used in determining which services would no longer be subsidised. Several services in the New Forest were only marginally over the County Council's £2 per journey tolerance level even though the passenger counts had been undertaken outside of the peak season.

c) It was noted that investment had been allocated to improving infrastructure along several bus routes, and it was felt that this could have been more usefully used in maintaining services.

d) It was considered poor timing to cut services only six months before the renewal of contracts with bus operators, a process which would involve a review of subsidies.

e) There was a general consensus that the removal of subsidies from services would inevitably lead to fewer bus journeys at a time when both the County and District Council were trying to promote alternatives to the car. This was of particular significance in the New Forest where car parking charges had recently been increased.

f) A number of examples were given of how the withdrawal of subsidies would affect the New Forest; the village of Hordle would no longer have a service to Lymington and no service would be available for people leaving work after 6.00 p.m. travelling from Lyndhurst to Brockenhurst.

In addition officers were requested to investigate whether the Wilts and Dorset buses which used Lyndhurst's car parks serviced the village, and to report back to the Panel if they did not.

RESOLVED:

That in noting the report the Panel wishes to express its dissatisfaction that the decision to terminate certain marginal bus services in the New Forest was taken without consulting the Panel, and it calls upon the County Council to reconsider those routes with the Panel.