AT A MEETING of the SOLENT TRANSPORT STRATEGY PANEL held on Thursday 12 October 2005 in the Council Chamber, Hampshire County Council Offices, The Castle, Winchester.

PRESENT:

Hampshire County Council

Chairman:

p Councillor T.G. Knight

Councillors:

p A.G. Dowden p G.M. Hockley

p Councillor Colin Davidovitz p Roger H. Price, JP

p P. R. Edgar a D.F. Wright, JP

East Hampshire District Council

Councillors:

p J.M. Ashton Mrs D.K. Denston

Eastleigh Borough Council

Councillors:

p D.J. Airey p K. House

p G.G. Olson C. Thomas

Fareham Borough Council

Councillors:

p J.V. Bryant p A. Mandry

p P.J. Davies p D. Swanbrow

Gosport Borough Council

Councillors:

p Mrs I.E. Binfield D.G. Smith

p P.C. Langdon p B. Taylor

Havant Borough Council

Councillors:

a Bolton Ms. T. Pearce

p D.M. Farrow N.J. Tarrant.

New Forest District Council

Councillors:

p F.R. Harrison p R.J. Neath.

Test Valley Borough Council

Councillors:

p J.T. Hall p C. Lewis

Winchester City Council

Councillor:

p P. Clohosey

Also in attendance

County Councillors Perry and Dunsdon

12. APOLOGIES

Apologies were received from County Councillor Wright who unable to attend due to commitments as a Magistrate.

13. DECLARATIONS OF INTERESTS

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.

14. MINUTES

The Minutes of the meeting held on 2 June 2005 were confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Arising thereon:

Possible 2006/07 Programme (item 9)

It was highlighted that a scheme in Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford had been suggested by Eastleigh Borough Council for consideration for the area strategy programme.

15. CHAIRMAN'S COMMUNICATIONS

There were no Chairman's communications

16. DEPUTATIONS

There were no deputations.

17. LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 5 in the Minute Book) providing an update on the development of the full Local Transport Plan (LTP). Members were informed that, contrary to information contained within paragraph 6.1 of the report, the LTP Workshop would not be held on 8 December, Members would be informed an alternative date in due course.

It was confirmed that as an overarching transport policy document the LTP would take a strategic view and incorporate details of future infrastructure needs, taking into account the requirements of the South East Plan and the views of the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire and the South East England Regional Assembly. There was agreement that significant investment would be needed in infrastructure in order to accommodate anticipated growth rates and while the LTP only included one `major scheme' (Light Rapid Transit) others would be submitted to the Government as and when they were ready.

Further discussion was had on the Government's LTP funding formula and on the process by which a major scheme bid attained funding.

RESOLVED:


That the timetable and details for the development of the full Local Transport Plan be noted.

18. CAPITAL PROGRAMME AND SCHEME ASSESSMENT

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 6 in the Minute Book) discussing the five year transport capital programme put forward in the County Council's provisional Local Transport Plan and proposing a way forward to finalising the 2006/07 Capital Programme. It was stressed that those schemes listed in appendix three to the report where the priorities suggested to the County Council by the respective District and Borough Councils and not a finalised programme.

Concerns were raised regarding a number of schemes which had either been delayed, or were not programmed or included in the list of priorities. These included the Flexford Cycle Bridge, Winchester Road, Chandlers Ford, the regeneration of Totton Town Centre, Lee-on-Solent Sustainable Suburbs and the accessibility improvements for Whitley. There was a general consensus that, although the Government had not yet given it's decision on the Light Rapid Transit major scheme bid, the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel should meet again in the near future as there were a number of issues to be discussed.

RESOLVED:

a) That the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be advised of the Panel's agreement with the spending plan, provisional Capital Programme for 2006/07 and the local priorities identified for the next five years (subject to those issues mentioned above).

b) That a meeting of the Gosport Peninsula Access Panel be convened as soon as possible.

19. THE PROVISIONAL LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2006-2011: AREA STRATEGIES AND ACCESSIBILITY

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 7 in the Minute Book) including those sections of the provisional Local Transport Plan relating specifically to the Solent Strategy Area and outlining how work on accessibility initiatives and improvements will be progressed in Hampshire over the Local Transport Plan Two period.

In the ensuing discussion the following issues arose:

a) the significance of reducing sign clutter in the New Forest, including the removal of redundant signposts;

b) continuing problems of access to the Queen Alexandra hospital;

c) the strategic importance of Fareham rail station interchange, and its redevelopment;

d) accessibility, including to North Baddesley, Totton and the South Downs National Park;

e) the need to adequately fund public transport (including waterborne and community transport and travel information at interchanges) as an alternative choice to the car, and to ensure that it creates a fully integrated network;

f) infrastructure requirements necessary for the continuing expansion of air transport, including the Chickenhall Link Road, and the need to take a precautionary approach to such expansion;

g) progress made with the Hamble Area Transport Strategy;

h) the need to review the town centre plans for Romsey before proceeding with further major improvements;

i) the general costs of guided buses;

j) the extension of the Solent Travel Card to trains;

k) the continuing frustration at the lack of decision from central Government on the Portsmouth/Gosport/Fareham LRT.

RESOLVED:

a. That the report be noted.

b. That the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be advised of the Panel's views (as listed above) on the Solent area strategy sections of the Local Transport Plan and further accessibility and sign clutter pilots.

20. SOLENT TRANSPORT STRATEGY UPDATE

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 8 in the Minute Book) giving an update on recent decisions impacting on the Solent strategy area. Discussion focused on proposed development adjacent to the Quay Street Roundabout, Fareham.

RESOLVED:

That the report be noted and that the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be advised of the views of the Panel.

21. DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTION - CHILWORTH

The Panel considered the report of the Director of Environment (item 9 in the Minute Book) outlining two proposals for the use of developer contributions in the Chilworth area.

A brief summary of the merits of each of the two schemes was received and discussed. It was noted that £30,000 of developer contributions had already been spent on the proposed Chilworth to Southampton cycleway scheme. Should the more expensive Chilworth to North Baddesley scheme be progressed (at the expense of the Chilworth/Southampton Route) it may be several years before it could be implemented. Members were also informed of Southampton City Council's support for the Chilworth/Southampton route as the priority scheme, and their belief that it would be well used.

While it was agreed that a cycle way to Southampton would be beneficial, a number of Members were of the opinion that as the Chilworth to North Baddesley cycleway was the preference of the local community it was more likely to be well used.

A district council officer commented that whichever scheme was chosen it would need to meet each of the five planning obligations regulating the use of developer contributions.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be informed of the Panels views.

22. DEVELOPER CONTRIBUTIONS - FAWLEY

To consider the report of the Director of Environment (item 10 in the Minute Book) outlining two proposals for the use of developer contributions in the Fawley area.

Members discussed the merits of both proposals and heard the views of the local Member. It was reported that local residents were in favour of a cycleway along side Fawley Road, and that an unofficial rural route, which was likely to become a bridleway, already existed between Hardley and Hythe negating the need for a further cycle path to be provided in that area.

However at a recent New Forest District Council meeting on LTP priorities, which involved an number of stakeholders including Members of Fawley Parish Council, the Hythe to Hardley cycleway had been agreed as a `medium' priority, while the scheme along Fawley Road had not been suggested. In addition, unlike the Hardley Scheme, the Fawley Road cycleway did not appear on the New Forest Strategic Cycle network.

RESOLVED:

That the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be informed of the Panels views.