Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Hague, tel 01256 776136 email:[email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out the key points to be incorporated in a formal response to the West Berkshire's Draft Freight Route Strategy. Approval of this recommendation will protect local communities from environmental impact and excessive use of non-strategic routes for freight traffic and ensure that safety concerns are not compromised.

2. Recommendation

2.1 That approval be given for a formal response to be made to West Berkshire's Freight Route Strategy based on the primary points of concern set out in paragraph 3.4 of this report.

3. Background

3.1 West Berkshire Council published a Freight Route Strategy as part of its 2006 Local Transport Plan 2 submission. The Strategy will create a freight routeing plan for West Berkshire which encourages commercial operators and their customers to develop sustainable distribution practices to minimise use and environmental impact. The strategy has also encompassed a re-assessment of the Heavy Commercial Vehicle (HCV) restrictions at present in place in West Berkshire. The proposals are shown on the attached plan. The preferred freight routeing is being established with stakeholders especially in neighbouring authorities, and a consultation exercise is currently in progress. Hampshire County Council will be submitting its response by the deadline of 14 September 2007.

3.2 Officer attendance at a meeting initiated by West Berkshire Council on 1 May 2007 made contributions to the current Draft Plan prepared by West Berkshire in association with its consultant Peter Brett Associates. Preliminary concerns were raised verbally regarding the sensitive area of the Hampshire border region and, in particular, routeing of vehicles on the B4640, Newtown Straight and the A339.

3.3 No change was made to the West Berkshire Draft Freight Route Plan in the updated version of 6 July 2007 to reflect Hampshire County Council's concerns. This plan was issued with the current consultation document which requires response by 14 September 2007. Further comment was made to West Berkshire Council on 10 August 2007 following concerns raised with the local MP, Sir George Young, by the local Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Member for Burghclere, Councillor James Lewin. It is proposed to include these concerns in Hampshire County Council's formal response to the consultation.

3.4 It is therefore proposed that the response to the Draft Freight Plan should be based on the following key points:

(i) The recent publication of the South East Plan Examination in Public Panel report and its significant implications for additional residential development, including the proposed South Reading Strategic Development Area, and review of the provision of employment land in West Berkshire should now be fully assessed before the Freight Route Plan is finalised, as these proposals will have a significant impact on future traffic levels and patterns in the area. The County Council therefore believes that finalisation of the Freight Plan should be deferred pending this review.

(ii) If the plan is progressed further at this juncture however it is essential that West Berkshire has a full understanding of the following detailed concerns. The safety and community impact issues associated with anticipated HCV activity generated from significant development within the West Berkshire border area must be reflected in the routeing on the Draft Plan, particularly in respect of the B4640/A339.

(iii) To ensure that sufficient funding is secured from commercial developments in the south-west of the West Berkshire area, and made available to fund the required highway improvements in Hampshire and West Berkshire to mitigate the effects upon the B4640/A339 and the surrounding communities.

(iv) That the proposals for revised advisory and directional routeing signs for traffic on the A34 and the M3 is reflected in the Draft Plan. This will help to ensure that commercial operators, in particular, are aware of the signing changes that have been requested by the Cross Border Working Group and confirmed in the Chairman's letter of 17 July 2007 to the Highways Agency.

(v) That the Draft Plan be extended south to depict the full strategic route (A34/A303/M3) as the present implication is that the A339 alone provides access to the M3 junction 6 at Basingstoke. The A34 should also be shown forming junctions with the A303 east/west direction, Basingstoke-Andover at Bullington Cross and south to Winchester M3 junction 9 with destinations including the major south coast ports of Southampton and Portsmouth which provide important HCV continental links.

(vi) In view of the strategic destinations for HCV through traffic in West Berkshire, consideration should be given to provide a wider freight routeing to include adjacent highway authorities in a Sub-Regional Plan, which should be developed in parallel with the West Berkshire proposals, and prepared in collaboration with the sub regional partner highway authorities. Hampshire County Council would be willing to participate in this exercise, which could also reflect the emerging South East Plan proposals following publication of the Examination in Public Panel Report on 29 August.

4. Impact Assessments

4.1 Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in this response but no adverse impact has been identified in terms of race, creed or gender.

5. Conclusion

5.1 It is vital to the well-being of local communities within Hampshire to mitigate the effects of unwarranted HCV activity on the non-strategic road network and to ensure that West Berkshire Council is aware of, and acts upon, Hampshire County Council's primary points of concern to the draft West Berkshire Freight Route Strategy.

1471Rpt/RH