Archived decisions

Contact: Geoff Topps, ext 7959 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the Hedge End Transportation Package, at a cost of £850,000 to be externally funded by the Department of Communities and Local Government's New Growth Point Bid, be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 The proposed measures within the package are intended to ease traffic growth locally by making public transport more attractive to both existing local residents and those arriving in the near future associated with new developments around Hedge End. The associated improved accessibility and travel options will maximise well-being and the promotion of more sustainable transport and development will enhance quality of place.

2.2 Studies of the Hedge End area have identified various potential schemes to help manage local traffic growth by improving bus reliability and increase bus use. The Botley Road Bus Link (`the Bus Link') was identified as an important and unique opportunity to utilise an abandoned stretch of highway to improve bus access between the south of Hedge End and Southampton, and avoid the congestion at the Windhover junction.

2.3 Hampshire County Council developed the Bus Link in partnership with Eastleigh Borough Council, Southampton City Council and the bus operators. Whilst the Bus Link was not on the route of the busiest services between Hedge End and Southampton, one commercial bus operator indicated that it was keen to be involved with such a landmark feature for bus services. The development of the Bus Link progressed and it attained sufficient priority to be entered into the County Council's 2008/09 transportation capital programme. The key to the Bus Link's viability was the partnership provision, with the County Council providing capital investment in infrastructure and the bus operator providing complementary investment in vehicles and service.

2.4 In 2006 a new funding opportunity became available when the Department for Communities and Local Government (DCLG) offered a fund for infrastructure projects to promote the development of New Growth Points. Through the Partnership for Urban South Hampshire (`PUSH') a bid was submitted for the Botley Road Bus Link which was approved for 2007/08 (saving County Council capital programme funding). However, at around the same time, the bus operator which had been involved in the development of the Bus Link was taken over, and the new operator was unwilling to provide a service through the proposed Bus Link without support from the public purse. The County Council sought competitive tenders from operators for a service that would use the Bus Link, but this course of action made the project too expensive for the budget available and exposed the County Council to indefinite revenue support for the operator's service. Therefore construction of the Bus Link has been deferred until a solution can be agreed. Once the proposed Strategic Development Area is under development, future ridership and the viability of this route will change. Detailed access to the proposed Strategic Development Area is still being studied and this work may well influence the preferred route, funding priorities and sources. The South Hampshire Strategy anticipates construction of the Strategic Development Area and its infrastructure starting in 2016.

2.5 The terms of the New Growth Point funding do not allow it to be rolled over to another year. The County Council, in partnership with Eastleigh Borough and Southampton City Councils, prepared a substitute bid for a package of transportation improvements in Hedge End. This package has now been approved by the DCLG, without which the funding would be withdrawn and potentially allocated to an alternative growth point, elsewhere in the country.

2.6 Notwithstanding the local Member's concerns, it would be unjustifiable to proceed with construction of the Botley Road Bus Link in the absence of a firm commitment by the bus operator to make use of the facility once built, on an appropriate financial basis. It is therefore considered that more benefit will be obtained for the current residents of Hedge End by the alternative package of measures now proposed.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 To `do nothing' would miss this funding opportunity to improve bus service operations in an area likely to experience increased congestion.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor M J Kendal

Executive Member for Environment

1468Dcn/GT