Archived decisions

SOUTH WINCHESTER PARK AND RIDE

1. On 9 April 2008 the Executive Member for Policy and Resources considered and approved a new park and ride scheme targeted at commuters travelling from south Hampshire. The South Winchester Park and Ride scheme is a key element of the strategy to reduce peak commuter traffic congestion.

2. In the region of 15,000 cars commute into Hampshire every day, around 60% of which come from Southampton and the south east Hampshire area. As well as the congestion that this causes, air quality is also affected. The new park and ride facility will be situated near to junction 11 of the M3 on the Itchen Farm site (also known locally as the Tarmac site). An extensive public consultation exercise has been undertaken, the outcome of which had a direct bearing on the final choice of site. The new facility will provide an additional 864 parking spaces and has the potential to reduce the in-bound rush hour traffic flows on the Romsey Road and St Cross Road corridors by 12%, which is comparable to the decrease in traffic flows experienced during schools' summer holiday period. Staff working for some of the major employers along Romsey Road such as those from the Royal Hampshire County Hospital, the University of Winchester and Hampshire County Council will be well served by this new facility and associated park and ride bus service.

3. In approving the scheme, the Executive Member considered supporting information confirming that bus priority measures had been studied to ensure that a reliable service can be provided to and from the city centre and the proposal to widen some of the approaches to the Bushfield roundabout to ease peak time congestion and subsequent delays. He also welcomed the high level of landscaping planned to reduce the visual impact of the scheme - a `green roof' with low-level planting will help blend the amenity building into the surrounding area. Flowering plants and wildflowers will also be used to encourage insects and butterflies, with nesting, foraging and hibernation areas for other native wildlife.

4. Archaeological investigations will take place over this summer and the scheme will be put out to tender towards the end of the year. Construction work is programmed to start in spring 2009 with a view to the facility being open for business in summer 2010.

T. K. THORNBER, C.B.E.,
Leader.