Agenda item

Martin Aldam (Senior Transport Planner, Wiltshire Council) and Sean Finney (Mott McDonald) presented the emerging Trowbridge Transport Strategy, asking the Board to consider its adoption as a supporting document to the Wiltshire Core Strategy.

It was stated that the emerging strategy had been designed to meet the needs of Trowbridge as it developed, including addressing the pressures on the road network increasing from the planned 6000 new homes laid out in the Core Strategy for the town and surrounding area, using technical projections through the application of a traffic model up to 2026 from a 2009 base level. The strategy had been the subject of three separate consultation exercises with local stakeholders throughout its development. 

Two committed schemes already at the planning stage, the Hilperton relief road and South-East Trowbridge relief road, were noted, and details were provided on proposed schemes for West Ashton and Yarnbrook. The total cost of the infrastructure investment and revenue costs was estimated at £16.3 millions over 10 years, to be funded through developer contributions, Community Infrastructure Levy, Local Transport Plans and other sources.

It was acknowledged by the officers that the strategy aimed to reduce delays across the entire network, including on the A350, so that by 2026, despite increased traffic, delays would be no worse than at present.  This could be achieved by highway improvements and by encouraging walking, cycling and passenger transport, although they stated that modelling work demonstrated that the strategy would be less successful at tackling delays at the signalised bridge at Staverton on the B3105. However, officers concluded that the strategy as a whole was seen as balanced, affordable and deliverable.

The emerging strategy was then discussed in detail. The suitability of the Hilperton and Yarnbrook schemes was raised, along with issues in Trowbridge relating to lorry use, ease of cycling, the poor state of pavements for walking and lack of consideration for mobility units. Some Board members raised concerns about whether the funds required would be able to be raised as planned, and whether the emerging strategy appropriately addressed issues which had been raised during the Core Strategy consultation which it had been stated the transport strategy would address.

The local member for Staverton and Holt, also requested that the strategy be sent to Bradford-on-Avon Area Board and Staverton Parish Council given the Trowbridge strategy would directly impact on those areas.

In response to queries about the predicted delays on the B3105 at Staverton, officers clarified that the modelling work for the strategy presented the worst case scenario only and claimed that in reality many users would likely react to the increased delay by rerouting and changing their journey times. 

A scheme involving signal changes and one-way northbound on the B3106 was outlined. Whilst this proposal reduced delays it was acknowledged that delays are likely to be higher in 2026 than at present, and that the scheme had not yet gone out to full consultation.  

Decision

That the Area Board thank officers for their work on the Trowbridge Transport Strategy and note the report, but that the Chairman should draft a response to refer the draft back to officers and the Cabinet Member with the following comments on improving the strategy:

1)    Improved facility for mobility unit users;

2)    Improved cyclist strategy;

3)    Improved strategy on how to prevent lorries using the town as a through-route;

4)    That the draft strategy be considered by Bradford-on-Avon Area Board and Staverton Parish Council, as affected areas.