Presentation on the Local Transport Plan (LTP3) showing the context of the current strategy, and setting out the practical implications for the City.
Minutes:
The Chairman introduced Councillor Richard Gamble, Portfolio Holder for Public Transport and Allan Creedy, Head of Sustainable Transport.
Councillor Gamble explained that the Local Transport Plan 3 (LTP3) set out the Council’s approach to transport planning and had been adopted in early 2011.
Most bus services in Salisbury were commercial, with a few subsidised services on Sundays and in evenings. These had been reviewed and retendered in 2011 as part of the LTP3. The Council was also working towards entering into a Quality Bus Partnership with Wilts & Dorset, Stagecoach, and Hatts, as part of an initiative instigated by the Salisbury Vision. This special arrangement would facilitate the delivery of real benefits for Salisbury bus users, including improvements to routes, network marketing, and multi-operator tickets. The engagement with the Bus Operators achieved through the partnership was already delivering positive benefits for the city.
Work was also on-going with Wilts & Dorset towards a bid for government “Better Bus Area” funding. This would also draw in additional investment from the company, and could lead to a number of improvements, including upgrading and extending the realtime information service, removal of hazards, improvements to waiting facilities at the bus station, and new buses. (Note: Subsequent to the meeting, Councillor Gamble confirmed that this bid had been successful, with nearly £385,000 being awarded, and a further £1 million investment proposed by Wilts and Dorset).
The realtime passenger information service had been in place for a while, with bus stops showing expected times of buses. However, the accuracy of this had been improved over the past year, with GPRS mobile phone technology being used in place of radio signals.
Another recent development was the Harnham Bus Lane, which had reduced bus journey times in from the Britford Park and Ride. The Park and Ride service itself had seen use grow, now resulting in 1100 cars per day taken off roads in the city centre.
An ambition for the future was to develop a bus/rail interchange, possibly by improving access from the North side of the railway station. Another future project would be to develop cycle hire schemes for the city.
Allan Creedy explained that the LTP3 had been developed in a similar way to the Core Strategy, with future projections based on evidence and a central policy document supported by separate, daughter documents. In total the plan was responsible for around £17 million of annual capital spending in 2011/12 with around £14.5 million spent on structural maintenance, and £2.5 million invested in integrated transport improvements.
In relation to Salisbury, a range of options had been considered to deliver growth in sustainable transport for the city. The proposed package of improvements sought to providing promote and support sustainable transport, with economy and environment as the drivers.
It was noted that the economic situation had a huge impact on transport schemes, with the ambitious projects of 10 years ago being scaled down and/or delivered through other mechanisms. The Government had also proposed a new funding model whereby funding would be delegated to Local Economical Partnerships (LEPs). For Salisbury, this would be the Wiltshire and Swindon LEP.
The Chairman thanked Councillor Gamble and Allan for the presentation, and invited questions and comments:
· In response to a comment regarding opening a new railway station at the former UKLF site, Councillor Gamble reported that this was still on the list of proposed new stations, although was a lower priority that other sites, especially towns where there was currently no station (Devizes, Royal Wootton Bassett, and Corsham).
· In relation to extending bus services to Five Rivers Leisure Centre, Councillor Gamble commented that this diversion was not commercial for operators, but that other options would be considered, particularly in view of the proposed community campus at the site.
· The suggestion was raised of relocating the bus station to nearer the railway station, Vicky Williams of Wilts & Dorset buses commented that this was one of several options being considered and that suggestions were welcomed.
· It was noted that there remained barriers of access for disabled people using public transport. Although the majority of buses were wheelchair friendly, wheelchair users were often reliant on the drivers to interpret the rules in terms of number of wheelchairs, use of the wheelchair/buggy space, and to ask other bus users to move if necessary. Vicky reported that all buses would have wheelchair access by 2016, and that signage was being reviewed to clarify the preference for use of the space by wheelchair users. Wilts & Dorset was also mindful of not putting its drivers in conflict situations, as not all customers were reasonable when asked to move their belongings. It was suggested that a dialogue between wheelchair user groups and mums & toddler groups might help address this.
· The LTP3 supported the principle of promoting powered bikes as an alternative to cars. Ones of the ideas to improve the railway station would be to provide more secure motorbike and moped storage, possibly on the North side of the station.
· In relation to a question on the A36 Wilton roundabout, Allan commented that the site was primarily the concern of the Highways Agency, but that this was being considered. It was also anticipated that the UKLF site redevelopment would have little net change in terms of traffic generated.
· It was requested that the realtime bus information system could be extended to Fugglestone Red and to West Harnham. Councillor Gamble undertook to provide a note on this.
· Responding to concern over vehicular access to the former Imreys Quarry site, David Milton noted that work was on-going with the Highways Agency on this. It was possible that an alternative access could be provided.
· In response to a question on the timescale for projects in LTP3, Allan explained that delivery of many projects would depend on growth and the timing of new developments.
· In relation to the possibility of dualling the A36, it was noted that this was a Highways Agency issue. It was also noted that it was more likely that smaller projects would be undertaken to improve individual junctions.
Following discussion, a motion was moved and seconded requiring officers to produce a timetable for the remaining minimum LTP3 documents to be produced. It was noted that the officers had given an undertaking for the documents to be available by the end of the summer 2012. Upon being put to the vote, the motion was LOST.