Agenda item

Cabinet Representative, Councillor Dick Tonge, will talk about his responsibilities for transport and highways, and respond to any questions.  Councillor Tonge will also update on the following (details attached):

a.    Local Transport Plan

b.    Parking Strategy Consultation

c.    Part Night Lighting Scheme.

Councillor Dick Tonge gave an overview of his portfolio that included responsibilities for the following:

·           highways maintenance

·           new roads

·           pedestrian crossings

·           road safety

·           public transport

·           car parks and charges

·           amenities.

He introduced Adrian Hampton, Head of Local Highways and Streetscene, with whom he worked alongside with Parvis Khansari.  Councillor Tonge pointed out that highways work was statutory and that subsidised services would have to be considered in the light of the government’s spending cuts.

a.    Local Transport Plan – approximately £18,000 had been allocated to the Chippenham community area to be spent through the area board on smaller highways issues.  An invitation was made to set up a Community Area Transport Group with a panel of parish and unitary councillors and was to be co-ordinated by the Chairman and Community Area Manager.

b.    Parking Strategy Consultation – the consultation had been launched via the council’s website and was also available through the libraries.  The consultation considered the following:

·           harmonization of the four district councils car parks

·           the size new car parks

·           parking requirements in housing developments

·           charging

·           retail parking.

The implementation date would be 1 April 2011.

c.    Part Night Lighting - £5000 had been allocated to each area board to run a project to turn off or dim lights at night.  The area board would identify up to 100 lights to save energy, reduce light pollution and reduce the carbon footprint.  Those interested in the project to contact the Community Area Manager.

The following questions were raised regarding transport and highways:

Traffic in Chippenham was an important to the economy of the town.  The traffic model would identify some quick wins.

Safety measures around schools were on-going.  Schools were to be encouraged to have robust travel plans to which they adhered.

Issues were raised concerning safety and reduced lighting – Sergeant George pointed out that there was no direct link between lighting and crime.

Free out-of-town parking at retail centres reduced shopping in the town centre.

Councillor Tonge responded to a written question received from Councillor Maurice Dixson on the subject of overly large buses travelling along minor roads in the rural areas as follows:

Service 91 was currently operated by low floor buses with 38/39 seats as this was the size of vehicle required at peak times to ensure that every passenger had a seat.  The vehicles previously used were fitted with 33 seats but this was found to be insufficient to cater for all the school/college students using the service.  The previous vehicles were also unable to cater for passengers in wheelchairs.

Whilst off-peak journeys did not require as many seats, the bus company that currently held the contract for this service did not own any smaller vehicles which were wheelchair accessible and if we required them to purchase extra vehicles to use at these times, there would be an additional cost that the Council could not afford.

The current contract for this route was expected to expire in March 2016 at which point the possibility of using smaller vehicles would be re-examined.

This was an increasing problem as the deadline for all buses to be DDA compliant was 2015; wheelchair accessible buses tended to be larger than high-floor buses with the same seating capacity and demand at school times meant that if a smaller bus was used, an extra vehicle (and driver) would be needed to ensure that everyone had a seat, with obvious cost implications.

The Chairman thanked Councillor Tonge for his presentation.