Agenda item

Declaration of Interest

Cllr Desna Allen declared a personal interest in this item by virtue of being Treasurer to the Chippenham and District Transport for the Disabled Society which was partially funded by the Council by way of grant aid.

Public Participation

Verbal representations were made by the following members of the public:

Mrs Margaret Taylor              Devizes Town Council

  and written statement as circulated

Mr Rob Perks                         Chippenham Chamber of Trade

Mrs Margaret Willmot           COGS (Cycling Opportunities Group, Salisbury)

Written statement presented by Cllr Chris Cochrane

As referred to earlier in the meeting (minute No. 82 refers), the Chairman reported receipt of the following petitions received for presentation to this meeting:

Petition – Car Parking – Devizes

The Chairman reported receipt of a petition organised by the Devizes Guardians and the Devizes Chambers of Commerce. The petition presented by Cllr Nigel Carter with 4657 signatures called on the Council to retain the one hour limit for free parking in Devizes Market Place

Petition – Car Parking – Marlborough

The Chairman reported receipt of a petition submitted by Cllr Peggy Dow on behalf of the Marlborough Chamber of Commerce. The petition with 71 signatures called on the Council to lower the parking charges for Marlborough to the level defined in the New Strategy and for Hillier’s Yard and Polly Garden car parks to be redesignated as short stay car parks with a maximum stay of three hours.

Petition – Car Parking - Bradford on Avon

The Chairman reported receipt of a petition organised by the Bradford-on-Avon Chambers of Commerce. The petition with approximately 1600 signatures objected to the removal of free car parking in St Margaret’s car park and to levy only reasonable charges on other town parking.

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The Chairman drew Council’s attention to the following previously circulated documents:

• report of the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise meeting held on 25 January 2011 together with a schedule of recommendations. Cllr Peter Doyle, lead member on the Rapid Scrutiny Exercise confirmed that all of the recommendations had been accepted by Cllr Tonge.
• Question from Cllr Peggy Dow in respect of parking charges in Marlborough together with the response from Cllr Dick Tonge, Cabinet member for Highways and Transport.

At the start of this item, Councillor Dick Tonge drew Council’s attention to the related Traffic Regulations Orders, the consultation on which had expired on 21 February 2011. Cllr Tonge referred to the consultation feedback and responded to the main comments and objections received.

Cllr Tonge presented the proposed Wiltshire Local Transport Plan 2011 – 2026 (LTP) for adoption by Council. The document was previously considered by Cabinet at its meeting on 15 February 2011 when it resolved to recommend adoption of the LTP by Council.

Cllr Tonge explained that the Local Transport Plan (LTP) was a statutory document, of which an updated version (LTP3) had to be published by 31 March 2011. The scale and scope of the LTP3 was reduced in light of ongoing planning and funding uncertainties. Once clarity was restored, the remaining elements of the LTP3 were planned to be developed during 2011/12.

The LTP3 was currently made up of the following elements:

• Strategy
• Implementation Plan
• Freight Strategy
• Public Transport Strategy
• Road Safety Strategy
• Car Parking Strategy (as approved by Cabinet at its meeting on 14 December 2010).

Cllr Tonge gave a brief synopsis of each of the above strategies and Cllr Richard Gamble provided further detail in respect of the Public Transport Strategy including the proposed transrail link.

The Chairman opened the debate starting with Group Leaders before opening the debate to other members. 

Cllr Nigel Carter proposed the following amendment seconded by Cllr Jane Burton:

‘To maintain the one hour limit for free parking in Devizes Market Place  and to delete reference to ticket machines and for there to be no street furniture in Market Square.’

On being put to the vote, the amendment was LOST.

Cllr Tonge responded to the points raised during debate.

Resolved:

That Council:

(i)            adopts the Wiltshire Local Transport Plan (LTP3) 2011 – 2026 as presented;

(ii)          notes that further LTP3 theme strategies and area strategies, and an implementation plan for 2012/13 – 2014/15 are planned to be developed in 2011/12 and

(iii)         delegates authority to the Corporate Director for Neighbourhood and Planning in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport to finalise the document for publication by 31 March 2011.