It certainly helps me to refocus on what are the real priorities.
I was asked to provide a 'Transport Report' to the last meeting of the full Whitchurch Town Council, and it became one of those very useful exercises. I reproduce it below.
However, I had to start with:
"Please
excuse the length but a lot has been happening."
Here it is:
Here it is:
_____________________________________________________________________
To: Whitchurch Town Council, 2nd November 2015
REPORT ON TRANSPORT MATTERS
REPORT ON TRANSPORT MATTERS
The cuts to
the 86 are very concerning with no buses from south of the town now serving the
railway station. This will encourage more driving and increase pressure on our
roads. With much housing planned for the south, this link will become much more
important. I have mentioned this informally to Stagecoach and they suggested
"perhaps a use of 106 funding might be appropriate?".
2.
SERVICE CHANGES TO 76 / 86
Much time
has been taken up in dealing with correspondence mainly from the WASPs group
(Whitchurch Against Stagecoach's Proposals) over the bus changes.
Overall
opinion I have received is mixed. While WASPS are opposed to the changes, other
residents have welcomed them.
A
meeting was attended with HCC, BDBC officers, Stagecoach, and two local resident
representatives to improve dialogue.
Stagecoach
say that bus patronage has increased by 6% since the changes and that
reliability has improved.
I
presented the results of the last Town Council Meeting, plus a series of
photographs taken in both the Town Centre and Lynch Hill Park. I have
been told (by WASPS) they are "misleading". Copies available (just ask me).
Meanwhile:
The
WASPs stated on 18th September that they were collating photographic evidence
relating to:
"near
accidents, traffic congestion at junctions and multi Highway Code
transgressions. The number of occurrences of the above events is very
frightening and causing great alarm" and that they would "compile a brief
summary to pass to Stagecoach, HCC, BDBC and Whitchurch TC"
and "
We will be discussing events with the Police imminently and asking them to make their recommendations with a view to further action."
and "
We will be discussing events with the Police imminently and asking them to make their recommendations with a view to further action."
I have
suggested they provide this summary if they believe there has been an
imbalance.
That is awaited.
Following
concerns of of a local [LHP] resident HCC carried out a 'Safety Assessment' on LHP at a cost of £500–£600. It does not show up any major problems [in my opinion]. It has been
requested that further work is needed as it was claimed it did not address the
concerns adequately, especially at the junctions.
[ I personally do not agree any further public money should be spent].
Stagecoach
are holding a consultation event in the Town Hall on 2nd December.
I have
been asked by a [LHP] resident to point out that the Town Council needs to be
consistent in decisions to maintain its credibility.
The
recent St Cross planning application was opposed citing the exit of HGV
vehicles onto Evingar Road – due to the road situation and "risk to life
to motorists and pedestrians alike".
He has
asked me to "identify to the Town Council that these conditions could
apply to Dance lane [sic], Lynch Hill Park The Town Square,
Belle Street [sic] and Basingstoke Road with the new Stagecoach bus
route".
Through
this report I am now passing that observation on.
There has
been discussion with HCC over bus stop naming. I have forwarded suggestions as
several were confusing.
For example
the stop in Lower Evingar Road is named Bell Street, and they now call the stop
by the Fire Station, Clacys – but Bell Street isn't in Evingar Road and Clacys
hasn’t been in Church Street for years – and is now in London Street.
The Prince
Regent stop on London Road is called Lynch Hill Park, while one in Lynch Hill
Park is London Road.
This shows
just how important it is for HCC to improve consulting with local people. Cllr Keith
Watts is making similar comments.
I am told
by HCC there is no money in the current for any bus stop re-naming. An idea
that perhaps a third-party could be found to provide the service of providing
bus stop flags has been made.
4. NEW
TICKETS
There is a
new bus ticket promotion - £2 for unlimited travel after 7.00pm within
Hampshire – excellent for a trip into Basingstoke.
5. TRANSPORT INFRASTRUCTURE PROJECT
The
Borough's Local Infrastructure Fund Transport Project is progressing. I have attended all 4 meetings
to date as the Town Council Representative and assisted with the brief and
tender for the first assessment stage. This has been given to Odyssey Markides
who have commenced their work.
This will
include looking at a wide range of issues, from congestion to parking in the
town with an aim of providing some suggested improvements.
I have been
in liaison with the Hampshire Travel Plan team who wish to develop more
walking, cycling and 'Park and Stride' activities, related to mitigating the
planned growth in pupil numbers at the Primary School
An exciting
development is that a local parent is wishing to instigate Whitchurch being a
pilot for a 'cycling crocodile', in conjunction with an innovative
transport/travel organisation based in Bristol. This is ongoing.
The draft
Basingstoke Cycling Strategy appeared last Thursday.
Despite it
being a Borough Strategy there is little outside the town of Basingstoke with
only fleeting references to links with surrounding areas.
After this
had been pointed out a revised version was issued on Friday. This been amended
slightly to refer briefly to Whitchurch with an addition that Neighbourhood
Plans could be used outside of Basingstoke. That seems to conflict with the
original Borough-wide approach.
I propose
that Whitchurch Town Council make a detailed response – the deadline is 11th December.
To this end
I propose a single working meeting, a call in for public comment and a report
to full Council for approval in early December. [NB: this proposal this was approved]
A report on
a meeting I attended (Basingstoke District Association of Parish and Town Councils) was given to last week’s Development Committee.
There is a
resident who wishes to see Speedwatch progress and has said he wishes to address the
Town Council. I have suggested he contact the Clerk to arrange this.
Trains – no
news, although it is noted that sometimes trains miss out Whitchurch if running
late. This does not go down well with commuters who are left on the platform
and see their train whoosh past.
____________________________
And thus ended my report.
It can be interesting being on the Council.
And since I wrote the above my inbox is has started to fill again.
And thus ended my report.
It can be interesting being on the Council.
And since I wrote the above my inbox is has started to fill again.
