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West Wiltshire District Council
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Trowbridge
Wiltshire
BA14
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Transport Strategy
Transport Strategy 2001-2006
Background
Introduction
Walking
Cycling
Community Transport
Railways
Buses
Taxis and private hire vehicles
Roads
"Green" transport plans and parking
Background
The Council has had a Transport Strategy since 1992.
This Strategy now needs revision in the light of new policy directions and organisations.
While the previous strategy recognised the importance of public transport the need to decrease the potential for pollution and congestion and increase the sustainability of our transport system has assumed a higher profile. This will improve the quality of life for all those who work or live within the District.
The Government has set out its priorities in its 1998 White Paper "A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone". A new system for distributing finance to local highway authorities has been devised through Local Transport Plans (LTP). This has resulted in a very large increase in capital resources available for infrastructure such as road maintenance, limited road improvements to ease congested areas and designated funding for integrated transport, i.e. to encourage travel modes other than the private car.
The scale of this work will require the co-operation of all public authorities in consultation with stakeholders in business urban residential and rural areas. It is clear that West Wiltshire District Council has an important part to play in delivering the Local Transport Plan. This Strategy will ensure that the Council does so in a way that maximises the benefits to all stakeholders.
Additional funding is available through the Countryside Agency and, in the part of the District within the Rural Priority Area, the Wiltshire Rural Development Partnership. The Countryside Agency together with the District Councils, the County Council, Primary Care Trusts, and representatives of the voluntary sector involved in transport form the Wiltshire Rural Transport Partnership (WRTP). This Partnership aims to assist the community to resolve its own transport problems through voluntary action, and provides revenue funding for a variety of projects large and small. This funding is time limited for four years although the limit has already been extended once.
It is a fundamental requirement for the success of the strategy that it integrates all the activities and policies of the Council. Only a fully integrated strategy will have credibility with our partners and government.
Introduction
Transport has a major affect on everybody. We spend a lot of time and money travelling to and from work, shops, schools, and for pleasure. We want these journeys to be quick, convenient, comfortable, and low cost. For many this has meant the use of private cars, but the problems of pollution , noise, congestion and social degradation associated with car use have grown. From 1991 census information 21.7% of our residents do not have access to a car. Our People’s Voice survey shows that the thing most valued by residents is our environment and the thing most disliked is the amount of road traffic, - too much, too fast. By this, of course, they usually mean other people’s vehicle use.
Good transport arrangements are necessary for the achievement of the Council’s objectives. They benefit residents and the economic regeneration of the area attracting and retaining inward investment. They are also necessary to promote leisure and tourism.
While the Council cannot act alone to provide services or significant infrastructure it can act in partnership with the County Council and neighbouring authorities, and the commercial and voluntary sectors to provide them through a series of co-ordinated policies. This is the reason for preparing a transport strategy.
The Council’s objectives to which this strategy will contribute are:
- Improved access: to enable everybody to be able to enjoy all available services and facilities
- Environmental vigilance: to maintain and enhance the quality of our environment.
- Safe, active and healthy communities: to seek community based solutions to community transport problems, and solutions, which do not prejudice the health but enhance the healthcare of those communities.
- Economic regeneration: to seek transport arrangements that will provide for the sustainable long-term prosperity for the District.
The strategy must operate within the boundaries of County Council’s Local Transport Plan and statutory development plans. It has been developed by the Environmental Working Group.
The majority of residents live in towns but central government considers settlements of less than 25,000 and their hinterlands being rural for transport purposes and eligible for rural transport funding chiefly to support bus services This only excludes Trowbridge. The Local Transport Plan allocates around 90% of the resources available for integrated transport are likely to be spent within the five towns.
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
The strategy must be realistic, only adopting targets and activities that are within the District Council’s control or with resources provided by others. The Council’s own resources available for transport are always likely to be very limited and should be directed to trying to plug gaps where resources cannot be provided by others.Proposed Policy:
The Council will provide and target resources to obtain the maximum benefit from them taking into account the results of consultation in the preparation of this Strategy.Main Transport Issues:
The major external influence will be the County Council’s Local Transport Plan as approved and funded by central government. The District Council has a major ability to influence implementation of the plan.Proposed Policy:
The Council confirms its support for the broad thrust of the Local Transport Plan and will work in partnership with the County Council to implement it.Main Transport Issues:
Early travel habits can be formed by journeys to school. School travel surveys show support for walking and cycling to school by children. It appears that opposition comes from parents who consider it dangerous.Proposed Policy:
The Council confirms its support for Taking Action on School Journeys to provide safe routes to schools.Walking
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
Walking is the most sustainable form of transport and forms part of nearly all journeys. It has important health benefits and can be undertaken by all ages. It is also the slowest so walking distances are important. The particular needs of disabled people must also be included. There is supplementary guidance in the District Plan and Building Regulation requirements.Proposed Policy:
The Council recognises the health and environmental benefits of walking and will ensure that developments provide direct pedestrian connections to shops, services and residential areas wherever practicable. A walking to Health programme will commence in 2001/2.Main Transport Issues:
The Council recognises the particular importance of pedestrian priority areas including those in the District Plan within town centres, providing pleasant areas which encourage the establishment and maintenance of thriving retail and service businesses. The quality of materials and standard of maintenance are important for safety and attracting business to our towns.Proposed Policy:
The Council will support the creation and extension of pedestrian areas or measures to improve pedestrian movement in town centres and across major roads.Main Transport Issues:
Footpaths are an important feature encouraging walking both for everyday purposes and leisure particularly in the rural areas adjoining towns. The quality and safety through maintenance and lighting of these footpaths is important.Proposed Policy:
The Council will co-ordinate monitoring of the County Council’s footpath maintenance and the improvement strategy required by the Countryside and Rights of way Act through town and parish councils.Cycling
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
Cycling is a relatively cheap and very effective form of personal transport particularly for regular trips of a few miles. Apart from walking it is the most environmentally friendly means of transport. Major barriers to increased cycle usage are both the real and perceived danger of riding on roads with heavy fast traffic, poor maintenance of road surfaces, and breathing of emissions. Most of the Districts’ towns are relatively flat and are therefore ideally suited to a major expansion in cycle usage. The Council acknowledges the importance of safe cycle links between towns.Proposed Policy:
The Council recognises the health and environmental benefits of cycling and will advocate the creation of safe and coherent cycle routes. The Council will ensure that proposed developments contribute to the creation of a District-wide cycle network.Main Transport Issues:
Cycle networks have been planned for the towns except Bradford on Avon. National Cycle Route 4 runs through the District, and the County Council has designated leisure cycle routes. Rural cycle ways came top of a list of countryside facilities needed from public consultation for the Council’s Leisure Plan.Proposed Policy:
The Council will work towards the creation of safe and coherent networks to include Bradford on Avon and in particular seeks to extend these to connect towns and villages together.Main Transport Issues:
Other barriers to increased cycle use include lack of adequate secure cycle parking and changing facilities at places of work, and carriage of cycles on buses and trains.Proposed Policy:
The Council will ensure that all significant workplace developments include provision for shower and changing facilities for walkers and cyclists. The Council will also work to increase secure public cycle parking provision in central locations and transport interchanges.Main Transport Issues:
Local school travel questionnaires indicate the enthusiasm by pupils for cycling to school. For this to be acceptable to parents such cycle ways need to be safe and coherent.Proposed Policy:
The Council will co-operate with travel to school initiatives especially where new developments provide opportunities for new routes. The Council will also seek to improve the availability of cycle training. The Council will review it' conditions and penalty points scheme with a view to regulating driving standards and conduct by June 2002.Community Transport
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
Active communities have the ability to identify transport problems and act to solve them. These initiatives are often based on voluntary effort and can be more flexible than those sponsored by public authorities. Such initiatives are therefore worthy of support, often representing excellent value, but are patchy and sometimes not integrated. The Community Transport Development Project aims to provide co-ordination and is being undertaken by the Rural Transport Partnership, (RTP) which includes the District and County Councils and Countryside Agency. Community transport schemes may be any form of transport that fulfils the need of the community.Proposed Policy:
The Council’s key aim is that its whole area will be served by link or other community transport schemes by 2006. This may need existing resources provided by others to be re-directed. The Council will take a leading role in the Community Transport Development Project, and will continue to support the development of the RTP.Main Transport Issues:
The Link good neighbour schemes are mostly orientated towards transport. The schemes vary but are mainly for older people who need transport to shop, visit friends, or for healthcare. West Wiltshire has seven schemes that cover the District with the exception of Chitterne, Codford, and Stockton. The Council contributes both towards the development and maintenance of schemes through Community First and subsidises scheme expenses.Proposed Policy:
The Council will continue to support the development of Link good neighbour schemes, but discourage any duplication with other publicly accessible services. The Council will support the development of a scheme in any area not served by one, and continue support the running of the individual schemes.Main Transport Issues:
There are a number of resources owned by voluntary groups, schools etc. that are presently under-utilised. Properly co-ordinated and with some help these could be used by other groups to provide effective community transport. There are 9 minibus schemes operating, again with geographical gaps which need to be filled.Proposed Policy:
The Council will work towards the development of community transport through the Wiltshire Rural Transport Partnership.Main Transport Issues:
There is very little information on the actual needs of rural communities in particular. Areas that appear quite wealthy often include pockets of poverty and other groups, e.g. young people, who have limited access to personal transport and are therefore socially excluded.Proposed Policy:
The Council will survey a pilot area to find out its transport needs by March 2002 as part of the Rural Transport Development project.Main Transport Issues:
Community transport schemes often need capital funding e.g. for vehicles in order to get started. The Council will therefore consider providing match funding for such projects where alternative existing resources are not available.Proposed Policy:
A capital budget of £50,000 has been set aside for 2001/6 for such schemes.Railways
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
West Wiltshire is fortunate to have all its towns connected to the rail network with services to a number of destinations including London. Easy travel to head offices outside the District is known to be important to companies. The Council sees potential for commuting by rail to replace car commuting.Proposed Policy:
The Council will use its publications to promote the use of rail whenever practicable.Main Transport Issues:
Regular and frequent services, with reasonable fares and freight charges are the key to building confidence and high usage of rail services. Recent improvements to the Westbury to Swindon service through Melksham are welcomed and need to be built on.Proposed Policy:
The Council will press the Strategic Rail Authority to maintain and enhance the Public Service Requirement on Train Operating Companies for routes serving West Wiltshire. The Council will also communicate it’s view that national policy to transfer passenger and freight traffic from road to rail is unrealistic unless the cost of rail transport including carriage of bicycles is competitive.Main Transport Issues:
Modern, well-sited stations are essential to attract more people to use rail transport. A replacement station at Melksham with good access, the possible station at the White Horse Business Park, and re-opening some village stations are all exciting possibilities as rail use increases with the prospect of local services enabling inter-town commuting in western Wiltshire.Proposed Policy:
The Council will use development proposals to enable the development of new stations. and an integrated transport network (i.e. cycle, public and community transport). The Council will safeguard the sites of former stations identified by the Local Transport Plan feasibility study to enable then to re-open.Main Transport Issues:
Stations need good links to all other public transport systems to enable rail use and onward travel. Provision also needs to be made for real time information systems at travel hubs to integrate services, and for cycle parking. Reliable and flexible bus links to stations to meet trains are required.Proposed Policy:
The Council co-operate with the County Council to encourage the development of integrated timetabling and information systems including public and community transport, cycle, walking, and taxis.Main Transport Issues:
There is considerable potential to increase the proportion of freight travelling by rail reducing road traffic and environmental damage. The Council is a member of the Freight Quality Partnership whose objective is to transfer such freight to rail whenever appropriate.Proposed Policy:
The Council will support the proposed freight terminal site at Westbury, safeguard possible rail connections to other sites, and use it’s development control powers to require use of rail transport whenever practicable.Buses
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
There is an extensive network of routes throughout the District, in particular connecting the five towns into adjacent areas. 60% of those who live in villages have an hourly or better service, but 11% do not have even a daily service.Proposed Policy:
The Council will encourage development of voluntary and community based transport through the RTP and shared taxis to feed into the key routes.Main Transport Issues:
Most services are operated on a commercial basis and it is important to ensure the continued viability of these key routes. The Rural Transport Development Project will identify the services that are needed within the District, and how resources currently used for bus subsidy on other but key routes may be used to support alternative solutions.Proposed Policy:
The Council aims to ensure that within 5 years disabled and state pensioners have access to some form of public or community transport within 1 hour of request.Main Transport Issues:
Innovative flexible bus services designed to recreate the comfort and convenience of private car travel will be necessary to provide an attractive alternative to reduce private car use and provide an accessible service. One example being the Wiltshire hopper service to the RUH. It is recognised that such services are unlikely to be commercially viable.Proposed Policy:
The Council will support such schemes and aims whether provided commercially or by voluntary effort, and would wish services to be available during evening periods. The Council will press for the hopper service to include Warminster.Main Transport Issues:
The Council provides half price passes to state pensioners and disabled people and enhances the statutory scheme. In addition the concession may be offered on other transport services. The Council would wish that a similar concession could be given to students in full time education.Proposed Policy:
The Council will continue to provide this scheme, and consider extending support to public transport services that do not qualify for Fuel Duty Rebate.Main Transport Issues:
Where buses are not available or people are unable to use them or have previously had travel tokens the travel token scheme or equivalent will continue to operate allowing use of taxis, private hire cars, and as donations to link good neighbour schemes. Use will also be allowed in other public transport services if operators wish to accept them.Proposed Policy:
The Council will continue to give assistance for those who are unable to use bus services. The token scheme is currently being to consider whether it can be improved.Main Transport Issues:
Easy interchange between public transport modes is necessary to encourage use.Proposed Policy:
The Council will support the development of transport interchanges, in particular a compact bus/taxi/ shopmobility/ cycle interchange in Trowbridge with links to the rail station incorporating real time passenger information.Main Transport Issues:
Use of minibuses and coaches for functions and tourism in the District will help to reduce private car use.Proposed Policy:
The Council will seek provision of set down and parking areas for coaches community transport vehicles and minibuses.Taxis and private hire vehicles
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
Taxis and private hire vehicles form an important element in the public transport network offering quick and convenient door to door transport. The Council is responsible for licensing taxis to ensure they are safe, of a high standard, run in a way that is acceptable to the whole range of potential customers, and that customers are not overcharged.Main Transport Issues:
The quality and quantity of taxis and private hire vehicles, driver conduct and accessibility for disabled people have to be kept under review together with arrangements to ensure that they can operate efficiently in their public transport function. The Council recognises that from a date yet to be announced all taxis will be required to be disabled accessible.Proposed Policy:
The Council will endeavour to ensure that taxis have adequate ranking facilities in town centres and transport interchanges. The Council will seek to maintain co-ordination of it’s licensing policies with those of neighbouring authorities. The Council will review it's conditions and penalty points scheme with a view to regulating driving standards and conduct by June 2002Roads
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
Main Transport Issues:
The use of private motor vehicles is the most popular form of transport and is the most destructive element of residents’ perceived quality of life* and the air pollution created can be a potential risk to health. Nevertheless it would be naïve to suggest that economic activity would be sustainable without good road links. Road space and priority has therefore to be rebalanced towards the needs of business, public and community transport, walking and cycling and away from the private car, particularly when used for commuting out of the District.Proposed Policy:
The Council confirms its support for the Western Wiltshire Sustainable Transport Strategy and will work with the County Council to ensure it is given the highest priority within the range of work carried out under the LTP. The Council supports the strategic and local lorry access routes promoted in the LTP’s Freight Transport Plan, and the exclusion of through running lorries from villages and residential areas.Main Transport Issues:
The Semington – Melksham diversion on the A350 has received provisional acceptance in the LTP settlement and construction is due to commence on 2001/2. This will relieve Semington and the Berryfields area.Proposed Policy:
The Council will work with the County Council to enable the construction of this road and associated sustainable transport infrastructure.Main Transport Issues:
The importance of the Westbury by-pass is acknowledged in the LTP settlement. Now that a route has been chosen this Council will seek to minimise its impact on the environment and more sustainable transport modes by the creation of parallel links where traffic is likely to increase as a result of its construction.Proposed Policy:
The Council confirms its view that an application should be submitted to the DTLR including integrated transport works in the town centre and links with neighbouring towns and villages as soon as practicable paying particular regard to the needs of business.Main Transport Issues:
Air Quality measurements have shown excess levels of Nitrogen oxides and particulates in parts of Westbury and Bradford on Avon. This means that the Council will be obliged to consider declaration of an Air Quality Management Area and in conjunction with the Highway Authority devise schemes to improve air quality within these areas. The situation within Westbury should be relieved by the by-pass. In Bradford on Avon the weight restriction on the bridge already excludes larger goods vehicles so private cars and light goods traffic cause the problem. In the absence of a by-pass the problem will need to be resolved by traffic management measures and appropriate sustainable transport initiatives. The reduction in traffic will enhance the towns’ tourist potential.*Peoples Voice September 1999
Proposed Policy:
The Council will work with the County and Town Councils to resolve the air quality problems of Bradford on Avon and increase tourism. It would expect a scheme to be agreed by March 2002 and implemented during the following year."Green" transport plans and parking
The following sections consider the main transport issues and the proposed policies underneath.
