Agenda item

The Panel will receive a presentation on this item from the Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport gave a presentation to the Panel regarding this item, a copy of which can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book, a summary is set out below.

Transport for London’s achievements so far:

•  7.5% modal shift from car to public transport

•  40% increase in bus usage

•  7% per year increase in Underground usage

•  100% increase in cycling mode share

•  20% reduction to traffic in central London (due mainly to Congestion Charging)

•  Introduction of Oyster smartcard ticketing on the rail network throughout London

Key Policy areas:

•  Integration of land use development and transport

•  Achieving the most efficient use of the transport system

•  Providing further transport capacity

•  Managing demand for transport

Mode shift is the best way to achieve sustainable growth.

A strategy for London 2031 was gained by:

•  Strong political leadership

•  Making the case for investment

•  A balanced approach to sustainable transport

•  Demonstrating the ability to deliver

How to get Bath a strategy to 2031:

•  Founded on economic development and growth strategy

•  Respect the World Heritage status of the city

•  Environmentally sound

•  Meet the aspirations of elected members

•  Coherent and fundable (not necessarily funded)

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport then shared some of the priorities from groups who had attended the recent transport conference.

Federation of Bath Residents Association:

•  Reducing through traffic (HGV ban, use of alternatives eg an A36-A46 link and using A420)

•  Keeping unavoidable through traffic moving on the designated through route (A36)

•  Reducing traffic in the centre (eg Queen Square)

Chamber of Commerce:

•  P&R on each side of the city

•  More and better buses

•  Focused development around the railways station – opportunities provided by electrification.

•  Accessible city for their workforce

Bath Preservation Trust:

•  Comprehensive modelling

•  Over-arching strategy but not necessarily one ‘grand’ solution (see Buchanan)

•  Incremental strategic change in agreed direction

•  Strong leadership

Conclusions:

1. Support for less cars in the city
2. Support for improving air quality
3. Support for more P&R, trains, cycling & walking
4. Business want accessibility for their workforce
5. Need to address the issue of through traffic east:west & north:south
6. Sequence for environmental improvements to achieve 1. above
7. Coach parking/drop-off

Next steps:

•  Need to develop a work programme for these outstanding issues

•  Need to engage with those not at the conference

•  Other residents, Wiltshire, other interest groups

•  and over the next 12 months prepare a Transport Strategy to take back to those who contributed on 18^th September

The Chairman asked if it was the intention to now formulate a single joined up strategy.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that the Council needed to create a single document that showed how it would fit in with all the other strategies.

The Chairman asked how the loss in parking revenue would be absolved.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that the impact on the budget would need to be assessed. He added that any loss should be balanced against the gain from within economic development and increased revenue from the Park & Ride.

Councillor Caroline Roberts commented that she did not want to lose the momentum that had been gained at the conference and felt it was frustrating the amount of time it will take to implement a strategy.

Councillor Geoff Ward commented that he felt that the rural residents of the Council had not been properly considered in this process as he believed they now made less visits to the city because of the high parking charges and poor bus services.

Councillor David Martin commented that he welcomed the involvement of Peter Hendy, Transport Commissioner for London and asked officers to use the knowledge of Civitas and other historical cities, not just within the UK. He added that he welcomed any environmental improvements such as access restriction within the City. He also highlighted the need to change people’s habits and increase their levels of understanding on these issues.

The Chairman asked for the Panel to receive a report on the outcomes of the Transport Conference at its January meeting.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport agreed to this proposal.

The Chairman on behalf of the Panel thanked him for his presentation.