Agenda item

The Cabinet agreed at its meeting in April that a new Transport Strategy be prepared for the City of Bath.  This report provides an update for the Panel on the work undertaken to take this decision forward.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport introduced this item to the Panel. He informed them that a master plan is being prepared for co-ordinated growth within the Bath City Riverside Enterprise Area and will be informed partly by the Bath Transport Strategy. He added that key to supporting this growth agenda was the need for a new, clear, innovative transport strategy to ensure that the City can compete in the 21st Century whilst respecting its World Heritage Status.

He said that in order to help develop a new transport strategy for Bath a tender was currently underway. He highlighted some of the areas of work that would be undertaken.

·  Assess the cumulative impact of developments with the Enterprise Area on the City’s transport network to 2029.

·  Identify key priority cycling routes and other aspects that will benefit the cyclist.

·  Identify key priorities for those on foot and any constraints for those who with mobility difficulties using the shop mobility services.

·  Review the Council’s emerging Parking Strategy and confirming whether or not the principles are sound within the context of the existing transport provision in the city and of the growth now promoted by the Core Strategy.  In particular advice on the size of any public car parking that might be retained in Avon Street following its redevelopment.

·  Review the previous work which assessed the demand for an east of Bath Park & Ride and review the conclusions of that work in the light of the proposed new development sites referred to above and the current commercial bus network.  This work should assess what capacity is required for current and future demand including the need for further expansion of existing P&R sites.

·  Assess the implications and opportunities that may arise from the electrification of GWR mainline.

David Redgewell, South West Transport Network addressed the Panel. He stated clearly his belief that the rural connectivity of public transport must not be cut and called for some areas of the Council to have access to public transport 24 hours a day, 7 days a week.

He also called for extra security regarding public transport, especially in the evenings, including CCTV cameras at smaller train stations.

He said that more low floor buses were required across the Council and that also there was not enough bus lane provision.

He asked for the Council to look further into the use of Hybrid / Electric buses and questioned whether the management of the Bath Bus Station could be streamlined.

Henry Brown, Chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents Association addressed the Panel. A copy of the statement can be found on the Panel’s Minute Book.

The Chair asked if the Panel would be able to see the draft detail of the strategy prior to publication and consultation.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that he would welcome that.

Councillor David Martin commented that he felt the brief within the report was not explanatory enough regarding the work the consultants will have to carry out. He also said that it would be difficult to determine transport movements into 2029 and asked how the intermediate steps would be handled.

The Divisional Director for Planning and Transport replied that the consultants will be asked to take into account our current work and to elaborate on the vision as set out within the Core Strategy when producing the draft strategy. He added that none of the consultants that have been approached have registered a concern over the workload set out.

Councillor Les Kew asked why it had taken 2.5 years of this current Council to only reach this point in the process. He also asked how many consultants were on the shortlist.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that four consultants have been asked to tender for the work, all of whom are familiar to the area.

Councillor Les Kew asked if any details could be announced with regard to the proposed East of Bath Park & Ride.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that no announcement could be made at the current time and that the Cabinet would have to decide upon that matter in due course.

Councillor Liz Richardson asked for pinch points to be identified during the survey and called for parking safety in the City to be examined.

The Group Manager for Planning Policy & Transport replied that he would ask the consultants to take those points on board.

The Cabinet Member for Transport, Councillor Caroline Roberts commented that this should be seen as the beginning of the process which brings together a whole range of elements that have been talked about over a number of years such as the East of Bath Park & Ride and coach parking facilities.

Councillor Will Sandry commented that he believed the consultants should be given more of a scope and that he feared the outcomes would not be innovative enough and constrained by the boundaries of being a World Heritage Site.

Councillor Les Kew commented that he was concerned the public consultation planned for Spring 2014 was near to the end of the life of this current Council.

The Divisional Director for Planning and Transport replied that this work to some extent is dictated by the future of the Core Strategy. He added that one consultation is planned to encompass the Economic, Placemaking & Transport strategies. He stated that work on these matters will still be required even if the Core Strategy is not approved by the Inspector.

Councillor Anthony Clarke commented that he welcomed the over-arching nature of the strategy and hoped it would receive full political support when it was complete to benefit the City and its residents.

The Chair thanked everyone for contributing to the debate and commented that she looked forward to receiving details of the draft strategy when they become available.