Meeting documents
Planning, Transportation & Environment Committee
Thursday, 17th May, 2001
Victoria Hall, Victoria Square, Radstock
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NAME |
ORGANISATION |
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Barbara Selby |
B&NES Access Manager |
Mike Finch |
B&NES Transportation Planning Manager |
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James Willcock |
B&NES Team Leader Public Transport |
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Mel Clinton |
B&NES SRB Officer |
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Tim Jennings Martin Curtis Alan Peters Cllr Gordon Derrick Cllr Pat Hogg Bob Riley John Hampton Cllr Doswell Roger Jones David Redgewell Dick Drew Cllr Jim Lingard Stephen Marks David Witcomb David Edwards John Spatley G Wheeler Cllr Catherine Mack Brian Hensley Phil Doming Bob Houghton Brian Noton Gordon Edwards Cllr Peter Metcalfe Cllr Phyllis Gay Cllr Peter Jovcis-Sas |
Somerbus Bath Bus Co Abus B&NES Councillor B&NES Councillor Federation of Bath Residents Association Keynsham Station Association Norton-Radstock Town Council Transport 2000 Transport 2000 Transport 2000 B&NES Councillor North Somerset Railway Co North Somerset Railway Co North Somerset Railway Co North Somerset Heritage Trust North Somerset Railway Somerset County Councillor Somerset County Council South West Trains Wales & West Passenger Trains First Badgerline Freshford Station B&NES Councillor B&NES Councillor B&NES Councillor |
1. INTRODUCTION
2. NOTES OF MEETING OF 11TH JANUARY 2001
3. MATTERS ARISING
SWPTI - Issues were raised regarding the accuracy of the information provided by the new (SWPTI) Traveline call centre. The existing First Bristol Buses call centre is due to be closed by early June and concern was expressed as the new call centre didn't appear to be fully operational. It was reported that the problem is that not all of the timetable and route data for all the local buses in the area had been input into the SWPTI database, officers are making progress but the size of the task is considerable. It was agreed to provide an update to the July PTLG meeting.
Norton-Radstock Express Bus - PTLG urged the public to use the new express commuter bus service to Bristol when it comes into operation later this year, via a new B&NES subsidy contract.
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4. |
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN |
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The PTLG noted that the Local Transport Plan is a five year document and therefore isn't produced annually. However the Council are required to submit an Annual Progress Report to central government. The Council had agreed to allocate £200,000 for public transport capital expenditure this year, including £50,000 towards Corsham station (Re PTE committee 29 March). The PTLG requested that there should be close co-operation with other authorities on strategic and cross boundary issues. |
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5. |
MASS TRANSIT |
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Consultants commissioned to take forward the Western Riverside studies with the focus to get a major transport scheme bid into central Government by July. The PTLG agreed to inform the Council of its support for the Northgate PAP and other bus priority measures in Bath. Early guidance from DETR on LRT suggest that only areas with a population of 500,000 and above could justify the construction cost involved. The work of the consultants so far is favouring a guided bus system. |
6. BUS SERVICES
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The Bath bus gate is now in operation, the monitoring group has agreed a monitoring programme. The status of the Tour Bus Partnership was raised. PTLG were informed that some difficulties had been raised regarding competition law and discussions with the OFT are due to take place shortly. The availability of local resident discounts on the tour buses was raised by a member of public. Bath Bus Company said that they offer a flat rate fare of 50p to locals for travel between any two places (on the tour bus route). PTLG requested the operators to promote these discounts for residents. The discussion on quality partnerships widened with members of the public adding that more timetable information was needed and ticket inter-availability between operators would be of great benefit to passengers. Some debate followed regarding the merits of public vs private ownership of bus companies. An issue regarding the routing of bus service 376 in central Bristol, was raised, it appeared to operate a different route in the evening than in the daytime. Cleaning standards inside buses was identified as an area that needed improvement by the operators. The need for better bus connections with trains was also felt to be an area for improvement as the reality often involves greater reliance on taxis which are usually a lot more expensive than buses. First Badgerline said that only a relatively small number of their passengers are interested in connecting with trains and that there were often scheduling conflicts that were difficult to resolve. But also that connection issues should be raised with the train operating companies as well, since they should have a reciprocal role in trying to fit train timetables with bus timetables. Issues were raised regarding differences in timetable running times between commercial daytime services and subsidised evening & Sunday services. The need for better evening services was also raised. Discussions regarding timetable running times had taken place with First Badgerline with a view make amendments at the next opportunity. A proposal for additional evening services had been considered by the Council but this was not considered a higher priority over other service improvements, within the current financial limitations. |
7. RAIL
PTLG asked the train operators for an update on the Wessex re-franchising process. Wales & West reported that the time scales were fluid but the underlining aim of the SRA was to complete the process before 2004. The 60 day SRA bidding process had yet to start but was thought to be imminent. While re-franchising will provide new opportunities for investment in services and stations, W&W were willing to work jointly with authorities on specific schemes leading up to the new franchise.
South West Trains reported that their current franchise would run until 2003. They had a number of improvements planned in the short term, including a half hourly Salisbury to Waterloo service and had recently bought 8 new trains.
The Council has allocated funding for enhancements at Keynsham and Freshford stations and also a contribution towards the build costs of Corsham. A study of Keynsham station would identify how disabled access could be provided to the west bound platform. No specific funding to carry out the necessary works had yet been identified but the matter would be taken up with the SRA. Some concern was expressed by various groups about graffiti and vandalism at stations and there was some discussion as to what extent they were linked. The PTLG agreed to write to the SRA, Railtrack and TOC's to express concern about vandalism and graffiti.
Concern was expressed about the gaps in service provision especially for commuters between Keynsham and Bristol (and vice versa) and the lack of a late evening service. PTLG also noted concerns regarding difficulties in finding First Great Western staff, particularly when services were running late.
First Great Western had recently applied for a two year extension to their franchise and the Council intended to press the SRA to secure service improvements, including:
· Some of the new Bristol to Oxford services should stop at Keynsham;
· Bath to London frequency upgrade;
· Bath station upgrade - in conjunction with bus station / Southgate development;
· First GW to provide information to Wales & West passengers at Bath station and promote the local service.
Concern was expressed about shortcomings in the First Great Western summer timetable.
The need for extended hours of P&R operation (particularly Odd Down) was noted, as this would help commuters and others travelling from Bath to London. PTLG noted that this was in progress and the outcome of a planning application to operate extended hours at the P&R sites was awaited.
The Councils SRB officer outlined recent developments regarding the Radstock regeneration project. Fundamental to their aims were rail and cycle provision, on the line to Frome and a concordat had just been agreed by B&nes, Somerset County Council and Mendip Council. Land at Radstock had recently been bought by the re-generation partnership which would pave the way for a mixed use transport/recreation development. The project team are in process of drawing up a master plan for the whole town centre including other land and sites for improvement in Radstock.
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8. |
PUBLIC TRANSPORT INTERCHANGES PTLG noted that a decision on the Southgate bus/rail station development planning application was due to be made by the Development Control Committee in July. |
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9. |
COMMUNITY TRANSPORT |
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The main issues of the Community Transport Liaison Group meeting of 10th April were outlined. Officers have been tasked to undertake a review of community transport and report back to committee (or appropriate body) by July. Problems with access to the Royal United Hospital were discussed along with the new Wiltshire taxi bus service. |
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10. |
ANY OTHER BUSINESS |
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A request for a public meeting regarding the Radstock to Frome rail line scheme was made. |
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11. |
DATE OF NEXT MEETINGTo be arranged - July 2001 |