Issue - meetings

A new Transport Strategy for Bath was approved by Cabinet for consultation in May 2014.  The Strategy has been well received and supported by the majority of those who responded and is now recommended for approval by Cabinet. 

The Panel are asked to discuss the report prior to the meetings of Cabinet & Council.

The Cabinet are asked to recommend the Strategy to Council for Adoption at their meeting on 13th November.

Robin Kerr, Chairman of the Federation of Bath Residents' Associations addressed the Panel. A copy of his statement is available online as an appendix to these minutes and on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.

Traffic congestion and air pollution have consistently been our members' top concerns. Residents are especially worried about the high levels of pollution in the city, which are seriously harmful to health - as well as unlawful. You will have read in the report that traffic levels have reduced somewhat since 2008 but this is not true of pollution, which has remained at the same high level for at least ten years. Bath is a great place to live but is blighted by traffic, and has been for too long.

We support the vision of reducing intrusion of vehicles into the city, especially in the historic core. We should like to see a largely traffic-free city centre. However, as the strategy recognises, traffic also impacts on key arterial routes and this must be tackled too.

FOBRA strongly supports the development of a Park and Ride (or Rail) to the east of Bath. 77% of respondents to the consultation agreed with this. However, none of the P&Rs is actually fulfilling its potential.

We support more pedestrian access, more cycling, better public transport and improved freight delivery arrangements; but these will have a limited impact if motorists remain able to drive into Bath and park at will. Therefore we strongly support proposals to reduce visitor parking in the centre as the P&Rs are expanded, and to develop a traffic management plan.

We welcome a Low Emission Zone to improve air quality. This should cover the entire Central Area, not just round the bus station proposed so far, and should include the Great Pulteney Street/Henrietta Park area.

Nick Richardson, Mott MacDonald gave a presentation to the Panel on the Bath Transport Strategy. A copy is available online as an appendix to these minutes and on the Panel’s Minute Book. A summary is set out below.

Consultation

·  Two public exhibitions held – BRSLI 30 June and Guildhall 11 July (60 attendees)

·  Stakeholder presentation –  26 June (60 attendees)

·  Meetings with individuals/groups –

FoBRA, First Bus. First Great Western, Royal United Hospital, Bath Tourism Plus, Bath Spa University, Bath Cycle Group, Bus Users Group, BID, Bath Initiative

·  B&NES questionnaire generated 208 responses (158 online, 52 hard copy). Additional written submissions received

Key Findings

·  Two thirds of respondents (67%) agreed with the vision underpinning the Draft Transport Strategy

·  Strong support for increasing sustainable transport options including walking (93%), train (91%), bus (89%) and cycling (81%)

·  Reducing congestion – support for more Park and Ride capacity

·  Reducing the impact of heavy vehicles e.g. new road link

·  Strong support for rail improvements, promoting walking and cycling

·  Air quality is a prime concern

·  Some support for more bus priority and better services

Comments received

·  More emphasis on air quality

·  Strategy needs to be city-wide

·  Neighbourhood hub principle  ...  view the full minutes text for item 55