Winchester Town Access Plan Progress Update

Winchester Town Access Plan - Update on Progress

This document sets out a suggested process and timescale for formulating the Winchester Town Access Plan. The Plan will be produced jointly by HCC and WCC. It will be a daughter document to the Local Transport plan but will be owned by both HCC and WCC.

Tasks/issues
1. Agreeing Vision, objectives, policy/scheme areas and setting the context including issues such as development, air quality, street scene etc.
2. Securing resources for producing plan, research, surveys/ allocating tasks/ drafting the plan
3. Agreeing background work needed
4. Undertaking Studies
5. Setting consultation programme/process
6. Securing funding/ allocating schemes to programmes
7. Setting out approval process

1. Agreeing Vision, objectives and policy areas
The Vision, objectives, policy/scheme areas are being formulated from information collected at the Members Seminar held in January 2007.

Vision /Objectives
There are a number of reoccurring themes from the Members Seminar which can be summarised as follows:

The themes are:
• Improving Access /Social inclusion:
• High Quality Environment/Streetscape:
• Reducing Congestion.
• Maintaining Economic position/vibrancy

These match the Community Strategy and tie up with DfT/LGA shared priorities for Transport.


Policy/Scheme Areas

The following themes have emerged:

• Parking
• Traffic Management and freight/deliveries
• Accessibility including Cycling and walking
• School and business travel
• Public Transport (including rail access)
• Park and Ride

Discussion papers on each of these, setting out what the current situation is, what has already been done and potential options for testing/evaluating are currently being drafted.


2. Agreeing background work needed

A meeting has already been arranged to start this process and any information collected needs to match the chosen policy areas and help to give a better understanding of the issues which can then feed into the Studies to be undertaken.


3. Undertaking Studies

Studies will need to be undertaken probably in areas matching those listed above under policy areas/schemes. Briefs for these can be drawn up following production of the Discussion Papers.


4. Setting consultation programme/process

A programme set around two more Member Seminars is currently being formulated. One in say June to feedback on results of Studies and another at end of Year before seeking approval of the Plan.

We need to draw in key stakeholders and make sure that established groups some of which set out below are included:

• Local Strategic partnership and Transport sub group
• HATs
• Winchester Town Forum
• Winchester Trust
• Cycle Working Group
• Parish Councils on the hinterland

There are a series of LDF events being held at the moment which are seeking information on access to services and peoples transport issues which should feed into the process.


5. Timetable

An outline timetable is suggested below:

• Early March – meeting to discuss background work needed
• Middle March – Meeting to discuss process, timetable, responsibilities
• Set out Consultation timetable by end of March
• Draft Plan introduction, vision, objectives and policy areas by end of March
• Complete Discussion Papers by end of May.
• Undertake Studies May/June.
• Present results/ recommendations to Members in June
• Stakeholder consultation (meetings/events) and public consultation (leaflet/publicity) in Summer
• Redrafting/ additional testing in July to November
• Input to Programme formulation for 2008/09
• Final Members Seminar December 2007 on draft document.
• Further Stakeholder consultation (on draft document) Dec 2007 following members Seminar
• Plan approval Jan 2008.


6. Securing funding/ allocating schemes to programmes


Consideration is needed as to whether consultancy support is needed in relation to the identified study areas and how the two authorities will resource the work. .

Early identification of key projects is needed to inform LTP programme formulation for 2008/09 and beyond.


7. Integration with air quality action plan

The statutory Air quality management plan has an action plan which needs to be integrated into the Access Plan and its actions.


8. Approval Process

Each authority will need to organise its approval process. WCC will require Cabinet and Winchester Town Forum approval.
The Access Plan will need to be part of the LDF and consideration is needed as to how the two approval processes can be tied up and the relationship between the two documents.

Published: 18 April 2007