Agenda item

Ian Tait addressed the committee and in summary raised the following matters:

Referred to previous suggestions he had made regarding city bridge and outlined why a pedestrian footbridge in this area would improve air quality and pedestrian usage. He reported that following a meeting with Historic England and Hampshire Highways the foundation of the bridge was considered to be a scheduled ancient monument which would prevent this as an important element of the movement strategy to reduce city centre traffic.

Councillor Wallace addressed the committee and in summary raised the following matters:

Referred to data indicating that up to 60% of greenhouse emissions in the Winchester district were produced by transport and that a 10% reduction in car use was required in Hampshire between 2019 and 2030. He suggested that a fourth element be added to the movement strategy vision to decarbonise transport and considered that the council needed to focus on activities where the biggest impact could be made quickly and provided examples of this. 

Phil Gagg, WinACC Transport and Planning Action Group addressed the Committee and in summary raised the following matters:

Welcomed the determination to start putting structure on reducing carbon emissions in Winchester but considered the report did not deliver and failed to address climate change as it appeared to have misjudged what respondent’s wishes and therefore priorities in the strategy had been structured in an incorrect order with the least popular placed as the first priority. In conclusion, he stated that the Movement Strategy needed to align with the Local Transport Plan (LTP) 4 with further work required to achieve this.

Chris Gilham (Friends of the Earth) addressed the Committee and in summary raised the following matters:

Suggested that principle actions and expenditure on the plan to date were likely to increase emissions and the report on the movement study consultations were disappointing with no mention of serious commentary and analysis made. Therefore, he considered that the movement strategy had lost its way and failed in its objective with increases in traffic and incoherent relationship between the movement strategy and the carbon neutrality action plan and questioned when a sustainable transport plan would be achieved for Winchester.

Councillor Learney introduced the report which provided an update on the Winchester Movement Strategy following public engagement carried out between December 2021 and February 2022 and on Hampshire County Council’s LTP 4, which was working towards reducing transport carbon emissions. Councillor Learney reported that she would request Hampshire County Council (HCC) to have regard to the urgency of the climate emergency, more so than was sought by the county council’s 2050 target. However, it was recognised that the movement strategy was an area where both councils were required to work in partnership.

The Chairperson welcomed Geoff Hobbs, Principal Transport Planner from Hampshire County Council to the meeting whom, together with the Head of Programme gave a presentation which set out the engagement carried out on the Winchester Movement Strategy, the responses, key proposals and priority schemes and outlined the LTP 4. It had been agreed that comments of the committee could be submitted for inclusion in the process despite the deadline having closed.

The committee proceeded to ask questions and debate the report, in summary, questions on the following matters were raised which were responded to by the Cabinet Member and other relevant officers present:

(i)            The development of district wide initiatives and opportunities.

(ii)          LTP4 wider travel options – bus service subsidies and rural mobility hubs.

(iii)         Department for Transport (DfT) funding.

(iv)         Electric Bus Trial – provided by Stagecoach.

(v)          Viable alternatives to driving – coherent cycle networks, key corridors to connect market towns to villages, bus gates and priority measures.

(vi)         Reduction and consistency of speed limits for safer roads – HCC reviewing the approach to 20mph zones.

(vii)        Parking charges, availability and use of parking income.

(viii)       One way system changes and road space reallocation to reduce congestion.

(ix)         Engagement with schools to encourage cycling.

RESOLVED:

                        That the progress of the city of Winchester Movement Strategy         and the results of the recent public engagement be received and noted.