Transport

From HalesworthTownPlan

Contents 1 Transport Group 1.1 Publications and Documents 1.1.1 Main Publications being used for research 1.1.2 Other documents used 1.1.3 Documents Created 1.2 Vision Day 1.3 Group Discussion. 1.4 Aim of the Town Plan 1.5 Next steps.

Transport Group

Six months have now passed (April 2009) since it was first decided that Halesworth was in need of a “Rural Towns Health Check”. Meetings have been held culminating in the formation of a Steering Group and working groups to examine the seven subject areas agreed. This group is called the Transport sub group and is represented currently by Brenda Roberts, David Bouette and Jen Berry. The funding for professional leadership has not been forthcoming resulting in a fresh start by the working groups. Also, and more significantly, it has been decided to change from a mere ’Health Check’ to a more meaningful ’Town Plan’ thus giving clarity and direction to the proceedings.

From the outset it has been necessary to gather much information so as to assess what is in existence now and whether this is sufficient for the needs of the people from now through the next five to ten years. For this purpose the group used the worksheets recommended and published by the South East Rural Towns Partnership. They proved to be most useful and an ideal tool to point the group in the right direction for the proper collection of relevant information.

Three areas of research suggested by the worksheets, and adopted by this group were:

• Travel to and from the local area
• Ease of access to services
• Ease of movement around the town.

This part of the process is now almost complete.

Publications and Documents

Main Publications being used for research

• Local Transport Plan for Suffolk (Objectives for next 15 to 20 years)
• Regional Transport Strategy.

Other documents used

• Waveney Local Strategic Partnership.
• Regional Spatial Strategy - East of England Plan.
• Waveney Local Strategic Partnership.
• Waveney Sustainable Communities Strategy.
• Community Strategy (Transforming Suffolk).

The Suffolk Local Plan has as one of it’s transport strategy objectives:

Help maintain viable communities in Market Towns and Villages throughout Suffolk and serve the needs of this largely rural County.

The Regional Transport Strategy has ten transport policies covering a wide range of objectives:

• To manage travel behaviour and the demand for transport to reduce the rate road traffic growth and ensure the transport sector makes an appropriate contribution to reducing greenhouse gas emissions.
• To encourage efficient use of existing transport infrastructure.
• To enable the provision of the infrastructure and transport services necessary to support existing communities and development proposed in the spatial strategy.
• To improve access to jobs, services and leisure centres.

Documents Created

• Transport Audit
• Bus Use Objective
• Transport and Accessibility Snapshot

Vision Day

This was held on 1st. January 2007 and an opportunity to enable local people to identify the Towns needs. Their views on transport were:

• More free parking
• To improve public transport.
• More cycle routes.

Group Discussion.

It appears necessary in order to achieve any objectives that the Towns Transport objectives must sit within the broad objectives laid out by the Local Plan for Suffolk and the Transport Strategy.

On 18th December the members of the Transport Sub Group discussed in depth the issues they considered should be included in any future transport plan for Halesworth.

It was agreed that Halesworth, when compared with other similar Market Towns in the UK has a reasonably sound transport infrastructure. However this was no reason to be complacent and a number of improvements must be made so as to provide good access and ease of transport for all in the future years.

It was therefore agreed to use five separate subject headings around which any objectives should be made.

1. Bus Use
   • Properly designated bus terminal sited away from the main through road.
   • Better travel information sites.
   • Improved evening services.
   • Better integration between bus services and between bus and rail services.
   • Improve services between Halesworth and villages.
   • Click here for a more detailed discussion of Bus Use in Halesworth
2. Train use
   • Halesworth Station
     • A great deal of work has been carried out at the station since taking part in a station adoption scheme, including the well maintained flower tubs. One outstanding issue is the access to Bramblewood Way which has a dangerous slope, especially for wheelchair users. At a recent site meeting with Suffolk County Council it was agreed that it should be pursued again with a proposition that it links through to a bus shelter to aid integration with trains.
     • Improve the comfort facilities such as toilets and/or refreshment.
3. Cycling
   • Extend the cycle path scheme.
   • Improve cycle facilities.
4. Pedestrians
   • Improve the condition of pavements and footways.
5. Car Usage
   • Improve car parking facilities.
   • More relevant car parking charges.
   • Enforcement of parking regulations.

Aim of the Town Plan

Following the first meeting of the Town Plan Steering Committee a mission statement declaring what the plan aims to achieve has been made. The Transport principle has been adopted as:

Public transport will be effective and efficient to provide a viable alternative to car use. Provision will be made to enable an increase in cycling and walking.

Next steps.

Over the next two to three months to group are to strive to produce sound targets/objectives to be included in the plan. It is anticipated that the consultation on the draft plan will be in October 2009.

The Transport sub group would welcome any views put forward and all contributions are welcome by contacting the Steering Committee on townplan@halesworth.net. Also, should anyone wish to be part of this venture, we would be pleased to hear from you.