Issue - meetings

Councillor Maureen Penny, the Cabinet Member for Transport and the Environment and the Service Manager – Transport Planning, Development & Street Works Management introduced a joint report setting out proposals to commence a public consultation to inform the emerging town centre movement strategy.   

Councillor Penny set out the aims for the Town Centre Movement Strategy, which would be informed by the consultation that this report was seeking to commence.  Councillor Penny thanked officers for their work on this Strategy.

Councillors Jim Robbins and Bob Wright asked questions concerning:

·        The impact of the rising town centre population,

·        The need to accommodate additional passenger numbers seeking to access the station from south of railway,

·        The effects of previous changes to traffic movement in the town centre, and

·        The scope of the study not covering Rodbourne.

Councillor Penny and the Service Manager – Transport Planning, Development & Street Works Management responded at the meeting.

Councillors Brian Ford and Dale Heenan spoke in favour of the proposals and emphasised how the strategy was developed on a cross party basis, would need to address projected increases in all vehicle numbers as well as how it would provide better linkages for the cycle network through the town centre.

Resolved:

1)   That it be agreed that an 8 week public consultation exercise, seeking the opinions of a range of stakeholders on the draft Movement Strategy be commenced and that document proposed as the subject of consultation be the text attached at Appendix 1.

2)   That the Service Manager – Transport Planning, Development & Street Works Management be authorised to make any minor or typographical and/or graphical changes as may be necessary prior to publication.

The reasons for the decision and alternative options are as set out in the report to the meeting.