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What are the objectives and outcomes of the review to date?
Objective
· Identify how to unlock the congestion in Maidstone town;
Events/Meetings
Ø Visit to Maidstone Traffic Control Centre 28/6/11;
Ø Visit to Godstone Traffic Control Centre 23/8/11;
Ø OSC meeting 26/7/11 with County Councillor Malcolm Robertson; and
Ø Various opinions from public via phone (5), email (16), Facebook (6)=total 27.
Outcomes
ü On average, it takes 12 seconds for cars to cross the QE II bridge during the day, and 7.5 seconds in the evening when the tolls do not operate.
ü The electronic road signals which display notices such as ‘queue ahead’ and ‘stay in lane’ are automated in response to the traffic officer inputting details about the incident on their logging system. The control centre often receive calls explaining that the sign is wrong, at which point a patrol car is despatched to investigate the area so that the sign can be cancelled. It is mostly a case that there was cause for that sign, however it has been resolved quickly so the sign is no longer required.
ü The Committee discussed the idea of a strategic route to allow traffic to cross the town without going through it. It was suggested that businesses may be content to pay £1 for a quick easy access to the motorway. However, it was also suggested that the strategic route would need to be supported with regulations to ensure that it was the only way for freight to travel.
ü This was very interesting as Cllr Robertson is one of our longest serving cllrs, and had a newspaper article from 1985 Minutes\1985 newspaper App B 110726.pdf that showed how Maidstone would have looked like along Palace Ave, and Fairmeadow area. He informed the Committee that the ‘Rail Action Plan for Kent 2011’ was a good document and advised the Committee to consider the information within as part of the review. A new rail service to Blackfriars is being sought that will eventually be part of Thameslink. It is expected to include Maidstone from 2016/18.
ü Cllr Newton is compiling a summary of public comments.
Objective
· Identify opportunities to engage and support the business community in reducing peak traffic roads and establish what businesses in the borough have to come through the town and for what reason;
Events/Meetings
Ø OSC meeting 26/7/11 with Peter Rosevear, Kent Highways Strategic Transport & Development Planner and John Foster, Economic Development Manager;
Ø OSC meeting 23/8/11 with John Taylor, Director of the Invicta Chamber of Commerce;
Ø OSC meeting 27/9/11 with Arriva, Nu-Venture and Streamline; and
Ø OSC meeting 25/10/11 with Steve Goulette & Flo Churchill - Park & Ride.
Outcomes
ü Peter Rosevear came (everyone used him as the representative, incl. Cllr Bryan Sweetland and Highways Agency). He came out with some different facts that Members were a little confused with, regarding coming into, or through Maidstone which led to this email giving clarification of what he meant traffic congestion\Figures showing traffic through vs. to Maidstone -from Peter Rosevear.htm . He stated that the Transport Strategy used 2007 data to predict the situation in 2026, and this was how all Local Authorities Planning Authorities form their strategies and that on temporary occasions having no traffic lights had been effective it would not hold on a permanent basis.
ü Mr Foster informed the Committee that a survey looking at the perception of the town centre had identified that there was not enough parking, too much congestion and type of office facilities provided was not attractive for businesses. Whilst he appreciated that there was a problem to be solved, he cautioned the Committee that the solution needed to allow Maidstone to remain attractive.
ü Mr Taylor highlighted that other towns within the county were scheduled for schemes from Kent County Council (KCC) however, Maidstone was not one of them and therefore felt that the County Town was losing out on offers of funds. Mr Taylor confirmed that the only way to allow the traffic to be directed away from the town centre would be by using a strategic route and it was therefore a key ingredient in building the infrastructure that Maidstone needed.
Objective
· Investigate best practice for incentivised traffic reduction (i.e. Chelmsford City Council’s, The Essex Transport Strategy(TS): the Local Transport Plan (LTP) for Essex);
Events/Meetings
Ø Visit to Chelmsford Borough Council 23/8/11
Ø Both Essex TS and LTP in shared drive
Ø The following were sent to Members 3/6/11:
Agenda & Minutes from Environment & Transport OSC;
19 October 2010 – Integrated Transport Strategy – interview with Michael Thornton & Peter Rosevear (including presentation); and
18 January 2011 – Local Transport Plan for Kent 2011 – interview with Paul Crick KCC Director of Integrated Transport Strategy and Planning.
The Local Transport Plan 2011
Maidstone Integrated Transport Strategy 2005-15.
Outcomes
ü Some vital changes have occurred in Chelmsford as a result of a high demand for public transport. In 2007 a new bus station was built next to the current train station in the centre of town. Also, a new train station is being developed just outside the town centre, close to a neighbouring Park & Ride site.
ü On P&R buses under 16’s travel for free in Chelmsford, whereas in Maidstone only two under 17’s may travel for free if accompanied by an adult. Another significant difference is the opening hours, as the 3 Maidstone sites have a last bus service at 6.30pm compared to Chelmsford who close at 7pm. Should a passenger miss the last Park & Ride bus in Chelmsford, they can use their pass on a regular bus to the site. Their Park & Ride sites are operated with a barrier, allowing a late passenger to exit the car park.
ü Elsewhere around the town part time signals are in operation during peak times only, to allow the major roads to get through and holding back the ‘rat run’ routes. Approximately 15-20% of temporary lights are also in operation at various roundabouts, and a couple of T-Junctions.
Objective
· Examine best practice in established County Towns and other congested town centres in terms of volume, problems and solutions for traffic congestion;
Events/Meetings
Ø Visit to Medway Council 12/7/11; and
Ø OSC meeting 23/8/11 with John Newington, Senior Pollution Officer, and Christopher Finch, MRICS, Member of the public
Outcomes
ü Medway started the plans for the traffic system in 2000, and had it agreed in principle by the Medway Council Committee before securing funding via the Homes and Community Agency. Once this was in place, it took two years to get the 2-way system in motion, taking 8years in total.
ü The new Chatham Bus Station is currently undergoing new development just across the road from the present Station, allowing better facilities for both the disabled and visually impaired.
ü Mr Newington stated that there was a statutory duty to monitor air quality, and when pollution was found over EU levels the Council was required to declare an ‘Air Quality Management Area’ and produce an air quality action plan detailing ways in which it would reduce the pollution level, which was 70-90% traffic related. Maidstone had 6 areas that exceeded annual usage, and therefore a plan had been produced using internal and external partners to form a steering group. The relationship with those external bodies was very important, as the Council did not have the control over delivering some of the actions. The action plan sought to reduce the number of vehicle trips generated, promote cycling, walking, public transport and a range of measures such as Park and Ride, bus lanes, variable speed limits, freight studies etc were being investigated, as well as a Travel Plan, which enabled the borough council to have a larger role by engaging with businesses, including the Federation of Small Businesses and the Chamber of Commerce to bring down the number of trips into the town centre, and identified savings for businesses.
ü Mr Finch suggested to the Committee that the bus stop on Tonbridge Road near Maidstone West train station should enter Station Approach, and stop outside the train station so to allow the Tonbridge Road traffic to utilise the two lanes more freely. He also suggested that due to the Whitehouse car showroom no longer trading and was up for sale, a roundabout could be placed there to allow access in and out of Barker Road and onto the Tonbridge Road/London Road, rather than use the gyratory unnecessarily, possibly as part of a wider regeneration scheme.
Objective
· Investigate the consideration given to new developments by the planning authority in relation to traffic volume and road maintenance; and
Events/Meetings
Ø OSC meeting 26/7/11 with Peter Rosevear, Kent Highways Strategic Transport & Development Planner;
Ø OSC meeting 23/8/11 with Rob Jarman, Head of Development Management.
Outcomes
ü Mr Jarman informed the Committee that by utilising the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), developers could pay for infrastructure and reminded the Committee that a number of things were asked for with regards to planning funds, namely 40% affordable housing, schools, doctor surgeries, CCTV and Parks. Mr Jarman highlighted that it was key to get KCC highways buying into a development brief, and to get the scheme into their priority list from the start. Mr Jarman informed the Committee that by utilising the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL), developers could pay for infrastructure and reminded the Committee that a number of things were asked for with regards to planning funds, namely 40% affordable housing, schools, doctor surgeries, CCTV and Parks. Mr Jarman highlighted that it was key to get KCC highways buying into a development brief, and to get the scheme into their priority list from the start.
Objective
· To make recommendations as appropriate.