Transport Plan Adopted March 2012

Transcription

1 Burneside Parish Council Transport Plan Adopted March 2012 POLICY AREAS: TP1: Motor Vehicles TP2: Public Transport TP3: Cycling and Pedestrian Routes THE REPORT: 1. Scope of the Plan 2. Background 3. Local Development Framework 4. Aims 5. Roads and Traffic 6. Public Transport 7. Walking and Cycling Clerk to the Council - Kevin M Price Braeside, Low Greenhills, Crook, Cumbria. LA8 8LA (Home), (Mobile) kevtherev7@hotmail.com (E mail)

2 Policy Areas The Council s agreed Transport Policies are as follows: TP1: Motor Vehicles The Council will: a. support and encourage the repainting of yellow lines & clear signage of parking restrictions and speed limits in the areas of concern referred to in paragraph 5. below. b. Actively seek the implementation of Council Minute 11/106, that: i. the Parish Council presses for the lowering of the speed limit from 40mph to 30mph between Carus Green and Burneside. ii. the Parish Council presses for the lowering of the speed limit from 30mph to 20mph through the centre of Burneside. iii. the Parish Council requests the repainting of restriction lines on Hollins Lane and the provision of painted lines demarking a pedestrian footway. iv. the Parish Council canvasses opinion regarding the provision of a village Gateway sign, in conjunction with speed calming measures. v. the Parish Council presses for traffic calming measures at the pinch point and bend by Orchard Barn and Owert Beck Cottage in Bonningate. vii. the Parish Council presses for the provision of sleeping policemen at either end of the 20 mph area in Bonningate. c. liaise with appropriate authorities to improve regular maintenance of the highways and will press for the resurfacing of all failing road surfaces. d. investigate steps to limit the disruption caused by heavy vehicles in the Parish, especially in cases where delivery vehicles are being misdirected along inappropriate routes. e. give particular support to safety improvements around schools and village amenities, including the deployment of efficient speed indicator devices. f. seek to ensure that new developments are designed in such a way as to minimise impact on the existing transport network TP2: Public Transport The Council will: a. liaise with appropriate authorities and user groups in order to improve Bus and Rail routes and frequency of those links b. promote local transport timetables, and encourage their wider display in the

3 Parish by the use of improved signage & public information boards. c. seek provision of signage at the Rail Station to clarify waiting and dropping off times, and continue in dialogue with appropriate authorities regarding the lack of street lights on the privately owned approach to the station. d. liaise with appropriate authorities to maintain and improve the condition of existing bus shelters and to consider the provision of a bus shelter at the end of Hollins Lane. TP3: Cycling and Pedestrian Routes The Council will: a. seek the provision of convenient and secure cycle stands at key locations, such as the station, shopping areas and community facilities b. promote the provision of cycle storage facilities for homeowners as a condition of new development. c. seek to improve the condition of the permissive path along Hall Road which is part of the Dales Way d. seek to provide marked pedestrian footways on sections of Hollin's Lane, and The Dales Way e. seek a vegetation clearance of bank and footway between Carus Green and Burneside (Carlingdale) with repairs to fencing there. 1. Scope of the Plan 1.1 This Local Transport Plan (LTP) sets out the key transport issues as expressed by residents, and measures through which they will be addressed. It reflects the situation in 2011 following consultation with interested parties, surveys and public meetings conducted as part of the Community Led Plan (sections 1,2,4,& 5) and a number of individual concerns brought to the attention of the Parish Council (PC). 1.2 The LTP covers the two civil parishes of Strickland Ketel and Strickland Roger, comprising a population of 1,993 in the Burneside Parish Area. The association with Kendal is equally important. 1.3 The LTP sets out the Council s vision for travel in, around and through the Parish and surrounding area. This includes motorised vehicles, cyclists, pedestrians and those using public transport.

4 2. Background 2.1 Burneside has a diverse distribution of population, spread throughout the parish, with concentrations in the main Burneside Village, and at Bowston, Bonningate, Plantation Bridge and Garnett Bridge. The population is forecast to increase slightly in the next five years, though there may be larger developments as part of the South Lakeland District Council (SLDC) Local Development Framework (LDF). 2.2 The major trip generators in the area include: -the paper mill(james Cropper's PLC), -Kendal Town Centre, -the Lake District National Park, and -the use of the Village as a cut-through between the A6 and A From the 2001 Census and Ward Profile of 2003: -32% of homes were rented/social housing. -17% of residents were below age 15-24% of residents were above age 60-14% had household incomes below 10, The Index of Multiple Deprivation (IMD) scores Burneside at This is higher than South Lakeland as a whole which has a score of This figure does not necessarily mean that the area suffers from deprivation in a general sense. The reason for the higher score is due to its rural aspect where access to services such as health care, public transport, and larger shopping centres is more difficult than in an urban environment. 2.5 The average life expectancy is 78.4 years. This is lower than the district as a whole (80.0 years). 2.6 People rely heavily on the car and public transport. Less than 1 in 10 are able to walk to work. The social profile of the Parish makes access to regular, good public transport particularly important. 2.7 The Village is served by a railway station (Kendal to Windermere line) and an hourly limited bus service. (ceasing to run after 6.00pm) 3. Local Development Framework 3.1 The scale and location of development will have consequences for future travel demand. The (LDF) forms the basis for the identification of sites for future development in the period up until The key elements of the LDF are the Core Strategy and Land Allocations Document.

5 4. Aims 4.1 The overall aims of the Transport Plan are to assist in the development of an integrated transport system that supports the economy and community in a safe and sustainable way. It is for the benefit of all road users including pedestrians and cyclists. 4.2 The aims are to: a. Improve accessibility to transport b.tackle congestion c. Improve road safety d. Maintain roads and other transport infrastructure in safe and decent order e. Improve air quality f. Improve the quality and attractiveness of public spaces and street scene within the Parish g. Ensure that new developments are designed in such a way as to minimise impact on the existing transport network h. Fairly manage and control on and off-road parking i. Encourage pedestrians, cyclists and public transport 5. Roads and Traffic 5.1 A major concern arising from public consultation was the growth in the volume of traffic passing through the village, particularly the number of large goods vehicles (LGV s). The C5058 (Kendal/Burneside/Bowston/Plantation Bridge) is a well-used route between Kendal and the A591. It is a single carriageway, with some narrow or difficult sections. The historic nature of the route means that it passes through a number of well established small settlements where dwellings are located close to the road itself. The speed, volume and size of vehicles passing along The Main Road is a significant concern as it presents a safety hazard to residents and pupils at the primary school as well as degrading the environment. 5.2 As the C5058 passes through the Parish there are a number of areas of constraint where the road is well below modern standards for a route carrying the volume of traffic it does. These constraints are particularly noticeable at : a. Eggholme; where the road narrows, bends, and has no pedestrian footway despite having two bus stops and a blind exit from a public Right of Way b. Bowston; at a bend where the road is reduced to one lane by parked vehicles c. Plantation bridge;road becomes exceedingly narrow at the brow of a hill The potential for road improvements at all of these locations is seriously constrained by the proximity of dwellings or steep embankments. This road is

6 also part of the cycle network. 5.3 The C5056 (Burneside Hall/ Low Groves) and C5057 (Hollins Lane/ Burneside Hall) are other routes passing through Burneside. They provide a link between the A6 and the A591 and as such are heavily trafficked. The route is the High Load Diversion in cases of closure of these A roads. Constraints are: a. Hollin's Lane; narrow, with no footway, winding steeply uphill, and with a manned railway crossing b. Sprint Mill; very narrow in places, no footway and part of the Dales Way c. Burneside Hall Road; extremely narrow, one lane, at brow of hill Again, there is little scope to carry out road improvements in these locations due to the proximity of historic dwellings, a railway and steep embankments. 5.4 In addition to concerns about high levels of traffic through the village there are a number of other locations where traffic flow and parking problems combine to create obstructions and hazards for both motorists and other road users. A number of locations have been identified where this is a problem namely: a. Bowston b. The Bryce Village Hall & Holme Houses c. Chapel Field d. Churchill Court and Hollin's Lane 5.5 Other narrow roads and lanes which give similar concerns are: a. Sharp's Lane; b. Back Lane to Bowston; c. Back Lane to Staveley; d. Lane to Garnet Bridge; 6. Public Transport 6.1 Burneside has retained its railway station on the Oxenholme/Windermere line. The station is managed and operated by NetWork Rail. There are problems with poorly defined traffic and pedestrian priorities as there is no car park and even dropping off/waiting times are severely restricted by local landowners. This can be a serious problem for people with mobility problems and for anyone carrying heavy luggage. 6.2 The regular bus service is the No.45 service operated by Stagecoach which runs an approximately hourly service Mondays to Saturdays on the C5058 through the village until 6.00pm. It provides a useful link between Kendal and

7 Burneside, though not to Bowston or other parts of the Parish, and not on Sundays. All of which curtail social activities for residents wishing to visit venues in Kendal. 6.3 The Route 555 skirts the edge of the Parish and links with Keswick. However, most residents would have to travel to Kendal first, as this is the transport hub, or possibly to Staveley. 7. Walking and Cycling 7.1 Sections of the existing pedestrian links are unsatisfactory. Concerns include narrow width, uneven surfaces and lack of continuity especially at: a. Hollin's Lane b. Eggholme c. Winter Lane d. Sharp's Lane e. Hall Road f. Dalesway/Sprint Mill This makes pedestrians feel very vulnerable, especially when large goods vehicles pass close by at speed, and by the primary school. 7.2 Particular problems occur at the Station Access Road where pedestrian priorities can be challenged, and on the footway near to Carlingdale where runoff from a field has disrupted the surface resulting in several accidents to pededtrians. 7.3 Burneside is on a National Cycle route. However, the combination of narrow, busy roads and steep gradients can make it difficult to get around safely. The uneven surface of the roads in some places is also a deterrent to cycling.