Nuffield Industrial Estate Accessibility

AGENDA ITEM 6

BOROUGH OF POOLE

CANFORD HEATH EAST AND WEST, CREEKMOOR AND OAKDALE AREA COMMITTEE –WEDNESDAY 14SEPTEMBER 2011

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

NUFFIELD INDUSTRIAL ESTATE ACCESSIBILITY

1.Purpose and Policy Context

1.1To note the results of a travel survey of businesses on the Nuffield Industrial Estate and consider the development of a package of measures to reduce traffic congestion in the area.

1.2The project contributes to the Council’s priority of Developing a Dynamic Economy by assisting businesses in the area. In addition by encouraging employees to walk and cycle the scheme Promotes Health & Well-being and ReducesPoole’s Carbon Footprint.

Recommendations

It is recommended that members approve:

2.1The provision of improved signing of walking and cycling routes,as shown in Appendix A.

2.3The development of further proposals with employers, including potential zoning of the estate with improved vehicular signing.

3.Information

3.1Vehicles travelling to and from the Nuffield Industrial Estate significantly contribute to traffic congestion in the road network in the surrounding area. In addition to the movement of vans/HGVs there are large numbers of single occupancy car trips by employees into the area. This results in significant parking problems, with vehicles often left on verges and pavements throughout the estate. Furthermore this is compounded by the fact that no bus service now directly operates around the Nuffield Industrial Estate itself, following the withdrawal of the direct service to Poole in June 2006. However there are frequent bus services available in the adjoining Canford Heath estate.

3.2In order to identify the key issues a survey of the businesses on the Nuffield Estate has been undertaken. Principal objectives of the study were as follows:-

Ensure effective access to the estate for customers, workers, delivery vehicles and the emergency services.
Identify issues in managing parking provision throughout the estate, including goods vehicles.
Determine the appropriate improvements required to encourage increased walking and cycling to Nuffield.
Improve access for people with disabilities, including compliance with the Equalities Act 2010.
Undertake consultation with the bus companies to determine how the area is best served by public transport.
The survey to businesses had an excellent response rate, with 60 questionnaires returned representing over 1000 employees on the Nuffield. The key priorities were seen as follows:-

Direction Signing to/from the Estate- Respondents felt that the quality and provision of direction signing to/from the estate was the key priority for all users- whether by car, on foot or by bike. It was stated as a major contributory factor to delays and congestion.

Public Transport-Businesses agreed that improvements to bus services would help people access the estate and reduce the amount of traffic on the roads. It was felt that the return of the direct bus service via the Nuffield would be of great benefit.

Managing Local Roads- Improvements such as better management of traffic flows to the Nuffield Waste Recycling Centre were seen as the third key priority.

3.4The survey also identified that Local businesses were most interested in the following potential measures, again ranked in priority order:-

Bus service improvements
Cycle facilities
Parking measures
Pedestrian facilities
Carshare information

3.5This feedback has been used to determine a package of targeted improvements for the area.

3.6Improvements to both Direction Signage and Public Transport are seen as the key issues. Discussion with the bus operators has shown that in the current economic climate there is little likelihood of a return to a direct commercial route serving the estate in the near future. The Council could potentially subsidise an additional route and this would also enable the Ryall/Stinsford Road residential area to again be served. However there have been recent budget reductions in the supported bus service area, and with the need to workwithin a well defined prioritisation system to ensure maximum benefit to users it is unlikely that the support of such a service could be justified.

3.7A more sustainable solution is to direct employees to/from the existing frequent bus routes which currently serve Canford Heath. These include :

Wilts & Dorset’s 56 buses operating every 10 minutes to Poole,

Yellow Buses providing an hourly direct link on Service 18 to Broadstone. Parkstone, Branksome and Bournemouth.

3.8Appendix A gives a plan of the proposed signage, which has been designed to assist not just the potential public transport user but pedestrians and cyclists as well. The Nuffield Estate is ringed by residential development and is permeated by an excellent network of footpaths and cycleways. By promoting these through clear signage it will massively increase awareness and improve usage, helping in particular to reduce the numbers of short distance, single occupancy car journeys. The majority of the new signs are on existing posts to reduce clutter wherever possible.

3.9Once the improved signage is in place it is proposed to work with employers to encourage sustainable travel through distributing information on cycleways, carshare options, walking and public transport routes etc in partnership with the bus operators.

3.10The next stage of the study includes examination of the vehicular signage to improve clarity. It is suggested that the estate could be split into clearly marked zones to simplify access, backed by a review of the current road signage. Further consultation with businesses and other key stakeholders will be undertaken at this stage.

4.FINANCIAL INFORMATION

4.1The pedestrian and cycle proposals will cost £12kfor which there is available funding within the Transportation Services Capital Programme.

5.LEGAL IMPLICATION

5.1None.

6.RISK MANAGEMENT

6.1There are no risk management implications.

7.EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS

7.1There are positive equalities implications for this project, permitting access to employment for those without access to a car. In addition the linking footpaths are being reviewed to ensure they meet the needs of the Equalities Act 2010 wherever possible.

8.CONCLUSIONS

8.1It is therefore recommended that the signage is approved and the project proceeds as described. The success of this scheme could potentially see it delivered at other locations where similar traffic problems exist, such as the Tower Park/Mannings Heath area.

Julian McLaughlin

Head of Transportation Services

Name and Telephone Number of Officer contact:

Nick Phillips (01202 262051)