Policy S14: Chichester City Transport Strategy

Without a long term robust solution to the A27, Chichester will continue to act as a rat run for traffic avoiding the southern ring road. The junction changes will not solve the lack of road capacity for through and local traffic and restricting right hand turning at junctions will make local journeys more difficult. More traffic caused by more housing in the area (especially in communities away from the rail network) with no increase in road capacity will make an increase in sustainable travel such as cycling more difficult to achieve.

The delivery of strategic cycle routes (bullet 7) should preserve and enhance Centurion Way, Salterns Way, the Bognor Regis Way and the South Coast Cycle Route

On Policy S14: Chichester City Transport Strategy
* The Chichester Society propose the following additional measures are included:
* Replacement of the level crossings in Basin Road and Stockbridge Road by an underpass or bridge
* Safeguarding of land to enable the expansion of the Chichester railway Station, its tracks and platforms, from 2 to 4 to enable a fast train service
* Safeguarding of land close to the A27 for a future "park and ride"
* Safeguarding of land close to the A27 for a "consolidation centre" for break bulk delivery to city retail units.

The policy relating to city centre housing density of at least 35dph was not considered to be particularly helpful, as it is arbitrary and, in practice, density depends very much on site constraints and surrounding context.

The policy relating to Chichester city centre was generally supported as relevant and positive.

There was significant concern about reduction of town centre parking provision. Concerns were that this may affect the vitality and viability of the city centre and that any parking changes may disproportionately affect older and less mobile residents as well those encumbered by purchases all of whom rely on close and convenient access to parking.

It was suggested that park and ride should be looked into, although it was noted that it had been investigated as part of the District Council's background documents. It was also noted that any changes to parking provision or restrictions should tie in with the road space audit.

Support this policy where it makes specific reference to Cycling

Specifically supporting:
Introducing bus lanes and bus priority measures along key routes (including the A259 Bognor Road approaching its junction with the A27);

Also to ensure that any future development in the Southgate area of Chichester must not reduce facilities for bus users (i.e. the ability to interchange between all routes at once central location).

Resident of West Wittering
All the work defined in the Peter Brett Report was clearly laid out in the Jacobs 2013 Transport Study of which none of the recommendations have been undertaken to date even though we are now 5 years into the adopted Local Plan period with nearing all of the committed build on the Peninsula being met.

The planning officers at the exhibition assured me that there would be no further public consultation on these proposals. I object to this process, which seems designed to force through significant developments without proper consultation and regard to the views of local residents.

Despite the proposed changes to the city centre junctions, in practice more and more traffic is being routed into the city's inner ring road. This should be addressed by peripheral relief roads, particularly from the A27 (west) to the A286 (between Summersdale and Lavant) in line with work already done by WSCC to identify a route for such a road. This would remove much through traffic from Orchard Street. A similar relief road is needed between the A27 (east) and the A286.

Introduce Park & Ride, at least for the two A27 junctions and possibly for the A259 from Bognor. The Road Space Audit is opposed to the interests of local residents, by making commuters take parking places which local residents need. At the same time it is negative towards employees travelling from outside Chichester, making them park far outside the city centre (15-25 minute walking distance or more). Park & Ride is not only about car park capacity, it is more importantly about reducing the numbers of cars travelling into the city centre from outside the city.

1. Why is there no mention of any Park and Ride plans?
2. City parking is not visitor friendly. Car parks are taking card payments at last, but street parking still relies on coins! This is one of the few uses of coins in today's world.
3. The principle of "pay as you park" is not visitor friendly. Tourists in particular are forced to try and calculate how long their visit is likely to take. This takes away any flexibility for the visitors to extend their stay, taking advantage of unforseen attractions and reduce the stress of a ticket deadline.

There should be a commitment here to protect and enhance existing infrastructure in place. For example specifically:-

National Cycle Route 2 along Westgate (set to be downgraded under new WHF s106)
Centurion Way Leisure Walking and Cycling Path

Delivering key strategic cycle routes must be an honoured commitment not just an aspiration. I moved to Chichester 5 years ago and have experienced excellent cycling provision in Cambridge, Switzerland and Dublin, where everyone cycled where it was flat. Yet along Westgate, a national cycle route, we see 00s of cars dropping and collecting from Bishop Luffa, local residents driving to the town, station and shops, because they are frightened to cycle. Able bodied and schoolchildren should be encouraged to cycle, and a real commitment to strategic cycle routes that follow desire lines for cyclists must be made.

It is proposed that the following additional measures are included:
* Replacement of the level crossings in Basin Road and Stockbridge Road by an underpass or bridge.
* Safeguarding of land to enable the expansion of the Chichester railway Station, its tracks and platforms, from 2 to 4 to enable a fast train service
* Safeguarding of land close to the A27 for a future "park and ride"

I support some of the aspirations but not the pace of change that is envisaged. For the delivery of strategic cycle routes, the speed of change needs to be much faster. RTPI is good but needs to be extended. Car parking provision, especially in St Pauls and Bognor Roads needs to be restricted to allow for bus and cycle lanes.

Too much aspiration and not enough definite dates for actions.
Air quality management areas need to do something rather than just report. There are no suggestuions oc actions such as fining drivers for idling, especially near schools.

Support reduction of car parking in the city centre to reduce exposure to pollution.

Support removal of car parking to put in bus routes and safe separate cycle routes specifically on St Paul's Road and Bognor Road.

Bus/Rail interchange must provide proper facilities for bus users eg toilets, waiting room, bus information screens as well as staff and tourist information and cafe. High quality facilities are key to welcoming visitors to our city and make public transport more attractive and preferable to private transport.

I am a cyclist, and this is my main means of getting around in Chichester, as I sold my car 4 years ago for environmentsl reasons. I am 69 years old and female and take my life in my hands when I venture out on my bike virtually every day. I have twice been hit by a vehicle in Chichester, because currently there are very few safe cycling lanes in the cuty.
Cycle routes must be direct, convenient, joined-up, segregated from vehicular traffic, clear and safe and not be simply painted lines on the road.

Please improve the paving in the city centre to enhance the pedestrian network specifically to help prevent trips and increase comfort for those who have mobility issues (eg people with Parkinsons Disease) and for people in wheelchairs.

Policy and preceding text in paras 4.94 to 4.102 will in large part depend on funding by others- very aspirational.
Congestion and Air Quality: there is no mention of previously hailed 'to-not through traffic' aspirations, requiring quantum improvement in the surrounding highway network beyond the modest and short term Peter Brett measures
There is now an imminent fourth AQMA at Westhampnett Road.
Behavioural change considered by SYSTRA to have limited effect; PBA omits to summarise any benefits in its Section 11; indicates limited week day use and high cost of P&R provision and operation. Safeguarding P&R space a waste.

Rather than increasing car parking provision in the city it should be decreased and Park and Ride should be introduced. This will reduce congestion in the city, help air pollution and allow easy and cheap access for shoppers. Sustainable modes of transport should be encouraged and specifically there should be cycles lanes along St Paul's Road as well as Bognor Road. Cycle lanes in general should be direct, convenient, joined-up, safe and clear and segregated from other traffic.

This policy is aspirational. 4.94 to 4.102 will greatly depend on funding from developers and government "shooting star" funding streams!

Again as in so much of this Plan there is no real mention of quantifiable relieving of air pollution and congestion by "to-not through traffic" aspirations so regaled at Chichester Vision meetings.

Worryingly and skirted over in this Plan is the now imminent fourth AQMA area at Westhampnett Road. Chichester has the most AQMAs in the whole of West Sussex.

Behavioural change has been found in studies to have a limited effect examples being Mott Macdonald and Systra.

Please add the following to the text

"Delivering strategic cycle routes linking the city centre, residential areas and key facilities, including proposed areas of new housing, employment and greenspace within and close to the city"...(existing text)
(additional text to add)....and extending existing cycle routes into the city centre. Particularly linking cycle ways Centurion Way (National Cycle Route 88), Salterns Way, Chichester to Bognor Regis (National Cycle Route 2) and Chichester to Emsworth (National Cycle Route 2), directly into Chichester city centre.

Faze out use of Little London and Baffin's Lane car parks because of the disproportionate degree of congestion and inconvenience these small car parks cause within the city centres historic medieval streets. Although these car parks may have some justification if dedicated only to disabled car users their general use is unhelpful for the development of the city along the lines outlined in the Chichester Vision Document. In the first year of fazing out these car parks, they should be closed on the first Sunday of each month to allow car free days in Chichester where the pedestrian precinct can be extended to the Hornet Gyratory and Midhurst roundabout. This would roughly double the pedestrianised area available to community, shoppers and tourists. Subsequent years the fazing out of these car parks should be accelerated by closing them on an increasing number of days of the week each year.

I support the reduction of car parking in the city centre to reduce the currently excessive air pollution. Removing car parking and adding extra bus routes and cycle lanes will make the city centre much more attractive to shoppers and visitors. Good quality bus and rail facilities at the interchange are needed with toilets, a waiting room, staff and tourist information so that public transport is a preferable option to private cars.

The only way to solve the current and future travel congestion on A27, A259, Salthill Road rat run to avoid Fishbourne Roundabout, Funtington Road, etc. is to provide more cheap and easy public transport including park and ride schemes all year round.
Cycle paths, footpaths, buses, trains, walking routes are far more essential than currently accepted. Current traffic pollution, congestion etc. will fast become a crisis if other alternatives are not

4.99 - analysis of the impact of junction improvements on A27 needs to be undertaken before adoption of the plan. Considerable impact expected on the journeys of those in Donnington - effectively reducing access from A27 from 4 to 2 access points for those turning right from A27 means more congestion on routes into the city.

The policy should underline that the support for pedestrian and cycle networks will include new links between existing settlement areas, for example residents of Donnington have for many years been pressing, without success for local authority intervention to initiate provision of a direct footpath and cycle route between Donnington Village and the Stockbridge area of Donnington where the Parish/Community Hall and local; shops are located.
It should be recognised that with an ageing population there are many with impaired mobility dependent on mobility scooters and footpaths/cycleways should be suitable to enable them to get around retaining independence.

Halnaker resident.

This is good policy but doubt very much than any of it will be in place before the development is allocated and built.

Is this not just a re-run of the failed HE consultation?
This will not resolve the traffic problems and will disadvantage local residents, the A27 and its proximity to the city are the problem.

The current proposal for the modification of the A27 merely repeated old ideas already rejected by the public in south Chichester. The modification of the Stockbridge roundabout will greatly reduce access for residents in south Chichester to the A27 and will create rat-runs within the area, channelling traffic through housing areas and past schools (Kingsham in particular). It will further isolate communities on the southern edge of the city (Stockbridge) and make access difficult to the Manhood peninsular. These ideas are tinkering with the problem without offering long-term relief, and the inconvenience of the works will have a negative effect on the east/west flow of traffic, as did the (minor in comparison) replacement of the Stockbridge roundabout footbridge.

Support overdue inclusion of traffic lights in junction designs. Planners should realise that many objections by motorists, young and old, to changes such as the removal of the Oving lights, are because the existing roundabouts are so dangerous.

This Policy is insufficiently developed to be meaningful. There is nothing in the Evidence Base (as at the last afternoon for public consultation) in relation to "the forthcoming Chichester Vision - Transport Feasibility Study", which means that no-one taking part in this consultation can be expected to know what this Policy S14 means!
This Policy is crucial to the Plan's Strategic Objectives, including for "safe, clean" communities and Health and Well-Being, as well as Environment. I strongly object to it being brought forward for consultation without adequate detail. This aspect of the Plan should be re-opened for public consultation when CDC can evidence the aforementioned Transport Feasibility Study and respondents are able to consider the full picture. More needs to be done to support non-vehicular transport for all, not simply reducing traffic congestion and improving safety at key junctions for vehicles. In line with the Strategic Objective for communities to "help shape the area in which they live", "relevant organisations" with which CDC promises to work MUST include our communities, such as Parklands (where we are awaiting a report by Living Streets on an extensive Community Street Audit, which we may wish to submit as evidence).
N.B. As a Committee member of Parklands' Residents' Association (PRA), please note that PRA may wish to pursue this subject with CDC and with the Inspector at Examination in Public, if it is not adequately addressed.
Also, as a volunteer Chichester Tree Warden, Chichester Tree Wardens may wish to pursue the subject of policy relating to trees in the context of Policy S14 Chichester City Transport Strategy.