Transport Vision 2026 for Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership

[whole diary]

[grahame]

On the agenda for Swindon & Wiltshire Local Transport Body, Monday, 3rd March, 2014 4.30 p.m.

http://ww5.swindon.gov.uk/moderngov/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=940&MId=6413

http://ww5.swindon.gov.uk/moderngov/documents/s65424/20140224%20Swindon%20Wiltshire%20Local%20Enterprise%20Partnership%20Transport%20Vision%202026%20DRAFT%20FINAL%20v7.4.pdf

The forward ...

Economic growth is being hampered across the UK^▸ (United Kingdom) by congestion; Swindon and Wiltshire is no different in this regard especially in our urban and town centres. In addition, at peak periods, journey time reliability is extremely variable travelling north/south through the Partnership Area, and east-west into the key Bath/Bristol economic area.
The aim of Transport 2026 (T2026) is to establish a clear long term transport vision to guide the work of Swindon and Wiltshire Local Enterprise Partnership over the next decade until 2026. Paramount to this will be collaborative working with partners and other service providers to ensure that we are all working together to a common purpose which will make a positive difference to stimulating economic growth.

The Strategic Economic Plan (SEP) serves as the LEP^» (Local Enterprise Partnership - about)^s means of making a case for additional funding for transport, housing and skills, by setting out a clear strategy for the Partnership Area, and a range of interventions to deliver that strategy. T2026 is integral to the SEP as it optimises the planning and delivery of transport investments for the LEP area going forward. It brings together and refreshes work previously undertaken by Swindon Borough Council and Wiltshire Council to create an overall holistic vision for transport that is consistent with social and environmental goals of the Partnership Area. Above all, it primarily focusses on how we can deliver infrastructure that will stimulate economic growth at the same time as ensuring network resilience. In essence, we want an affordable, low carbon, accessible, efficient and reliable transport network to achieve a more competitive economy and better connected, more active and healthy communities.

T2026 states its wider Strategic Objectives as laid out in the SEP and outlines 10 Strategic Transport Objectives to deliver these goals. The document identifies issues and barriers to construction of transport infrastructure and then goes on to articulate linkages between the prioritised schemes and the economic priorities of the LEP, and serves as the wider strategic case to underpin future funding bids. It concludes with a Delivery Strategy up to 2026 which builds on the pipeline of major schemes identified through the Local Transport Body prioritisation process undertaken in June 2013.

It is fair to say that we cannot build our way out of congestion; consequently the vision recognises the key role transport has to play in reducing our carbon footprint. That is why T2026 contains the principal focus on facilitating sustainable transport and active travel by heavily promoting public transport, especially rail, buses, cycling and walking.

Paul Johnson

[Lee]

It's not often you will hear me say it, but here is a transport vision that almost mirrors how I would go about it. Particular positives include:

1) TransWilts Rail is clearly placed at the heart of a long-term strategy, which will be heartening for those who may fear the disappearance in a couple of years of the recently-introduced higher level of service. Instead, building on the current offer, and extending services towards Salisbury are key themes.

A good illustration of how central TransWilts Rail is to the T2026 Overarching Vision can be found by viewing the diagram on Page 23.

2) One of the previous arguments against TransWilts Rail was that it encourages out-commuting to Swindon. The fact that this is a transport vision for Swindon and Wiltshire removes this concern, and provides a more realistic backdrop upon which to frame the opportunities and challenges ahead.

3) The diagram on Page 25 illustrating the longer term rail vision again has TransWilts Rail as a key element, and also reaffirms support for a number of new station aspirations, some of which may previously have been considered to be off the agenda.

4) The Toolkit for Sustainable Urban Centres illustrated on Page 22 really is the kind of properly-balanced strategy I've always advocated, and if implemented in full as proposed in Swindon, Chippenham, Trowbridge and Salisbury would genuinely transform those areas.

To add a dose of realism though, whilst the vision and strategy direction of travel is very clearly heading the right way forward, it can have little hope of realisation while the funding direction of travel is so very clearly heading in reverse.

To give you an example, I fail to see how the Toolkit aspiration of "a comprehensive bus network offering real choice" can be achieved while national policy makes it increasingly difficult for bus operators to retain, let alone improve commercial urban bus services, whilst forcing local authorities to constantly review, reduce and ultimately withdraw funding for the urban bus services they support.

Also interesting that the prioritisation of major transport schemes for the Local Growth Fund (see Page 28) has been left undecided. I rather suspect that many eyes will be focused on the final order of the schemes listed.

Overall though it^s a pretty good effort, and one that I would be happy to give my backing to.

[Lee]

Interesting pteg report which, as with the SWLEP report, has the concept of agglomeration economies (the way in which high value sectors of the economy cluster together) at its heart.

[Lee]

SWLEP meeting currently taking place in Melksham, with MPs^▸ (Member of Parliament) and councils discussing their plans, along with the proposed City Deal.