WMPC response to Somerset Transport Plan 2006 -2011

The following response was sent into the Somerset County Council Transport Policy Unit.

WEST MONKTON PARISH COUNCIL
Comments of the Parish Council on the Somerset LTP2 2006 –2011

West Monkton Parish Council wishes to make the following comments based on the document ‘Detailed Summary April 2005’. The comments of the Council are made by reference to Page Numbers in the document.

General comments
The County is congested. Somerset should become part of, or even lead a national initiative for centralised distribution centres so that larger lorries are restricted to the major routes and only smaller lorries use the country lanes. As a rural Parish the Council are very aware of the threat of the heavy Euro-Artics increasingly found on smaller lanes.
The Parish Council endorse the suggestions generally, although some are impractical. The Council recognises that Rural Bus Services have been tried in the past, not used and consequently axed. However, other towns and cities seem to be able to run public transport systems effectively: examples quoted are Edinburgh, and Bath. Their systems are attractive, cheap, trustworthy, regular. Park and Ride is a good system when it works properly.

Page 1
The Council supports the Government’s priorities for transport.

Page 2
The Region’s priorities for transport.
West Monkton Parish will have in excess of 1000 new homes by the time this transport plan comes into effect, nearly doubling the size of the village. A percentage of the new homes will be affordable housing and the Council believes that those residents may be at risk of social exclusion. Measures should be put in place to ensure that those residents have access to Taunton. Currently a one way ticket from the middle of Monkton Heathfield (the Merry Monk bus stop) costs £1.80, which makes the round trip very expensive. Two or three sharing a taxi is more convenient and cheaper.
The impact of lorries on the rural environment is significant, milk tankers, quarry lorries are becoming bigger and bigger whilst the lanes remain the same width. Lorries making deliveries to supermarkets should have staggered arrival times, so lorries are not waiting in lay-bys for their turn to deliver.
The Parish Council would be strongly in favour of a fully completed cycle route from the village into Taunton. Currently, incomplete cycle ways are dangerous, spilling cyclists into main thoroughfares where the cycle ways cease; this is particularly evident at Monkton Elm.

Community strategy priorities for transport.
The Parish Council agrees with these priorities.

Page 3
Traffic growth forecasts are very likely to exceed the capacity of the major roads in the near future.

Page 4
Congestion issues
Minehead, in the peak of the tourist season, is congested. The proportion of urban areas accessible to bus service seems very low. The Council agrees that the bus service is perceived to be unreliable. This affects the usage, people are unwilling to take the risk if they consider they will not get to work reliably and on time. The cost has an effect on this also.

Page 5
Accessibility: comments have already been made in relation to social/affordable housing. The Parish Council looks forward to seeing the ‘Accessibility Strategy’ currently under preparation.
The Parish Council suggests that free transport for pensioners would cut down transport issues of that age group going into Taunton by car from this rural area. There needs to be improved services with more attractive fare structuring – free transport for pensioners and student cards for those in education.

Page 6
The Parish Council agrees with the objectives, but to deliver them needs a degree of foresight and forcefulness. A system needs to be in place that makes it uneconomic to drive into Taunton and park. The new development of 1000 new homes in West Monkton is very likely to bring the Creech Castle junction to a complete gridlock.

Page 7
The stakeholder views mean nothing without knowing who the stakeholders are, to understand their views.
The ‘Influence’ panels do not seem particularly supportive of Taunton’s aim for PUA status.

Page 8, 9, 10
Proposed LTP2 strategies
The Parish Council believes that the only way to minimise ‘hoppers’ on the motorway is to build a ring road, there is no alternative at present between junction 25 and 26. The Parish Council believes that the density of ‘hoppers’ between junction 26 – 27 would be less because the old Wellington by-pass provides an alternative to the motorway.
The slowing down of the traffic through Henlade is a disadvantage, and the congestion would be removed by a ring road.
Travel alternatives
The Council supports Park and Ride, Cycle Tracks, Public Transport and agrees it is essential to get people out of their cars.
The station is in the wrong place in Taunton, and the Parish Council suggests a station at Silk Mills, a ‘Taunton Parkway’. It would fit very well with the Park and Ride to be located there.
Car sharing is only enforceable by specified lanes and the roads in Taunton are not wide enough to allow for that. The Parish Council would not support a congestion charge.
Previous examples serve to give the Parish Council the opinion that employment opportunities on the major development coming to the village would not generally provide many jobs. As a result, the major development is likely to increase the number of commuters and the congestion at junction 25.
Maximise use of the existing transport networks
The Parish Council supports this.

Page 11
Development Control
The Parish Council recommends that the author of this section should consult the ‘Plain English’ authority.
The Parish Council notes that the availability of 10 minute or 30 minute parking bays are very useful for those who just have one quick errand in Taunton, and probably reduce congestion as the cars are not driving from car park to car park looking for a space.

Page 12
The Parish Council supports the idea of a defined freight network, which would segregate the bigger lorries from the lesser routes.

Page 13, 14
Demand Responsive Minibuses have been successful in our area, and are to be encouraged. They provide a reasonably priced service. Taxi-buses would be supported. Voluntary car schemes would need careful monitoring (CRB disclosure, correct insurance etc). Express bus services could provide a stopping service within the town, then become non-stopping to their destination.

Page 15
The Parish Council supports a ticketing initiative.

Page 16
A Passenger Information Initiative is supported. This information is increasingly difficult to access by those without Internet facilities. Commuter links to London by train need to be maintained, the current fast service should not be reduced in favour of stopping trains.

Page 17
Education is crucial. The road awareness of many children is poor. Are Cycling Proficiency tests still available?
There are issues of congestion caused by parents taking children to school. In Monkton Heathfield this matter is exacerbated by the fact that the Primary and Secondary School are located in a cul-de-sac. As the village grows, the Parish Council suggests that walking buses should be established, and become the norm. This may need a County Council employee rather than relying on volunteers. Yellow buses are another alternative that the Parish Council supports.

Response ends