Agenda item

The report of the Executive Director sought Members’ approval for the areas of support and concern for the proposals in Hertfordshire County Council’s Transport Vision 2050 and an indication of any further issues that Members wished to see included in this Council’s response.

Reportofthe ExecutiveDirector provided an update on the development of a new local transport plan for Hertfordshire and its progress through a number of stages since work commenced in 2014. 

Hertfordshire County Council was carrying out a consultation on its draft Transport Vision 2050 document, in advance of preparing its full strategy for the new Hertfordshire Local Transport Plan (LTP4) during 2017.  The consultation period started in September 2016 and will close on 14 December 2016.

The consultation marked the end of Stage 3 of the development of the new Local Transport Plan (LTP).  At this stage the County Council was consulting on some of the possible content of the full LTP strategy, which included some new policy options and major schemes.  Following this consultation the development of the new plan would enter its final stage, where a full draft LTP and updated set of transport policies would be produced and be subjected to a final round of consultation before adoption by the County Council.

The report noted that the consultation also took account of committed and likely transport system improvements, including some with a direct impact on Welwyn Hatfield such as the ‘smart motorway’ proposed between junctions 6 and 8 of the A1(M).  Other factors considered included air quality, the potential for improving public health, demographic factors, changes in technology and political or legislative priorities.  The consultation document was in two main parts, the first dealing with transport policy options and the second with suggested major schemes.

During discussion Officers responded to the issues and concerns raised by Members in respect of the responses to the consultation, which are set out below:-

·         The need for short term and long term strategies, as some proposals had taken too long to implement.  Timescales of these projects together with funding was considered.

·         Improving services to and through St Albans – traffic movement; rapid bus service may be difficult.

·         The need to invest in more sustainable modes of transport.  Walking and cycling for short journeys but long distance, there was a need for a better connectivity between towns and cities.

·         Policy options in particular – cycling in larger urbans areas. Support for shared mobility including car clubs, bike hire and car pooling. Public transport connectivity between towns through bus priority measures. With new technology in the next 15-20 years the County Council had identified the need to continue to upgrade the County’s roads.  Growth and Transport Plans would form part of the new LTP.  The plan for South West Hertfordshire was underway and was expected to be delivered first with other areas of the county to follow.  A plan for A1(M) corridor including routes through Welwyn Hatfield.

·         Access improvements to East Hemel Hempstead, Hertford Bypass and traffic congestion on A414 through Hertford.

·         Junction upgrades – potential schemes/projects along the A414 north of Harlow, at Hertford, Hatfield, Colney Heath and Park Street.

·         Noted that Olding’s East had been provisionally identified involving an extra westbound lane on the A414 approach to the junction. There appeared to be no identified solution to the traffic problems around Jack Olding’s roundabout as yet and that any option in the future would be very expensive – in excess of £250 million.

·         Historic attempts to establish an east-west transport link in Hertfordshire; back in the 1990s and Central Hertfordshire Passenger Transport System.

RESOLVED:

(1)  That the Panel approves the areas of support and concern for the proposals in Hertfordshire County Council’s Transport Vision 2050 as set out in the report and to include further comments as agreed by Members.

(2)  That the Head of Planning be given delegated authority to agree the final response to the consultation with the Executive Member for Planning.