Whiteley has developed as a community with one principal access onto the M27. This has created unique transport access difficulties. The current rate of ownership and consequential usage of the private car was never envisaged. The result has been a very car dominated development that experiences peak hour congestion. In addition legal land acquisition issues have prevented the road network from being built as originally intended.
Since the opening of the Yew Tree Drive bus gate onto Botley Road in May 2008 questions have been asked about the impact of opening the bus gate up to all traffic on the local road network which is currently prevented by Fareham Borough Council Local Plan policy T9:
(A) Road connections from Whiteley to Botley Road for general traffic will not be permitted until Whiteley Way is complete between Junction 9 on the M27 and the A3051 north of Curbridge.
(B) Bus only access from Botley Road to Yew Tree Drive and/or Rookery Avenue will be permitted provided that it can be demonstrated to be safe and that satisfactory arrangements can be made to exclude other vehicular traffic.
As a result of these enquiries Hampshire County Council has developed a SATURN traffic simulation model to test different access scenarios and their impact on Whiteley and its environs. It is important to recognise that this model does not provide all the answers. For example, it is not possible to predict with any certainty what the effects will be on the existing road network, including the M27 junction 9 and on Yew Tree Drive, until the transport impacts of the proposed development by Winchester City Council North of Whiteley of 3,000 additional houses are better understood. Therefore the model and its results are being used to help Hampshire County Council and the Local Planning Authorities, Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council, to consider appropriate road connections and uses.
SATURN Model Results
The SATURN model has been constructed and validated as an AM peak model (8am -9am) using a variety of information including the 2001 census data, local traffic counts and the results of a number of road side interviews undertaken in September 2008.
The construction of the model has allowed the testing of various highway network arrangements compared with the existing situation (2008 base year scenario) and with anticipated development in the area to assess both the short and longer term effects of any potential access changes.
The modelling results have provided a prediction of likely traffic flows if the Yew Tree Drive bus gate was to be opened to all traffic in the current circumstances. The main points of interest are:
•6% (181 trips) fewer vehicle movements between the M27 junction 9 and Whiteley Way Roundabout 1
•24% (199 trips) more vehicles movements on Yew Tree Drive
•A reduction in movement along A3051 Botley Road (South of Yew Tree Drive)
•A nine second reduction in the average journey time for vehicles exiting Whiteley,
•An increased delay at the junctions of Rookery Avenue with Yew Tree Drive and Whiteley Way Roundabout R1
A future year scenario was also tested that included planned development in the area. This suggested that very little benefit was gained from the opening of Yew Tree Drive to all traffic. It is also important to recognise that efforts have been made to provide the residents and employees of Whiteley with an improved choice of transport. This option would put public transport (buses) very much at a disadvantage.
The closure of Leafy Lane to all traffic was also tested. The model predicts a significant increase in the average journey time for all vehicle trips out of Whiteley (2 minutes 18 seconds) if the road were closed at its mid point.
What will happen next?
Fareham Borough Council Leader, Conservative Councillor Seán Woodward, has proposed that all householders within Whiteley (Fareham), Burridge, Swanwick and relevant parts of Park Gate should be consulted with the SATURN survey results so that they can make an informed judgement on possible options including the opening of additional links onto Botley Road from Whiteley. The results will then be considered by Fareham Borough Council as local planning authority and Hampshire County Council as highway authority. The final decision however would rest with Fareham Borough Council as planning permission would be required for any deviation from the local plan policy.
In addition Whiteley (Winchester) residents and key employers within Solent Business Park will be consulted . It is anticipated that this consultation will be undertaken jointly by Hampshire County Council, Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council and will take place in early 2010.
The results of this consultation together with the modelling results will be used by both Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council in developing suitable policies for proposed development and within their respective Local Development Framework documents.
Commenting, Councillor Seán Woodward said "Now that the results of the SATURN study are public it is important that affected residents are consulted on what they would like to see happen regarding access to and from Whiteley, Swanwick, Park Gate and Burridge. They have my assurance that their views will be taken fully into account by Fareham Borough Council and Hampshire County Council in terms of the local plan policies which affect access to the Fareham part of Whiteley.
"Some have suggested that the fact that I requested that the bus gate was opened to all traffic during the current adverse weather means that the decision on a permanent opening has been taken. This is not the case; my request was simply to assist residents who found some routes impassable due to snow. If any changes to current policies are to be considered this would only be after a proper consultation exercise where residents have all the facts on which to base their views.''
Last Updated on Thursday, 05 January 2012 13:37
