This HCC Saturn Consultation provides an opportunity to express views on the local highway network.
Yew Tree Drive was opened onto Botley Road for buses to use in May 2008. This was undertaken to priority to public transport in the Whiteley Area. Since then people have asked whether it would reduce congestion around Whiteley if it was open for all vehicles. At the moment Fareham Borogh Council has a
policy in its Local Plan stating that in order to minimise the impact of additional traffic on Burridge and Swanwick the bus gate should not be opened to all
traffic until Whiteley Way is completed and provides a link to the A3051 north of Curbridge. The bus gate is however available for use by emergency services and may also be opened in any emergency situation such as those caused by the adverse weather conditions earlier this year.
The Whiteley Way link is required as part of the planned new development to the North of Whiteley (3,000 homes) however this development will take some time and there are existing congestion problems at peak times. The completion of Rookery Avenue is currently not proceeding due to issues of land acquisition. Fareham Borough Council, Winchester City Council and Hampshire County Council would like to understand the views of everyone affected about whether any changes should be made to the current situation.
To test what the impact would be of opening Yew Tree Drive to all traffic, HCC has used a trafic simulation model known as SATURN to look at the different access scenarios. This uses the results of surveys and local traffic counts to give a prediction of what would happen to traffic at the busiest time of the day (8am - 9am).
The information below gives an idea of what the effects of opening Yew Tree Drive to all traffic could be. HCC asked for your views on whether opening the road for all traffic would be the best approach to managing traffic growth in Whiteley and the surrounding area and on any specific issues this would raise.
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To test the impact of opening Yew Tree Drive to all traffic, Hampshire County Council used a traffic simulation model known as SATURN to look at different access scenarios. This model uses the results of surveys and local traffic counts to give a prediction of traffic movements at the busiest time of the day (8am-9am). Views were sought on whether opening the road for all traffic would be the best approach to managing traffic growth in Whiteley and the surrounding area.
Out of 3,155 questionnaires sent to homes in Whiteley (Fareham), Park Gate, Burridge and Swanwick, 1,152 were returned (37%).
The questions asked were:
Q Should road links from Whiteley onto the Botley Road be reconsidered before Whiteley Way is completed?
A Whiteley (Fareham) residents voted 69% for and 31% against; Burridge, Swanwick and Park Gate residents voted 47% for and 53% against.
Q In the longer term do you think Rookery Avenue, once completed, should be the main southern access road link?
A Whiteley (Fareham) residents voted 74% for and 26% against; Burridge, Swanwick and Park Gate residents voted 41% for and 59% against.
Q In the short term do you think Yew Tree Drive should be trialled as an alternative link for all traffic?
A Whiteley (Fareham) residents voted 67% for and 33% against; Burridge, Swanwick and ParkGate residents voted 49% for and 51% against.
Fareham Council as the planning authority and Hampshire County Council as the highway authority will use the consultation results to aid discussions and the decision-making process. A further 3,000 houses are planned by Winchester City Council north of Whiteley.
Discussions with the transport consultant acting on behalf of the development consortium support the retention of the Yew Tree Drive bus gate for at least the short term. Their view is that opening the bus gate to all traffic now may remove a facility that is required in the longer term. If this view is supported by the County Council Executive Member for Environment, County Councillor Mel Kendal, then Fareham Council will not be asked to consider any change to the Local
Plan policy. If the County Council wants to proceed with a trial opening then a planning application must be made to the Borough Council in whose hands would be the final decision.
Last Updated on Thursday, 09 February 2012 13:46
