North Yorkshire County Council Executive 25 June 2019
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
North Yorkshire County Council Executive 25 June 2019 Scarborough Park and Ride Report of the Corporate Director – Business and Environmental Services 1.0 Purpose of Report 1.1 To update the Executive on the review of the level of service provision of Park and Ride in Scarborough and the consultation outcome on revised provision levels. 1.2 The Executive is asked to approve a change in of the level of service provision of Park and Ride in Scarborough. 2.0 Background 2.1 The Scarborough Park and Ride service was introduced as part of the Scarborough Integrated Transport Scheme (SITS) on 14 February 2009. 2.2 The main objectives of the SITS scheme were: to reduce the traffic congestion on the southern approach to Scarborough to reduce the number and severity of road traffic casualties to provide a net improvement in the environment for residents to encourage alternative modes of transport 2.3 The two park and ride sites were constructed on the A64 Seamer Road and the A165 Filey Road on the outskirts of Scarborough to the south. 3.0 Existing Provision 3.1 The A165 Filey Road site is owned by NYCC and the A64 Seamer Road site is leased from Scarborough Borough Council under a peppercorn rent arrangement. Both sites have 600 free car parking spaces and modern passenger facilities which include a heated structure with enclosed seating areas, toilets and information stands. Both sites have lockable gates that make the site secure each evening or when required at other times. 3.2 The sites are managed by NYCC Facilities Management staff who provide ground maintenance, cleaning and they open and close the sites at the beginning and end of the day. Additional security is provided through Facilities Management during the week of Scarborough Horse Fair at both sites. 3.3 The bus service contract is managed by Integrated Passenger Transport and it has been operated by East Yorkshire Motor Services Ltd for the last 9 years. The current contract is due to expire in November 2019. 3.4 The service is currently available seven days a week all year round, including Bank Holidays, except for Christmas Day, Boxing Day and New Year’s Day. 3.5 Buses run every 15 minutes, following a circular route, stopping at South Bay and York Place before returning to the respective park and ride sites. NYCC – 25 June 2019 - Executive Scarborough Park and Ride/1 3.6 The fares for the service are retained by the operator. This practice ensures that the revenue risk lies with the operator and as such encourages the operator to promote the service and encourage higher passenger numbers. 3.7 Unlike park and ride services in other areas the service does not pick up or set down passengers at intermediate stops, only allowing passengers to get on and off at the park and ride sites and a limited number of stops in Scarborough. 3.8 The current cost of providing the park and ride bus service, is borne by Scarborough ‘on street’ car parking charges and the LBS supported bus service budget (£150K). 3.9 The following table sets out an overview of the costs associated with the provision of the whole service. Costs for operation of sites and services – 2018/19 £ A64 Seamer Road 246,989 A165 Filey Road 249,365 Total £496k 4.0 Performance to Date 4.1 Initially the park and ride service had a significant positive impact on congestion and traffic data collected in 2011 showed that it had contributed to, on average, the removal of 500 vehicles a day from Scarborough town centre. 4.2 However, data collected in 2012 showed a large reduction in use compared to the same period in 2011. This coincides with the Councils decision to introduce a fare of £1 (return) for concessionary pass holders following the removal of the service from the Concessionary Fares Scheme in April 2012. Prior to that time pass holders could travel for free on the service. 4.3 Following the changes in 2012 there has been a steady decline in passenger numbers each year which can be seen in graph and the table below. 4.4 Number of Passengers Number of passengers total Seamer Road Site Filey Road Site 2011-2012 238694 294468 533162 2012-2013 162902 203166 366068 2013-2014 150844 174650 325494 2014-2015 140671 164864 305535 2015-2016 137948 162762 300710 2016-2017 134839 151935 286774 2017-2018 124786 147331 272117 2018-2019 130034 153987 284021 NYCC – 25 June 2019 - Executive Scarborough Park and Ride/2 Total Passengers 2017/2018 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 Total Passengers 2018/2019 3500 3000 2500 2000 1500 1000 500 0 5.0 Consultation 5.1 On 25 January 2019 the Corporate Director Business and Environmental Services (BES) and BES Executive Members approved the proposed consultation of options to change the level of service provision of Park and Ride in Scarborough. 5.2 The consultation, a copy of which is at Appendix 1, opened on 8 February 2019 and closed on 30 April 2019. 5.3 A total of 560 consultation responses were received, full details are available at Appendix 2. Responses were mainly from individuals (99%) with only 1% responding on behalf of an organisation that represent businesses or are businesses in their own right. Responses from those who used the service were slightly higher (59%) than those who did not (41%). 5.4 The diagram below shows the geographical areas the respondents were from. The higher responses from the Scarborough area are unsurprising with the proposals relating to this area. NYCC – 25 June 2019 - Executive Scarborough Park and Ride/3 5.5 Of the options relating to the level of service, the responses were: 5.6 Respondents were asked if they felt there would be any likely impacts the proposals may have on particular groups of people, with reference to the ‘protected characteristics groups’. Of responses that the proposals would impact on groups of people with the protected characteristics, the majority referred to the groups of age and disability and the limited mobility that some people within these groups may have and the difficulties the proposals would cause in relation to this. Lack of suitable or available parking was also highlighted as being a foreseeable issue by these groups. The number of respondents aged over 50 years of age accounted for 67.6% of respondents and the number of respondents considering themselves to be disabled or having a long term limiting conditions accounted for 14% or respondents. 5.7 Respondents were also asked to provide other comments, suggestions and feedback in relation to the options. Themes from these responses were: Parking 5.7.1 Lack of available parking within Scarborough town centre during the summer months and the parking strategy and parking charges do not encourage use of the service. NYCC – 25 June 2019 - Executive Scarborough Park and Ride/4 Congestion and Traffic Management 5.7.2 Existing congestion at peak times and during summer was mentioned by a number of respondents with one commenting that future developments outside of the town will increase the congestion. One respondent commented stopping the bespoke park and ride service and using existing bus services will not increase car movements but will reduce bus movements. Other comments include there is less congestion in winter; A64 sites needs to be further out of town near Morrisons, cars are already in congestion by the time they reach the site. 5.7.3 There were also traffic management related comments from a number of respondents, such as Filey Road site is better as it has the bus lane; the traffic is already congested before you reach the Seamer Road site and it should be nearer Morrisons; bus priority and bus lanes are needed on Seamer Road, the buses are in the same traffic as everyone else; close the sites and remove all traffic lights that were put in for the P&R would improve traffic flow. Environment 5.7.4 There were also comments in relation to the environmental impact, and subsequent health impact, of increasing the number of cars in the town, a suggestion to use electric vehicles, smaller vehicles or existing bus services to reduce pollution. Promotion and Publicity 5.7.5 A number of respondents commented on the promotion and publicity of the service and publicity and marketing should be more effective, targeted promotions aimed at commuters, shoppers and tourists. Road signage on the approaches to Scarborough was also commented as being need of improvement/refresh.; introduce attraction based discount schemes; the signage needs refreshing; there is not enough signage on the approaches to Scarborough; sell advertising at the site; the hospital through ticket isn't advertised enough and some drivers don’t know about it. Existing Year Round Provision and other Existing Service Comments 5.7.6 The importance of retaining a year round park and ride service in some format and the potential of using existing bus services to enable this. One respondent commented Stop all the buses and use existing services to divert into sites; stop buses in winter and use existing services; using existing services will allow travel to points other than town centre; existing services are already full in summer. Other comments Reduce frequency in winter or run at commuter times only; reduce the size of vehicles; service is still needed for Christmas and special events; run later buses, especially in summer; use stops on the way into town to pick up local passengers; change route to include other destinations and attractions; decline in usage is because of reduction from 10 minutes; include hospital as a stop.