Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy- Consultation Document

Home , Bagshot, Camberley, Deepcut, Frimley, Mytchett, Old Dean

Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1

Consultation Document

February 2012

This document has been produced by: The Planning Policy and Conservation Team, Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Heath House, Knoll Road, Camberley Surrey GU15 3HD

For further information please-mail us at [email protected]

Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Contents

1 Introduction 1

2 Vision and Objectives 4

3 Transport in and around Camberley Town Centre 5 Commuting and Accessibility 5 Highways 5 Car Parking 7 Rail 9 Bus Services 11 Current Initiatives 13 Park and Ride Services 14

Appendices 23 Appendix 1. Camberley Town Centre accessibility by public transport in the am peak. 25 Appendix 2 Location of on-street car parking within and around Camberley Town Centre 27

Appendix 3. Suggestions for possible actions to improve the accessibility of Camberley Town Centre 29

Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

1 Introduction

1.1 This document is the first stage in preparing an Access Strategy for Camberley Town Centre and its surrounding area. This Part 1 Study has been prepared in partnership with Surrey County Council. We recognise that access and transport are key issues for the town centre. This Part 1 Study identifies as far as possible the baseline evidence for Camberley Town Centre and the issues arising. We want to hear from local residents and businesses on what issues they think should be identified and what actions need to be identified in an Access Strategy for Camberley Town Centre.

1.2 In particular we would like comments on the following:

Do you agree with the issues identified on page 26?

Are other any other issues that should be included?

Which of the improvements or actions listed in Appendix 3 would you support?

Are there any other improvements or actions that you would like to see being considered/

1.3 Comments can be made on any aspect of this document by using the downloadable forms that can be found on http://www.surreyheath.gov.uk/futureofcamberley and e-mailing these to [email protected]. Or, by posting them to the Planning Policy and Conservation Team c/o Surrey Heath Borough Council, Surrey Heath House, Knoll Road, Camberley, Surrey GU15 3HD.

The period for comments begins on Monday 5th March 2012 and closes at 5pm on Monday 23rd April 2012

Backgound

1.4 The Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy ( the Access Strategy) seeks to identify the key transport issues facing the town centre and how access to the services and facilities within it can be improved. That is, the community’s ability to access key services and facilities within and immediately surrounding Camberley Town centre by all transport modes.

1.5 The Access Strategy will be used to guide development within Camberley in the period up to 2028. It will identify an action plan and proposals that can be

1 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

used as the basis for further work and for directing future funding and resources as they become available.

Plan 1 Boundary of Camberley Town Centre

1.6 Work on the Access Strategy and the responses to this consultation will inform the policies and proposals of the Camberley Town Centre Area Action Plan (AAP). It will also provide inputs into other documents such as the Community Infrastructure Levy Schedule and Supplementary Planning Documents as required.

1.7 The Access Strategy will be developed through a number of stages as set out in Figure 1.

1.8 This document sets out in summary the evidence base currently available for Camberley Town Centre. It identifies a list of possible actions that have arisen from Camberley Transport Conference, background studies and other work with Surrey County Council and seeks views on these. The access strategy also identifies further work that needs to be undertaken.

2 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Figure 1: Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Development Process

Stage 1  Desk study to identify evidence base, key issues and information required.  Carry out any surveys etc needed.  Seek public comments on key transport concerns

Stage 2  Generation of potential solutions to problems and issues identified in Stage 1.  Review of solutions and options to be included in draft Action Plan . Look at costs/funding , who to deliver, phasing and likelihood of achieving this  Agreement to Stage 1 and Stage 2 reports by SCC Local Area Committee and SHBC to go forward to Stage 3.

Stage 3  Planned adoption and/or inclusion into existing and emerging policy documents  Public consultation

Stage 4  Implementation of schemes - This stage will be subject to funding availability, approvals and further consultation on the detail of individual schemes

3 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

2 Vision and Objectives

2.1 The overarching objectives for Camberley Town Centre as set out in the Core Strategy include:

To promote and deliver sustainable development in the Borough.

Improve travel choice and transport services to encourage sustainable travel patterns and, in particular, reduce reliance on the private car.

Promote the role of Camberley town centre as a secondary regional centre and as a safe and attractive retail, cultural and entertainment centre with a high quality of environment.

2.2 The Vision for Camberley Town Centre as set out in the Preferred Options AAP (2008) is :

Camberley Town Centre will be a thriving centre offering a wide range of shops, excellent leisure facilities, high quality office premises and residential opportunities, and a full range of community services for the local and wider community.

There will be a high quality of design with an attractive streetscene, and a range of natural and civic open spaces for use by the public. There will be easy access to the centre with a good public transport system, and an emphasis on pedestrian priority.

2.3 Objective 5 of the AAP is: To improve accessibility within and to the Town Centre by all means of transport.

2.4 The objective of this study is: to understand the current situation within and around the town centre and identify actions/options to improve the accessibility and sustainability of Camberley Town Centre.

2.5 The Part 1 Access Study looks at what modes of transport are used to access the town centre, where from and how accessibility can be improved. The study therefore looks beyond the town centre.

4 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

3 Transport in and around Camberley Town Centre

Commuting and Accessibility 3.1 Travel patterns are based on travel to work data from the 2001 Census. An analysis of this data found that for those people who travel by car and commute out of Camberley the most popular destinations were Farnborough, Bracknell and Heathrow Airport. An analysis of the origins of those people travelling to work in Camberley showed a much more dispersed pattern but most were clustered around the town centre. The patterns for other modes of transport were similar. From this it is concluded that whilst people living in Camberley commute some distance to work, most of those who commute to work within Camberley, live locally.

3.2 This work will be updated once the results of the 2011 Census are known. Until the data from that census is available, some of the trend information must be treated with caution.

3.3 In respect of predicted changes in commuting based on the current town centre. It is considered that whilst numbers employed in shops and restaurants/licensed premises will increase this will be offset by the decline in employment in commercial offices as these buildings are converted or redeveloped for other uses. Thus there is not expected to be any significant change in commuting arising from changes in employment within the town centre. However, overall employment within the Borough is predicted to increase by up to 7,500 by 2028 and this will affect Camberley Town Centre.

3.4 Housing numbers in the town centre will also increase and this will affect traffic flows. This is likely to have a different effect on peak hour traffic flows and commuting in the town centre. Further work will be undertaken to look at this issue.

3.5 The accessibility of the town centre by each mode of transport varies by mode and time of day. In summary however Camberley Town Centre is accessible from most of the western and central parts of the Borough in less than 30 minutes by public transport ( see Appendix 1).

Highways 3.6 The level of traffic growth that may occur in the Camberley area over the period of the LDF up to 2028 is difficult to predict. The high level of office floorspace vacancies , growing unemployment and downturn in the retail trading conditions mean that current traffic conditions do not reflect what might more usually be expected. However, with significant employment growth predicted for Surrey Heath and neighbouring districts, it is likely that

5 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

there will be some traffic growth regardless of the level of development in Camberley town centre. However, the scope for highway improvements is limited.

3.7 Most traffic travelling through the town centre passes by on the London Road A30 and is from commuting to/from areas around Heathrow Airport either by the A30 or via Junction 3 of the M3 motorway. Current peak flows along the A30 are well within capacity. However, congestion or disruption on the M3 motorway results in disruption on the A30 as the motorway traffic seeks alternative routes. In addition, at the weekends traffic queues build up as traffic travels between Camberley Town Centre and The Meadows.

3.8 In addition previous work in support of new development within the town centre has suggested that the following junctions were operating at or over capacity during peak periods and may potentially require improvement in the event of any further development in the town centre.

. London Road / Knoll Road; . London Road / Park Street; . London Road / Southern Road; . Knoll Road / Portesbery Road; . Frimley Road /Park Road.

3.9 However, this view is not supported by what actually appears to be happening during peak hours.

3.10 To address the disparity in modelled and observed traffic behaviour, a traffic survey of Camberley Town Centre and the approach roads including the ‘rat runs’ to the east of the town centre and the A30/ Meadows gyratory system will be undertaken during March/ April 2012 (avoiding the Easter school holiday).

6 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Key A30 Jolly Farmer Proposed model extent

Wider Issues model extent

Town Centre

York Town A30 Meadows Gyratory

M3 J4 Frimley

Plan 2 Area covered by proposed Movement Study

Car Parking 3.11 The current car parking provision within the town centre is set out in Tables 1 and 2 below.

Table 1: Off street car parking

Car park Standard spaces Disabled spaces

Main Square MSCP 1025 36

Knoll Road MSCP 630 11

Atrium MSCP 682 0

Knoll Road library 10 5

Citizens Advice Bureau 0 6

Total 2347 58

7 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Table 2: On street car parking

Street/area Standard spaces Disabled spaces

Service areas 1-6 81 0

High Street 41 8

A30 Slip road 35 0

St Georges Road 9 0

Total 166 8

3.12 Compared to other nearby centres Camberley appears to have a lower than average level of car parking provision as shown in Table 3 below .

Table 3 Provision of off street car parking in nearby town centres

Town centre Total existing town Existing off street parking Parking spaces per centre retail spaces* 100sqm of retail floorspace floorspace

Aldershot 56000 2039 3.64

Basingstoke 96000 4874 5.08

Bracknell 47000 2031 4.32

Camberley 57000 2347 4.11

Farnborough 48000 3068 6.39

Guildford 98000 4868 4.97

Woking 88000 3925 4.46

Wokingham 32000 1101 3.44

* Excludes Saturday only

3.13 However, what is not possible to compare is the usage or turnover of spaces between centres and thus whether there is a shortfall or sufficient capacity exists. It is difficult to obtain this data from car park operators but further work will be undertaken on this issue.

8 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

3.14 In addition further work will be needed to ascertain the effect of the Controlled Parking Zone around the town centre. On street parking provides 395 spaces within and around the town centre, as shown in Appendix 2.1 .

Rail 3.15 Camberley has a peak hour only main line rail service, as a result many residents currently drive to Brookwood or Farnborough for fast frequent rail services to London. Rail connections to nearby towns are also poor. Table 4 suggests journey times are significantly slower than by car but this takes no account of road congestion. In peak hours rail services will be the faster means of travel for many journeys.

3.16 In respect of rail passenger demand Camberley Station is under used compared to similar towns. In 2005/06 Camberley Station handled approximately 355,000 passengers, making it the 41st station out of 83 in Surrey. In 2009/10 that had increased to 439,678 passengers and Camberley had risen to 39th busiest station in Surrey. Yet this is well below Camberley’s potential, as it is one of Surrey’s six main town centres and ranked 26th among all town centres in the South East region.

3.17 The trend in rail passenger growth was increasing growth usage until 2009/10 which saw a decline in all 5 stations. The decline is not viewed as significant by the rail industry and as a result no analysis has been undertaken. However, possible reasons could include the very bad weather in 2009/10 and/or the onset of the current economic recession.

3.18 It is notable that when better rail services are available for longer journeys (such as with the three early morning direct trains to Waterloo), then the proportion of rail journeys rises considerably – for example, 21% of all work trips to or from Greater London are made by rail.

1 Source Surrey Heath Local Area Committee Report SCC June 2011

9 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Table 4: Comparison of Journey Times by Rail and by Car, from Camberley High Street

Distance By Car By Rail No. of Changes Required (miles) (mins) (mins)

Farnborough 3.5 11 53 2

Bracknell 10.7 25 32 1

Aldershot 9.6 17 15 0

Farnham 14 20 46 1

Woking 10.4 29 42 1

Guildford 18 26 46 0

Reading 18 26 46 1

London Waterloo 36 55 72 0

Basingstoke 20 23 79 2

Southampton 52 48 100 2

Gatwick 45 45 101 1

Source: RAC Route Planner and rail timetables

Table 5 Passenger numbers for rail stations in Surrey Heath and adjoining areas

Station 2004/05 2005/06 2006/07 2007/08 2008/09 2009/10

Bagshot 95357 102266 118241 138110 140500 136836

Brookwood 679893 694226 757006 888411 896710 891976

Farnborough 2359794 2412636 2748039 2654016 2860316 2737240 (Main)

Frimley 181097 197992 198063 221711 242318 224614

Camberley 343634 355145 377291 432878 449692 439678

Source: Office of Rail Regulation

10 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Bus Services 3.19 The 2001 census showed that 1.7% of Surrey Heath residents travelled to work by bus,2 compared to 4.4% in the Southeast and 7.5% in England as a whole. This suggests a low level of bus usage. However, the census data is now very old and anecdotal evidence suggests that bus passenger numbers have increased. The Blackwater Valley Stagecoach Gold Bus service launched in 2009 achieved a 10% increase in patronage in the first year of operation and at least a further 7% in the following year.3 In addition these routes are amongst the few unsubsidised bus routes in Surrey. This suggests that bus usage has increased and that there is the potential to increase passenger numbers still further.,

3.20 The bus is most commonly used for trips between 1-10 miles – about two- thirds of bus trips (nationally) are under 5 miles, and 90% are less than 10 miles. In the Camberley area the bus is the second most important mode for non-food shopping trips, after the private car. The 2007 retail survey found that 9% of non-food shopping trips by Camberley residents, 13% by Frimley/Ash Vale residents, and 3% by Bagshot residents were made by bus. On average, the bus accounted for 5.8% of non-food shopping trips in the catchment area, which was marginally higher than the proportion of people walking to the shops (5.7%).

Bus Services in the Camberley Area

3.21 Camberley is served by three main operators: Stagecoach, First and Arriva. There are several smaller operators but these mainly offer term time services between schools. Details of bus services in the Camberley area are listed in Table 6 overleaf.

3.22 Table 6 shows that towns within 5 miles of Camberley are fairly well-served with buses, with one or two services operating every 10-15 minutes and several services operating every 30 minutes. The frequency of the direct services decreases with distance from the town, and towns more than 10 miles from Camberley have relatively few and less frequent services. Above 10 miles, the train becomes the main alternative for non-car trips.

2 Note: The total (100%) includes home working. Excluding these, the proportion of Surrey Heath residents travelling by bus to work rises to 3% (see Table 3.1). 3 Source: Stagecoach Group newsletter November 2010

11 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Table 6: Summary of Bus Services in Camberley

Bus Service Number

Band Town Distance Every Every 30 Every Less from minutes hour frequent 10-15 Camberley service minutes (miles)4

Meadows 3, 194, Shopping 7, 1.4 50 (free 200 Centre 500,502 service)

Blackwater 1.6 3 200 7, 500

Frimley 2.5 1 2, 3 35 502

4.9 2.8

Bagshot 34

– miles 0 0 Sandhurst 3.3 3, 194

Lightwater 4.0 34

Farnborough 4.1 1 2 7

Yateley 4.5 3 1005

West End 4.7 34

Bisley 5.91 34

Crowthorne 6.6 194

Ash Vale 6.7 3

9.9miles

–

5 5 North Camp 6.9 1

Bracknell 8.1 194

Aldershot 10.1 1 3 7

Woking 10.4 34 35

Guildford 18.5 34 35

10+ miles Staines 19.2 500

Basingstoke 19.4 10

Note: above service frequencies refer to direct, weekday services

4 Source: RAC Route Planner 5 100 Bus service runs twice daily from Hook to Camberley

12 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Existing gaps and shortfalls

3.23 There are areas that appear poorly served by buses for example The Crawley Hill area, southeast of the town centre, Nor do buses penetrate the main business parks along the Blackwater Valley. Services to areas in the north such as Bracknell and Wokingham are limited. Sunday services are also quite limited, compared with weekday provision. Only four services operate (the four main services of 1, 2, 3 and 34), but these only provide an hourly service, apart from Route 1 which is half-hourly.

3.24 Current bus usage in Camberley is quite low with 1.7% of journeys to work being by bus. Compare this with areas which promote bus use and usage rates are higher: 9.7% in Exeter; 12.5% in Brighton and Hove; and, 16.3% in Oxford.

Current Initiatives 3.25 Camberley is served by three major bus operators and several smaller operators. Co-ordination of bus services and facilities is therefore a difficult task. The establishment of Quality Bus Partnerships (QBPs) has tried to address this. There are partnerships both for specific routes and area-wide. Quality Bus Partnerships to provide improvements such as better bus shelters, real time information, interchanges, bus priorities, etc. and the bus operators improving buses, services and ticketing.

3.26 Service frequencies and hours of operation have increased on some routes through the influence of the QBP’s. Some services in Camberley have also been provided through developer contributions, as part of Section 106 agreements: for example, a free Hopper service has been provided since the 1990’s between The Meadows shopping centre and Camberley Station, jointly funded by Marks & Spencer and Tesco’s. The No. 50 Hopper service operates half-hourly between 9am and 2.45pm.

3.27 There are also a few bus priorities schemes in or around Camberley. The westbound bus lane on the A30 London Road is one example. According to SCC, it has enabled bus service frequencies to be increased to every 10 minutes.

Ticketing Arrangements

3.28 The flexibility and cost of tickets can have a major influence over people’s modal choice. In the Camberley area, with a number of different operators, the level of ticket integration is poor. Only the Day Explorer allows passengers to use different operators’ services (though this is mostly confined to the main operators).

13 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

3.29 A summary of ticket types (in addition to single and return tickets, and concessionary fares for children, students and OAP’s) is given in Table 7. Tickets can be bought on-line, by mobile phone as well as on the bus

3.30 It remains an aspiration to introduce a Blackwater Valley Travel Card. One ticket would cover the whole sub-region (including Woking, Bracknell, Aldershot and Farnham). Discussions between the local authorities and the bus operators to examine the possibility of such a scheme have begun.

Park and Ride Services 3.31 A limited P&R service was operated from the Yorktown Estate during the run up to Christmas, to ease pressure on the town’s roads and car parks. The service was poorly used and has now ceased.

Table 7: Summary of Period Tickets Available in the Camberley Area on the Travel Line website (2011)

Name of Ticket Operators/Area Days Times Cost (March 2009)

Arriva Surrey and Any Arriva bus in Daily Any time £6.20 (adult/day) West Sussex Surrey or West (except some Weekly £13.00 (family/day) Ticket Sussex for the restrictions for appropriate period 4- child and OAP £26.00 (adult weekly) weekly concessions) £74.70 (adult 4 weekly bought on- line)

Day Explorer All main operators, 1 day Any time £5.80 (adult/day) anywhere in S- £10.00 (family/day) East, except London

Blackwater Valley Stagecoach in 7 day Anytime £15.80 (adult) Mega-rider Farnham, 1 month £57 (adult) Aldershot, Camberley & 3 month £166 (adult) Farnborough 1 year £775 (adult)

Blackwater Valley Stagecoach, as for Daily Any time £6.00 Day or Night Mega-rider Off-peak £4.80 Rider Night time (after £2.30 7pm)

Stagecoach Unlimited travel on 1 day £7.70 (adult)

14 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Goldrider Stagecoach in 7 days £19.50 (adult) Southern England and Wales (except 1 month £70 (adult) London) 3 month £205 (adult)

1 year £775 (adult)

Plusbus Railbus 1 day Anytime £3.80 Add-On 7day £13.00

1 month £50.00

3 month £145.00

1 year £506

Cycling

3.32 The level of cycling in Camberley is low compared with many other towns of similar size in the UK. The last data available was the 2001 Census data which showed that about 2% of journeys to work in Camberley are made by bicycle, whereas in many other towns the level of cycling is around 4-5%, and some UK towns have levels as high as 10-15%. Anecdotal evidence suggests the figure for Camberley will have increased. There has been an increase in cycling nationally.

3.33 At schools, the level of cycling is around 2-4% of pupils: at Collingwood School (the largest school in Camberley, with approximately 2,000 pupils) approximately 4% of pupils cycle to school.

3.34 Camberley has the potential to increase cycling as a substitute for short car trips especially those under 3 miles6. Most distances within the town are less than 2 miles. Neighbouring towns and settlements such as Farnborough, Sandhurst, Crowthorne, Bagshot, Mytchett and Yateley are within 30 minutes cycling distance of Camberley town centre. Similarly, rail stations at Blackwater, Frimley and Farnborough are within comfortable cycling distance for many residents.

Existing Cycle Facilities

3.35 Camberley cycle route network has been a policy aim of both the County and the Surrey Heath Local Plan since the 1990’s.

3.36 Despite this, the cycle route network in Camberley is still at a very early stage of development. There are a few cycle routes around the town that

6 Source: Planning Policy Guidance Note 13: Transport, paragraph 77. CLG March 2001 ( as amended)

15 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

are marked by signposts and a few basic facilities such as on-carriageway cycle lanes and on-footway shared paths. However, the existing facilities are not continuous, and the quality often poor.

3.37 There are a few cycle parking facilities at key locations around Camberley, such as the railway station and central shopping area. The level of use is gradually increasing, but still reflects the low levels of cycling in the town.

3.38 Developer funding has been identified for the cycle routes linking the Old Dean and Tomlinscote to Camberley Town Centre. SCC is now proposing the construction of these routes.7

Opportunities for Improvement

3.39 Surrey County Council is currently preparing a cycle network route plan for the whole of Surrey Heath Borough, and many of the proposed routes are located in Camberley and Frimley, connecting up main destinations such as shopping areas, schools, rail stations and employment centres.

3.40 According to information supplied by SCC’s Cycling Officer, consultations with cycling stakeholders in Surrey Heath have identified the cycle routes as shown in in Table 8 (listed in priority order). It should be noted that the top 10 priority routes all connect to Camberley town centre and rail station.

Table 8: Cycle Route Priorities Suggested by Surrey Heath Cycle Forum to SCC (2004)

Priority From To Route

1 Deepcut Camberley Centre Red Road, Maultway, White Hill, A30, Green and Railway Station Hill Road, Azalea Way, Clewborough Drive, Crawley Hill, Church Hill

2 Tomlinscote Camberley Centre Portsmouth Rd, A30, B311, Longmeadow and Railway Station Road, Portsmouth Rd, Brackendale Close, Over M3, Brackendale Road, Evergreen Road, Hawthorn Road, Old Pasture Road, Longmeadow, Portsmouth Road, Brackendale Close, Park Road, Park Street

7 Source: Information from SCC, Oct. 2008

16 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Priority From To Route

3 Old Dean Camberley Centre College Ride, A30 and Railway Station

4 Frimley Camberley Centre Along The Ridges, White Hill, A30, and Railway Station Martindale Avenue, Goldway Road, Prior, Ridge/Heatherside Portsmouth Road, Brackendale Close, Park Road, Park Street.

5 Mytchett/Frimley Camberley Centre Road Route, Along Mytchett and Frimley Rd, and Railway Station Focus- Do it All, Park Road, Mytchett Users Green/Frimley more likely to be North Camp Railway Town Centre Station following canal towpath.

6 Lightwater Camberley Centre Red Road, Maultway, White Hill, A30, and Railway Station Coventry Park to A30 then Note 4, Ambleside Road & then track parallel to Red Road (to be fine gritted)

7 Yateley/ Camberley Centre Via The Meadows, Along A30 Blackwater and Railway Station

8 Bagshot Camberley Centre A30 and Railway Station

9 Bracknell Camberley Centre Vicarage Lane, A30, Crowthorne Bypass, and Railway Station The Meadows, Look Out Centre, Lower Star Post, Old Dean

10 Sandhurst Camberley Centre Via The Meadows A30/A321 and Railway Station

11 Chobham Woking Road Route

12 Bracknell Bagshot, Lightwater, Via Vicarage Lane, Look Out Centre, and West End, Bisley Upper Star Post, Vicarage Road, Higgs Lane, A30 (Separate cycle track on main road)

13 Chobham Lightwater

14 Windlesham Lightwater Thorndown Lane & Broadway Road

17 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Priority From To Route

15 Ascot Sunninghill

Sunningdale,

Bagshot

16 Mytchett Tomlinscote Along Frimley Road, Wharf Road, St Catherine’s Road, Regent Way

17 Chobham Sunningdale

18 Windlesham Bagshot Church Road, New Road

19 Windlesham Sunningdale

20 Sunningdale Bagshot

21 Chobham Ottershaw

22 Blackwater Frimley, Frimley Green

Walking

3.41 All visitors to Camberley town centre are pedestrians for part of their journey. Walking is a key component in a town centre transport strategy.

3.42 The Camberley Retail Study 8found that walking was the third most important means of travel for non-food shopping, with 5.7% of shoppers in the catchment area walking to the shops. For journeys to work, walking accounts for 19% of trips by people who both live and work in Camberley, (though this falls to 7% when total commuting in and out of Camberley is considered).

3.43 The areas within easy walking distance (20 minutes) of the town centre extend to the M3 in the south, Frimley Road in the west, and Elsenwood Drive (west of Portsmouth Road) in the east.

8 Source: Surrey Heath Borough Council March 2007

18 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

3.44 Within the town centre, access from the rail station and buses is good. The High Street is adjacent to the bus stops and opposite the rail station. There are bus stops immediately outside the entrance The Atrium.

Table 9: Distance and Directness of Key Walking Routes in Camberley Town Centre

Walking Route Distance Permeability (metres) Index**

1 Rail/Bus Station to Town Square 395 1.7

2 Rail/Bus Station to Library 393 1.7

3 Rail/Bus Station to Leisure Centre. 786 1.4

4 Knoll Road Car Park to Town Square 518 1.5

5 Main Square Car Park to Town 123 1.2 Square

6 Knoll Road Bus stops to Town 264 1.1 Square

Source: Stage 2 Accessibility Desktop Review, May 2008, Section 6.

**Note: Distance is actual distance. Permeability Index is the ratio of actual distance compared with straight line distance. A ratio of 1.0 is ideal (i.e. most direct), and a ratio of 1.5 is the recommended upper limit for permeability (i.e. over 1.5 is too indirect)..

3.45 In respect of the quality of pedestrian routes, site visits conducted for that study noted several issues, including:

Lack of pedestrian crossing facilities at many junctions and some main pedestrian routes to the town centre;

Poor location of existing pedestrian crossings (i.e. not located on pedestrian desire lines);

Impermeability of certain areas and certain routes (e.g. night time closure of the shopping Mall; no pedestrian access between the rear service areas east of the High Street and adjacent footpaths);

Side road junctions designed for motor vehicles rather than pedestrians (e.g. wide exits, dropped kerbs not located on desire lines);

Town centre footways designated as shared cycle routes;

19 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Lack of route direction signage and street names.

Smarter Choices and promoting Sustainable Travel

3.46 There are over 32 large employers in Surrey Heath Borough with 100+ employees of which one-third have workplace travel plans. Thus voluntary preparation of workplace travel plans in the Camberley area appears to be minimal – only Surrey County Council and Surrey Heath Borough Council appear to have done this voluntarily.

Car Sharing

3.47 SCC promotes a car share database under the name www.surreycarshare.com, and it is operated on behalf of the County Council by Liftshare.com. There are approximately 3,000 people signed up to the scheme in Surrey, and around 30% of trips are matched.

School Travel Plans

3.48 Like the workplace travel planning programme, the school travel planning programme is supported by Surrey County Council with a dedicated team of officers. In Surrey Heath, the school travel plan programme appears to be further advanced than the workplace travel plan programme: 31 school travel plans have been submitted to date. All schools in the Surrey Heath area have been contacted.

Smarter Choices Priorities and Potential in Camberley

3.49 Larger employers are well-suited for the preparation of travel plans. However, there a hundreds of smaller organisations, accounting for a substantial proportion of total employment, that could potentially be involved in the travel planning process too. A key suggestion for Camberley could be to institute a town-centre-wide travel plan, that incorporates all of these smaller organisations.

20 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

4 Next Steps, Key Issues and Actions

4.1 The next steps in the process are to identify potential solutions for the key transport issues for the town and develop an action plan to be included in the Stage 2 document. Thereafter the actions identified will be used to formulate the submission policies of the AAP. This will be for the period up to 2028, which is the plan period for the AAP. The primary objective is to assist in delivering a sustainable and accessible town centre.

4.2 In identifying these it must be recognised that for many of these matters the Council is not the provider.

4.3 In summary it is suggested that the key issues for the access strategy are as follows:

Identifying the improvements and actions that will help to achieve an increase in bus passenger numbers

Identifying the improvements and actions that will help to achieve an increase in the number of cyclists

Identifying the improvements and actions that will help to achieve an increase in rail passenger numbers

Identifying how businesses might be encouraged and assisted to encourage employees to make smarter travel choices

Identifying the transport and highway improvements that are needed to facilitate future development within the town centre

Identifying the improvements that will make the town centre a more attractive place to travel through

Identify improvements to on-street parking controls in and around Camberley Town Centre to address the needs of visitors and residents.

4.4 For all of the above the action plan will need to identify likely costs, mechanisms, responsibility for delivery and time scale. That work will be undertaken for the Stage 2 document which we will produce later this year in partnership with Surrey County Council.

Comments

4.5 In particular we would like comments on the following:

Do you agree with the issues identified on page 26?

Are other any other issues that should be included?

21 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Which of the improvements or actions listed in Appendix 3 would you support?

Are there any other improvements or actions that you would like to see being considered/

The period for comments begins on Monday 5th March 2012 and closes at 5pm on Monday 23rd April 2012

22 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Appendices

23 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

24 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Appendix 1. Camberley Town Centre accessibility by public transport in the am peak.

25 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

26 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Appendix 2 Location of on-street car parking within and around Camberley Town Centre

27 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

28 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Appendix 3. Suggestions for possible actions to improve the accessibility of Camberley Town Centre

29 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Possible improvements and actions by type of transport

Buses Improvement Example Locations

1 Bus priorities Bus lanes

Priority vehicle lanes

Bus gates

Pre-signals

2 Bus stops New (additional)

Improved shelters

Real Time Information

3 Increasing existing services Increased frequency

Evening services

Weekend services

4 New services Dedicated Blackwater Station bus Blackwater Station to Camberley service Town Centre

Works buses / mini-buses Major employers in the sub-region

Camberley to London coach or Bus interchange (or pick-up facility) mini-bus at M3 Junction 4

5 Bus services information RTI see item 2 above

Display boards Various central locations and public buildings

Interactive screens ??

Underground-style area maps

Information packs for household and workplace mailings

Advertising web-site route planners

6 Ticketing improvements Extending the area, scope and interchangeability of daily, weekly and monthly travel cards

Extending the area and scope of 'Plus Bus' tickets

Book of tickets (Dutch-style)

Season ticket loans

Season ticket discounts

Other? (e.g. Oyster-style pre- payment)

7 Co-ordination arrangements Quality Bus Partnerships

Area fora (e.g. Blackwater Valley)

Other?

30 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Buses Improvement Example Locations

8 Bus interchanges Camberley Railway station

Pembroke Broadway

Blackwater Station see item 4 above

Bus interchange (or pick-up see item 4 above facility) at M3 Junction 4

9 Park and Ride Feasibility study for A331 corridor

Dial-a-Ride Services and other demand responsive services

10 School bus and transport

Cycling Improvement Example Locations

Surrey Heath, plus Farnborough, 1 Cycle route network defined Strategic sub-regional network Aldershot, Yateley, Sandhurst

Camberley town network Camberley

Town centre network Town centre

Cycle route condition Stakeholder-led audits of all cycle All radial and orbital routes in 2 assessments routes Camberley

3 Cycle route improvements ASL's All cycle routes in Camberley

Cycle lanes and lead-in lanes

Use of bus lanes

Signalised junctions

Islands to assist right turns

Contra-flows

Removal of barriers (e.g. no entry)

New links (e.g. bridges)

Direction signage

4 Traffic reduction measures HGV restrictions

Time restrictions

Bus and cycle-only entry restrictions

Point no entry's

5 Speed reduction measures Traffic calming schemes

Road safety schemes

20 mph zones

Home Zones

Quiet roads /lanes

31 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Cycling Improvement Example Locations

Cycle parking (and Camberley Station; shopping centre; 6 interchanges) Large secure units (public) Blackwater Station

Major employers; major public buildings (e.g. Frimley Hospital, Large secure units (private) schools)

Town centre; other focal points; Dispersed stands (public) cycle stands at bus stops

Workplace facilities

Private residential facilities

SHBC development control cycle parking standards

7 Cycle information Route maps

Interactive route planner

Display boards Town centre, station, schools,

General cycling info Websites

8 Cycle training Children

Adults

Special groups (e.g. disabled cyclists)

9 Cycling promotion Schools Champions Schools and colleges

Cycling events Various

Advertising Various

Workplace Bicycle User Groups Workplaces, through travel plans

School travel plans see Travel Behaviour

Workplace travel plans see Travel Behaviour

Individualised travel marketing see Travel Behaviour

Cycle purchase and hire schemes

Cycling and NHS health programmes

Cycling and sports programmes

Cycling advocacy and co- 10 ordination Cycle users' forum Camberley

Sub-regional cycle forum SHBC, Rushmoor, Hart,

Cycling club

32 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Walking Improvement Example Locations

Introducing 24 hour access and 1 Town centre circulation pedestrian route improvements Obelisk Way

Princess Way

Pedestrian route improvements London Road to Obelisk Way

Rail station to Pembroke Broadway

Pembroke Broadway to Princess Way

Knoll Road Car Park and Theatre to High Street, via Knoll Walk

Camberley Park to High Street, via Museum

Camberley Park to Portesbury Road

Other town centre pedestrian Rear service roads between High St routes and Knoll Rd

Other key town centre routes to be defined

Town centre 2 pedestrianisation High Street Princess Way to London Road

Obelisk Way West of High Street

St. Georges Road Western part

London Road frontage High Street to Park Street

Strategic walking routes to 3 town centre Pedestrian route improvements To be defined

Measures may include:

Stakeholder-led route audits

Formal and informal road crossings

Widened footways

Short cuts and opening up barriers

Improved sightlines / cutting back vegetation

Car Improvement Example Locations Parking

1 New car park Multi storey Linked to redevelopment of London Road frontage

33 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Travel Improvement Example Locations Behaviour and Smarter Choices

Over 33 large employers (>100 employees) in SHBC, plus 1 Workplace travel plans Travel plan preparation numerous smaller developments

Awards for travel plans Various

Green Travel Ratings for all companies All large employers

Town centre travel plan Town centre

Town centre travel plan forum group Town centre

Area-wide travel plan All of Camberley

Camberley, Frimley, Farnborough, Sub-regional travel plan forum Sandhurst, Bagshot, Lightwater

Surrey travel plan partnership Central forum for Surrey County

Travel planning websites

Trip credits scheme Large employers

2 School travel plans Primary schools 3 in Camberley; 14 in SHBC

Secondary schools 2 in Camberley; 4 in SHBC

2 in Camberley; 3 in SHBC; 10 Colleges and sixth forms including adjacent LA's

3 Visitor travel plan Tourists and visitors Surrey

4 Individualised marketing

5 Car sharing website

6 Car clubs

34 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Travel Improvement Example Locations Behaviour and Smarter Choices

7 Car pools at workplaces

Transport co-ordination 8 centre SHBC

Travel awareness events 9 and marketing Cycle week

Walk to school week

'In Town Without my Car' Day

Promoting personalised carbon calculators

10 Other measures See buses, rail, cycles, etc

Rail Improvement Example Locations

1 Ticketing improvements Extending the area and scope of 'Plus Bus' tickets

Season ticket loans and discounts, through travel plans

Oyster-style pre-payment smart cards

2 Cycle-rail integration Improved cycle routes to stations Camberley, Frimley, Blackwater, Farnborough

Secure cycle parking facilities Camberley, Frimley, Blackwater, Farnborough

3 Pedestrian access Pedestrian direction signage improvements

Improved walking routes, including crossings

4 Improved bus-rail integration

(short-term)

35 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Rail Improvement Example Locations

5 Improved taxi-rail integration

(short-term)

6 Camberley Station re- Improved passenger facilities development

(medium term) Improved pedestrian access (including disabled)

Increased parking provision

Improved interchange with buses, taxis, cycles and car-drop off

Longer platforms (for 10- and 12- car capacity)

6 Other Station improvements Increased car parking Frimley, Blackwater, Farnborough

Dedicated rail-bus link Frimley, Blackwater, Farnborough

Cycle routes and cycle parking Frimley, Blackwater, Farnborough

7 Improved railway services Ascot - Ash Vale services on

existing lines Camberley - Waterloo direct services

Camberley - Reading direct services

8 New lines & new Re-instate link to Farnborough- Sturt Road chord connections Woking line

Consistent regular service between Guildford and Ascot

Improvements at Ascot Station:

Improved crossings between platforms

Reconfiguration of rail track and station platform, to fully interconnect Camberley line with Reading line

36 Camberley Town Centre Access Strategy Part 1- Consultation Document

Highway Improvement Example Locations Improvemen ts

1 A30 London Road new To access London Road Block Between High Street and Park junction development Street

2 Knoll Road / Library access Pedestrian crossing facilities and Junction of Knoll Road / library road, junction re- improved access access road configuration

3 A30 London Road / Park Improved access to Park Street, to A30 / Park Street junction Street junction include cycle facilities and new improvements signals under UTMC

4 A30/Knoll Road junction To include 1-part pedestrian A30/ Knoll Road/ Kings Ride reconstruction crossings, cycle lanes, ASLs and new signals within UTMC

5 Knoll Road / Portesbery To include 1-part pedestrian Knoll Road / Portesbery Road Road junction reconstruction crossings, cycle lanes and improved sightlines to enhance town centre ring road status

6 High Street / Pembroke To include 1-part pedestrian Junction, and section of Broadway / Portesbery Road crossings, cycle lanes and Portesbery Road between High junction reconstruction improved sightlines to enhance Street and Knoll Road town centre ring road status

7 Rear service road East of High Street Nos 1-9 (north of Georges Rd) improvements

Nos 11-61 (Georges St to Knoll Walk)

Nos 65-85 (South of Knoll Walk)

West of Park Street Nos 80-100 (south of Southwell Park Road)

8 Rail station access Re-developed station with new Camberley Rail Station improvements layout and access arrangements

9 Pembroke Broadway bus Bus and rail interchange Pembroke Broadway interchange arrangements

10 UTMC and SCOOT UTC upgraded to UTMC, and Three junctions on A30 London extended to three junctions on A30 Road up to Knoll Road with SCOOT.