Bletchley Transport Strategy Stage 2 Consultation and Stakeholder Engagement
Introduction In order for any Transport Strategy for Bletchley to be successful, it was considered essential that the development of the Strategy should be fully consulted upon, providing the full opportunity to comment on the proposals to date; and also upon the proposed next steps, forming this Stage 2 report. At the outset of the project a formal consultation strategy was agreed upon identifying the means of consultation and associated timescales that would offer the best opportunity for a full, open consultation exercise.
This report provides outlines the overall approach to consultation carried out and gives further detail with regards to the Stage 2 public/stakeholder consultation exercise.
Consultation Activities A comprehensive, open and inclusive stakeholder engagement and consultation process was carried out both during the development of Stage 1 of the Bletchley Transport Strategy and then again following the completion and publication of the draft Stage 1 report. This document was made available in both hard copy and on the Milton Keynes Website throughout the consultation to which this report refers.
A summary of the consultation activities carried out throughout the development of the Bletchley Transport Strategy is provided in Figure 1 (following page).
To ensure open and inclusive engagement, in particular with the public, it was agreed that stage 2 consultation would consist of a variety of approaches and events. Details of the Stage 2 consultation carried out are highlighted below.
• 29/11/10 – 21/01/11: Web based consultation and questionnaire • 11/10/10: Presentation to the Milton Keynes Council Transport Advisory Group • 16/11/10 : Presentation to Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council • 29/11/10: Presentation to COBRA • 02/12/10: Presentation to the Milton Keynes Council Transport Advisory Group • 11/12/10: Staffed presentation stand at Bletchley Park • 13/12/10: Presentation to West Bletchley Town Council • 17/12/10 - 18/12/10: Staffed presentation stand at Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council Offices • 08/01/11: Staffed presentation stand at Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council Offices / coordinated presentation with the Milton Keynes Council Local Transport Plan 3. • 10/01/11: Staffed presentation stand at the Spotlight Centre, Water Eaton • 20/01/11: Presentation to Bletchley Forum
Figure 1 - Consultation Summary
Consultation Responses (Stage 2)
Questionnaire A project bespoke questionnaire was devised to enable public and stakeholders to comment on the draft transport strategy. This was made available on-line via Milton Keynes Council website and with hard copies at each of the consultation exhibitions. A copy of the questionnaire is attached in the Appendix A .
The draft Transport Strategy and a non-technical summary document were both also available to view at the consultation events and to download from the Milton Keynes Council Website, with hard copies of both reports issued to local Councilors and members of the Transport Advisory Group.
Response levels and demographics In terms of the general response rates, a total of 44 responses to the Stage 2 consultation were received (including several email responses); in addition comprehensive written responses were received from both Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council and West Bletchley Council.
In terms of the groups responding to the consultation, there was a good mix of responses received from local Councils, business and community groups and private individuals.
• Individuals – 63% • Councilors – 6% (low percentage is due to combined rather than individual Councilor responses being received from West Bletchley / Council and Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Councils) • Interest groups – 13% • Businesses – 9% • Employees living outside of Bletchley –9%
Groups responding to the consultation included Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council, West Bletchley Council, the Bletchley Forum and representatives from COBRA, the Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Business Association and the Marston Vale community rail partnership. In terms of the demographics of responses received, there was a relatively evenly split between Male and Female, (52% Male, 48% female), with the majority of respondents being between the ages of 25 and 60.
The majority of respondents classed themselves as White British (86%), with 4% of respondents considering themselves to have a disability.
Vision and Objectives In response to question 2 of the survey, “What do you think of the Draft Vision and Objectives”, the following responses were received:
Table 1 – “What do you think of the Draft Vision and Objectives?”
Strongly support 21%
Support 53%
Neither support nor oppose 9%
Oppose 6%
Strongly oppose 3%
Don’t know 6%
The following gives a summary of the additional comments received with regards to the Vision and Objectives:
• West Bletchley Council supports the draft Vision and Objectives • Bletchley and Fenny Stratford Town Council fully support the Transport Vision for Bletchley and believe it succinctly summarises the transport aspirations of the Town Council. We fully support the objectives of the strategy • Good reflection of the views expressed at the Stakeholder Workshop • Uses data that is too old to be valid. Bus Priority on Buckingham Road appears to be ill conceived as the corridor is too narrow • Support the Vision and Objectives but they are not sufficiently ambitious • Fully support any improvements to make Bletchley a better place to work, live, visit • Support most areas of the Vision and Strategy, particularly those related to sustainable transport, if there is one criticism it is with regards to the vague commentary on the southern bypass, for which there is neither local support nor engineering justification • Most, if not all of the objectives are required, but further detail is required to allow full comment to be made. • Support, but is currently too vague and needs a timescale for delivery • The primary concern should be to make the streets safer, so far this has been a credible consultation and this must continue to delivery • The most important objective is to give Bletchley a viable transport solution, through the provision of improved signage, parking and junction improvements • Support measures that get more people walking and cycling
Respondents were also asked to give their views on their preferred transport schemes under a number of specific headings, covering:
• Walking and Cycling • Public Transport • Traffic Management • Improving Key Junctions and New Roads • Other Schemes
The main responses to each of these areas are provided in the following sections.
Walking and Cycling Respondents were asked to provide a list of (up to) 5 of their preferred walking and cycling schemes. The 5 most popular schemes, (being those listed the most times in total across all responses received) are detailed below:
• Bletchley to Stadium MK / IKEA pedestrian / cycle route • Extension of pedestrian route on Princes Way to junction with Saxon Street • Pedestrian / cycle corridor parallel to Buckingham Road • Water Eaton to Central Bletchley pedestrian / cycle route • Improved pedestrian access to Fenny Stratford Rail Station
Public Transport The same question was asked with regards to individual’s preferred public transport schemes, with the 5 most popular schemes referenced in the responses received being:
• New Rail Station Over-bridge • Provision of real-time bus information • Improved bus station (current site) • New bus station • Mini – Interchange for taxi / buses on western frontage of rail station
Traffic Management The top 5 traffic management schemes referenced in individual’s responses were:
• Review of Strategic Signing for Bletchley • Reducing Speed Limit on Saxon Street • Improved car parking signage (static) • Accident reduction / traffic calming on Aylesbury Street • Review car parking zoning
Improving Key Junctions and New Roads The most popular 5 responses with regards to potential junction improvements and/or new road links were:
• Improved junction of Saxon Street with Watling Street (the B&Q junction) • Improved junction of Buckingham Road with Sherwood Drive • Improved junction of Princes Way with Albert Street • Improved junction of Water Eaton Road with Manor Road • Improvements to the junction of Standing Way with Watling Street / the Bletchley Southern Bypass both received the same number of responses.
Other Schemes The 5 most popular responses with regards to “other” transport schemes, i.e. those which may not have been included individuals responses to the previous categories, were:
• Downgrading Saxon Street (south of Princes Way) to a single carriageway • Improved junction of Saxon Street with Watling Street (the B&Q junction) • Improved junction of Buckingham Road with Sherwood Drive • Electric car charging points • Area Travel Plan for employment zones / IKEA / Stadium MK / Development parking standards received the same number of response.
Overall preferred schemes The final question in this section of the questionnaire was to ask respondents what their overall top 5 transport schemes for Bletchley were. The 5 most popular transport schemes referenced in responses to this question are listed below:
• Improved junction of Saxon Street with Watling Street (B&Q Junction) • New Bus Station Site • New Rail Station over-bridge • Improved junction of Buckingham Road with Sherwood Drive • Bletchley to Stadium MK / IKEA pedestrian / cycle route
General level of support for the Transport Strategy In response to question 10 of the survey, “What do you think of the overall Transport Strategy for Bletchley?” the following responses were received:
Table 2 – “What do you think of the overall Transport Strategy for Bletchley?”
Strongly support 14%
Support 68%
Neither support nor oppose 7%
Oppose 4%
Strongly oppose 4%
Don’t know 0%
Specific Issues identified / raised The following additional issues/comments were raised by respondents to the consultation:
• Strong support for the new Strategy; • Introducing too many signalised junctions will increase bus journey times and make them unpredictable. Signals better in the rush hour not at other times; • Obviously the whole list of proposals cannot be implemented immediately. Priority should be given to schemes which have been approved by MKC, then not carried out e.g. the junction of Saxon Street and Watling Street; • Fully support the ethos and purpose of the Transport Strategy. Need to include plans for increased parking in the town centre; • Overall strategy okay, but the scheme list lacks imagination, innovation or vision; • A useful step in the right direction; • No sleeping policemen; • The Strategy should prioritise low cost improvements which improve the viability of the town centre; • Surprised that the single track run from the by-pass into Lakes Estate has not been considered; and • No parking charges should be introduced, (unless also introduced in other MK Towns)
Changes to the Strategy in response to the Consultation As a result of the responses to the consultation a number of amendments to the Bletchley Transport Strategy were proposed, consisting of the following:
New Schemes A number of consultation responses included suggestions for new or amended schemes to be included in the potential scheme list, as a result of the consultation responses the following schemes were added to the long list of schemes for prioritisation:
• New Scheme 1 – Improvements to junction of Trafalgar Avenue with Standing Way • New Scheme 2 – Improved junction of the A5 with the A4146 • New Scheme 3 – Community adoption of Fenny Stratford Station • New Scheme 4 – Refurbishment of Fenny Stratford Station House • New Scheme 5 – Extension of Redway Network to Bletchley • New Scheme 6 – Review of speed limits across Bletchley • New Scheme 7 – School Travel Plans • New Scheme 8 – Pedestrian crossings on Queensway / Findlay Way
Removal of Schemes The removal of the following schemes due to considerable levels of opposition expressed through the consultation responses received:
• Removed Scheme 1 – Car Parking Charging • Removed Scheme 2 – Car Parking Signage (Variable Message)
As a result of the consultation responses received the scheme list was updated, with the resulting updated list provided in Appendix B.
Next Steps Following the consultation exercise carried out the draft transport strategy will be updated to provide a prioritised list of transport schemes and an associated proposed delivery plan. The full updated Strategy, consisting of Stages 1 and 2 will then be taken to Cabinet for approval in March 2011.
Summary of the Consultation A wide variety of consultation activities have been carried out with regards to both stages of the development of the Bletchley Transport Strategy. This process has offered the opportunity to identify those elements of the consultation programme which were particularly successful and those where lessons can be learnt for application in future consultation exercises.
The level of engagement with the local community and the Local Councils in particular is considered to have been particularly valuable in the development of the Strategy, which has resulted in very positive and proactive involvement of both Councils at every stage of the development of the Strategy. Local groups such as COBRA have also been actively involved and helped to ensure that the Strategy is reflective of local concerns and needs.
The level of engagement and consultation is considered to have been thorough, with the range of approaches to consultation and engagement helping to maintain public interest in the project throughout. The overall consultation exercise considered to have been both very positive and essential to the development of the Strategy.
However a number of individuals considered the survey itself to be overly complex, in terms
of the need to refer to the strategy document or summary document to complete. Whilst the involved nature of the survey meant that the responses received were thorough and therefore particularly valuable in helping to inform the development of the strategy, the amount of time required to fully complete the survey may have represented a barrier to some and reduced the number of potential responses. As such, in future instances it may be appropriate to consider a simplified survey for general use, with a more involved optional survey available for those who wish to provide more detailed responses.
APPENDIX A – EXAMPLE QUESTIONNAIRE
Bletchley Transport Strategy
WE WANT TO HEAR YOUR VIEWS ON ALL TYPES OF TRANSPORT IN BLETCHLEY
We are in the process of developing a Transport Strategy for Bletchley which will shape how we tackle current and likely future transport issues in Bletchley. The Strategy will run from 2011 to 2031 and will look at how ALL types of transport can be improved - including walking, cycling, public transport and car travel.
We have collected information on Bletchley’s current transport issues by: • Reviewing and checking past transport studies; • Consulting Bletchley stakeholders through presentations and workshops; • Discussing with Council officers the future Planning and Transport matters that will affect Bletchley. and • Researching and analysing the transport challenges that face Bletchley residents and businesses over the next twenty years to 2031
From this we have developed a draft Transport Vision for Bletchley. The Vision is supported by a set of transport objectives and a list of transport schemes that will help achieve these objectives.
We would like YOUR VIEWS on the Vision, proposed objectives and the list of schemes. Would you please complete the Questionnaire before Friday 21 January 2011 .
We have prepared two documents which would be useful when completing this Questionnaire. It would be useful to have these available to read when completing this questionnaire. The documents are:
• Bletchley Transport Strategy – Stage 1 Summary Report . This Report summarises how we have developed the Bletchley Transport Strategy. It also includes the draft Vision, the transport objectives, issues and opportunities identified through the development of the strategy, and provides a summary of the consultation that has take place to date. It also lists the transport schemes that have been identified to help achieve these objectives. The Stage 1 Summary Report can be viewed at: http://www.milton- keynes.gov.uk/transport , • Bletchley Transport Strategy – Stage 1 Report . This Report provides the technical background and detail for the Strategy, backed up by appendices. The Stage 1 Report can be viewed at: http://www.milton-keynes.gov.uk/transport . (Please note this is a large file and has therefore been split into two documents, the main report and a separate set of figures and appendices).
If you could please post your completed survey, marked Bletchley Consultation Response, to:
WYG Midsummer Court, 314 Midsummer Boulevard, Central Milton Keynes, Buckinghamshire, MK9 2UB
Questions
1. Could you please confirm which Reports you have read (please mark the relevant box):
1a – Stage 1 Summary Report
1b – Stage 1 Report
1c – Both
1d – Neither
2. What do you think of the Draft Vision and Objectives? Please mark one box only.
2a – Strongly support
2b – Support
2c – Neither support nor oppose
2d – Oppose
2e – Strongly oppose
2f – Don’t know
3. Do you have any comments about the Draft Vision and Objectives?
Appendix A of the Stage 1 Summary Report sets out potential schemes under different types of transport. Look down the list of schemes for each type of transport and answer the following questions.
4. How can we improve WALKING and CYCLING in Bletchley? Please select up to five schemes in ranked order of importance to you. Please write the scheme number only for WALKING and CYCLING – for example if Scheme 1 which refers to an improved pedestrian and cycling route from Bletchley to Stadium MK/Ikea is the most important to you type 1 in 4a.
4a - 4b - 4c - 4d - 4e -
5. How can we improve PUBLIC TRANSPORT services in/from Bletchley? Please select up to five schemes in ranked order of importance to you. Please write the scheme number only for PUBLIC TRANSPORT – for example if Scheme 7 which refers to bus priority on the southern section of Saxon Street (south) is the most important to you, type 7 in 5a.
5a - 5b - 5c - 5d - 5e -
6. How can we improve car TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT in Bletchley? Please select up to five schemes in ranked order of importance to you. Please write the scheme number only for TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT - for example if Scheme 2 which refers to reduced speed limit on the northern section of Saxon Street is most important to you, type 2 in 6a.
6a - 6b - 6c - 6d - 6e -
7. How can we improve the KEY JUNCTIONS AND NEW ROADS/LINKS? Please select up to five schemes in ranked order of importance to you. Please write the scheme number only for JUNCTION IMPROVEMENTS AND NEW ROADS/LINKS – for example if Scheme 3 which refers to signalisation of Saxon Street/Princes Way junction is most important to you, type 3 in 7a.
7a - 7b - 7c - 7d - 7e -
8. Are there any OTHER transport schemes that we should be considering? Please enter up to five schemes in order of preference (either schemes from the column titled “Other” in the Strategy or schemes that have not been considered within the Strategy and which you would like to see included). You may suggest any scheme that is relevant to Bletchley whether listed or not.
8a - 8b - 8c - 8d - 8e -
9. What are your preferred transport improvements overall? Please select up to five of the schemes you have listed in sections 4 to 8 in order of preference.
9a - 9b - 9c - 9d - 9e -
10. What do you think of the overall Transport Strategy for Bletchley as set out in the reports? Please tick one box only.
10a – Strongly support
10b – Support
10c – Neither support nor oppose
10d – Oppose
10e – Strongly oppose
10f – Don’t know
11. Please add any further comments you have on the overall Strategy?
To ensure we are meeting the needs of all residents, employers and employees who live and work in Bletchley, it is important that we ask you a few questions about yourself. The information will be used to analyse responses amongst broad groups and will be treated anonymously.
12. How often have you travelled by each of the following means in the last 12 months? Every week Every Month Occasionally Never Walk Cycle Bus Coach Rail Community Transport Car
13. How did you find out about this survey? Please tick all that apply.
13a – Local newsletter
13b – Just browsing the council website
13c – Local press including radio broad cast
13d – Other
14. Are you responding as:
14a – An individual – please go to Question 15
14b – A local Councillor – please go to Question 15 14c – An interest group (for example, a neighbourhood action group or a disability group) – please go to Question 20
14d – A business – please go to Question 20
14e – An employee working in Bletchley but living outside Bletchley – please go to Question 20
15. What age group do you fall into?
15a – Under 18 15d – 45 – 59
15b – 18 – 24 15e – 60 – 74
15c – 25 – 44 15f – 75 and over
16. Gender:
16a – Male 16b – Female
17. Ethnic origin: 17a – White (British) 17h – Asian (Indian)
17b – White (Irish) 17i – Asian (Pakistani)
17c – White (other) 17j – Asian (Bangladeshi)
17d – Black (Caribbean) 17k – Chinese
17e – Black (African) 17l – Prefer not to say
17f – Black (other) 17m – Other (please specify)
17g – Mixed heritage
18. Do you consider yourself to have a disability?
18a – yes 18c – prefer not to say
18b – no
19. Please could you provide your home postcode? (Please note this will only be used to understand the views of people living in different areas and will not be used for any other purpose.)
20. For those responding as a business or interest group: What is the name of your business or interest group?
21. Please provide a brief description of your business or interest group:
22. Please could you provide your business or interest group name and postcode? (Please note this will only be used to understand the views of people living in different areas and will not be used for any other purpose.)
Thank you for your time and input. We will finalising the Bletchley Transport Strategy in the coming months. The Consultation period will end on 21 st January 2011 and the results will be available to view on the Milton Keynes Council website soon after.
APPENDIX B –UPDATED POTENTIAL SCHEME LIST
Bletchley Schemes
3. Improving accessibility by 1. Enabling economic 2. Giving Bletchley Safe and 4. Managing the environmental 5. Effectively managing the improving the sustainable Deliverability development and regeneration Legible Streets impacts of transport choices transport impacts of Growth connections Headline Objectives Total Making it Increasing Reducing Total Providing Providing Increasing Providing Score Total Improved easy to Improving the Managing unnecce- Score better or better Providing Reducing Ensuring the range Enhancing better Special (Delivera Score pedestrian find your the number of or ssary (Policy) more links to better the everyone of travel Bletchleys sustain- Require- bility) and cycle way to, connect- walking Reducing reducing through Land Public Policy efficient and from transport number of can easliy options Built and able links Time- ments - facilities at and to ions and per person conges- traffic on Funding require- Acceptibili acceptabili access to education gateways road access for Natural to and scales i.e. CPO, main roads find your between cycling CO2 levels tion on Saxon ments ty ty local and and to traffic important residents Environme from Traffic and way transport trips important Street and district employ- Bletchley accidents services of nt develop- Orders etc junctions around, modes within routes Buckingham centres ment sites Bletchley ment sites Sub-Objectives Bletchley Bletchley Road Total Total Score Score Total Number Schemes (Policy) (Delivera Score bility) 1 1 Bletchley to Stadium MK / IKEA pedestrian / cycle route 0 0 0 2 2 Reduced Speed Limit on Saxon Street (northern end) 0 0 0 3 3 Signalisation of Saxon Street / Princes Way Junction 0 0 0
4 Saxon 4 Improved junction of Saxon Street with Watling Street 0 0 0
5 South Street 5 Queue Relocation at Saxon Street / Princes Way Junction 0 0 0 6 6 Improved pedestrian crossings on Saxon Street 0 0 0 7 7 Bus Priority on Saxon Steet 0 0 0 8 8 Reduced Speed Limit (Saxon Street South) 0 0 0 9 9 Signalisation of Saxon Street / Buckingham Road Junction 0 0 0 10 Downgrading Saxon Street (south of Princes Way) to a single 10 carriageway 0 0 0 11 11 Improved Bus Station (current site) 0 0 0 12 12 New Bus Station Site 0 0 0 Saxon Street South Street Saxon 13 13 New Rail Station overbridge 0 0 0 Extension of pedestrian route on Princes Way to junction with 14 14 Saxon Street 0 0 0 15 15 Improved car parking signage (Static) 0 0 0 16 16 Improved junction of Princes Way with Albert Street 0 0 0
17 South 17 Improved car parking signage (Variable Message)* 0 0 0
18 Street Saxon 18 Introduce Car Parking Charging* 0 0 0 19 19 Review Car Parking Zoning 0 0 0 20 20 New Pedestrian crossing on Sherwood Drive 0 0 0 21 21 Mini interchange for taxi / bus on western frontage of rail station 0 0 0 22 22 Introduce parking restrictions on Sherwood Drive 0 0 0 Drive
23 Sherwood 23 Signalisation of Buckingham Road / Sherwood Drive junction 0 0 0 24 24 Pedestrian / cycle corridor parrallel to Buckingham Road 0 0 0 Bus Priority on Buckingham Road between junction with Shenley 25 25 Road and Sherwood Drive 0 0 0 26 26 Improved junction of Buckingham Road with Shenley Road 0 0 0 27 27 Improved junction of Buckingham road with Church Green Road 0 0 0 West Bletchley to Tattenhoe / Emerson Valley pedestrian / cycle 28 28 route 0 0 0
29 Road Buckingham 29 Potential extension of 24/25 bus service 0 0 0 30 30 Review Traffic Calming in Rickley Lane 0 0 0 31 31 Pedestrian crossing facilities on Aylesbury Street / Watling Street 0 0 0 32 32 Accident Reduction / Traffic Calming on Aylesbury Street 0 0 0 33 33 Fenny Improved pedestrian / cycle access to Fenny Stratford Rail Station 0 0 0 Stratford 34 34 Parking at Fenny Stratford Rail Station (Cycle and Car) 0 0 0 35 35 Water Eaton to Central Bletchley pedestrian / cycle route 0 0 0 36 36 Canalside pedestrian / cycle route 0 0 0
37 Water Eaton 37 Improved Junction of Water Eaton Road, Manor Road 0 0 0 38 38 Cycle parking at local / district centres 0 0 0 39 39 Upgrade bus stop facilities 0 0 0 40 40 Review of Strategic Signing for Bletchley 0 0 0 41 41 Improvements to junction of Standing Way with Watling Street 0 0 0 42 42 Southern Bypass 0 0 0 43 43 Electric Car Charging Points 0 0 0 44 44 Provision of realtime bus information 0 0 0 45 45 Improvements to junction of Standing Way with Shenley Road 0 0 0
46 Area Wider 46 Southern Distributor Road 0 0 0 47 47 Area Travel Plan for employment zones / IKEA / MK Dons 0 0 0 48 48 Hopper service for Bletchley 0 0 0 49 49 Improvements to junciton of Saxon Street with Bletcham Way 0 0 0 50 50 Development parking standards 0 0 0 51 0 0 0 51 Improvements to junction of Trafalgar Avenue with Standing Way 52 52 Improved junction of the A5 with A4146 0 0 0 53 53 Adoption of Fenny Stratford Station 0 0 0 54 54 Refurbishment of Fenny Stratford Station House 0 0 0 55 55 Extension of Redway Network to Bletchley 0 0 0 56 56 Review of Speed Limits across Bletchley 0 0 0 57 57 School Travel Plans 0 0 0 Schemes added as a a as added Schemes 58 consultation of result 58 Pedestrian Crossings on Queensway / Findlay Way 0 0 0
* = Scheme removed following Stage 2 consultation