Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town DRAFT FOR APPROVAL DECEMBER 2017

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Maps...... 04 1 Summary...... 09 2 Taunton in 2037...... 10 3 Achievements...... 11 4 Context and Opportunities...... 12 5 Our Vision for Transport in Taunton...... 14 6 Our transport policies and proposals...... 16 Roads and Streets...... 18 Parking and Park and Ride...... 20 Active Travel (walking and cycling)...... 22 Bus and coach...... 24 Rail...... 26 Smarter business and smarter living...... 28

Annex A Who delivers the transport proposals and policies B Funding for transport Map 1: Locations of key proposals KEY TO PROPOSALS

New cycle and pedestrian bridge over M5 1 to Nexus25 (longer-term aspiration) Active Active 2 Travel to Hankridge Farm cycle link A358 to Minehead A38 to Bridgwater Connecting the garden communities and 3 Nexus25 with high-quality bus services Bus & Coach 10 7 Monkton Implement A3259 corridor strategy for bus, Heathfield 4 walking and cycling infrastructure to connect Bus & 3 Coach Monkton Heathfield garden community 17 Wellington Road corridor - Additional bus 23 23 5 priority lanes or infrastructure to speed Bus & Coach up bus services 18 22 20 22 6 Variable Message Signs 22 23 7 Monkton Heathfield - new park and ride Staplegrove 16 8 Comeytrowe - new park and ride 6 Priorswood 4 Taunton Gateway P&R - Customer 9 facilities and interchange hub (longer- Crown Industrial Estate term aspiration) 6 and P&R Parking Cycle infrastructure connecting park and 10 11 Creech St. Michael ride sites to town (longer-term aspiration) Silk Mills P&R 19 West Railway - trial of rail UKHO 132 11 10 Rail services from National Rail network 212 M5 J25 capacity improvements, access to 12 212 2 Nexus25 and improved links for active travel Bridgwater & Taunton Town Centre Toneway Corridor Phase 1 (Creech Castle College/Somerset 6 Ruishton University College 12 13 Junction) - Additional road capacity and See separate ‘Map 2: Key Gateway P&R active travel connections Bishop’s Hull 6 proposals in town centre’ 9 10 6 A358 (M5 to Ilminster) dual carriageway on the next page Blackbrook Business Park Musgrove Park Hospital 1 Nexus 25 14 scheme, including M5 J25a - route not yet confirmed Holway 3 15 to A38 link road (Comeytrowe) 5 Galmington 23 14 16 Monkton Heathfield Western Relief Road Monkton Heathfield Phase 2 spine road Vivary Park 17 A358 to Ilminster (route to be determined) Nerrols - highway link between 8 Roads and Streets 10 18 Bossington Drive and Lyngford Lane/ Comeytrowe 15 Cheddon Road 3 23 KEY TO MAP 19 Norton Fitzwarren – completion of bypass Garden communities Built-up area 20 Staplegrove spine road Housing Led Allocations Employment Allocations Toneway Corridor further phases – 21 capacity for growth and journey reliability A38 to Wellington Settlement Limits Woodland River and Canal Green Wedge Garden communities - traffic management 22 and street redesign on existing roads Roads & Streets Rail Parking & P&R Bus & Coach

Active Travel Smarter Business & living Workplace and residential travel plans for 23 occupiers of new developments & Living Smarter Business Business Smarter Map 2: Key proposals in town centre Map 3: Town-wide active travel network

Northern Inner Routes to be determined through preparation of Local Walking & Distributor Road Cycling Infrastructure Plan D E (opened 2017) C G F Some of the active travel proposals are town-wide but precise locations for investment have not yet been decided. They include: ÎÎ An ongoing programme of improvements to cycle networks and pedestrian facilities, starting with key corridors as a priority Firepool including routes to the town centre and rail station; ÎÎ A shorter-term commitment to develop and maintain a Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, working collaboratively to H identify key corridors for investment, and tackle barriers to cycling and walking. This will particularly concentrate on junctions, A358 to Minehead A38 to Bridgwater gyratory systems and crossing points. ÎÎ A longer-term ambition to implement the recommendations of the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, to create a comprehensive network of direct routes for cycling, protected from traffic where appropriate and suitable for everyone. These Somerset County routes will connect the whole town, including park and ride sites, garden communities and surrounding villages , maximising the Cricket Club use of green corridors for the routes. Indicative corridors are suggested on the map below. B A

A358 to Minehead B A38 to Bridgwater

B B Monkton Heathfield A C Staplegrove B Market A East Street C House Priorswood B County Crown Industrial Estate KEY Hall B Primary shopping frontage Monkton Heathfield Norton Fitzwarren Creech St. Michael Primary shopping frontage Staplegrove Silk Mills P&R 200 & 400m study areas UKHO Vivary Priorswood Car park capacity - Private car parks Park Crown Industrial Estate KEYCar park capacity - Borough Council car parks Bridgwater & Taunton A Town Centre Public Space Improvement Project Norton Fitzwarren Creech St. Michael College/Somerset Primary shopping frontage Silk Mills P&R Ruishton University College B Pay on foot payments systems in strategic car parks UKHO Gateway P&R C PrimaryVariable Message shopping Signs frontage Bishop’s Hull 200 & 400m study areas D Taunton Rail Station Upgrade Bridgwater & Taunton Blackbrook Business Park College/Somerset Nexus 25 Ruishton Musgrove Park Hospital E CarTaunton park Rail capacityStation enhanced - Private cycle hub car parks University College Holway Gateway P&R F CarTaunton park Rail capacityStation multi-storey - Borough car park Council car parks Bishop’s Hull Galmington Taunton Rail Station South Side Approach public Blackbrook Business Park G Nexus 25 A Towntransport Centre interchange Public Space Improvement Project Musgrove Park Hospital Holway Firepool high quality walking and cycling route Vivary Park BH Pay on foot payments systems in strategic car parks Galmington from station to town centre A358 to Ilminster C Variable Message Signs Vivary Park A358 to Ilminster Comeytrowe D Taunton Rail Station Upgrade

EKEY TauntonTO MAP Rail Station enhanced cycle hub Comeytrowe Garden communities Built-up area Taunton Rail Station multi-storey car park F Settlement Limits Woodland

A38 to Wellington RiverTaunton and Canal Rail Station SouthGreen WedgeSide Approach public G Keytransport active travel interchange connections (indicative potential routes) A38 to Wellington RoadsFirepool & Streets high quality walkingRail and cycling route H Parkingfrom station & P&R to town centreBus & Coach Active Travel Smarter Business & living 9

CHAPTER 1 Foreword Introduction

Context Taunton – Somerset’s County Town - has We have produced this document for four main Taunton is committed to delivering a Some proposals are already underway or are entered a period of unprecedented growth and reasons: programme of transformational investment in programmed to start, others are in preparation opportunity. The next 20 years will see new garden ÎÎ to describe the transport projects going on transport to help the town thrive and prosper. and will come on stream in future years. We communities integrated into the town as part of and already in the pipeline; have used three categories in the document the Garden Town initiative, a rejuvenated town ÎÎ to explain how we plan to deal with the extra This update brings together investment plans - shorter-term commitments and longer- centre and Nexus25, the town’s new strategic demands which will be placed on the transport and proposals from the County and Borough term aspirations, plus ongoing policies and employment site, coming to fruition. Europe’s network from the new garden communities; Councils, along with those of other organisations supporting proposals. Beyond these categories largest construction site, Hinkley Point C Power ÎÎ to outline our longer-term transport who are involved in, fund or provide transport we have not prioritised as we want to be Station, has already started in earnest 20 miles aspirations; and services. The strategy is about moving around from the town. How we travel, and how we ready to bring proposals forward as funding ÎÎ to help secure funding for the initiatives set the town itself and the connections from the opportunities arise. manage our transport networks, will be critical out in the strategy. to ensuring Taunton can both capitalise on these town to the wider region. It covers all transport opportunities and manage their impacts. We are being creative with both funding and modes and a range of supporting measures. This document does not intend to describe in resources - including partnership working and It demonstrates our recent progress and detail how the proposals will be delivered - Transport, accessibility and connectivity are seeking external funding wherever possible, showcases the breadth of achievable but separate documents such as the Infrastructure essential to our everyday lives and vital to the to achieve our ambitious programme. We will ambitious proposals which we want to bring Delivery Plan, the Local Transport Plan economic success of our town. Most activities work closely with a range of organisations, such forward over the next 20 years. It acts as clear Implementation Plan and the Garden Town Plan are dependent in some way on transport – from as the education and business sectors, and the evidence of the direction Taunton wants to take in will cover those aspects. transporting goods and deliveries, commuting wider travelling public, to make these positive respect of transport, mobility and quality of life in to work or education or as part of our leisure changes, particularly in terms of reducing peak the town as we look to the future. time. Taunton’s strategic position on key time vehicle use. transport routes makes it an attractive location The document has been prepared using a wide for businesses and these good connections will Taunton: Connecting our Garden Town range of existing evidence and data, referred continue to be an important part of the town’s demonstrates our commitment to bring to through the document. No new studies have about a transport network to match the success story, influencing people to live, work been undertaken at this stage. or visit the town. We want to capitalise on our town’s ambitions. It makes a strong case location as a major communications hub and to infrastructure funders, including central It outlines a series of proposals and policies, large government, to invest in the outlined proposals ensure our connections to the rest of the UK are and small, to achieve the set of 12 objectives. future-ready. We also want movement within to reinforce Taunton as a dynamic business centre and a series of connected garden Taunton to be safe and efficient, especially on The proposals and policies are grouped into six communities ready for the future. foot, by cycle and public transport. strategy topics: Over the next few years technology and John Woodman ÎÎ Roads and streets, innovations will radically change our transport Cabinet Member for Highways and Transport, ÎÎ Parking and park and ride, experience, from electric vehicles, to real-time updates and the emergence of connected and ÎÎ Active travel (walking and cycling), autonomous vehicles. However we also recognise ÎÎ Bus and coach travel, that walking and cycling are fundamental to ensuring a healthy town with high quality of life. ÎÎ Rail, and ÎÎ Smarter business and smarter living. Taunton’s streets and roads have other important Councillor John Williams functions, too – they are places in their own Leader of Borough Council right, locations where people live, shop and socialise and where important events, such as the Remembrance Sunday Parade, take place. Transport investment can contribute to raising our quality of life and the quality of our environment. Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 10 11

CHAPTER 2 Taunton in 2037: predicting HOW WE HAVE DEVELOPED THIS DOCUMENT our transport future This document does not sit in isolation and the diagram below shows how it links What will the key transport trends be? We innovation and change is likely to still be shaped to other strategies and areas of work which the Councils are currently involved in. will be capitalising on anywhere, everywhere by today’s familiar concerns – such as public These have all informed the preparation of Connecting our Garden Town. We have digital connectivity, with wifi and real-time health, congestion, economy, quality of life and also used a wide range of evidence about travel patterns and key transport issues. information at our fingertips. There will be a safety. Startup companies will still respond to Data sources are referenced throughout the document with footnotes and these are switch to electric vehicles or other cleaner customer demands. Some transport aspects listed in Annex C at the back of the document. fuels and away from petrol and diesel. will change more rapidly than others and our Transport, energy, data will influence each investment and policy responses will need to Local Taunton Deane Taunton Deane Somerset LTP other more strongly. Re-imagined and liveable be flexible to meet changing circumstances. Plan Community Infrastructure Implementation streets and public spaces will make walking Technology and innovation will help us get Review Infrastructure Levy Delivery Plan Plan and cycling more conducive and safer. Smarter the best contribution from every transport mobility will make the transition between our mode, lead to emergence of new solutions to Adopted Site Taunton everyday activities easier. More flexible, on- our mobility requirements and ensure they Allocations & Deane Somerset Somerset demand travel and shared mobility services, complement each other. Development planning transport Local Management with new ways of paying for and using policy strategy and Transport Over the next twenty years the town will Policies Connecting our policy Plan (LTP) transport will emerge. Connected vehicle Document Garden Town technology will become more ubiquitous, using continue to respond to the challenges and data to assist drivers, and moves towards changes as they emerge, positioning itself Core as a keen advocate of new concepts, best Strategy autonomous vehicles. A range of formats for Strategies for Active urban living will strengthen our position as a practice and piloting emerging technology. No one solution will solve all problems, but a Taunton Garden Green Travel, Parking, vibrant town with high quality environment. Town Plan Infrastructure Motorcycling, combination of proposals and policies will help Strategy Freight, Road Safety When so much is changing so rapidly it’s hard to to bring about a better connected and future Heart of the Public and Passenger know where it might ultimately lead. However, ready Taunton. South West Health Transport Economic Plan Strategy

Many of the documents listed above contain detail about the proposals and policies for the town. One example is the traffic modelling assessment supporting the Site Allocations and Development Management Policies Document, which lists the junctions that are likely to require an improvement scheme to accommodate planned level of growth.

FUNDING

Not all of the proposals in this strategy are currently funded and therefore this document aims to secure funding for them. Where information on timescales and funding is known, it is included in this document. However, this document does not intend to describe in detail how the proposals will be delivered - separate documents such as the Infrastructure Delivery Plan, the Local Transport Plan Implementation Plan and the Garden Town Plan will cover those aspects. Image reproduced with permission from Farrells and WSP. Originally published in ‘Making Better Places: autonomous vehicles and future opportunities’, WSP 2016.

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CHAPTER 3 CHAPTER 4 Achievements Context and Opportunities

OUR ACHIEVEMENTS AND TRACK RECORD OF INVESTMENT Taunton’s hub location at the centre of the South West along with its connectivity is a key asset to the town and its economic prosperity. A survey of businesses in 2016 2 found that good transport The last 20 years have seen major changes to transport provision in and around Taunton. Some of and communication links were the top reason why respondents felt the town was a good place for the key achivements are listed below. them to locate their business.

99 Tangier Way (sometimes known as the Third 99 Modernising and upgrading a number of THE GOOD

Way), taking traffic away from the town centre traffic signal controlled junctions such as The town is well-positioned on the key road BIRMINGHAM & THE MIDLANDS and opening up land for development; East Street / East Reach; and rail corridor between Bristol and Exeter 120 MINS 139 MINS 99 The opening of two park and ride sites – Silk 99 The Northern Inner Distributor Road and at the western end of the A303/A358 strategic corridor; M5 Mills in 2005, and Taunton Gateway in 2010 (NIDR), to improve access to the station and LONDON The town’s rail station is the busiest in the county. 100 MINS next to M5 J25 take pressure off some of the town’s most GLOUCESTER BRISTOL 184 MINS congested junctions; and It provides direct services to Reading and London, SWANSEA 30 MINS 99 Working with bus operators to improve the Bristol, Cardiff, Birmingham, the North of CARDIFF 62 MINS quality and comfort of the bus fleet; 99 Important work behind the scenes, such as: M4 and Scotland, and to Exeter and the South West; M3 M25 99 The new public square at Castle Green, • £1.6m to upgrade the traffic control The M5, which forms part of the national strategic A303/358 reclaiming a former car park as an events SOUTHAMPTON and information centre which monitors road network, serves the town and the borough via EXETER space; J25 & J26; 25 MINS traffic flows and oversees all the traffic 47 MINS PLYMOUTH 99 Transport infrastructure funded by lights in Somerset There are already substantial sections of off-road TRURO cycle routes, which often follow the canal, river developers, including Monkton Heathfield • £4.6m from the Heart of the South West and green corridors into the town centre; Eastern Relief Road and new roads and Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) Local junctions serving sites at Norton Fitzwarren; The town is home to a range of employment, Growth Fund for the future upgrade to medical, education, leisure and retail 99 Successful promotion and awareness Taunton Station campaigns, which have contributed to destinations and public services, acting as an important hub for the wider area; and cycling-to-work rates more than double the • Up to £12.9m secured for M5 J25 national average 1 and providing up-to-date improvements and up to £6.7m allocated Strong track record of securing government funding. travel information via the Travel Somerset for Creech Castle Junction Improvements website; from the Heart of the South West LEP’s …THE BAD AND THE UGLY 99 Continuing to expand the network of walking Local Growth Fund Road and rail connections connecting the town to the rest of the UK are vulnerable to disruption, and cycling routes and crossings; including by extreme weather; Most of the town relies upon a single road corridor (Toneway) to reach the M5 motorway at J25 and to access the A358/A303 corridor, limiting options when incidents occur; Whilst the bus network has reasonable daytime frequencies, there is a view that the growing town should have a better level of service, especially for evenings and weekends. In addition, new bus services initially funded by developers often reduce in frequency when the developer funding comes to an end. Bus-rail interchange in the town is poor; Congestion at key road junctions across the town, particularly during rush hours, impacting on road safety, noise, air quality, longer journey times, and leading to traffic re-routing away from main roads and onto residential or unsuitable roads; The river, canal, railway and motorway can act as barriers to movement between neighbourhoods, the town centre and employment areas; Connections by road and public transport to and from South and West Somerset could be better. Repaving completed in Bath Place Residents’ travel information pack, Monkton Heathfield Somerfest on Castle Green The road network has a higher number of injuries to vulnerable users, particularly motorcyclists and pedal cyclists, than we would like. Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 14 15 KEY FACTS AT A GLANCE

In 2011 Taunton’s workforce of trips to work in car parking travelled to work as follows: Taunton are less 440 METRES spaces serving drove a 40% than 2km in length 4000 the town centre, 56% car or van with additional are between 2km spaces proposed most new homes are within this walked – double the & 5km in at Firepool distance of a principal bus corridor national average length 12 19% 8 A further 30% cycled–3 times the Many of these journeys could be cycled by national average 9% many people if the conditions were right 5 vehicles per travelled as a car 77,000 average weekday 1.376 6% or van passenger travel on the M5 north of Taunton MILLION passengers used Taunton’s travelled by bus, rail station in 2015/16 coach or train vehicles 3% per average 13 used other modes or 1 in 5 45,000 weekday travel ??? 7% worked from home Taunton households has on the Toneway east of Creech Castle The 65+ age group is growing 3 no access to a car or van 9 the fastest and the 75+ age 6 group will double by 2039 14 Of all the Taunton working Rush Hour residents who travel to work: traffic reduces by 30-40% estimated cost travel to locations on some key roads during school to UK economy

in the town TAUNTON IS A MAJOR holidays – this shows the impact if £20bn per year of inactivity 72% 15 everyone travelled by a different mode EMPLOYMENT to the car one or two days a week travel to locations 10 of deaths in the elsewhere in CENTRE borough are estimated 7% the borough to be caused by 5% long-term exposure to man-made particulate air pollution travel to 19,700 EMPLOYEES 16 work outside commute in from elsewhere 1 in 10 21% the borough vehicles on the M5 and A358 at of the borough’s 4 8,300 RESIDENTS Henlade is a heavy goods vehicle carbon emissions commute out 7 11 are thought to come 44% from transport sources 17

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CHAPTER 5

Our Vision for Transport in Taunton KEY OUTCOMES Taunton will have a high quality transport system that supports its ambitions for economic growth and Through the policies and proposals in this strategy we want to see a thriving economy and great quality excellent quality of life, as one of a new family of UK Garden Towns. Transport networks will have been of life for residents. In particular we have identified a series of ambitious transport outcomes we want to improved to keep pace with new development. More sustainable forms of travel will be the first choice for an achieve, which are set out in the boxes below. The outcomes may widen following consultation. increasing proportion of the community. More town centre streets will have been transformed into vibrant and attractive public space. We will use advances in technology to improve access to travel information, our � Safer roads � Good air quality for the whole town mobility and the ways we use vehicles, our use of roadspace, the ways we manage parking, access services � Develop a special status as a � Congestion held at today’s levels and deliver goods. walking and cycling town at key problem junctions � Less car use per head of population � Less traffic in Taunton town centre Technology will have reduced the need to travel to work, and mobility solutions will be more flexible and shaped around user requirements. Vehicles will be increasingly connected and autonomous, providing safety � Enhanced rail connections to the rest of the UK � All residents of our new garden communities to be benefits. The investment will make Taunton a healthier, more active place and will improve the quality of the and continued strong growth in rail use within walking distance of main bus corridors and have easy access onto a core walking and cycling environment. Taunton will be better connected into national highways and transport networks and will have � Levels of cycling journeys doubled network serving the town strong transport connections within the town. A range of proposals and policies will connect our garden town and enable Taunton to be future ready. The transport challenge arising from the additional new homes over the next 20 years cannot be underestimated. If people continue to travel in the same ways as today, congestion, road safety and public OBJECTIVES: health problems will worsen and the town’s economic performance may suffer. Whilst there will be investment in a range of transport proposals, use of technology and innovative solutions, Taunton residents and businesses We have identified a number of objectives that support our Vision and will enable us to monitor progress: will need to help make a difference, too. A few extra journeys made on foot, by bike or public transport by a number of Tauntonians would add up to make a large difference in how well the transport network operates.

ÎÎ Provide a range of transport interventions ÎÎ Ensure existing highways and transport that support economic growth, improved networks operate reliably and efficiently with productivity and delivery of new garden minimal disruption PROPOSALS AND POLICIES communities The rest of this document outlines our proposals and the supporting policies we intend to use to achieve these objectives. We have grouped them into the following six strategy topics covering: ÎÎ Ensure people are better informed about ÎÎ Pursue new technology solutions wherever travel choices possible +

ÎÎ Influence and manage demands on the Walking Smarter ÎÎ Improve health outcomes by enabling more transport system and on the highway Taunton’s Parking and cycling business walking and cycling (particularly capitalising network in particular, including reducing the roads and and park Bus and Rail (active and smarter on the town’s green corridors), improving air need to travel by car streets and ride coach travel) living quality and reducing road casualties 1 2 3 4 5 6 ÎÎ Increase the capacity of highways and ÎÎ Create better streets and places for people transport networks We have categorised the proposals and policies in the document in the following way:

ÎÎ Ensure the needs of different groups are met ÎÎ Minimise the adverse impacts of transport such as older people, younger people and (such as noise and severance) on communities Ongoing work people with disabilities

ÎÎ Tackle causes and effects of climate change ÎÎ Improve connectivity to and within the town Shorter-term commitments Longer-term aspirations and provide good access to services

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Ongoing proposals and Shorter-term commitments CHAPTER 6 supporting policies Categorise streets according to their varying M5 J25 - Implement a scheme to add road roles as (a) routes for movement and (b) places capacity and reduce delays to prevent queuing Our transport proposals and policies in their own right, and use this categorisation to onto the M5 motorway. Includes access to guide investment priorities and street design Nexus25 and improvements for active travel (£18.02m) Ongoing programme of targeted street improvements across the town, based on best Toneway Corridor - Phase 1 (Creech Castle) – to provide road capacity for growth and improved PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR practice design to (i) create safer streets and (ii) enable efficient and reliable movement for different journey reliability (£9.4m) road users and (iii) implement cycle priority at appropriate locations / on appropriate routes A358 (Taunton to Ilminster Southfields Roundabout 1 Taunton’s roads and streets dual carriageway scheme) – Highways England to Integrate garden communities into the transport find the most appropriate long-term option for this network with new road and street connections committed scheme and ensure it is constructed, in Our roads and streets have a complex and the internet) and autonomous vehicles (which suitable for all road users collaboration with partners competing set of transport demands placed on use technology to require less driver input for Promote the town as a research testbed for them. They are variously used to transport freight some or all of the journey) could substantially Work with operators to enhance taxi infrastructure tailored to requirements connected and autonomous vehicles and deliveries for businesses, provide routes for transform the way our roads and streets are used bus services, cars, motorcycles, and journeys and managed in the future. Their capabilities, Introduce advanced traffic signal technology at Encourage, where appropriate, Mobility as a key congested junctions to maximise efficient on foot or by cycle. They also host town events, benefits and design requirements will become Service - flexible, on-demand forms of travel, and reliable movement for road users space for parking and loading, provide the setting clearer in the next five years. However, they new ways of paying and shared mobility services Provide electric vehicle charging infrastructure for some of the town’s key heritage assets. do not offer a total transport solution, and we Support ongoing training and education for Roads can shape the first impression visitors and are not yet sure how they will impact on public across the town, adopting cleaner vehicles for drivers, bikers and cyclists to enhance and the Councils’ fleets and continue to encourage investors have of Taunton, whether walking from transport or future uptake of walking and cycling. improve road skills charging infrastructure in new developments the rail station or driving in from the motorway. There will be an acceleration towards cleaner, less-polluting types of vehicle (including electric Implement further junction or corridor scheme Review and simplify direction signage, The growth of the town will add pressure onto improvements to provide road capacity for growth including to visitor destinations (brown signs) vehicles) during the next 20 years, aided by and improved journey reliability and road safety our road network. Whilst additional capacity can national government support and manufacturer to ease navigation be provided in some places, especially around innovation. We will need to facilitate this with the Remove unnecessary street furniture as part of Work with developers to minimise traffic impact of the garden communities, in many parts of the provision of electric vehicle charging points. a clutter-free streets programme new developments to ensure timely delivery of: town, widening roads to overcome congestion • Trull to A38 link road (Comeytrowe) is not practicable, feasible, desirable or cost- In particular through the proposals overleaf we Improve incident management and make better use of technology to inform drivers i.e. provision • Completed bypass for Norton Fitzwarren effective. We will need to make more efficient use want to see safer roads and good air quality for of Variable Message Signs • Completion of Western Relief Road for of the roadspace we have. Technology will provide the whole town, less traffic in the town centre Monkton Heathfield some solutions; however, many short distance and congestion held at today’s levels at key Review and revise delivery and HGV access • Staplegrove spine road from Kingston journeys currently made by car could be made problem junctions. routes to minimise disruption through the town Road to connection onto A358 in other ways. Without that change, congestion • new highway link between Bossington Drive How about a Taunton ring road? Ensure the infrastructure is in place to support could hamper the local economy and damage transport technology solutions, including for and Lyngford Lane the town’s reputation. Town streets are currently Many people have suggested that the Councils connected and autonomous vehicles • Highway infrastructure accessing phase 2 of dominated by vehicles, compromising their should seek funding for a ring road around parts development at Monkton Heathfield attractiveness as places to visit, shop and spend of the town. Traffic surveys 18 have found that Tackle non-local traffic in residential areas Implement traffic management and street redesign techniques on existing roads as part of leisure time walking and cycling less attractive. 90% of inbound vehicles on the radial routes into Locate major industrial and warehousing the delivery of garden communities (including Taunton at peak times have a destination in the development where it can be served by A3259 / A38 through Monkton Heathfield and Our vision is for our roads and streets to town itself, rather than passing through to reach efficient, safe and sustainable freight transport Corkscrew Lane / Manor Road at Staplegrove) balance the competing demands from different destinations beyond it. This suggests that bypass road user groups and cater for them flexibly, options would not address the needs of the majority according to the location and circumstances. We of vehicle movements and is not considered to Our longer-term aspirations Introduce a rolling programme of schemes to want the town’s roads and streets to function offer the best solution or value for money. However, upgrade the quality of our streets and public spaces well and be pleasant and attractive spaces too. each of the garden communities will be providing Access to the M5 – work with Highways England Identify the potential to redistribute / reuse new road links to better connect parts of the town. to assess the long-term need for an additional roadspace and car parking for other purposes Connected vehicles (which communicate with Subject to funding priorities and a review of need in motorway junction to reduce reliance on J25, as a result of changes in mobility (e.g. uptake of their surroundings, such as via smartphones or the light of new technology, other sections of ring and, if appropriate, develop proposal connected and autonomous vehicles and higher road could be constructed in the future. Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 levels of activeTaunton: travel) Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 20 21

Ongoing proposals and Shorter-term commitments supporting policies PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR Provide appropriate parking, in terms of Open new car parks at Comeytrowe Parking and park and ride quantity and quality, to serve the town centre, (Wellington Road) and Monkton Heathfield 2 potentially consolidating the number of parking (Walford Cross) to be served by existing locations and maximising the use of park & ride inter-urban bus services into Taunton town centre, as part of the development of the Implement proposals from the new parking garden communities Providing space for parking and loading are both example wider footways, for traffic lanes, or to strategy and undertake periodic reviews important aspects of transport. A combination of be redeveloped for other uses such as homes Introduce pay on foot payment systems at off-street car parks and on-street parking and or business space). The cost and availability Visitor management plans for major events - strategic town centre car parks loading bays are available in the town. Two park of parking can influence how people choose work in partnership to provide parking, park and and ride sites provide a total of 1,600 parking to travel, and may influence their choice of ride and travel solutions to serve major events Install digital signage (Variable Message Signs) spaces with a dedicated weekday bus service destination choice. such as with Somerset County Cricket Club to guide and inform drivers on available spaces running every 12 to 15 minutes through the in the core town centre car parks day for shoppers, visitors and commuters from The Councils tend to use a combination of Review on-street loading and parking to ensure outside of Taunton. charging, regulations and enforcement to a balance between efficient movement and Car park maintenance and upgrade manage and influence parking demand, to business / logistics needs programme to give a better welcome to, Demand for parking spaces is at its highest in in reduce obstructions caused by inconsiderate and experience of, the town (e.g. surfacing, the late morning and weekday surveys in June parking, or to prioritise parking spaces for Review and ensure appropriate parking is signage, information, wayfinding and 2017 found use of town centre car parks was particular users (blue badge holders, parking provided in the right locations for specific user environmental improvements) uneven - some were full whilst some had spare for residents or shoppers, for example). A groups, including blue badge holders, users of capacity, even at peak times. A proportion of new parking strategy for the town is currently powered two wheelers, electric vehicles and Dedicate each town centre car park for either traffic in the town centre are drivers searching in development and will lead to a set of more bicycle users short-stay or long-stay users, to give clarity to for a parking space. Balancing the demand for focused and specific proposals and policies. customers and ensure spaces are prioritised the finite number of spaces and accommodating Install electric vehicle charging points, including for short stay visits different users’ parking and loading needs is Future changes in mobility and travel patterns in off-street car parks complex and can be controversial. In broad terms may radically change how and where parking is Use technology to provide live information on the Councils use their powers to encourage provided. The park and ride sites could eventually availability of car park spaces on the Borough parking in certain locations and prohibit it in become locations where people change from Our longer-term aspirations Council website or via an app other places. Using land for parking or loading traditional cars to autonomous vehicles for Introduce measures to encourage use of means it is not available for other uses (for onward connections to the town centre. Orchard multi-storey and High Street car Enable drivers to reach parking spaces more parks, such as an upgrade of their appearance efficiently, such as using technology solutions to or a special pricing tariff match drivers to car parking spaces Carry out survey of park and ride users and Further reduce antisocial parking on non-users to gain a full understanding of residential streets, including considering customer usage and their requirements, as well potential requirements for new or revised as why people choose not to use the services residential or controlled parking zones

Use emerging technology to flexibly manage roadspace for parking and loading uses

Maximise the role of Taunton Gateway, with customer facilities and as an interchange hub served by intercity coach services, airport connections and interurban bus services

Enable, and make special provision for, cycling

Silk Mills Park and Ride from the air from park and ride sites into the town

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Ongoing proposals and Shorter-term commitments supporting policies PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR Programme of improvements to cycle Develop and maintain a Local Cycling Active travel (walking and cycling) networks and pedestrian facilities, starting and Walking Infrastructure Plan, working 3 with key corridors as a priority including collaboratively to (i) identify key corridors routes to the town centre and rail station for investment, (ii) tackle barriers to cycling and walking particularly at junctions, Build awareness of walking and cycling gyratory systems and crossing points, (iii) Incorporating more active travel into daily However, currently many people choose not routes (such as by publishing updated maps) and implement cycle priority at appropriate life – walking and cycling and including these to walk or cycle for journeys around the town. and communicate key strategy messages, locations / on key routes. as part of a journey by public transport – is Reasons range from concerns and perceptions such as sharing the space with other road an easy and affordable way for people to live about road safety and driver behaviour, the users (courteous road behaviour) and Town centre public space improvements to healthier lives and combat obesity. Two ten- volume of traffic, poor quality routes and changing perceptions achieve people-friendly streets and less traffic minute periods of brisk walking or cycling a gaps in the cycle network to travel habits and in the retail heart of the town day is enough to get the recommended level cultural factors. A recent Taunton Area Cycling Encourage workplaces to enhance on-site of physical activity to avoid the greatest health Campaign survey found more cycle friendly road facilities for cycle users Implement appropriate and effective measures risks associated with inactivity 19 . More people design and more or better cycle paths were the such as 20mph speed limits, traffic calming or travelling on foot or by cycle tackles road two most popular factors which respondents felt Embed new and innovative design techniques changes to road layouts as appropriate to reduce congestion, improves air quality, reduces noise would encourage them to cycle more. A quality for walking and cycling infrastructure, noise and vehicle speeds and improve road safety pollution and gives reliable journey times. active travel network needs to be designed for, including cycle priority low driving speeds, into Investing in cycling usually offers very good and accessible to, everyone, including those local design guidance More high-quality cycle parking spaces value for money and provides substantial local with mobility impairments. provided at key destinations, including across economic benefits20 to businesses – the levels Ensure the garden communities are designed the town centre, the rail station, hospital of spending by people walking and cycling Our plan is to enable more people to choose with connected streets suitable for cycling and shops and businesses. Locations to be to the shops tends to be underestimated by to walk or cycle for more of their journeys, and walking identified in the Local Cycling and Walking retailers. by improving the network and making the Infrastructure Plan experience more pleasant. In particular the Protect disused canal and railway routes for Update and improve the wayfinding and Taunton is well-suited for walking and cycling cycle network needs to be suitable for new potential reuse as footpaths and cycleways – much of the town is relatively flat and most and inexperienced cyclists, as well as existing information network to cover more parts of the destinations are within walking or cycling riders, and also provide sufficient space for Link garden communities to existing active town, ensuring it is simple and intuitive to use distances of people’s homes. The network of pedestrians. Through our proposals we want travel corridors in the green wedges, including Enhanced cycle hub facility at Taunton Station green infrastructure - the town’s attractive to see levels of cycling journeys doubled and along the canal and river open spaces - along with the river and canal to develop a special status as a walking and to include greater quantity of secure cycle make many journeys attractive and pleasant. cycling town. parking, along with bike hire, maintenance and repair services

Our longer-term aspirations Implement the recommendations of the Local to the town’s retail heart and Vivary Park, and Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan, to create alongside the a comprehensive network of direct routes for Continuous footway across side street, Clapham cycling, protected from traffic where appropriate Enable more local business functions to take and suitable for everyone. These routes will place by bike, such as local deliveries by connect the whole town, including park and ride cargo bike. sites, garden communities and surrounding villages, such as Bishop’s Lydeard, maximising Provision of improved cycle connectivity across the use of green corridors for the routes M5 - a new pedestrian and cycle bridge to connect Nexus25 to existing residential areas and town, Increase walking journeys by improving the plus cycle links from Ruishton to Hankridge Farm Segregated cycleway, London quality of key routes, including from the station

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Ongoing proposals and Shorter-term commitments supporting policies PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR Work with bus operators to: Implement A3259 Corridor Strategy for bus, Bus and coach • maintain an appropriate bus network based walking and cycling infrastructure to connect 4 around customer needs; Monkton Heathfield garden community • enhance the customer experience; and Ensure garden communities are designed in • raise the quality of the bus fleet through ways which allow new local bus services to route Taunton’s bus network provides for a wide Regular weekday daytime bus services radiate measures such as smart ticketing, on- through them range of everyday journeys enabling people out from the town centre, but evening and board wifi, leather seats, audio-visual Work with neighbouring authorities and to access education, jobs, training and Sunday services only operate on a limited announcements of next stop stakeholders to develop the bus rapid transit route healthcare. Coaches provide interurban travel number of routes and at reduced frequencies. • introduce technology to facilitate to link Bridgwater, Taunton and Wellington connections to London, the Midlands, North Bus punctuality remains a key issue with, smartphone apps Explore options for future bus and scheduled of England and the South West as well as to traffic congestion, inconsiderate parking and • Move towards a cleaner fuel bus fleet, such London Heathrow and Bristol Airports. roadworks contributing to one in every five coach passenger boarding and alighting as hybrid electric vehicles, by bidding with arrangements in the town centre, taking account buses monitored in the county running more bus companies for funding from government of key destinations and the planned public Emerging innovations could challenge our 21 than five minutes late . transport interchange at Taunton Rail Station view and experience of traditional road- Introduce additional bus priority lanes or infrastructure to speed up bus services and based public transport over the next 10-20 The majority of services are run on a prioritise their journeys over general traffic, Provide real-time and other service years. Changes may include on-demand commercial basis by bus companies who can information at bus stops and using digital including in connection with garden communities services, booking journeys using apps, sharing respond to changes in customer demand technology (websites and apps) journeys in minibuses or smaller vehicles. by changing or withdrawing services at Periodically review whether entering into formal Different solutions will be required on the two months’ notice. The County Council Introduce quality waiting infrastructure – partnerships with bus operators would offer useful seating, shelters and step-free bus boarding – busiest transport corridors, such as between currently spends around £2m to enable ways to create a suitable bus network for the town at bus stops across the town Bridgwater and Taunton. Paying for travel ‘socially necessary’ bus services to run which in terms of routes, timetabling and other quality using mobile phones, contactless bank cards or would otherwise not be provided by bus standards. Monitor emerging models of public Develop a strategy for visiting coaches and smartcards is likely to become standard in the companies. However, government regulations transport provision and respond as appropriate implement priority proposals next 5 years, making journeys easier and faster. limit the scope of Councils to influence The Councils will be monitoring developments routes, frequencies, standards or ticketing Ensuring garden communities have direct and Work with developers and bus operators to connect the garden communities and Nexus25 in this sector closely to ensure the town can arrangements of commercial services. safe walking routes to existing bus services with high-quality bus services respond to fast-changing markets. Our proposals for bus and coach travel are set out over the page. Our longer-term aspirations Construct infrastructure for a rapid transit route connecting Bridgwater, Taunton and Wellington and serving garden communities including a link from Comeytrowe

Work in partnership with operators to shape the bus network to meet passenger requirements, Digital departure boards, Birmingham including removing the need for buses to terminate in the town centre and instead provide cross-town services (particularly covering a core area between Musgrove Park Hospital, Taunton Station and extending to Nexus25)

A new high frequency dedicated public transport link from Comeytrowe to the town centre via Musgrove Park and Bridgwater & Taunton College On-street bus interchange, Bavaria Use new models of public transport and emerging connected and autonomous vehicle Electric bus in service, Dorchester Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 technology to enhance accessibility in Taunton Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval December 2017 26 27

Ongoing proposals and Our longer-term aspirations supporting policies PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR Close working with Network Rail, train operating Lobby for improvements to local rail services Rail companies and other partner organisations to for communities between Exeter, Taunton, 5 develop and lobby for rail improvements Bridgwater and Bristol to be included in Network Rail’s future rail strategies Engage in, and influence, the rail franchising process to ensure better outcomes for Taunton Deliver new Wellington station, including Taunton is strategically located on the rail and connectivity issues in Somerset. There is interchange with other transport modes, to network, which provides important connections substantial variation between long-distance and maximise its appeal and catchment to London, the South West and the wider UK, local train services in terms of train comfort and and encourages businesses to locate and stay quality, journey times and the hours and frequency Shorter-term commitments Support the rail industry in formulating a long-term- in the town. Funding is already in place for of their operation. plan for reintroduction of regular passenger train the rail station upgrade which will to create Taunton Rail Station Upgrade – enhance facilities services from the national rail network at Taunton a much improved gateway to the town. From Somerset County Council is a member of the and provide a better welcome to the town and onto the West Somerset Railway to Minehead 2018 trains to and from London, Somerset, Peninsula Rail Task Force, a rail improvement consolidate station parking into multi-storey car Devon and Cornwall will be upgraded, bringing campaign group of Councils and LEPs, and park/s to provide more spaces (£8.97m) Work with Peninsula Rail Task Force to secure a higher frequency of service, increasing which published the 20-year plan entitled government commitment to the electrification of capacity by 25% and decreasing journey times. Closing The Gap – The South West Strategic Upgraded trains between London - Somerset the mainline to London and Bristol Rail Blueprint, in 2016 23 . -Devon-Cornwall to provide 25% more capacity, Network Rail’s projections forecast that hourly frequencies and shorter journey times Work collaboratively with Network Rail to plan passenger traffic will increase by at least Through the proposals overleaf we are seeking to and engineer schemes to increase linespeeds 47% between 2013 and 2023 22 and there is achieve enhanced connections to the rest of the Taunton Rail Station South Side Approach - to reduce rail journey times, as set out in the 20 concern that existing rail industry plans are UK and the strong growth in rail use. create improved public transport interchange, year rail plan not sufficiently ambitious to address capacity drop-off/pick-up and taxi waiting areas Liaise with rail organisations to lengthen New, direct, high-quality pedestrian and cycle crowded peak time train services route from station to town centre through Firepool Increase frequency of long-distance express Develop business case for new station at rail services to the North of England and the Wellington South West

Lobby for flood protection and prevention Reduce interchange waiting times and enhance works to the two rail lines across the Somerset connections at key interchange stations (Castle Levels and at Exeter and Dawlish Cary, Westbury, Exeter)

Encourage the rail industry to trial rail services from the national rail network to West Somerset Railway’s station at Bishop’s Lydeard

Lobby DfT to require rail franchise winners to provide quality (continuous) wifi connectivity on rail services to meet customer demands and enable business productivity

Artist’s impression of upgraded approach to Taunton Rail Station

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Ongoing proposals and Shorter-term commitments supporting policies PROPOSALS AND POLICIES FOR Involve Taunton businesses and residents Provide superfast broadband to at least 95% of Smarter business and in identifying transport improvements. premises in the Borough 6 Examples include using data held by public bodies or collected by the public Work collaboratively to improve mobile phone (crowdsourced) on problems, opportunities coverage – and the quality of mobile broadband smarter living coverage in particular and finding solutions such as community Our strategy is not solely about getting people make it vibrant and economically successful. development of transport applications from A to B. We also want to put in place the Moving home, starting a new job or moving Work with developers to revitalise the town centre conditions which enable people to live and school tend to cause us to change our travel with retail, leisure, community, sporting and Continue the ongoing programme of robust cultural uses, so residents don’t have to travel to work more flexibly, be better informed about habits and we want to roll out a range of and high achieving workplace and residential other towns and cities to access these services their journeys and avoid the need for travel transport tools and proposals to to ensure the travel plans and initiatives for occupiers of new and amenities along with new homes when it’s not required. Technology will continue town has the right connectivity and retains its developments, including in garden communities to emerge to fill these requirements and the high quality of life. Make key transport datasets available to Digital Taunton initiative seeks to stimulate Continue to proactively identify and introduce enable apps and other technology solutions to developments in the field and ensure the town Through our proposals overleaf we intend for technology solutions to the town’s transport issues be developed for the travelling public is a leader in emerging digital innovation. all residents of our new garden communities to be within walking distance of main bus Undertake targeted programmes of travel Use the free town centre public wifi as a However, digital connectivity is seen as a corridors and have easy access onto a core promotion and advice in new developments catalyst for sharing and making available current weakness by Taunton businesses. For walking and cycling network serving the town travel information widely available example, the speed of broadband connections and for less car use per head of population. Encourage the provision of infrastructure Undertake a comprehensive programme are not uniform across the borough which and spaces to enable people to be more productive on the move, e.g. wifi on public of travel promotion and advice (using can hamper economic growth and limit the personalised journey planning) and using transport or at interchanges, and at new usefulness of new technology. Conventional new technology to better inform travellers. methods of conveying travel information also flexible forms of workplaces Work with those communities and people need to be maintained – one in ten adults who are receptive to, or who can realistically surveyed neither have the internet nor intend Support further development of local hubs where change their travel patterns, including those installing it at home 24 . online deliveries can be securely stored until whose are moving house, starting a new job collection by residents (e.g. at local shops) or making journeys for the first time such as As Taunton rapidly grows, and with its garden travelling for work or visiting the town (subject town status, we have an opportunity to shape Promote and enable home working and to securing suitable funding) the design of the new garden communities. We teleconferencing and ensure good quality can plan to ensure they are well-connected and broadband across the Borough Collaboratively work with schools to identify well-served by facilities and provide attractive and implement solutions to address issues Continue to focus new development in locations places for people to move around, and by active including peak time congestion and road safety which have, or can have, good accessibility, travel modes in particular. Similarly, we want including by public transport, walking and cycling to promote development in the town centre to Enable a greater proportion of transactions with the two Councils to be carried out digitally

Our longer-term aspirations

Be a town open to innovation and new technology to improve the travel experience, making it easier to get around and reducing the need to travel for work and education Crowdsourcing ideas from the public on improving Attractive route through new mixed use development - Wapping Wharf, Bristol Artist’s inpression of Firepool development cycling - Bristol Bugbears website map Enhance mobile phone connections and speeds, such as through 4G and 5G

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WHO DELIVERS THE TRANSPORT FUNDING FOR TRANSPORT in this strategy. Successful schemes usually rely on cooperation and funding contributions from STRATEGY PROPOSALS AND POLICIES several sources. The Councils are committed to working closely with these organisations to Both Somerset County Council (SCC) and Taunton Deane Borough Council (TDBC) both play key It is our ambition, through collaborative working, influence their investment decisions and ensure roles in enabling an effective transport network. They have the following responsibilities: to bring all of the proposals and policies to fruition they support local projects rather than those during the lifetime of this strategy. However, not Somerset County Council is responsible for Taunton Deane Borough Council prepares elsewhere in the country. all of the elements of this strategy are currently maintaining the adopted highway network, the local plan, is responsible for many off- funded and one of the purposes of this document including footways, public rights of way street car parks and makes the decisions on Taunton’s Garden Town status means that is to help secure funding for the initiatives set out and street lighting, preparing a countywide planning applications, including collecting the transport infrastructure to support the growing in the strategy. Funding for transport services and transport plan, bidding for funds for transport Community Infrastructure Levy for strategic town will continue to be a key issue over the infrastructure is currently extremely complex. improvements, building new transport infrastructure and securing other funding for next 20 years. We share the frustration of local communities that the current funding infrastructure and supervising transport transport improvements from developers. Funding for infrastructure (such as new roads or improvements provided as part of new arrangements often make it very difficult Whilst the Councils have freedoms over cycleways) tends to come either from developers to ensure that the infrastructure needed to development, providing school and college some aspects of their work, other areas are or capital grant funding from Government. Some transport, park and ride, non-emergency health support new development is put in place before ultimately controlled by government, such of the Government funding is devolved to regional development commences. This means often transport, some subsidised public transport, on- as whether funds from Vehicle Excise Duty is bodies such as Local Enterprise Partnerships street parking enforcement, traffic management, some development needs to occur to generate devoted to transport investment, or national to manage. Government favours allocating the finance necessary for developers to fund road safety and providing transport advice to planning policy, which influences how planning many grant funds through competitive bidding TDBC on planning applications. infrastructure improvements. Government applications are decided. processes which can make future funding streams planning policy accepts that new development Other Organisations unpredictable, and funds usually needing to be may cause more congestion. Responsibility for other key aspects of transport provision, particularly public transport, rests with spent in a relatively short period of time once a a range of organisations, some of which are private companies. These bodies include: business case has been made for a particular In line with government regulations the Borough project. The criteria for suitable projects also Council introduced the Community Infrastructure changes according to Government priorities. Levy (CIL) in 2014 25 . CIL is a compulsory tariff ÎÎ Department for Transport, which provides funding for significant transport which must be paid by developers of certain types improvements and innovation, often allocated through funding competitions; Funding for ongoing services such as grass cutting of development to fund improvements, including or socially necessary local bus services comes from strategic transport improvements associated ÎÎ Highways England, who maintain and operate the M5 motorway, the A303 and A36 in a continually reducing annual government grant, Somerset (and, when constructed, the new A358 route between the M5 and A303); with the growth of Taunton (and Wellington). and from Council Tax (which also funds other crucial Planning applicants are also required to provide, ÎÎ Network Rail, responsible for infrastructure on the national rail network; services such as adult social care or children’s or fund, site-specific matters needed to make services); so difficult decisions continually need to be ÎÎ Great Western Railway, operates the railway franchise awarded by government to development acceptable in planning terms, such made about what can be funded. operate local and long-distance rail services in the South West and to London and as access junctions (such as through section 106 Bristol. They also manage Taunton station; Despite this challenging environment Taunton has or section 278 agreements). Whilst there are different ways of seeking funding from developers, ÎÎ CrossCountry is the current rail franchise holder of long-distance rail services to the been extremely successful in securing a range government guidance emphasises that local South West, Midlands and Northern England; of funds to improve the highways and transport infrastructure. Having a clear plan is an important authorities should ensure that the combined total ÎÎ Bus and coach companies, including Buses of Somerset (FirstGroup), Berry’s Coaches, step in securing further funding. impact of such funding requests does not threaten Hatch Green Coaches, National Express and Stagecoach all provide services within the financial viability of developing the sites. As Taunton and beyond; and The successful operation of the local transport CIL is compulsory, the ability to secure funding ÎÎ Heart of the South West Local Enterprise Partnership (LEP) which prepares a Strategic network as a whole relies on a close working from developers through other means to support Economic Plan and makes decisions on funding for major transport schemes allocated relationship between the Councils and a wide other categories of infrastructure can be limited. through a prioritisation process across the four authority areas. range of private sector organisations who control, provide and fund aspects of transport investment Key funding sources and funding bodies are set in Taunton. Consequently we alone will not be able out on the next page.

Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval October 2017 to achieve all of the proposals and policies set out Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval October 2017 32 33

Annex C: REFERENCES Funding source Description 1 National Statistics 2013 Census 2011 statistics table QS701EW Method of travel to work (Taunton Used to support the operation of the existing transport system, Built-up area) https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs701ew including County Council responsibilities such as highway 2 Taunton Deane Borough Council 2016 Survey of Taunton Businesses, 2016 maintenance, providing the concessionary travel scheme and Local authority core funding, supporting some bus services, and Borough Council responsibilities 3 National Statistics 2014 Census 2011 statistical table WU03EW Location of usual residence and place including Council Tax of work by method of travel to work (MSOA level) including car park maintenance and management. From 2020 the 4 revenue from business rates will be retained locally but the core grant For the purposes of this strategy Taunton defined as middle super output areas Taunton Deane 002, 7 given from central government will end. 004, 006-011 https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/wu03ew

Budget given by central government and controlled by the Local 5 National Statistics 2014 Census 2011 statistics table QS702EW Distance travelled to work for Local Growth Fund £ Economic Partnership to fund major transport infrastructure Taunton Built-Up Area https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/qs702ew investment in their areas National Statistics 2013 Census 2011 statistical table KS404EW Car or van availability 6 This new fund for ‘local major transport schemes’ was announced in https://www.nomisweb.co.uk/census/2011/ks404ewl Large ‘Local Majors' the Government’s 2015 Spending Review. It is designed to help local Taunton Deane Borough Council 2015 Authority Monitoring Report for 2014-2015 Fund £ 8 areas ‘pay for projects that are too expensive to fund by themselves’ https://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/media/1130/authority-monitoring-report-2014-2015.pdf Separate allocations are given to the County Council for 1) highway 9 Department for Transport 2017 Traffic counts (Annual average daily traffic data for 2016 quoted ) Funds allocated by maintenance, including a specific pothole action fund, 2) smaller- https://www.dft.gov.uk/traffic-counts/ Department for Transport scale capital schemes and one-off National Productivity Investment Fund for 2017/18 10 Somerset County Council automatic traffic counts (unpublished) Somerset County Council 2016 Somerset Traffic Data 2015 Funds managed Local highway authorities can bid for money from various funds, including 11 by Department the Low Emission Bus Scheme, and National Productivity Investment fund http://www.somerset.gov.uk/EasySiteWeb/GatewayLink.aspx?alId=119112 for Transport £ (for 18/19 – 19/20), Local Highways Maintenance Challenge Fund 12 Taunton Car Parking Strategy (to be published shortly) Local authorities can bid for money from funds including the Housing Funds managed by Office or Rail and Road 2016 Estimates of Station Usage 2015-2016 time series Infrastructure Fund, to pay for infrastructure to unlock new homes in the 13 Department for areas of greatest demand. Government will either fund the final, missing http://orr.gov.uk/statistics/published-stats/station-usage-estimates Communities and £ element of infrastructure funding, or provide initial funding, to kick-start Somerset Intelligence 2017 Population Estimates and Projections Local Government 14 the process. http://www.somersetintelligence.org.uk/population-estimates-and-projections/ Payable by planning applicants towards the cost of providing or improving All Party Commission on Physical Activity 2014 Tackling Physical Inactivity – A Coordinated Approach 15 infrastructure across the borough required to support new development, https://parliamentarycommissiononphysicalactivity.files.wordpress.com/2014/04/apcopa-final.pdf and to operate or maintain it. 15% of money from CIL is passed directly to Developers (through the town or parish councils within whose boundaries development takes Public Health England 2014 Estimating local mortality burdens associated with particulate air pollution Community Infrastructure place; communities with an adopted neighbourhood plan receive 25% of 16 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/estimating-local-mortality-burdens-associated-with- Levy - CIL) CIL revenue. Much of Taunton does not have a parish or town council so particulate-air-pollution Taunton Deane Borough Council must ask the community how they wish National Statistics 2016 UK local authority & regional carbon dioxide emissions national statistics: 2005-2014 the 15% of monies to be spent. 17 https://www.gov.uk/government/statistics/uk-local-authority-and-regional-carbon-dioxide-emissions- Developers through planning Used to secure transport infrastructure to enable a development national-statistics-2005-2014 obligations (s106 agreements) to proceed (eg highway accesses) and limit the significant impacts 18 Taunton Strategic Transport Model (TSTM3) 2011 base model and highway agreements of the development. Planning applicants can either give financial (s278 agreements) contributions or construct the physical infrastructure itself. 19 Transport for London 2017 Healthy Streets http://content.tfl.gov.uk/healthy-streets-for-london.pdf Delivers DfT Road Investment Strategy projects, including for the A303/ The value of cycling: rapid evidence review of the economic benefits of cycling, 2016 A358/A30 corridor and at M5 J23, or other programmes such as the queue 20 https://www.gov.uk/government/publications/the-value-of-cycling-rapid-evidence-review-of-the- protection system proposed between M5J22 and J25. economic-benefits-of-cycling Also manages ‘Designated funds’ to tackle specific issues including a Growth DfT Statistics Table 2016 BUS0902 Non-frequent bus services running on time, by local authority: England Highways England 21 & Housing Fund (to part-fund schemes on the motorway or trunk road (data quoted for 2015/16) https://www.gov.uk/government/collections/bus-statistics network which enable housing and employment sites to progress with a £4m Network Rail 2015 Long-term planning process: Western Route Study allocation to M5 J25) £ , A Walking and Cycling Fund, an Air Quality Fund, 22 and Innovation Funds https://www.networkrail.co.uk/running-the-railway/long-term-planning/ Peninsula Rail Task Force 2016 Closing the Gap – The South West Peninsula Strategic Rail Blueprint Includes funding by Network Rail, train operating companies and bus 23 Other sources operators, for example. Some of the other sources require bids to be made https://peninsularailtaskforce.co.uk/closing-the-gap-the-south-west-peninsula-strategic-rail-blueprint/

24 Ofcom 2016 Communications Market Report 2016 Competitive funding - Funding not guaranteed; https://www.ofcom.org.uk/__data/assets/pdf_file/0024/26826/cmr_uk_2016.pdf £ requires bid to be submitted. Taunton Deane Borough Council 2014 Community Infrastructure Levy 25 Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval October 2017 https://www.tauntondeane.gov.uk/planning-policy/community-infrastructure-levy/Taunton: Connecting Our Garden Town Draft for approval October 2017 +

Walking Smarter Taunton’s Parking and cycling business roads and and park Bus and Rail (active and smarter streets and ride coach 1 2 3travel) 4 5 6living

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