Walking Infrastructure Plan Central Severn Vale - Technical Note
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Walking Infrastructure Plan Central Severn Vale - Technical note Gloucestershire County Council’s Transport Planning Team August 2018 Page 1 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 Walking Infrastructure Plan Central Severn Vale - Technical note The contents of this plan have been developed in accordance with the Department for Transport Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans Technical Guidance for Local Authorities. With thanks to WSP, ITP and SYSTRA. Contents Amendment Record This report has been issued and amended as follows: Issue Revision Description Date Signed 0.1 1 Draft circulated for 20/09/18 SW discussion 0.2 1 Consultation document December SW 2018 Page 2 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 Contents Introduction ................................................................................................................................ 4 1. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans ............................................................... 4 2. Central Severn Vale LCWIP .............................................................................................. 4 3. Trip Generators and Core Walking Zones ........................................................................ 5 Key Walking Routes ..................................................................................................................... 7 6. Stakeholder Engagement – walking workshop ................................................................ 7 7. Desire lines ....................................................................................................................... 8 8. Walking route analysis ................................................................................................... 10 9. Stakeholder Engagement – technical workshop ........................................................... 12 Walking Infrastructure Improvements ........................................................................................ 12 11. Key considerations and potential interventions; Cheltenham ...................................... 12 12. Key considerations and potential interventions; Gloucester ........................................ 12 Appendix A – potential interventions; Cheltenham Appendix B – potential interventions; Gloucester Appendix C – WRAT & EQAT Audits Page 3 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 Introduction 1. Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans 1.1. The Department for Transport (Dft) launched its Cycle and Walking Investment Strategy (CWIS) in April 2017. The strategy outlines Government’s ambition ‘to make cycling and walking the natural choices for shorter journeys or as part of a longer journey’. 1.2. Technical guidance was published by the DfT on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans (LCWIPs); setting out the strategic approach to identifying long-term cycling and walking improvements, ideally over a 10 year period. Plans will make the case for future investment to provide the basis of future funding bids and inform discussions with developers. 1.3. The process for developing a network plan for walking was set out in the Department for Transport’s Technical Guidance for Local Authorities. The first step was to map trip generators and identify core walking zones; this was followed by establishing key walking routes and identifying barriers to walking. The final phase was to propose walking infrastructure improvements to improve and increase walking journeys and to prioritise those proposals. 1.4. In accordance with Department for Transport partner’s UK Road Liaison Group ‘Well Maintained Highways’ document, routes have been identified according to figure 1 below: Figure 1. Footway Hierarchy Category Name Description 1a Prestige Walking Zone Very busy areas of towns and cities, with high public space and street scene contribution 1 Primary Walking Route Busy urban shopping and business areas, and main pedestrian routes 2 Secondary Walking Route Medium usage routes through local areas feeding into primary routes, local shopping centres etc. 3 Link Footways Linking local access footways through urban areas and busy rural footways 4 Local Access Footways Footways associated with low usage, short estate roads to the main road and cul-de-sacs 2. Central Severn Vale LCWIP 2.1. The Central Severn Vale (CSV) consists of the two largest urban areas in Gloucestershire; the city of Gloucester and the town of Cheltenham Spa. Gloucestershire County Council plans to produce a number of LCWIPs based on the Local Transport Plan Connecting Places Strategy areas, the CSV area being the first of these. 2.2. The CSV was prioritised for the following reasons: It contains the two main settlements of Gloucester and Cheltenham It has the majority of cycling and walking assets It is the centre for future growth, through the adopted Cheltenham, Gloucester and Tewkesbury Joint Core Strategy (JCS) including 35,000 new dwellings and 192 hectares of employment It is set to benefit from £12m of re-development in the King’s Quarter and more than £3.75m on the underpass and forecourt at Gloucester railway station Page 4 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 2.3. This report looks in detail at a select number of routes within the urban areas of Cheltenham and Gloucester. 3. Other Studies 3.1. Walking and Cycling Network Report (GCC, May 2018) 3.1.1. This report provides background for this study. The rationale for an initial focus on the Central Severn Vale area is explained in the CSV CWIP Network Background report. 3.1.2. The rail station in Cheltenham and Gloucester are selected to try and link existing investment to local communities and key trip attractors. The transport schemes of greatest relevance to this study include: Pedestrian, cycling and public realm improvements at the central Gloucester Transport Hub and railway station. Station forecourt improvements and Cheltenham Rail Station. The 45 hectare Cyber Business Park next to GCHQ in Cheltenham including improved walking and cycling access. 4. Trip Generators and Core Walking Zones 4.1. The Central Severn Vale (CSV) contains the two largest urban environments in Gloucestershire and two of the county’s major transport hubs at Cheltenham Spa and Gloucester rail stations. These hubs were looked at because of the number of walking trips they generate and their potential to attract more walking trips as part of a longer journey. I. Cheltenham rail Station on Queen’s Road is the busiest station in the county and is in walking and cycling distance of existing communities and a major employer, as well as future development sites in the west of Cheltenham. Gloucestershire County Council has been successful in bidding to the Homes England Housing Infrastructure Fund (HIF) to address constraints at M5 J10 in light of the strategic allocations set out in the adopted Joint Core Strategy, covering the Central Severn Vale. However, the County Council recognises that these transport issues cannot be addressed alone. The importance of public transport, walking and cycling will be a key part of the solution, which is why the rail station and surrounding communities were identified as the centre of a walking network in the west Cheltenham area. In addition, there was a government directive to address air quality on the A40 to the south of the rail station. Walking improvements can encourage more footfall to and from the station and detract from existing car journeys and parking problems. II. Gloucester Rail Station on Bruton Way was selected due to its central location, proximity to the city centre and other key attractions. The area is also at the centre of a key route towards the Gloucestershire Royal Hospital and a corridor of social support agencies, on Great Western Road including: Gloucester City Mission Centre and food bank; Newton House, supported accommodation; Green Square Group; housing, regeneration and social investment; 2gether Trust Health and Recovery Outreach Teams; The Salvation Army on Eastgate Street. Pedestrian severance is also a key issue for the station as the heavily trafficked Bruton Way runs between the rail station and Gloucester bus station and city centre. Page 5 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 To the west of the station are the wards of Barton and Tredworth. These have some of the highest indices of health deprivation and disability in the county1and are the current focus of Active Gloucestershire’s campaign to improve daily activity in the community. 4.2. Key trip generators and core walking zones were identified within a 400m diameter and a 2.2km radius of each transport hub, in accordance with the DfT technical guidance on Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans. At the rail stations the core walking zones identify not just those trips that are made exclusively by walking, but also those that end in walking such as people being dropped off, drivers, taxi users and cyclists. Figure 2. Cheltenham Key walking zones and trip generators 2 1 4 5 3 Key Attractors: 1. GCHQ 2. Gloucestershire College 3. Gloucestershire University 4. Cheltenham Town Centre 5. Cheltenham General Hospital 1 https://inform.gloucestershire.gov.uk/media/1520749/map-imd2015-national-quintiles-health- deprivation-and-disability-gloucester-v20161.pdf Page 6 of 25 CSV Walking Infrastructure Plan - Technical note 2018 Figure 3. Gloucester Key walking zones and trip generators 4 7 3 5 6 1 2 Key Attractors: 1. Gloucestershire