EEC/06/39/LSO East Highways and Traffic Orders Committee 4 December 2006

Scheme for Formal Approval The Bowd Public Transport Interchange,

Report of the Area Engineer (East)

Please note that the following recommendations are subject to consideration and determination by the Committee before taking effect.

Recommendation: It is recommended that the scheme to improve bus interchange facilities on the A3052 at the Bowd Interchange, Sidmouth as shown on drawing no. HPE91524 is approved at an estimated cost of £28,600; and that an application be made to the AONB Sustainable Development Fund for funding of £7600 .

1. Summary

This report seeks detailed layout approval for a scheme to upgrade bus passenger waiting facilities at the Bowd, providing improved facilities for bus users to interchange between services using the A3052, such as Jurassic Coast X53, and local services into , and Sidmouth, such as the Stagecoach 157 service.

The estimated cost of the scheme is £28,600 and will be funded by Devon County Council and The East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund subject to approval.

2. Background

The X53 Jurassic Coast service currently visits the Gateway Towns of Seaton and Beer but from the Bowd travels directly to Exeter. Improving the interchange facilities at the Bowd would allow both visitors and residents to access communities on the Jurassic Coast such as the Gateway Towns of Budleigh Salterton, Sidmouth and Exmouth, and vice versa.

The scheme was approved by Executive as part of the Devon Local Transport Plan 2006- 2011 Sustainable Recreation, Leisure and Tourism 2006/07 Programme on the 28 February 2006.

The proposed scheme complements the 1 st Phase of the project, which was completed during 2005/06 where Devon County Council worked with bus operators to improve the promotion of the X53 and 157 services and improved timetabling to better integrate the two services. The 157 Coasthopper service, had new Livery reflecting the Jurassic Coast theme, and reflecting the style of the livery on the X53 service.

Completion of this second phase will improve the facilities for bus users at this key interchange location. This should lead to increased bus patronage, which will support the delivery of the County Councils mandatory performance indicator (BVPI 102) to increase bus patronage.

3. Proposals

The proposals involve improving two bus shelters incorporating information displays and art work in keeping with the local surroundings.

Safety and Environmental Audits have been carried out and the design has been adapted accordingly.

The scheme details are shown on Drawing Number HPE91524, which is appended to this report.

4. Funding

The estimated scheme cost is £28,600 .This will be split between Devon County Council, using DLTP funding of £16,000 allocated by Executive as part of the Sustainable Recreation, Leisure and Tourism Programme 2006/07 , the World Heritage Site contributing £5000 and the balance £7600 from the East Devon AONB Sustainable Development Fund.

5. Consultations

The scheme has been designed and consultation been undertaken with local Councillors, and the East Devon AONB Team. The project itself has been developed through the Exmouth Public Transport Partnership and is supported not only by Exmouth Town Council but by Sidmouth Town Council and Budleigh Salterton Chamber of Commerce.

6. Sustainability considerations

The scheme supports the County Council’s Strategic Plan 2006-2011 and forms part of the strategy to “Develop an integrated and safe transport network to reduce congestion and air pollution and to reduce reliance on the car.” The scheme also supports the Jurassic Coast Transport objectives including;

To develop a year-round transport network to support an extended tourism season and promote car-free visits.

It supports the “Making Devon Greener” target to “make it easier for people to use alternative forms of transport to the car”.

It is designed to deliver bus patronage increases in line with the Strategic Plan target for 2008 for “1.6 million more local journeys made by bus or train”.

7. Reasons for reaching the recommendation

These proposals have been subject to consultation and the scheme will provide increased opportunities to bus users to access towns not served by the X53 service.

8. Alternative options

The design process has considered other options for the location of an interchange facility, however the Bowd was chosen as the preferred location as it not only can provide the interchange for Sidmouth, Exmouth and Budleigh Salterton, but in the future this could be expanded to include .

Tony Matthews

County Electoral Division: Sidmouth

East Devon District Ward: Sidmouth Sidford Town/Sidmouth Sidford

Local Government Act 1972

List of Background Papers

Contact for enquiries: Tony Matthews

Room No: Little Moor House

Tel No: 01392 385080

Background Paper Date File Ref.

None

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