Chapter 6 Sub-Index the Key Issues
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Chapter 6 Sub-Index The Key Issues: Page i. Local Transport 2 ii. Local facilities 6 iii. Keeping the character of our community 9 iv. Protecting the environment 13 v. Traffic control 17 vi. Facilities & activities for young people 21 vii. Schools 25 viii. Community Safety 28 ix. Sense of community 32 Part of Ford Village on the left with Old Sarum Airfield on the right. Photograph courtesy of Robin D W Norton www.woodstockoxford.co.uk 1 LOCAL TRANSPORT AIM – Encourage more people to either walk or use public transport BACKGROUND Most people have a desire to use their cars as their main form of transport, claiming that the bus service was unreliable and not frequent enough at peak times. People aged over 60 indicated that they would use public transport more, providing that the service was adequately suited to their needs. For workers it was felt that a better service would be provided if the buses ran early morning and early evening so that they could get to and from work. Many have commented on the need for better bus services which link the Parish with the Hospital (SDH) and the Railway Station. The Residents’ survey indicated that the largest number of bus users were the over 60s making use of their free bus pass travel. Laverstock The local bus service into Laverstock, in particular, was well valued, but the majority of people in the area preferred to use their cars for travelling to work or shopping. The problem is to get the public of the Parish to either cycle to work or walk. The need for a better bus service serving the whole length of Church Road but also going further into Ford and Hampton Park was suggested, thus improving the services to those areas of the Parish. Some residents indicated that they would walk into Salisbury if better provision of safe footpaths was made. The road alongside Godolphin School was thought to be particularly unsafe, having no footpath. There are plans for a footpath/cycleway to the city. Ford Ford residents who responded to the survey seemed to accept that a regular bus service for the village would not be viable, although use of the park & ride locations at London Road and the Beehive, if used, would avoid parking in Salisbury. Hampton Park A number of Hampton Park residents complained that the current bus timetable did not allow them to use the bus for journeys to and from work in Salisbury. A change in bus timetables, which should cover the 9 and 6 o’clock peak times, might encourage those who work in Salisbury to use public transport instead of their cars. Old Sarum Old Sarum is the next big area of development within the Parish and people will require transport to work, shopping, schools etc. Provision of a suitable bus service to coincide with the increase in population might encourage the new residents to use public transport for these journeys. There is an opportunity for the developers to build in to the Old Sarum development facilities which encourage people to leave their cars at home. 2 FACTS AND FIGURES More people use cars for shopping (58%), going to work (87%), for voluntary work (75%), for school/college (55%) and for social/recreational purposes (48%) than any other form of transport. The second most important method of transport is to walk for going to work (8%), for school/college (38%) and social and recreational (28%), with using the bus for shopping (21%) and voluntary work (16%). (Percentages given are based on journeys made). The most important issues in order for people to use public transport more were: i) more buses in the evenings/at weekends, yes 45% (97) ii) a more reliable service ,yes 37% (81) iii) more routes, for example, to the Hospital and Railway Station, yes 26% (57) STRUCTRAL INFLUENCES The new unitary authority – Wiltshire Council - works in partnership to provide community transport, to help businesses and other organisations develop travel plans, and to promote and improve sustainable travel, such as cycle routes. The concessionary fares scheme, available to over 60s and those with a long-term disability, actively encourages pass holders to make use of the free bus service. Recently upgraded to cover all times of day and providing free travel across county boundaries, the bus pass scheme is valued by residents and reduces congestion in Salisbury. The existing park and ride schemes, soon to be supplemented with a further site at Petersfinger, can be used as a simple bus service by pass holders but not by fare-paying residents. The current level of fuel costs may encourage more public transport usage if the service is convenient. 3 LOCAL TRANSPORT Issue: Improve bus services Possible Next Steps Hampton Park A need for a better bus service covering the 9am and 6 pm peak times. Better bus service from Church Road reaching into Hampton Park. Ford Enter into discussions with Improved bus service from Church Road reaching into Wilts and Dorset and Wiltshire Ford. Unitary Council. Old Sarum See end issue. Laverstock A need for a better bus service serving the whole length of Church Road but also going into Ford and Hampton Park. Issue: Investigate the need for a bus service to the Possible Next Steps railway station and the hospital. Hampton Park, Ford, Old Sarum, Laverstock. Enter into discussions with Wilts and Dorset and Wiltshire Need for a Community Bus and/or a regular Bus service to Unitary Council. meet the demand to attend Hospital appointments and increase travel from Buses to Railway Station. A link with Laverstock, Ford, Old Sarum and Hampton Park with the Pulse line Bus service providing links with Hospital and Railway Station. Issue: Improve safety for cyclists and walkers. Possible Next Steps Hampton Park Cycle lanes available along London Rd. Ford Support Plans for new major Cycle Lanes through Ford. cycleways including one into Old Sarum the city. Cycle Lanes along Old Sarum . Laverstock Cycle lanes up past Godolphin. Issue: Support the provision of good public transport Possible Next Steps services at Old Sarum as the area develops. Hampton Park A need to provide Hampton Park with an adequate bus service as the area develops. Ensure that the Master Plans for new development in these areas include suitable public Old Sarum transport provisions. A need to provide Old Sarum with an adequate bus service as the area develops. Continued... 4 LOCAL TRANSPORT Continued... Issue: Make more use for residents of the Park and Possible Next Steps Ride schemes at Beehive, London Road and Petersfinger. Hampton Park, Ford, Old Sarum, Laverstock. Encourage residents to use the Park & Ride bus service instead of their cars (especially early morning and early Discuss with Wilts & Dorset/ evening). Wiltshire Unitary Council. “If you don’t drive – you’re stranded” Ford resident “No bus to the city between 8.05 and 9.00am” Hampton Park resident “The need to use buses will come with age” Laverstock resident 5 LOCAL FACILITIES AIM – Promote and encourage support for Local Facilities serving the four communities of the Parish. BACKGROUND Throughout our consultation with residents in the four communities, everyone had a view about the provision of local facilities. People thought that living in a small community was no reason for not having adequate local facilities; shops and local services. Our own thoughts about this Key Issue tended to focus around the provision of retail services of the kind which might traditionally be found in a village community. Our residents however felt quite unrestrained in their suggestions for the provision of shops, health care provision, food outlets, post office, recycling facilities, restaurants, garden centre, and hairdressers. Local people were forthright in expressing their views on the quality of service and choice of goods supplied locally. These need to be of a high standard in order to secure local patronage. Enabling people to purchase locally without travelling in to the city was offered as a sensible contribution to reducing the carbon footprint. Better facilities for recycling were often mentioned. Residents in the two largest communities felt that there should be a provision for local health services. By far the most frequently mentioned subject was the recent removal of the Post Office. Unbeknown to the experts the facility was used by the residents of Old Sarum and Ford as well as Laverstock plus the passing trade. Regrettably it was not used enough. 6 STRUCTURAL INFLUENCES Post Office closure is ruled by government legislation although there are those who say the criteria for closure are suspect and arbitrary. Against any claim we might make for the provision of local facilities is always the fact that our four communities are all within bus travelling distance of Salisbury City. The district council’s responsibility for safeguarding the provision of retail in the city has always taken precedence over the wishes of the neighbouring communities. However there are two issues; the government’s plans for increasing the number of houses, particularly in this Parish and the different perspective which may be taken by the new Unitary Authority, might well assist representations from our own Parish Council to encourage more and improved local facilities. Guidance in the Local Development Framework lists the following ‘facilities’- Primary School, shop, Post Office, Bus, Church, Pub, Playing Fields, Playgrounds and Meeting Hall. The existence of seven or eight of these usually deems the community ‘highly satisfied’. Laverstock The largest of the four communities is poorly served with retail facilities. The One Stop shop is generally a welcomed addition, however the presence of a Chinese take-away is viewed with some scepticism.