Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan Connecting Places Strategy 2015-2031 A resilient transport network that enables sustainable economic CPS 2 – Forest of Dean growth by providing door to door travel choices Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 1 Connecting Places Strategy CPS 2 – Forest of Dean Version 1.1 Snapshot of stakeholder views Last Revised June 2016 If you try to get Review Date into Gloucester from the west Category Transport Planning [Forest of Dean Owner Gloucestershire County Council CPS] timing is Too much traffic Target Audience Anyone wanting to find out about the county council’s diverts onto the key as it gets so transport proposals for Coleford, Cinderford, Newent and B4215 from the congested Lydney and surrounding areas A417 when there are network problems This strategy acts as guidance for anybody requiring information regarding the county council’s priorities for transport within Coleford, Freight comes Cinderford, Newent and Lydney and surrounding areas. Could the overuse through the Forest of the A48 be offset to avoid Severn The document sets out the aspirations for the Forest of Dean Connecting Places Strategy by the better use Bridge tolls – area up to 2031. of the parallel maybe make the railway line? bridge toll-free at night Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 2 Area Summary Area Summary Places • The Forest of Dean area is a topographically • Coleford diverse predominantly rural area • Cinderford • Approximately 15% of county’s population • Newent live in the area • Lydney • Limited crossings of the River Severn result in pinch points on the A40 in Gloucester and the A48 in Chepstow • AQMAs in Lydney and Chepstow • The M4 / M48 Bridge Tolls impact freight movements in the area (A48) • Chepstow and Monmouth have an impact on the area • Flooding issues at A417 at Maisemore and A40 around Gloucester Transport Links • M50 motorway linking M5 with Monmouth • A40 linking M5 with Ross-on-Wye • A48 linking A40 to M48 in Chepstow • 1 railway station (Lydney) – linking Gloucester to Cardiff • National cycle routes - 42 & 423 Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 3 The Place The Forest of Dean Connecting Places Strategy The vision for the Forest of Dean is one of supporting Increasing the speed and accessibility of broadband is (CPS) area is located in the west of the county. a thriving sustainable community within a high quality crucial for overcoming geographic barriers to economic environment providing a range of employment growth and ensuring Gloucestershire can compete in the Its communities are spread across a large topographically opportunities to reduce commuting and other journeys. 21st century knowledge based economy. diverse area including one of the last surviving ancient The creation of a Growth Zone, as promoted in the For a decade or more, slow broadband speeds and woodlands in the country. As with any predominantly rural SEP, is to ensure the availability of quality employment inconsistent coverage have been a frustration for many area, travel patterns are dominated by the private vehicle. land in proximity to the M5 motorway is attractive to residents and businesses in Gloucestershire particularly in The CPS area encompasses the market towns of Lydney, businesses by ensuring excellent connectivity throughout rural areas. Coleford, Cinderford and Newent which is approximately 15% Gloucestershire and the rest of the UK. As a result of the Fastershire Broadband Infrastructure of Gloucestershire’s total population. The area has a higher The SEP plans for delivery of this employment land around Project, 88% of premises should be provided with Next proportion of over 65s, compared to the county average. the M5 are supported by a number of transport related Generation Access (NGA) broadband, providing download On 23rd February 2012 the Forest of Dean District proposals across the county which will enable the growth speeds of over 30mbps in the eligible areas. Additionally, Council adopted its Core Strategy. The document sets to be achieved through release of this employment land. every home and business in the eligible area will have the vision, spatial strategy and policies for development in access to the government’s Universal Service Commitment Specific solutions along the M5 corridor relating to the District for the period up to 2026. The main focus of of a minimum of 2mbps. employment land adjacent to the following junctions are: development during the plan period is at Cinderford and Improvements in broadband technology will change the Ruspidge urban extension, Lydney, Coleford, Newent and • A40 Regeneration areas: Cinderford Northern Quarter way services are delivered and for some individuals this smaller villages. Cinderford is also identified for a major and Lydney – Cinderford Northern Quarter Spine Road, may reduce the need or distance they travel. regeneration project which includes a Gloucestershire was awarded £3.8m Growth deal funding, tackles College campus and other residential, leisure and localised deprivation while delivering wider economic The Forest of Dean CPS area is bounded by the M50 to commercial developments. Improved transport access is and social benefits including a new college the north, River Severn to the south, the City of Gloucester to the east and the River Wye to the west. Key routes fundamental to enabling this development. • Lydney offers potential for increased employment land converge at Highnam where the A40 and A48 meet to and the Transport Strategy for Lydney has secured provide access across the River Severn. £1m of Growth Deal funding Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 4 Lydney station should offer better services with a direct rail link to This known congestion point was improved with national In addition GCC will consider lobbying the Department of Bristol pinch point funding in 2014. Transport to reduce the toll fees on the Severn Crossings in line with other river crossings, and to introduce two way Congestion within Lydney has resulted in an Air Quality There is no traffic tolls using modern technology to reduce the impact Management Zone (AQMA) being declared within the appreciation of effects of the crossings on the local highway network. town centre. and needs of migrant 50% of work trips originating in the area are to destinations Many residents of the district are drawn to other competing workers in the Forest; beyond the CPS, with 75% of these travelling to other retail destinations outside the Forest of Dean including; Ross-on- they are very public parts of the county via the A40 at Highnam and the Wye, Cribbs Causeway, Cheltenham, Gloucester and Cardiff. transport dependent and remainder to Herefordshire, Wales or Bristol. need more provision Highway access to Wales and Bristol is via the M48 at An hourly bus service provides access between the Market Chepstow in Monmouthshire. There is an issue of vehicles Towns and Gloucester. There is one rail station in the diverting to avoid the westbound Severn crossing bridge Forest CPS, located in the town of Lydney. Direct trains tolls which places extra demand on the A48. An outcome access Cardiff and Newport in the west and Gloucester of this extra traffic within Chepstow is the declaration and Cheltenham in the east. of AQMA in the town and journey time uncertainty. Cycling is brilliant in Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly Almost half of work trips in the area are less than 5km, the Forest – but the are seeking funding for a Chepstow bypass which would highlighting the opportunities to increase active travel, small and large roads improve access from the A48. Any scheme to improve but the rural character of the strategy area means there in between the Forest journey time reliability and accessibility to the Forest of are limited opportunity to provide dedicated cycle routes. tracks are not suitable Dean CPS is to be encouraged. There is significant potential to provide leisure routes in for cycling on association with tourist trails such as the Gloucestershire GCC will liaise closely with the Welsh Assembly and Way, Wye Valley Walk and those within the Forest of Dean. Monmouthshire Council to support proposals for the development of the Chepstow Outer Bypass. Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 5 to Wor The B4215 2 Issues B4216 A417 B4221 • Limited access across the River Severn • A40 heavily congested during peak periods and when Severn Bridge is closed B4215 B4216 • Enforcement of highway speed limits A40 • A48 road safety concerns A40 A4136 • Condition of highway network B4234 • The need for joined up freight routing strategy with neighbouring authorities A48 • Flooding issues on the A417 at Maisemore Quedgeley A4136 B4226 and A40 to the west of Gloucester 12 A41 • Poor rail station facilities and inconveniently A48 located rail station B4234 A38 B4228 • Lack of direct rail link to Bristol 13 District Boundaries and • Many of the roads lack footpaths B4231 the CPS strategy area Stonehouse • Limited public transport access into Gloucester/Cheltenham B4228 B4066 • Off peak bus services are very limited B4066 A48 Sharpness B4058 A38 to Bristol B4060 to South West M4 and M32 Bristol A46 to M4 and Bath Gloucestershire’s Local Transport Plan 2015-2031 CPS 2 – Forest of Dean 6 The Priorities Gloucestershire’s vision for transport The priorities identified for this CPS have been divided is to deliver: between capital and revenue schemes and separated into two delivery phases. ‘A resilient transport network that enables The priorities identified should not be considered a sustainable economic growth by providing definitive list as it will be subject to periodic reviews as door to door travel choices’ new evidence emerges through the District led Local To address the issues raised during our conversation Planning process.