Draft Local Transport Plan Gloucestershire’s Draft Local Transport Plan Connecting Places Strategy 2015-31 A resilient transport network that enables sustainable economic growth CPS 2 – Forest of Dean providing door to door travel choices Draft Local Transport Plan Connecting Places Strategy CPS 2 – Forest of Dean Version 1.0 Snapshot of stakeholder views Last Revised October 2015 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 Draft Local Transport Plan Area Summary Area Summary Places • The Forest of Dean area is a topographically diverse • Coleford predominantly rural area • Cinderford • Approximately 15% of county’s population live in the area • Newent • Limited crossings of the River Severn result in pinch • Lydney 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 Draft Local Transport Plan The Place The Forest of Dean Connecting Places Strategy The creation of a Growth Zone, as promoted in the SEP, Increasing the speed and accessibility of broadband is (CPS) area is located in the west of the county. is to ensure the availability of quality employment land in crucial for overcoming geographic barriers to economic proximity to the M5 motorway is attractive to businesses growth and ensuring Gloucestershire can compete in Its communities are spread across a large topographically by ensuring excellent connectivity throughout the 21st century knowledge based economy. diverse area including one of the last surviving ancient Gloucestershire and the rest of the UK. For a decade or more, slow broadband speeds and woodlands in the country. As with any predominantly rural The SEP plans for delivery of this employment land inconsistent coverage have been a frustration for many area, travel patterns are dominated by the private vehicle. around the M5 are supported by a number of transport residents and businesses in Gloucestershire particularly The CPS area encompasses the market towns of related proposals across the county which will enable in rural areas. Lydney, Coleford, Cinderford and Newent which is the growth to be achieved through release of this As a result of the Fastershire Broadband Infrastructure approximately 15% of Gloucestershire’s total population. employment land. Project, 88% of premises should be provided with The area has a higher proportion of over 65s, compared Specific solutions along the M5 corridor relating to Next Generation Access (NGA) broadband, providing to the county average. employment land adjacent to the following junctions are: download speeds of over 30mbps in the eligible areas. The Forest of Dean Local Plan identifies future growth • A40 Regeneration areas: Cinderford Northern Quarter Additionally, every home and business in the eligible area in all of the Market Towns with the majority of growth and Lydney Docks – Cinderford Northern Quarter will have access to the government’s Universal Service centred on Lydney and Cinderford. Cinderford is project, which is already underway, tackles localised Commitment of a minimum of 2mbps. also identified for a major regeneration project which deprivation while delivering wider economic and Improvements in broadband technology will change the includes a Gloucestershire College campus and other social benefits including a new college way services are delivered and for some individuals this residential, leisure and commercial developments. • Lydney Docks offers potential for increased may reduce the need or distance they travel. Improved transport access is fundamental to enabling employment land. Growth Deal funding of £3.8m has this development. already been secured for this project. Lydney Docks The Forest of Dean CPS area is bounded by the M50 to offers potential for increased employment land, the the north, River Severn to the south, the City of Gloucester The vision for the Forest of Dean is one of supporting Transport Strategy for Lydney has secured £1m of to the east and the River Wye to the west. Key routes a thriving sustainable community within a high quality Growth Deal funding converge at Highnam where the A40 and A48 meet to environment providing a range of employment provide access across the River Severn. opportunities to reduce commuting and other journeys. Lydney station should offer better services with a direct rail link to Bristol This known congestion point was improved with national parts of the county via the A40 at Highnam and the pinch point funding in 2014. remainder to Herefordshire, Wales or Bristol. Congestion within Lydney has resulted in a Air Quality An hourly bus service provides access between the Market There is no Management Zone (AQMA) being declared within the town Towns and Gloucester. There is one rail station in the centre. Forest CPS, located in the town of Lydney. Direct trains appreciation of effects access Cardiff and Newport in the west and Gloucester and needs of migrant Many residents of the district are drawn towards Wales to and Cheltenham in the east. workers in the Forest; access retail and health services. Hereford is also viewed they are very public as an alternative destination for retail and leisure purposes Almost half of work trips in the area are less than 5km, from the north and west of the area. highlighting the opportunities to increase active travel, transport dependent and but the rural character of the strategy area means there need more provision Highway access to Wales and Bristol is via the M48 at are limited opportunity to provide dedicated cycle routes. Chepstow in Monmouthshire. There is an issue of vehicles There is significant potential to provide leisure routes in diverting to avoid the westbound Severn crossing bridge association with tourist trails such as the Gloucestershire tolls which places extra demand on the A48. An outcome Way, Wye Valley Walk and those within the Forest of Dean. of this extra traffic within Chepstow is the declaration Cycling is brilliant in of AQMA in the town and journey time uncertainty. the Forest – but the Monmouthshire County Council and the Welsh Assembly small and large roads are seeking funding for a Chepstow bypass which would in between the Forest improve access from the A48. Any scheme to improve tracks are not suitable journey time reliability and accessibility to the Forest of for cycling on Dean CPS is to be encouraged. 50% of work trips originating in the area are to destinations beyond the CPS, with 75% of these travelling to other Draft Local Transport Plan 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 • The need for joined up freight routing strategy with neighbouring authorities B4234 • Flooding issues on the A417 at Maisemore and A40 A48 to the west of Gloucester Quedgeley A4136 B4226 • Poor rail station facilities and inconveniently located 12 rail station A41 A48 • Lack of direct rail link to Bristol B4234 A38 B4228 • Many of the roads lack footpaths 13 District Boundaries and • Limited public transport access into Gloucester/ B4231 the CPS strategy area Cheltenham Stonehouse • Off peak bus services are very limited B4228 B4066 B4066 A48 Sharpness B4058 A38 to Bristol B4060 to South West M4 and M32 Bristol A46 to M4 and Bath Draft Local Transport Plan The Priorities Gloucestershire’s vision for transport is to Initiatives have been divided between capital and deliver: revenue schemes and separated into three delivery phases: ‘A resilient transport network that enables sustainable • Short-term 2015 to 2021 economic growth by providing door to door travel • Medium-term 2021 to 2026 choices’ • Long term 2026 to 2031 To address the issues raised during our conversation The delivery phases are indicative only and schemes may with local stakeholders and support the delivery of the be delivered in a different phase to that suggested here. outcomes identified in the LTP Overarching Strategy, a range of scheme priorities have been identified. The scheme list will be updated during the lifetime of the LTP as new evidence emerges. Therefore it should The scheme appraisal process used to inform these not be considered a definitive list as it will be subject to priorities is based on the same process promoted periodic reviews. through the European Union project Boosting Urban Mobility Plans (BUMP). Every scheme identified has been included on the basis of need and compliance with delivering the LTP outcomes and does not reflect a commitment by the county council for funding. They will provide the basis for future funding bids, as opportunities arise, and discussions with third parties where funding may be provided such as by transport operators, providers and developers.