Strathaven, Stonehouse and the Surrounding Villages DRAFT Active Travel Feasibility Study South Lanarkshire Council Project number: 60647232 April 2021 Aerial Map Source: ESRI, DigitalGlobe, Geoeye, Earthstar Geographics, CNES/Airbus DS, USDA, USGS, AeroGrid, IGN and the GIS User Community Table of Contents 1. Introduction ........................................................................................................ 3 1.1 Aims of the Study ...................................................................................... 3 2. Context and Current Situation ............................................................................ 5 2.1 Study Area and Local Context ................................................................... 5 2.2 Deprivation Indicators and Transport Poverty ............................................ 6 2.3 Commuting Data ....................................................................................... 8 2.1 Key Trip Attractors ....................................................................................11 2.2 Planned and Future Developments ......................................................... 12 2.3 Current Active Travel Network ................................................................. 13 2.4 Current Network Use ............................................................................... 16 2.5 Policy Framework .................................................................................... 19 3. Initial Engagement ........................................................................................... 24 3.1 Online Questionnaire Survey ................................................................... 24 3.2 Placecheck Online Map ........................................................................... 33 3.1 Additional Feedback ................................................................................ 35 4. Public Life Survey ............................................................................................ 36 4.1 Public Life Survey Observations .............................................................. 37 4.2 Public Life Survey Recommendations ..................................................... 39 5. Proposed Network and Phased Delivery ......................................................... 40 5.1 Principles of Proposed Network .............................................................. 40 5.2 Proposed Networks ................................................................................. 43 5.3 Proposed Cycle Network- Delivery Phases ............................................. 48 5.4 Key Delivery Principles ............................................................................ 50 5.5 Next Steps ............................................................................................... 52 Appendices .............................................................................................................. 53 Appendix A - Additional Survey Responses .............................................................. 54 Appendix B - Placecheck Full Results ...................................................................... 78 Appendix C Public Life Survey ................................................................................. 83 Appendix D - Detailed Mapping ................................................................................ 92 Strathaven, Stonehouse and the Surrounding Villages Active Travel Feasibility Study Page 2 1. Introduction 1.1 Aims of the Study AECOM were commissioned by South Lanarkshire Council to undertake an Active Travel Feasibility Study for Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages. The aims of the study were to identify both the physical and perceived barriers to walking, cycling and wheeling (scooter, wheelchair, buggy/pram etc.) for everyday journeys in and around the areas; to help encourage more people to choose these active travel modes; and to promote Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages as Active Travel friendly towns. The Study will: • Identify key destinations and how well they are currently connected on foot or by bike; • Create a proposed cycle network map which connects those key destinations and shows what a complete cycle network for Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages could look like; • Identify early priorities and recommendations to make active travel a viable option for everyday journeys in and around the Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages. A number of similar Active Travel Feasibility Studies have previously been undertaken for other areas across South Lanarkshire. This study will use the general approach established in those studies. The results of this Study and associated consultation exercises will be utilised to inform future funding applications to implement the recommendations identified. 1.1.1 Approach The approach followed in developing the active travel network is outlined below. Technical review: • A review of the current active and leisure travel routes, key destinations and barriers to active travel. • Review of the current policy at a National, Regional and Local level along with previous studies develop a greater understanding of the overall policy context. • Review of previous Active Travel Feasibility Studies undertaken previously across South Lanarkshire Public and Stakeholder engagement: • Online Survey to collate public and stakeholder input and views • Use of the online platform Placecheck to gather views on potential desired improvements for specific locations. • A key stakeholder workshop to discuss proposals and identify priorities Network development and recommendation: Strathaven, Stonehouse and the Surrounding Villages Page 3 Active Travel Feasibility Study • Identification of a potential cycle network • Identification of other associated measures which will improve active travel and meet the needs of local communities • Identify opportunities for early implementation and proposed phasing for the network development. Feedback from Stakeholders and the Public and proposed network and priorities: • A key stakeholder workshop to discuss the results of the surveys and proposals from the initial engagement phase • An online survey to collate feedback from the general public and share proposals Figure 1: Strathaven and George Allan Park, Strathaven Strathaven, Stonehouse and the Surrounding Villages Page 4 Active Travel Feasibility Study 2. Context and Current Situation 2.1 Study Area and Local Context Figure 2: Map of study area including Strathaven and Stonehouse The study is focused on Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages in South Lanarkshire. Figure 2 above shows the study area and where the network is being developed. Connections beyond the network boundary were also considered alongside other proposed and existing active travel infrastructure to create a coherent and connected wider network. Strathaven and Stonehouse are both situated to the South West of Larkhall in South Lanarkshire. Strathaven has a population of around 7,500, Stonehouse 5,500, and Strathaven, Stonehouse and the Surrounding Villages Page 5 Active Travel Feasibility Study are surrounded by Chapelton (640), Glassford (640), Quarter (740), Sandford and Drumclog1. The two main settlements of Strathaven and Stonehouse are connected along the A71 road corridor which connects to the M74 at the south of Larkhall. Strathaven has a thriving town centre with a range of local shops and restaurants with a medieval market square at Common Green and is located around six miles south of Hamilton, close to the Avon Water tributary of the River Clyde. There is one High School and three Primary Schools, a leisure centre, various sports clubs and a golf club. The Strathaven area has many walkways, woodlands and greenery including a large public park and Strathaven Castle. Stonehouse is a rural village also in the Avondale area and to the south of Avon Water. The village is approximately 6 miles to the south of Hamilton, east of Strathaven and south-west of Larkhall. There are a number of residential communities in Stonehouse, a small village square, several shops and businesses, pubs and restaurants, and a hospital. There are two Primary Schools, a public park and a sports ground. The National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 74 runs north-south through Stonehouse town centre connecting via quiet, rural and residential roads. Public transport in the area is limited to Whitelaw’s Coaches that enables the two settlements to connect to key destinations such as East Kilbride, and Larkhall which has the nearest rail station This Active Travel Study provides the ideal opportunity to explore the potential for an active travel network for all journeys, not only linking residential areas, places of employment, retail, education, leisure within the towns, but also linking the towns and villages to each other and to the wider transport network in this rural area. There is great potential for modal shift within the town and it is the aspiration of South Lanarkshire Council to provide a useable active travel network to make travelling actively a viable option for the residents of Strathaven, Stonehouse and the surrounding villages for everyday journeys. 2.2 Deprivation Indicators and Transport Poverty The Scottish Index of Multiple Deprivation (SIMD) provides an indication of the areas which are the most and least deprived based on a number of factors which show where people are experiencing disadvantage across