There was one member of the public present (see attached notes).

Present:

Cllr N R G Clarke (Chairman)
Cllr N J Chard
Cllr T Scriven

In Attendance:

Jo Stannard, Deputy Town Clerk

P/4346 Absence

Apologies for absence had been received from Cllr Mrs B Charlton, Cllr D R Cole, Cllr D E Cracknell, Cllr M F J Daly and Cllr B H Terry

P/4347 Declarations of Interest

There were none.

P/4348 Minutes of Previous Meeting

RESOLVED:

That the minutes of the meeting held on 21st July 2006, having been circulated, were approved and signed as a correct record.

With the agreement of the Committee, planning application number 06/88078 was considered next for the benefit of the member of public present (see Annex ‘B’ for observation).

P/4349 Traffic Management Strategy

Members considered the Consultation Draft of New Forest District Council’s Traffic Management Strategy (Annex ‘A’).

Cllr Scriven was concerned that, although paragraph 2.1 referred to the overarching theme of “reduce, manage and invest”, there was no reference to this in the remainder of the document.

Cllr Chard was concerned about the reference to the lack of resources to provide additional parking spaces (paragraph 2.2). However, it was agreed that the Council needed to focus on the problems in the town and make the relevant authorities aware of its concerns in an attempt to ensure resources could be made available to resolve issues raised.

After some discussion, it was

RESOLVED: 1. That the following comments be made on the strategy policies in section 8 of the District Council’s Draft Traffic Management Strategy:

A1 – support
A2 – support
Request an analysis of ticket sales – have the charges changed the pattern of parking?
A3 – support
A4 – support
A5 – support
Note that a Signage Project Group, which includes the public in its membership has been established by the Town Council to look at the quality and effectiveness of signing in the town and make recommendations for improvements.
A6 – support
B1 – support
B2 – support
School travel plans will influence this policy. Need to monitor hot spots.
B3 – support
B4 – support
Any TROs should include a comprehensive analysis of consequences.
C1 – support
D1 – support
D2 – support
E1 – support
There is concern about heavy traffic on B class roads, particularly Christchurch Road.
E2 – support
The Ringwood Walking & Cycling Working Group has identified several measures to improve access for people with disabilities.
E3 – support
Any proposed schemes should include an analysis of the consequences of displaced vehicles, should the scheme be implemented. Proposals need to be developed in consultation with town and parish councils to take all circumstances into consideration.
E4 – noted
E5 – support
E6 – support
Request that Ringwood be considered as a pilot town for the removal of unnecessary signs etc.
E7 – support
F1 – support
F2 – noted
F3 – noted
F4 – noted
G1 – support
The Council has responded to consultation on parking standards and a survey of affected areas has been carried out.
H1 – support

2. That one additional policy be included in the Management Strategy to state that the District Council will develop a close working partnership with town and parish councils, and that town and parish councils will be consulted on any traffic management matters in their area.

P/4350 Bournemouth Airport

Due to the low number of members present at the meeting, it was agreed that this item be deferred in order to get a more representative view.

RESOLVED: That discussion on the Bournemouth Airport Draft Master Plan be deferred to the next meeting of the Committee on 15th September 2006.

P/4351 Traffic & Parking

Cllr Scriven stated that, as a result of the survey he had undertaken in the north ward, it was clear that residents had some common concerns about traffic and parking in the town. These included parking charges, traffic noise and speed, congestion in the town and access to and from the A31. He said that the Council had a duty to listen to residents concerns and put issues forward for resolution. He therefore suggested that a sub-committee be established to look at problems the town would face in the next 5 to 10 years and produce a plan to deal with issues raised.

Cllr Clarke said that these issues were not the responsibility of the Town Council and added that neither the County Council nor the Highways Agency had plans for any major works in the town and therefore would not have the resources available to carry out any new proposals.

However, Cllr Scriven was concerned that the town would soon become gridlocked and felt that the Council should be doing something about it by developing a strategic plan for the future. The Deputy Town Clerk said that this was the purpose of the Town Plan and traffic and parking issues would be addressed through the Transport and Accessibility Group.

Cllr Chard was also concerned about traffic congestion through the town resulting from tailbacks on the A31. He referred to the additional traffic that would be using the A31 in 2012 to access the Olympic events in the Weymouth area. It was noted that the Highways Agency had responded to this concern stating that these events would have no greater traffic impact than other international sailing events already held in Weymouth.

Members agreed that existing and future problems with traffic movements around the town should be investigated and it was therefore

RECOMMENDED: That the Town Council formally writes to Hampshire County Council about its concerns relating to the current and future impact of traffic flows in and around the town and asks what the County Council intends to do to address these concerns.

P/4352 Planning Applications Considered

Planning applications in respect of periods ending 18th & 25th July and 1st & 8th August 2006 were considered.

RESOLVED: That the observations as shown in Annex ‘B’ be submitted.

P/4353 Urgent Business

Street Naming

The Deputy Town Clerk reported that the District Council had asked for the Town Council’s comments on a proposal by a resident to name the street which runs from Hangersley Hill to Linford Road. Properties in this street were currently addressed as Hangersley Hill and had three different postcodes.

The proposed new name was Christmas Tree Farm Road.

RESOLVED: That no comment be made on the proposal to name a street Christmas Tree Farm Road.