AGENDA ITEM NO. 11
REPORT TO:
Executive Board
REPORT NO:
CTAMO/69/09
DATE:
15 December 2009
LEAD MEMBER:
Councillor David A Bithell
(Environment and Transport)
LEAD OFFICERS:
Chief Transportation & Asset Management Officer
Chief Environment Officer
CONTACT OFFICER:
Darren Williams (Tel: 297140)
SUBJECT:
Network Management Duty and Wrexham
Transport Accessibility Study
WARD:
ALL
1.
PURPOSE OF REPORT
1.1
For Members to consider the approval of delegated authority to the Chief
Environment Officer and the Chief Transportation and Asset Management
Officer in accordance with the provisions of Part II Traffic Management Act
2004 to enable arrangements to be made, with a view to minimising road
congestion, to prohibit or suspend planned works at any time and on any road
within Wrexham County Borough.
1.2
To present the initial findings of the Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study,
the emerging principles of which will inform the development of a new
Integrated Local Transport Strategy and to advise Members of the introduction
and development of the Network Management Plan.
2.
EXECUTIVE SUMMARY
2.1
Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) places a statutory duty on
Local Authorities to manage their road network to ‘secure the expeditious
movement of traffic’ delivered by adherence to the procedures within the
Council’s own Network Management Plan.
2.2
There are currently numerous controls in place to ensure the Council meets
this requirement, including restricting roadworks during periods of heavy
demand on the highway. Following on from the success of the embargo on
planned works undertaken for Christmas 2008, it is now proposed to formalise
this arrangement.
1
2.3
In response to concerns regarding current traffic demands, future
development aspirations and given the significant change experienced in the
Town Centre in recent years, Consulting Engineers, “Crowd Dynamics” were
appointed by Wrexham County Borough Council in August 2009 to undertake
the review of strategic transport accessibility in Wrexham Town Centre.
2.4
The principle findings from the study have concluded that accessibility
improvements are required to enable Wrexham to continue to develop in a
sustainable manner. Without intervention, the existing network infrastructure
will not be able to sustain the predicted future traffic demands.
2.5
The study proposes an overall philosophy for an access strategy and over 40
sustainable multi-modal transport schemes for Wrexham upon which the
framework of a new integrated Local Transport Strategy can be developed
3.
RECOMMENDATIONS
That Members
3.1
grant to the Chief Environment Officer and the Chief Transportation and
Asset Management Officer jointly the authority to serve written notices
in accordance with the provisions of Part II Traffic Management Act 2004
on any Works Promoter or Contractor directly employed by Wrexham
County Borough Council to prohibit or suspend planned works on any
road within Wrexham County Borough for any period of time where such
prohibition secures the expeditious movement of traffic within the
County Borough.
3.2
note the key findings from the Transport Accessibility Study and the
work to be and being undertaken in respect of Transport Planning and
Management as well as and in particular the development of the Network
Management Plan.
REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS
To maximise and improve the operational efficiency of the transport system
and ensure Wrexham is best placed to proactively exploit future opportunities
for investment.
Martin Wright
Chief Transportation & Asset Management Officer
John Bradbury
Chief Environment Officer
4.
4.1
BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Strategic Transport Planning and Management
Strategic transport management in Wales must be delivered by appropriate
consideration of the Spatial Planning aspirations for the region, the priorities
and goals defined in the Wales Transport Strategy, the National Transport
Plan (for Trunk Routes), the Regional Transport Plan and operational delivery
of the procedures defined in the Council’s own Network Management Plan.
2
4.2
4.3
Strategic Transport Management in Wrexham is now incorporating the themes
of the various National and Regional transport related strategies. With the
delivery of the Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study we are able to
demonstrate the operational implementation of the themes required under the
statutory Network Management Duty.
Network Management Duty
Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004 (TMA) places a statutory duty on
Local Authorities to manage their road network, to ‘secure the expeditious
movement of traffic’ delivered by adherence to the procedures within the
Council’s own Network Management Plan.
4.4
Whilst there is currently no statutory requirement to produce a Network
Management Plan, Welsh Authorities have agreed to implement a consistent
approach by producing a Network Management Duty Framework. This is
common to all Authorities, but can be tailored to the individual Council’s
procedures and policies. Wrexham’s Network Management Plan will be
populated and developed over the coming years in line with the emerging
Integrated Local Transport Strategy for Wrexham.
4.5
The TMA also requires the Highway Authority to manage temporary work or
activities having an impact on the network to ensure disruption is kept to a
minimum.
4.6
There are currently numerous controls in place to ensure the Council meets
this requirement, including restricting roadworks during periods of heavy
demand on the highway. As a matter of course the Environment Department
already issue notices to works promoters to prohibit disruptions at these
busiest times. Following on from the success of the embargo on planned
works undertaken for Christmas 2008, it is now proposed to formalise this
arrangement.
4.7
Wrexham Transport Accessibility Strategy
In response to concerns regarding current traffic demands, future
development aspirations and Wrexham’s position as a Regional Centre for
North East Wales, in April, Members approved (CTAM/21/09) a study to
analyse and examine options to provide for existing and future levels of
strategic transport accessibility to and from Wrexham Town Centre.
4.8
The timing of the study was important; the Town Centre has undergone
significant change in recent years, most recently with the development of
Eagles Meadow. The focus of change is now immediately to the West of the
centre with re-development planned at both the Maelor Hospital and Glyndŵr
University and the aspirations for the strategic development of Western
Gateway site (an area referred to in this report as the Western Sector). If
these development aspirations are achieved, the Western Sector will overtake
the Town Centre in terms of the primary trip destination in Wrexham.
4.9
Consulting Engineers, “Crowd Dynamics” were appointed by Wrexham County
Borough Council in August 2009 to undertake the review of strategic transport
accessibility in Wrexham.
3
4.10 The study is an inclusive and area wide assessment of the transport network
and its ability to accommodate existing and future Town Centre access
demands. It provides a robust examination of transport trends on the network
over the recent period. It examines and evaluates the existing and anticipated
traffic movements, identifying and examining areas of congestion and
constraint and considering appropriate options for improvement.
4.11 The principle findings from the study have concluded that accessibility
improvements are required to enable Wrexham to continue to develop in a
sustainable manner. Without intervention, the existing network infrastructure
will not be able to sustain the predicted future traffic demands, not
withstanding the existing capacity issues already affecting parts of the Town
Centre (e.g. Grosvenor Road, Mold Road, Plas Coch etc).
4.12 The study proposes an overall philosophy for an access strategy for Wrexham

Additional traffic capacity provided to serve existing and future needs of the
Western sector

No additional traffic capacity can sustainably be provided in the Town
Centre or the radial routes, the focus should be on providing for the more
sustainable transport modes (i.e. Walking, Cycling and Public Transport).

Additional transport investment in bus services, walking and cycling routes
is required to improve links between the existing Town Centre and the
Western Sector.

Network and Parking Management will be used to maximise the capacity
and reliability of the existing infrastructure and influence and support more
sustainable travel choices.

Promotion and marketing of sustainable travel modes.
4.13 In line with the above, the report proposes over 40 sustainable multi-modal
transport schemes, which as part of an integrated strategy will deliver the
necessary improvements required to alleviate existing network issues and
sustain future growth in Wrexham.
4.14 It is proposed therefore that a further report be submitted to Members in
February on the development of a Local Transport Strategy and proposed
implementation programme informed by the findings of the Wrexham
Transport Accessibility Study.
Transport Project Development
4.15 As part of an integrated approach to transportation planning, extensive work is
already progressing on a number of inter-related and co-ordinated transport
projects;
• a reactive and flexible parking management strategy,
• a consistent and co-ordinated approach to Network Management,
• the enhancement of public transport interchanges providing for integration
of travel modes.
4
• a multi modal corridor study between Wrexham and Mold, in partnership
with Flintshire County Council as part of the Regional Transport Plan
Development funded via the Taith Regional Transport Consortium.
4.16 The continuing interaction of these developing areas of work together with
implementation of the conclusions and findings of the study will ultimately
inform the delivery of proactive and evidence led robust Transportation
Planning in Wrexham.
5.
CONSULTATION
5.1
Any proposals arising from the development of an integrated Local Transport
Strategy for Wrexham will be subject to full consultation with key stakeholders.
5.2
The Lead Member for Transport and the Environment, Councillor David Bithell
has been consulted on the report content.
6.
SCRUTINY COMMITTEE COMMENTS
6.1
These matters were considered by Members of the Environment and
Regeneration Scrutiny Committee on the 02 December 2009.
It was resolved:
Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study (CTAMO/66/09)

That Members acknowledge the study findings highlighted in the
consultants presentation and note the linkages with National and Regional
transportation strategies

That Members receive a further report in February on the development of
a Local Transport Strategy and its proposed implementation programme
informed by the findings of the Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study.
Network Management Plan – Co-ordination of Streetworks (CEnO/22/09S)

That Members acknowledge the work on the introduction and
development of the Network Management Plan to date and its linkage with
the co-ordinated approach to Strategic Transport Management.

That Members recommend to the executive Board the further
development of the Network Management Plan informed by Strategic
National and Regional transport strategies and the findings of the
Wrexham Transport Accessibility Study.

That Members recommend the Executive Board grant to the Chief
Environment Officer and the Chief Transportation and Asset Management
Officer jointly the authority to serve written notices in accordance with the
provisions of Part II Traffic Management Act 2004 on any Works Promoter
or Contractor directly employed by Wrexham County Borough Council to
prohibit or suspend planned works on any road within Wrexham County
Borough for any period of time where such prohibition secures the
expeditious movement of traffic within the County Borough.
5
7.
IMPLICATIONS
7.1
Policy Framework - Strategic transport planning in Wrexham is being
developed with appropriate consideration of the Wales Spatial Plan
aspirations for the region, the priorities and goals defined in the Wales
Transport Strategy, the National and Regional Transport Plans and the
operational delivery themes of the Network Management Duty as required
under Part 2 of the Traffic Management Act 2004.
Sustainable transport planning directly supports the Council’s corporate
priority relating to the reduction of carbon emissions and energy use.
7.2
Budget - The findings of the Wrexham Transport Accessibility Strategy will
help inform, re-focus and prioritise areas for investment in the transport
network as part of a robust, evidence led forward plan for transport in
Wrexham providing for the short, medium and longer term.
7.3
Legal - The proposed delegated authority to the Chief Environment Officer
and Chief Transportation and Asset Management Officer is consistent with the
powers of a local traffic authority as set out under Part II Traffic Management
Act 2004.
7.4
Staffing - There are no staffing implications arising as a result of this report.
7.5
Equality/Diversity - Extensive and continuing work with Wrexham Access
Group has led to the development of an Action Plan ensuring those with
specific transport needs are being considered in future transport policy
planning.
BACKGROUND PAPERS
None
LOCATION
N/A
6
WEBSITE INFO.
N/A