Minutes:
651 TRANSPORT ISSUES
The Chairman invited the guests to make a presentation and brought the Forum’s attention to a tabled paper, which highlighted the transport issues that were raised at the previous meeting on 27th October 2009.
Mr Geoff Mee - Director of Integrated Strategy and Planning, KCC
Mr Mee gave a presentation on the Integrated Transport Strategy and explained that it was hoped to have ‘growth without gridlock’ in Kent. The Strategy was a 20 year sustainable vision for all transport. Mr Mee advised that consultation was currently being carried out which would feed into the statutory Transport Plan. The Plan would provide the blueprint for local district plans that would feed into the Local Development Framework (LDF). He emphasised the need for an integrated strategy, as transport needs and populations increased.
Mr Mee gave an overview of road, rail and bus transport in Kent and explained that proposals included completion of essential infrastructure, maximising the benefit of highspeed trains and the provision of an integrated bus network. He reported that north/south links in Kent were not as good as the east/west links.
Mr Mee stressed the need to improve outdated railway stations and explained that as Kent was 85 per cent rural, with infrequent bus services, it was proposed that bus networks were improved in order to decrease congestion levels.
Mr Mee concluded that the aim was to achieve and fully integrate door to door services by a choice of transport modes, with a frequent and reliable service, including cycling options and more information in town centres on transport options.
Mr Mee thanked Southeastern Trains and two of the bus companies in Kent for their help with the Integrated Transport Strategy. He encouraged members of the public to respond to the consultation which was available on line at : http://www.kent.gov.uk/roads_and_transport/transport_policies/our_transport_vision/integrated_transport_strategy.aspx
Mr Mike Gibson - Public Affairs Manager, Southeastern Trains
Mr Gibson gave an overview of Southeastern Trains. He explained that the service specification and timetable was set by central Government. Mr Gibson spoke about the new High Speed train service to London. He considered the service to be beneficial to the regeneration of parts of Kent and brought Kent closer to London. He explained that car parking at some stations was inadequate. He stated that it was important to make rail stations more attractive and make it easier and more convenient for passengers to buy rail tickets and make off-peak travel more attractive and improve passenger information, especially in adverse weather conditions.
Mr Matthew Arnold - Business Development Manager, Arriva Buses
Mr Arnold gave an overview of Arriva and explained that Arriva hoped to develop and maintain a profitable and sustainable network. He stated that Arriva was a business that provided a public service, often in partnership with Local Authorities.
The Chairman read out comments that had been made at the Council meeting on 13th January 2010, as below:
‘Members made the following comments: Southeastern needed to consider investment to cope with inclement weather conditions; service had been reduced but the cost of train journeys had increased; reduction of peak time trains; increased journey times; additional stops at minor stations; platforms not de-iced; commuter trains too busy, with customers forced to stand; would commuters receive a rebate on their season ticket for disruption to service; and high speed trains not running to timetable’.
Mr Gibson responded to the issues raised. He explained that investment to cope with inclement weather conditions was not justified as these conditions were rare. He explained that other countries more used to these conditions operated on overhead cables, and confirmed that the new high speed service operated in this way as well.
With regard to decreased services, Mr Gibson reiterated that the timetable was based on central Government specification, however Southeastern Trains had added to this at commercial cost and risk. He advised that Kent operated more small stations than other areas. Every effort had been made to ensure that all platforms had been de-iced in the recent bad weather. Subject to conditions within the Passenger Charter, commuters could receive a rebate on their season tickets.
Mr Gibson outlined statistics there were taken to research into passenger demand at different locations, and from this, adjustments could be made to timings and train carriage lengths.
The Interim Regeneration Director stated that the 15 to 20 year vision for the Integrated Transport Strategy was similar to the timescale for the LDF. He suggested that lifestyle changes needed to be made to enable travel to be more sustainable. The Interim Regeneration Director advised that updates and changes to rolling stock had been made over the years, but that it was more difficult to increase capacity. He emphasised the need to look at best practice in the long term, such as fastrack and shared space options.
In response to a question, Mr Mee explained that there was now a SATNAV for HGVs which should help keep HGVs on approved routes. He advised that there was unlikely to be any more significant road building before 2018, apart from those already programmed, so there was a pressure to keep the present network going. Alternative public traffic networks could alleviate the problem of increased car use.
The Chairman welcomed questions from the Forum.
Master George Williams asked how the standard of public transport was measured.
Mr Mee explained that satisfaction on roads and train transport was measured by an annual survey of 1000 people, plus records of comments from passengers and this was monitored annually. The results were published on the KCC website. He explained that train operators also carried out customer surveys.
A local resident asked if there were any short term transport improvement plans and raised concern with train ticket prices.
Mr Mee explained that large transport changes had a long term strategy, whereas smaller schemes could be achieved sooner.
Mr Gibson explained that train fares were regulated by Central Government.
Councillor Truelove requested improved bus co-ordination and considered the high speed train was very slow and there should be less stops.
Mr Arnold explained that co-ordination of timetables was difficult and that they were based around peak hours. Co-ordination was more difficult on longer journeys and congestion also affected co-ordination of services.
Mr Gibson explained that there was a difficult balance between a decrease in station stops for the high speed train which would result in higher car usage; more stops resulted in the train being slower.
Sarah Williams considered that using public transport required flexibility from employers especially when the user needed to commute to various venues each day across Kent, in both rural and urban areas.
Councillor Bonney raised issues with regard to Sittingbourne regeneration; potholes; lack of capital investment by utility companies; train journey problems with lack of heating, lights and condition of carriages; lack of services over the Christmas break; loss of services to smaller stations; late trains; lack of gritting on platforms and refunds.
The Interim Regeneration Director explained that the current understanding was that because of the financial down-turn, Tesco were moving away from mixed use development towards solely retail, and that Sittingbourne Town Centre development was therefore likely to be delayed. He advised that improvements to Sittingbourne rail station needed to be part of an integrated plan. The Project Manager further advised that improvement works at the station should have commenced by the end of the year.
Mr Gibson explained the refund procedure. He stated that a balance had to be made with the heating; this was between 22 degrees and 25 degrees. Broken down heating was a maintenance issue. He explained that the train timetable was being reviewed. The Christmas period had been an opportunity for engineering works to take place and he confirmed that platforms should have been de-iced.
Mr Mee explained that utility companies were now required to have a permit for any works that they carried out and they would be fined if the work overrun.
Mr Whiting (KCC) suggested that talks with bus and train operators should take place and that the infrastructure in place already should be used more. He raised concern with the amount of road humps on the Swanstree Avenue extension which deterred people from using it. Mr Whiting suggested that passengers should be able to use the same ticket on both the normal train service to London and the high speed service.
Mr Gibson explained that talks with bus and train operators did take place and stated that the price mechanism was often reviewed in order to fully utilise the service.
Mr Mee agreed that the speed humps in Swanstree Avenue were unpopular and suggested that Mr Whiting proposed alternative options to reduce speeding on the road.
Mr Davidson suggested an alternative route for the high speed train, via Cuxton, which could reduce the journey time to London.
Councillor Wright advised that Mr Davidson's suggestion, as a strategic issue, should be included in the Integated Transport Strategy. The Chairman advised that he was attending a North Kent Multi Area Agreement workshop and would mention Mr Davidson's suggestion then.
Councillor Lewin requested that older people be taken into consideration when bus timetables were planned, to include services that could be used by bus-pass passengers earlier in the morning and for a later service in the evening to rural areas.
Mr Mee acknowledged that an ageing population needed to be taken into consideration.
Mr Arnold explained that rural bus services needed to be commercially viable.
Mr Mee encouraged members of the public to report any potholes to KCC as soon as possible.
The Chairman thanked the guests for their presentation and welcomed the constructive debate that had taken place.