MAJOR proposals that could transform how traffic moves across Basingstoke and reduce the number of cars on the road have been supported by a senior county councillor.

A new link road between the A30 and A339, plans to improve rail provision and sustainable transport and boosting access to the Leisure Park, are just some of the ideas put forward to deal with transport issues in Basingstoke.

Hampshire County Council’s executive lead member for economy, transport and environment Cllr Edward Heron approved 21 ‘policy statements’ at a decision day on Monday, October 3.

One of those also mentioned the Camrose Link Road which the authority confirmed in May this year that it would not be building, unless funding becomes available in the future.

The link road was intended to reduce the load on the Brighton Hill roundabout, improve its traffic-light operations and increase its ability to cope with the traffic created by thousands of new homes being built in the area. 

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The county council is urging Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the local planning authority, to safeguard the land needed for the link road in its Local Plan Update (LPU).

Within the report issued for the decision day, it says that if a new link road between the A30 and A339 is built a road bridge crossing of the rail line exclusive Mass Rapid Transport vehicles will need to be constructed.

However, it was argued, during the meeting, by Hampshire County councillor for Basingstoke, Stephen Reid, that a tunnel would be better. Cllr Heron agreed the officers will consider this option.

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Following are the 21 policy statements put forward by the Hampshire County Council:

Policy Statement 1: Based on current anticipated development levels, it is not anticipated that a new strategic western relief road/bypass will be required to connect the A30/M3 J7-A339.

Policy Statement 2: The Local Planning Authority and landowners/developers should plan to deliver a development link road to distribute development traffic to the A30/M3 J7 and to the A339 from the development.

Policy Statement 3: To assist with this process the Local Planning Authority and developers should explore, within the master planning process, the form and function of a development-led new local Distributor road (ultimately linking to the A30 and A339) with the use of the NHTM19 transport model, to establish when a road of this nature will be required and its likely capacity to inform the safeguarding requirements.

Policy Statement 4: Upon developing land to the South of the railway the Local Planning Authority developers should plan to deliver active modes routes, including a new or enhanced active modes link across the railway, facilitating direct and convenient access between developments both north and south of the rail line.

Policy Statement 5: The LPU and developers should build MRT into their movement strategies and masterplans and, where desirable, provide the necessary infrastructure. They will need to take account of the County Council’s emerging study work on a network wide blueprint for MRT and specific work on the A30 corridor. They will also need to develop the network within their own site plans and to serve future residents. Developers should adopt the MRT network and its sustainable transport principles into their master planning, as per the MRT Vision.

Policy Statement 6: The LPU and developers should be clear that the LHA will require them to demonstrate as part of their masterplans and access strategies that MRT or other public transport services will have long term commercial viability, not requiring ongoing subsidy.

Policy Statement 7: A high quality active modes crossing of the railway will be required at an early stage to support growth to the south of the railway line. It would need to be of high quality, of at least 4metre width and designed for segregated use compliant with the requirements of LTN 1/20.

Policy Statement 8: It is expected that when the need for a development link road is fully triggered it will require a road bridge crossing of the rail line. It is likely that the bridge will initially be required to facilitate future MRT provision. Its potential use for other vehicles would need to be kept under review and appropriate consideration should be given to how appropriate priority is given to public transport and other modes if and when that time comes.

Policy Statement 9: That the Local Planning Authority should, in conjunction with the landowner, review and refine the existing land safeguarding for the railway crossing (and accesses to the crossing points) within North Manydown. Furthermore, it should ensure that appropriate safeguards are in place to the south of the railway, including land safeguardings if required, in association with Statement 4 on Highway Infrastructure.

Policy Statement 10: Achieving transport carbon neutrality and transport sustainability from future development should be a key goal. In doing so ambitious but realistic targets for self-containment and mode share should be applied. Developers may also need to offset their impact by looking beyond their development boundaries.

Policy Statement 11: The local planning authority may need to include a number of land safeguardings in its LPU. Consideration should, in particular, be given to the need for safeguardings at the Fiveways junction, the Camrose Link and for a segregated cycle facility on the A30.

Policy Statement 12: New accesses onto “A” roads should be kept to a minimum and should not unduly affect the safe and efficient operation of key routes. They should be designed to be efficient in transport capacity terms and only be proposed where there are no other reasonable alternatives. Joint arrangements serving multiple development sites may be considered where this improves efficiency and meets other objectives.

Policy Statement 13: Hampshire County Council does not see the provision of a new rail station to the west of Basingstoke as a prerequisite for planned residential or other development to the west of the town. However, it does recognise that such provision could provide additional journey options for residents across the wider area. Pending the development of any business case for a new (or reopened) rail station, the County Council retains an open mind as to the potential benefit.

Policy Statement 14: A strategic study is needed to understand the impact of growth on M3 junction 7, which is the responsibility of Highways England and the immediate local road network including the A30 Southwood Corner signalised junction, which is the responsibility of the County Council.

Policy Statement 15: Until a study is complete, it cannot be determined whether the impacts on Junction 7 and the A30 are capable of mitigation. The work is, therefore, required in order for the highway authorities to determine what infrastructure interventions are required and to take a view on the acceptable impact of future development.

Policy Statement 16: The County Council will work with the Local Planning Authority to secure a safeguarding for improvement to the A30.

Policy Statement 17: The County Council will request that Government, National Highways and Transport for the South East prioritise improvements to the M3 between junctions 7 and 8 and include them in the national Road Investment Strategy 3 (RIS3) period as a priority.

Policy Statement 18: The County Council will engage with landowners to consider land safeguarding that may be required for the delivery of the Basingstoke MRT.

Policy Statement 19: The County Council acknowledges that delivery of the Basingstoke MRT is likely to occur over more than one Local Plan period. The County Council will therefore work with the Local Planning Authority to secure planning safeguarding for the Mass Rapid Transport proposals as they are developed in further detail.

Policy Statement 20: The County Council recognises the potential for highly sustainable development on the leisure site and will support land uses that provide a local leisure offer, rather than regional, and enhance the transport sustainability of the site and which complement the planned investment in transport infrastructure.

Policy Statement 21: The County Council, as Highways Authority, is supportive of the principal Town Centre Masterplan transport plans. However further work is required to understand how impacts to traffic, air quality, noise on the Ringway and nearby roundabouts can be mitigated and how modal shift can be achieved.