Myland & Braiswick Neighbourhood Plan Review
7. TRANSPORT
Objective
Our overall objective is that developments will be supported by road and transport strategies that provide effective and environmentally friendly travel solutions.
Policies
MCC and BRA will promote policies that encourage a more sustainable choice of travel options.
RAT1 – Ongoing development in north Colchester will provide an effective and integrated transport solution by considering the following:
- Maximising opportunities to walk and cycleand in doing so take account of cycle infrastructure design guidanceLTN 1/20 or other subsequent guidelines.
- Footpaths should be interconnected and well lit as should cycle paths where dead-ends should be avoided.
- Maximising the use of the Park and Ride service.
- Promoting the Essex Car Share Scheme.
- Ensuring developments are provided with secure, sheltered bicycle storage.
- Ensuring multi-use routes are provided between popular destinations, such as community facilities. • New developments will take into account the recommendations of Sustrans and Town and Country Planning Association, as well as other recognised design documents, thus enabling the integration of north Colchester through walking and cycling and multi-use routes between and within neighbourhoods.
- Ensuring public transport (bus) routes are to popular destinations and where appropriate integrate effectively with other providers, such as, railway services. And are frequent, reliable and clean.
- Bus stops to be provided with shelters with seating and 'real-time' service information.
RAT2 – Ongoing development of north Colchester will ensure all dwellings have sufficient off-street parking space commensurate with property size and adopted policies.
RAT3 – MCC and BRA will pursue with partners the provision of a multi-use bridge across the A12 to reestablish connection from Footpath 39 to the Essex Way and other footpath networks and neighbouring settlements. See page 25 of the MDS.
Rationale and Evidence
The Plan policies reflect recommendations at page 19 of the MDS (see Appendix A) with the exception of the first bullet point that is now contrary to the ambitions of 'modal shift' as defined by CBC in respect of car usage (reaffirmed by the Inspector in 2022 with regard to the use of Bartholomew Court for part of the Chesterwell development), and the second bullet point that does not comply with cycle infrastructure guidance LTN 1/20 .
An adequate and effective transport infrastructure is an absolute necessity for any community. Traffic volumes, congestion and on-street parking have consistently been of major concern to Myland and Braiswick residents. Inevitably, the current and proposed developments within the Plan Area will bring increasing traffic volumes. The Plan original survey revealed main concerns as being traffic volume (82%), traffic congestion (80%) and on street parking (74%). Other concerns ranged from danger to pedestrians, traffic speed and air quality.
The January/February 2022 survey confirms respondents are very clear that it is important that developments are supported by transport strategies that provide effective and environmentally friendly travel solutions. The importance to respondents that there should be an overall reduction in car use and a shift to public transport, cycling and walking is clearly evident.
Whilst MCC and BRA acknowledge that the Plan can only have limited effect with respect to overall transport policy, the MCC Planning and Highways Committee constantly takes the opportunity to input to consultations and strategies concerning transport options and improvements. Myland and Braiswick, and all the villages north of Colchester are separated from the rest of the Borough by the physical barrier presented by the mainline railway. The road network is focused towards North Station, a congestion hotspot.
Whilst the completion of the Approach Road network, the connection to the A12 and Park and Ride might be regarded as factors in mitigation there remains considerable development within the Plan Area and associated traffic levels will need to be sustainable. Public transport will need to be affordable, more frequent/regular services with reliable and accessible up-to-date information.
The funding of community bus services is being actively pursued by MCC as is the provision of cycling and walking route mapping. Off-street parking is addressed by the MCC Planning and Highways Committee. The A12 crossing aspiration remains in the CBC Local Plan and this Neighbourhood Plan. It features too in the Myland and Braiswick Green Network. MCC will need to engage with Essex Highways on more closely working together including how MCC might take more direct action on local matters.
Relevant Colchester Local Plan Roads and Transport Policies
Policy DM20: Promoting Sustainable Transport and Changing Travel Behaviour – "The Local Planning Authority will work with developers and other partners to increase modal shift towards sustainable modes by improving accessibility of development through the promotion of walking and cycling as an integral part of development, and by further improving public transport…"
Policy DM21: SUSTAINABLE Access to Development-"All new developments should seek to enhance accessibility for sustainable modes of transport...in a manner which maintains the right and safe passage of all highway users."
Policy DM22: Parking- "The amount of car parking to be provided in association with new residential development will be assessed using the most recent local Parking Standards."