Testun llawn:
I have to oppose MM54 which proposes the third area of search for the Northern Park and Ride (shown on Policies Map 2). This is proposed on land to the North of Milverton in a large area of search (it is the same as H44 which was proposed for housing) which stretches from Northumberland Road on the edge of Leamington all the way to the Blackdown roundabout.
It is important that in Exam 183, with reference to Transport Policy TR5, the Planning Inspector clearly spelled out "Explain that two Areas of Search to the north are identified and briefly describe where they are (i.e. those on Policies Map for Submitted Plan)."
In the Submitted Plan the area of land designated as H44 was not included in the areas of search. The Areas of Search in the Submitted Plan were to the north near the Bericote roundabout and also east of the A452 as shown on Policies Map 12. The wording used in MM54 makes it clear that the two Areas of Search are those as shown in the Submission Draft of the Local Plan on Policies Map 12,
So it does not seem to meet the Planning Inspector's directions in Exam 183. It would appear to be a mistake. This was a mistake, that when I was giving evidence at the Public Examination on 13th October Warwick District Council appeared to accept should be withdrawn. As a result of the apparent withdrawal of this site from consideration no further evidence was given by myself or other objectors as to the unsuitability of the Park and Ride scheme in H44.
Stagecoach emphasise what an important bus route the A452 is at present with a variety of buses using the route every few minutes and the X18 is a fast bus that goes straight to Coventry via the A46. Clearly .it is not in anyone's interest to encourage car use, but this facility might just discourage use of the train (time between Leamington and Coventry stations is only 10 minutes) or indeed using the frequent buses between Coventry and Leamington for the whole journey.
Stagecoach in their submission state, "The attractiveness of the facility in achieving mode shift into Leamington, and just as important, towards the University of Coventry and potentially Coventry, Whitley, Stoneleigh and Westwood, depends on buses benefiting from comprehensive priority measures both north and south of the facility."
The County Council cannot produce any evidence that they are intending to provide the required comprehensive priority measures both north and south of the Park and Ride facility which Stagecoach clearly believes is necessary to achieve the modal shift.
One of the main requirements of a Park and Ride facility is that it is so convenient to passing drivers that it will overcome all the disadvantages of stopping, parking and transferring from car to bus and indeed waiting for the bus to leave.
The closer the Park and Ride is to Leamington Spa the less easy it would be for it to attract commuters and shoppers travelling into the town. Indeed there is nothing at the moment to stop commuters parking, at no cost, in the streets such as Cloister Crofts, Woodcote Road, Northumberland Road just off Kenilworth Road and walking just one or two minutes to a bus stop and catching a bus into Leamington. There is no evidence of that happening, so I must conclude that the Park and Ride would attract very few customers, unless parking in Leamington Spa was made very difficult.
The Council has not produced any evidence that the proposed Park and Ride would be successful in the Area of Search to the North of Milverton. It appeared as an Area of Search when the Council proposed this part of the Green Belt was suitable for housing development. It appears that this Area of Search was only put forward as the housing developer interested in H44 felt they could deliver the Park and Ride as part of their development.
Most Park and Ride facilities require efforts to cut back on car parking provision in the town centre in order to encourage use of the Park and Ride facilities. Leamington Spa mainly due to its early Nineteenth Century grid pattern with wide streets already has ample on-street and off-street car parking provision. The County Council are at the moment trying to increase the on-street car provision in the centre of town by removing "No Waiting at any Time" parking and proposing to replace it with "Limited Waiting 2 hours no return 4 hours 8am to 8pm Except Permit holders". The latest example of this is in Chapel Street just south of the river.
The District Council intend to replace the existing Covent Garden Car Park with a new and larger 650 car park. There are no plans to close any of the District Council car parks in Leamington.
There is no evidence of any planning to reduce the income from car parking in Leamington by either the County Council or the District Council.
The District Council have produced no documents on the likely cost of building the Northern Park and Ride, The District Council has not shown whether either Council will be subsiding this facility or if either Council expects to earn additional income from the facility. It does not appear from Stagecoach's submission that Stagecoach would intend to run the facility.
BID Leamington has for some time been campaigning for more car parking in Leamington Town Centre, it has also had concerns about overly fierce enforcement of on-street car parking in the town centre by the County Council. BID Leamington say they have not been asked for their views on Park and Ride.
I am also opposed to the other two areas of search to the East of the A452 and I would hope these can also be withdrawn from the Local Plan.
In conclusion The Park and Ride to the North of Leamington does not appear to meet any identifiable need, to be successful it would mean reducing the ample parking provision in Leamington to the detriment of the retail sector, local businesses and indeed the revenue that both the District Council and County Council derive from off-street and on-street parking.