Notes of a meeting held at Worthing Town Hall at 6.00 p.m. on Wednesday 24th January 2001

Apologies for absence

Mr. Sedgwick - WSCC County Councillor
Moira Hayes - Arun District Council
Ken Langley - Connex South Central
Richard Cartwright - WBC
Insp. Barnett - Sussex Police
David Parker - Worthing Access and Mobility Group

Action: It was agreed that CMO will request a regular police presence.

• The new Town Centre Manager Anne Angel was introduced and gave a brief resume of her objectives.

Notes of previous meeting (20th September 2000)

The notes of the last meeting were agreed without amendment.

Matters arising

None.

Countywide Local Transport Plan

• CMO outlined the LTP settlement which had been received just before Christmas. Central Government comments on the document were complimentary.
• The settlement is double last year's nationally and amounts to 13.5m credit approval for West Sussex which is no longer debt-free in respect of transport. The size of the settlement may initially lead to staff shortages for implementing schemes.
• The 5 year period covered by the plan will make planning easier. The 17.5% increase in maintenance budget will enable a start to be made on reducing the large backlog, although about 2m will have to be found for flood damage repairs.
• In Worthing, all draft programme schemes will be able to start plus preparation for Safer Routes to School and some spending on the proposals emerging from the DETR A27 studies.
• The intended review of the Worthing UTP awaits the outcome of the current studies but could run in parallel with the outstanding Folkestone-Southampton study.

Draft Highways Works Programme

• KJH outlined the programme insofar as it affects Worthing and emphasised that the first call on revenue was cyclic maintenance followed by schemes, which are subject to priority assessment. The Works Programme shows a net increase of 3.39m on last year, part of a commitment over the life of the LTP to Central Government in an effort to address the highway maintenance backlog.

  Action: All comments on the draft programme must be made to KJH at WSCC Southern Area Office as soon as possible but in any case by 28th February.

• It is universally acknowledged that the performance of the new street lighting contractor (Webster) is unsatisfactory and he has undertaken to double his resources.
• It was suggested that the priority of light repairs should be based on safety, especially in areas such as Teville Gate. Reassurance was given that this area would be remedied by mid-February.
• It was suggested that Seeboard might be partially responsible, but it was pointed out that they are a constant factor and the current problems relate directly to the change of contractor.

  Action: KJH to press Seeboard to improve their service.

• It was suggested by Kit Wingate (WBC) that the recent lighting improvements to Brighton Road in Worthing and Lancing were less than successful.

  Action: The Chairman undertook to get this matter investigated and a response sent.

• Tim Nicholls asked whether the proposed improvements in Teville Road and South Farm Road are being co-ordinated. KJII confirmed that to be so and that a consultation leaflet about to be issued will be circulated to forum members.

Updates

1. A27 Worthing-Lancing Transport Study
   • CMO explained that this study had recently included a questionnaire survey on broad options and that the response shows strong support for measures to encourage travel by public transport, walking and cycling.
   • The study will finish in April for reference to the SE Regional Assembly for a decision in late Summer 2001.
2. Cycling
   • Town Centre - Goring. The necessity for traffic orders for Stage II is being investigated and will be followed by further local consultation which will include cycling groups. This scheme will be financed by funds carried over from this financial year.
   • It was agreed that parking on cycleways is a problem as the restrictions are difficult to enforce in outer areas owing to a shortage of wardens.
   • Concern was expressed that the straightforward sections of cycleway proceed more quickly than the danger spots at junctions. CMO said the intention is to complete the existing schemes before starting others.
   • Cycling Strategy Review. A joint members meeting on this long-term Strategy will take place on 13th February to discuss consultation proposals. This will involve an exhibition in the Spring at Worthing Town Hall where a questionnaire will be available.
   • In response to a question on the duration of the review it was explained that the 1994 strategy is not compliant with current practice, that the Safer Routes to School initiative will promote cycling and that the priority on funding at present is the maintenance backlog.
3. Public Transport
   • It was confirmed that 12 low-floor bus-stop improvements will be done in the Summer, that there is 100,000 in the budget for information displays / terminals Countywide and that improvements to transport interchange arrangements at Worthing central railway station are programmed for Spring 2002.
   • CMO reported that new trains had recently been introduced on the ReadingBrighton service and that GoVia are negotiating with Connex S Central for an early hand over of their franchise, possibly as early as May this year. Dialogue with GoVia will commence as soon as possible.
   • It was confirmed that Railtrack are responsible for the operation of level crossings and that pressure will continue to be exerted on them to optimise operation to reduce queuing. It was suggested that the traffic signal operation at West Worthing should be interconnected to the gates.
4. Controlled Parking Zone
   • The Best Value review questionnaire circulated with the agenda seeks a wide view of public perceptions about parking.
   • The proposed extension to the CPZ has received objections in respect of the Dawes Avenue area and it is intended to remove this area from the proposal at present and to keep the situation under review.
   • CMO advised that he is writing to the police about the dearth of traffic wardens.
   • The imminent 5 year Strategy for the decriminalization of on-street parking is likely to propose that Worthing be the first example in the County. Reservations were expressed that company wardens would not be empowered to direct traffic in emergencies.
   • CMO agreed that the first priority is to achieve proper enforcement of the existing scheme.

Any Other Business

• In response to a query from the Town Centre Manager, CMO confirmed that the Safe Routes to School programme continues and that discounted fares were in operation elsewhere and will be extended to Worthing.

  Action: CMO will establish the degree of progress being made on the improvement of bus services to schools.

• CH advised that the car park variable-message signing is likely to be installed in the Autumn and is expected to significantly reduce traffic searching for parking space.
• KJH advised that the re-surfacing of the A259 between George V Avenue and Shaftesbury Avenue will be done this year owing to weather damage.
• The Town Centre Manager was advised that the Station Access scheme currently being prepared is likely to divert pedestrians from the Teville Gate area.

Date of Next Meeting

Provisionally - Tuesday 19th June 2001 at 6.00 p.m. in the Town Hall. (This date subsequently confirmed).