Agenda and minutes

Venue: Town Hall, Moorgate Street, ROTHERHAM. S60 2TH

Contact: Debbie Pons, Principal Democratic Services Officer 

Items
No. Item

45.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on 11th October, 2017 pdf icon PDF 45 KB

Minutes:

Consideration was given to the minutes of the previous meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board, held on 11th October, 2017.

 

Agreed:- That the minutes of the previous meeting be approved as a correct record for signature by the Chairman.

46.

Questions on Transport Issues

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board noted the details of various questions on transport matters and the responses to those questions, submitted by Councillors and members of the public, as listed below:-

 

1) Rotherham Central Railway Station – Access by Tram-Train (additional platforms being constructed);

2) Railway route between Sheffield, Darnall and Waverley – consideration of an additional railway station;

3) Bus service 34 at Whiston – use of double-decker and single-decker buses (including an example of bus service costs);

4) Bus fares – suggestion of reduced fares for the shortest journeys;

5) Suggestion of a circular route around the Rotherham Borough area, with bus services linking places of interest and leisure/tourist locations;

6) Request for the replacement of a damaged bus shelter at Rawmarsh;

7) Details of the Northern Connect services (Northern Rail) and the replacement of the Pacer trains with both new and refurbished rolling stock;

8) Railway services and the current industrial action.

 

Discussion also took place on the impact upon the tram-train project, currently under construction and which will link Sheffield, Meadowhall, the Rotherham town centre and Parkgate, of the difficulties being experienced by the Carillion company. This contract was under the control of Network Rail and it was agreed that appropriate information be obtained from Network Rail to enable Elected Members to be provided with details of the progress with the contract and the construction works and the arrangements for the future maintenance of the tracks and the rolling stock.

 

Agreed:- That the details of the questions and the responses be noted.

47.

South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive - Update

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board noted that Elected Members had already been notified of the various changes to bus services around the Borough area which would take effect from the end of January, 2018.

48.

Bus Operators - Update

 

(1)       First Group

(2)       Stagecoach

(3)       Rotherham Community Transport

Minutes:

This item was deferred because representatives of the various bus operators had been unable to attend this meeting and were having to focus upon operational matters in view of the current severe weather conditions around the region.

49.

Railway Operators - Update

Minutes:

This item was deferred because representatives of the railway operators had been unable to attend this meeting. It was noted that industrial action affecting some rail services was continuing.

50.

Rotherham Transport Interchange Refurbishment Project - Update

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board received a presentation from Mr. Gavin Bland (Senior Project Manager, South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive) describing the refurbishment of the Rotherham Passenger Transport Interchange and car park. The presentation highlighted the following issues:-

 

- The original construction of the Interchange during the late 1960s;

- Refurbishment in 1995;

- Concrete degradation and repairs in 2005;

- Construction of a new access bridge to the multi-storey car park in 2011;

- Car park refurbishment scheme developed in 2014, but eventually delayed because of a bus fire in May 2016;

- Development of the Rotherham town centre masterplan, 2016/17;

- Development of combined car park and interchange, 2016/17;

- Temporary bus station to be developed on the Forge island site (application for planning permission reference RB2017/1813), with three temporary stands also to be located at Corporation Street, Rotherham town centre;

- Construction of the car park and interchange to begin on 30 April, 2018;

- Scheduled completion of the interchange (sections A and B) expected to be 21 January, 2019;

- Schedule completion of the car park expected to be 25 March, 2019.

 

After the presentation, Members discussed the following matters:-

 

: the security arrangements for the temporary bus station on the Forge Island site (staffing arrangements, use of closed circuit television systems, locking of gates);

 

: movement of buses on the Forge Island site (drive in to stands, reverse out manoeuvring within the station);

 

: the impact upon businesses situated near to the interchange and the temporary bus stands;

 

: income for the Borough Council in respect of the temporary use of the Forge Island site;

 

: the minimal impact upon bus service timetables (nb: there is a specific impact upon the X78 service, which will be under review);

 

: the original layout and use of the car park on the Forge Island site (ie: the former supermarket car park) will continue;

 

: there will be no impact upon bus fares during the period of the construction works and use of the temporary facilities.

 

Agreed:- That the information about the refurbishment of the Rotherham Passenger Transport Interchange and car park, as now reported, be noted.

51.

Doncaster-Sheffield Airport - Update pdf icon PDF 1 MB

 

Minutes of the meeting of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport Consultative Committee held on 19th October, 2017

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board received a presentation from Mr. John Huddleston, the Communications and Corporate Affairs Manager of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport concerning the following issues affecting the Airport:-

 

: the Airport site is very large, being some 1,600 acres (compared to the 800 acres of the Liverpool Airport); the runway is three kilometres in length, capable of accommodating the largest of modern aircraft;

 

: 2017 was a record year, with 1.25 million passengers using the Airport (50% passenger growth over the last three years); the Airport is open every day of the year; 6.1 million people within an hour’s drive of the Airport and there are improved road links including the completion of the Great Yorkshire Way;

 

: the Airport site has significant capacity which could see it cater for in the region of 25 million passengers per year (similar to Manchester Airport passenger numbers); the capacity of the site is not limited to 25 million and could potentially be up to 40 million passengers with the appropriate infrastructure investment (comparable to the size of Gatwick Airport);

 

: during the last financial year, the Doncaster Sheffield Airport was fastest growing airport in the United Kingdom; there has been significant growth in cargo operations;

 

: named the best airport in the United Kingdom by the Which? magazine;

 

: there planned enhancements to the surface access to the Airport and also to the terminal buildings;  the Airport has a role to play in the stimulation of the local economy, being a key strategic asset for the Sheffield City Region;

 

: new tenants have been secured on the Aero Yorkshire site, within the Airport campus (Aero Centre Yorkshire is recognised by Central Government); there are links to the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley;

 

: recent flights added are to Antalya (Turkey), Belfast, Hurghada (Egypt) and to Naples;  longer distance destinations are able to be accessed via Amsterdam, Dublin or Paris;

 

: scope for further on-site development, eg: residential properties, a cinema and restaurants;  there is already an Ambulance base on site;

 

: new contract recently obtained for scheduled freight services;

 

: the current consideration of improved railway links to the Airport, via Doncaster and the East Coast main line;  also, local rail links from Leeds, Lincoln and Sheffield;

 

: Airport Masterplan to be published for consultation during March, 2018, showing the detailed growth plan to 2037 (as required by the Department for Transport).

 

Members asked various questions about the pattern of travel from the airport : long-haul destinations; the cost of air travel fares; the growth in the number of passengers using the airport (eg: from the Sheffield area); the links to the Advanced Manufacturing Park at Waverley; competition amongst the various airlines; measures taken to minimise the impact of noise from aircraft; arrangements for animal welfare when travelling by air

 

Members also requested details of the consultation process about the Airport Masterplan.

 

Consideration was also given to the minutes of the meeting of the Doncaster Sheffield Airport  ...  view the full minutes text for item 51.

52.

Sheffield City Region - Transport Strategy Consultation

Minutes:

The Transportation Advisory Board received a presentation from Mr. David Budd (Assistant Director, Transport with the Sheffield City Region Executive Team) explaining the Sheffield City Region Transport Strategy which was the subject of public consultation.  The presentation highlighted the following issues:-

 

: the public consultation had begun on 8th January 2018 and will last for twelve weeks; the earlier version of this Transport Strategy (drafted in 2011) had now been streamlined to twelve core policies (leaflets about the Strategy were made available for Members);

 

: the Transport Strategy has refined because of the establishment of the Sheffield City region Combined Authority and Transport for the North, as well as the development of the HS2 high-speed railway project;

 

: the development of the Strategy was explained – including the use of workshops, discussions with local authorities and approval from the Combined Authority for the consultation process to begin;

 

: the draft Vision of the Strategy : “we will continue to be a forward-looking City Region with integrated transport connections that support economic growth and improve quality of life for all”;

 

: the four key themes will each be underpinned by three policies and be supported by a series of 2040 outcomes to measure success;

 

: the four key themes are : Economic, Social, Environmenmtal and Technological

 

: Transport Scheme Delivery; the intention to provide integrated public transport throughout the region, removing transport poverty and providing access o jobs; introduction of zero carbon modes of public transport;

 

 

: Consultation details are available via this Internet web site:

 

sheffieldcityregion.org.uk/transport-strategy-consultation

 

Members asked various questions relating to the progress of the tram-train project; the possible re-use of previously closed branch railway lines; the role of the Transport Strategy within the Northern Powerhouse; the role of the smaller public transport operators; the walking and cycling elements of the Transport Strategy and the overall financial investment in improved transport links.

 

Agreed:- That Mr. Budd be thanked for his informative presentation about the Sheffield City Region Transport Strategy.

53.

Any other business

Minutes:

School Bus Services - Anston, Kiveton Park and Wales

 

Discussion took place on the availability of bus services for secondary school pupils in the Anston, Kiveton Park and Wales area of the Borough. It was confirmed that there were three school buses serving this area, arriving within a period of twenty minutes both at the beginning and at the end of the school day. There was sufficient capacity on these buses to accommodate the number of travelling pupils.

 

Members commented that the school buses should not be allowed to become overloaded with passengers.

 

Agreed:- That the information be noted.

54.

Date and time of the next meeting

 

·           Wednesday, 16th May, 2018 (2.00pm start)

·           Wednesday, 15th August, 2018 (2.00 pm start)

Minutes:

Agreed:- (1) That the next meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Wednesday, 16th May, 2018, commencing at 2.00 p.m.

 

(2) That the next following meeting of the Transportation Advisory Board be held at the Town Hall, Rotherham on Wednesday, 15th August, 2018, commencing at 2.00 p.m.