Agenda item

(a)       That the hierarchy of transport strategy within Wales and the relationship between national and local policy which help identify the direct interventions needed to deliver key transport improvements be noted; and

(b)       That the Council’s progress on the key interventions defined within the current North Wales Joint Local Transport Plan (NWJLTP) be noted.

The Chief Officer (Streetscene & Transportation) presented a report to update the Committee on the work being carried out to develop the Flintshire Integrated Transport Strategy, last presented to Cabinet in 2018.

The Chief Officer and Highway Strategy Manager gave a joint presentation, which covered the following areas:-

·         Transport Hierarchy in Wales;

·         Aims and Objectives

·         A Fully Integrated Solution;

·         Flintshire’s Key Priorities; and

·         The Key to Success

Councillor Paul Shotton thanked officers for their work in producing the Integrated Transport Strategy, a comment which was supported by a number of Members of the Committee.  He detailed the initiatives introduced in Connah’s Quay, including the installation of a pedestrian crossing on Mold Road and the improvements to the Deeside Shuttle Service, which were welcomed.  He sought assurance around the frequency and security of the bus network going forward to enable people to continue to access employment at the Deeside Industrial Park.

In response to his question, Councillor Dave Wisinger welcomed the information provided by the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member on the introduction of a cycle path from Mold to Airbus which would link to the Deeside Industrial Park and take in Queensferry and Sandycroft.

Councillor Chris Dolphin welcomed the work being carried out to provide bus services to rural areas.  He raised concerns around Transport for Wales reducing rail times and the frequency of service in North Wales but welcomed the comments from the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member that feedback and representations on these concerns had been made by the Council.  He also welcomed the proposed safety measures for the Well Hill, Holywell.  In response to his request on the updating of bus timetables at bus stations across Flintshire, the Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member gave an assurance that this was in the process of being updated.

Councillor David Evans asked for clarification on the exact location for people to access the Deeside Shuttle Service.  The Chief Officer explained that work was progressing to enable the pick-up/drop off point for the Deeside Shuttle Service to be at the TATA Steel Road. 

Councillor Owen Thomas said he would have liked to see reference to the electrification of the railway line included within the Strategy and also commented on the regular diversions put in place due to incidents along the A55 which he felt had an adverse impact on the County’s network.  The Chief Officer reported that the Welsh Government were currently looking at pinch points following diversions from the A55 but assured Members that the Council did seek additional funding for improvement works as a result of additional use of the County’s network.

Councillor George Hardcastle raised concerns around the proposals to introduce a cycle route along Aston Hill and the lack of consultation that had been carried out with Local Members.  He had safety concerns if the cycle route did not include safety barriers.  The Chief Officer agreed to pick this up with Councillor Hardcastle following the meeting.

Councillor Mike Peers commented on the aims and objectives of the Strategy but felt that the Council had not fulfilled these yet.  He requested that a report on additional services along the borderline be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee following Councillor Dave Evans’ previous concerns that additional services could result in a reduction in station stops.  He welcomed the safety measures introduced at Mountain Lane C.P. School but raised concerns that they were not being enforced and asked whether the trial use of cameras at the location could be considered.  He also questioned the £10 charge for the use of the Demand Responsive Transport Service and was concerned that this put residents in rural areas at a disadvantage.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member detailed the work being undertaken by officers to meet the aims and objectives of the Strategy, including partnership working with Wrexham County Borough Council to improve transport links to Wrexham Maelor Hospital.  She also explained that during consultation residents had been agreeable with the £10 charge as the service was reliant on the availability of grant funding to make it viable to continue in the future.  The Chief Officer said that it was hoped that by holding information on the residents using the Demand Responsive Transport Service, it would be possible in the future to contact them when events were organised in their area, to assist in providing them with transport to these events.

      In response to comments made by Councillor Peers on the number of initiatives outlined within the report in Deeside, the Cabinet Member for Economic Development commented on the level of funding which had been removed from the service over the last 10 years.  He advised that there was no bus route to Deeside Industrial Park but commented on the importance of ensuring that the 9,000 employed at the Park could access employment through public transport.      

Councillor Ray Hughes raised concerns around the removal of a bus route within his own ward and asked what assistance could be given to the residents to access amenities.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member explained that the Demand Responsive Transport Service would assist residents and provided details of its launch earlier in the day.  She agreed to circulate information on this Service to all Members following the meeting.

Councillor Paul Johnson whilst welcoming the report said that there was a need for regulated fares, commenting on the high cost of a train from Flint to London.  The Chief Officer said that the fares for rail journeys was out of the Council’s control but if the service was reliable then it was hoped more people would use the service and therefore there could be a reduction in fares in the future.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the hierarchy of transport strategy within Wales and the relationship between national and local policy which help identify the direct interventions needed to deliver key transport improvements be noted; and

(b)       That the Council’s progress on the key interventions defined within the current North Wales Joint Local Transport Plan (NWJLTP) be noted.