Northamptonshire Provisional Local Transport Plan 2006/7 – 2010/2011

Representation Form

Your Details Name        Mark Winspear Organisation  Kettering Chamber of Trade & Commerce Address    C/o Management Suite, Newlands                  Gold Street, Kettering, Postcode  NN16 8JA

Tel.            01536 411920 Fax            01536 523384 E-mail        secretary@ketteringchamber.com

	· Do you agree with the objectives set out in the Local Transport Plan? Are there any additonal objectives that should be included?
Broadly it addresses concerns we have about congestion, sustainability & lack of alternatives to car travel.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for tackling congestion? Are there any other measures which we should consider to address congestion problems in Northamptonshire?
No.  Failure to consider a dualled bypass for South Corby/East Kettering, as proposaed by the Chamber, whilst continuing to spend on short-term bypasses is a major mistake – it would also relieve pressure on the A14 Jn7-Jn10 stretch, probably saving the need for widening.  Downgrading of the urgent need for dualling of the A43 Kettering to M1 Northamton is a mistake.  Failure to even consider Trams/Maglev options for inter-town travel is wrong – conversion rates are far higher than for buses.  The lack of a cohesive plan to join cycleways to/from all major employment and residential areas is a mistake. There appears little account taken of the growth needs, which will promote current significant congestion and environmental problems to a state of disaster for business and community alike.  The recent proposals for local transport [buses] in Kettering appear to take NO NOTICE of the need to integrate with rail travel as outlined in your plan proposals. Examine all road junctions in Kettering to ascertain if additional filter lanes or alternatives to multi-phase traffic lights could alleviate uneccessary congestion.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for improving accessibility? Are there any other measures which we should consider to improve accessibility?
Compel INTEGRATION of pubic transport.  Examine cost per mile of “community transport schemes” – to see if better value & service could be obtained elsewhere.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for making our roads safer? Are there any other measures which we should consider to make our roads safer?
Introduce more “rumble strips” or cameras instead of humps.  Examine areas where pedestrians require segregation from road traffic.  There does not appear to be a cohesive policy on the placement of pedestrian crossings or 20mph zones near schools.  Exclude HGV through traffic from town centres & rersidential areas where bypasses exist.  One of your officers is quoted as saying the CURRENT BACKLOG in road mainrtenance is £250m – far in excess of planned expenditure for the life of this document.  This alone renders the document an irrelevance!
	· Do you agree with the proposals for improving air quality? Are there any other measures which we should consider to improve air quality?
No.  Failure to alleviate congestion contributes to pollution.  Some of your proposals to “restrict” carriageways will increase pollution.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for healthier travel? Are there any other measures which we should consider to promote healthier travel?
A commitment to build upon KBC planning requirements for private developers to install walk/cycleways – by joining them up!  Failue to even investigate the potential for RLT is a serioous omission.  Current plans for buses in Kettering appear to reduce publc transport opportunities for many.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for road maintenance? Are there any other measures which we should consider for improving the condition of our roads?
No.  They are not properly funded.
	· Do you agree with the proposals for managing transport for growth? Are there any other measures which we should consider for the future of transport in the county?
No.  RLT & strategic bypass routes need to replace current plans.
	· Are there any other issues raised in the LTP that you wish to comment on?

Representations should be received by  Wednesday 16^th November 2005

Completed forms should be returned to:

Local Transport Plan Consultation, Sustainable Transport, Northamptonshire County Council, 4^th Floor, Riverside House, Riverside Way, Northampton, NN1 5NX          or           localtransportplan@northamptonshire.gov.uk

Or if you would like to speak to someone in the Local Transport Plan Team please call 01604 654411