How do you get to work survey

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NP4B Transport to work survey

Belper Market Place Traffic Survey -- initial report

With the help of Transition Belper and some other fantastic volunteers (who will be acknowledged in the final report) we managed to complete the dawn till dusk traffic survey. There will be a detailed report emerging over the next few days but here is an initial brief look at some of the collated data.

A graph showing private cars passing the Market Place survey point - from NP4B survey data

And here is a basic summary:

As stated above, this is just an initial look at the data and a more complete analysis will follow in the very near future. Next steps will be be look at HGV, motorcycle and cyclist data and to compare our findings to the annual Department for Transport (DfT) surveys. What we are attempting to do is address the perception of Belper folk that traffic is getting worse in the town whilst the DfT surveys show declining traffic levels. There is real concern in the town about the number of HGV's travelling through Belper roads and this will get special attention.

If we find, as I already suspect, that our data is showing similar results to the DfT then we will have to think hard about what we do next; should we persevere with our planned surveys at the Triangle and then the roundabout adjacent to Morrisons or tackle some other locations?

In the meantime a big thank you to all who volunteered. This was not an easy task as we were a relatively small band; I suspect much smaller than the official survey teams deployed by the DfT. If we had more people we could record more specific data. As it was we managed to log all forms of wheeled transport including caravans, tractors and diggers but accurately logging how many vehicles turned left/right into King Street or turned onto the Market Place to access the Coppice car park was a step too far. That said, one person volunteered to undertake a survey of relevant adjacent car parks and this will add greatly to the final report.

So, watch this space and do please contact John Porter on 07500832771 or contact Plan for Belper team if you would like to volunteer for our next survey. It was planned for next Thursday 13th October but with three key members of the team declaring themselves unavailable that date is already looking difficult. There were seven of us rotating through the 12 hours yesterday but I fear that a team of four would struggle. Ideally we need a team of a dozen if we are to undertake more complex locations but, as I said, a decision will be made about the relevance and nature of any further surveys.

Traffic Survey in Belper - looking for volunteers

The first NP4B traffic survey will commence on on the morning of Thursday 6th October at 7 am. The reason for the survey is that despite 15 years of annual Department for Transport monitoring indicating a gradual decline in the number of vehicles moving through the town there is a general perception that traffic is increasing. A series of dawn to dusk traffic counts is therefore planned, the one on Thursday being the first. Further surveys are in the pipeline during October monitoring traffic flowing through the Triangle near the Mill complex (again on a weekday) and all car park usage (both on a weekday and again on a Saturday).

Graph generated from DfT data by Plan for Belper

We have chosen a location by the Market Place which is convenient for traffic flows on Chesterfield Road, High Street, Spencer Road, Nottingham Road and Cheapside. We will also be able to monitor vehicle usage of The Coppice car park. 

We have so far managed to assemble a volunteer group of 4 individuals but hopefully this small team can be expanded ................ so, if you are interested in becoming involved in this hopefully rewarding task then please contact John Porter - Mobile: 07500832771. You will not be asked to stand by a windswept roadside for 12 hours as we are aiming for a rosta of 2 hour slots so when making contact please state when you are available. The plan is to monitor traffic in both directions so at any one time we need 2 volunteers to be in attendance. I think that we have the morning covered so anyone who has some spare time between 12 midday and 7 in the evening on Thursday 6th will be given a warm welcome.

Watch this space for following survey dates which will be decided upon to fit in with the availability of volunteers.

A full briefing will be given before you start (including personal safety).

Feedback on lorries through Belper

There have been quite a few comments sent in to the NP4B team specifically mentioning the adverse effect that lorries have on the flow of town traffic. This from Carol of Belper is representative:

I would question the suggestion that HGVs have declined on the roads of Belper. There are a considerable number that pull themselves up High a Street & thunder down Spencer Road, often travelling above the speed limit. A few months ago a very large HGV, loaded with PVC Windows broke down at the top of High Street, trapping a bus & a long line of cars for hours. What this HGV was doing traveling through Belper, I do not know but it caused considerable nuisance that day. HGVs use High St, Spencer Road, & Nottingham Rd as a shortcut between the A6 & A6197, leading to the A38. Other HGV use Far Laund & the Road through Heage as a shortcut to the A38 & the A610. I would like to see weight restrictions on our roads & a clear sign saying no HGVs. I would also like to see 30 mph signs at the top of Spencer Rd. 

I can well understand the frustration that drove Carol to write this as it does feel as if traffic, especially HGV traffic has increased in the town but, when researching for the NP4B reference was made to the Derbyshire traffic surveys listed here on the Department for Transport website. and below is an abstraction of the HGV data as surveyed at strategic points in Belper:

Data source: DfT & graphed by NP4B 

This decrease in the number of articulated vehicles squeezing through the narrow streets of Belper comes as a surprise because it does feel as if our roads are getting busier. These are of course averages and there may well be times during the day that contain clusters of HGV movements, perhaps differing in 2014 from timings in 2000. Only by studying the original survey data would this become evident.

Imposing a weight limit to deter through traffic

Many have suggested imposing a weight limit on specific roads to deter heavy lorries using Belper as a through route. Watching HGV's, especially articulated lorries tortuously navigating between the A6 and Kilbourne Road or Far Laund the idea of imposing a weight limit on the A609 in central Belper does seem interesting. To illustrate the effect of a weight limit specifically targeting large vehicles the data has been manipulated in this way:

Average daily number of articulated HGV's moving through Belper
Data source: DfT - visualisation/flow chart by NP4B 
This chart does not include rigid (non-articulated) HGV's, some of which are so large that they too would be affected by a 20 tonne weight limit.

We can see that a weight restriction on through traffic on the A609, specifically Cheapside, High Street, Spencer Road and Nottingham Road would deter many HGV's but could increase the lorries using Kilbourne Road to access the town ( a survey of traffic on Chesterfield Road would help in this assessment). Any restriction shifts lorries to alternative routes and so an initiative to ease the situation in the town centre might result in a bottleneck developing somewhere else. It is the job of the DfT and DCC to sift through the pros and cons of such a proposal and they have far more data on which to base their judgement. Consultation with these authorities during the development stage of the NP4B is therefore essential.

Referring back to the flow chart there is evidence that lorries are using  Ashbourne Road/Matlock Road via the Triangle as a through route which does avoid the more sensitive area of the town although this is cold comfort for those who live or visit that part of the town.

NP4B backup information

The NP4B involves the gathering of a mass of data which is used in support of the wishes of the townsfolk. The Transport & Travel topic is awash with data and it would seem appropriate to share it by producing targeted reports for all the elements of T&T so that informed judgements can be made. It is a really big subject so will benefit from this approach. In the meantime, another example of manipulated data:

Average daily number of motor vehicles moving through Belper
Data source: DfT - visualisation/flow chart by NP4B

It is evident that there are many routes used by motorists that avoid being surveyed, say, a journey from Far Laund via Chesterfield Road - Church Lane - Field Lane to access the town centre car park ........... to give but one example from the many alternative routes that the DfT surveys fail to capture.

Transport & Travel 2nd public consultation 27th April 2016

Notes of feedback following 1st T&T public consultation 10th February 2016

This document was available to those attending the 2nd meeting

The Neighbourhood Plan team has been busy collating the feedback and suggestions following our first round of meetings. There has been some very valuable input to the Transport & Travel topic and it has been possible to work up a preliminary list of ideas for further consideration. It should however be noted that for a town the size of Belper the number of people feeding into the process was disappointing but on the positive side, the lack of quantity was more than made up for by the quality of the response.

The feedback we have received, via email or our forms has been collated and from this distillation a work stream has been identified for each sub-grouping. The results so far are:

1.       Accessing the town by foot.

a.       Concern has been shown regarding the state of the jittys/channels. There has been mention of the fact that they are not cleaned adequately, the surfaces are deteriorating, adjoining fences are prone to vandalism, no gritting in winter. Initial action points are raising these problems with the relevant local councils, mapping jitty’s and identifying a point of contact for each route.

b.      There was more than one suggestion of an enhanced riverside walk. Initial action point to identify this in council or amateur association plans and proposals.

c.       The production of a suggested pedestrian route map for Belper. Initial action point: This has been created by the Transport Group of Transition Belper.

d.      Is the positioning of pedestrian crossing places and lights correct for the pedestrian flows that exist currently or may emerge with future developments. This is specifically aimed at the lights on Chapel Street/Bridge Street but reference has also been made to the unfortunate alignment of bus stop and crossing at the Market Place and the difficulties faced by pedestrians when using the High Street route. Initial action point: Liaise with AVBC and DCC.

e.       Next step to determine points to be included in the draft plan.

Supplied by Transition Belper

2.      Cycling in the town

a.       Once again a riverside route is suggested by more than one respondent and the existence of a Derwent cycle path as an element of a long distance cycle route is noted.

b.      The production of a cycling route map. Initial action point: A map showing suggested cycle routes has been produced by the Transport Group of Transition Belper. This contains new routes that will require funding to so Derbyshire County Council has been contacted and a meeting is being arranged.

c.       There has been mention of electric bicycles and in a town built on hillsides this should be no surprise. The ambition was to popularise electric cycling thus enabling more to use this method of transport and to provide an alternative to car use. Initial action point is to determine how this aspiration could be incorporated into the NP4B.

d.      Next step is to intensify contact with cycling groups and retailers.

Supplied by Transition Belper

Source data: DfT - Graphic by NP4B

Source data: DfT - Graphic by NP4B

3.       Public Transport

a.       Taxis: There has been mention of the seeming dearth of taxis in the town. Of prime concern was the lack of taxis near the railway station; there never being a taxi on the rank at the bottom of King Street; if you don’t book well in advance then it can be a long wait. One respondent asked if there was any restriction on the number of taxi licenses granted by AVBC.  Initial action point: To contact the licensing body and Town, Borough and County Councils for their input. Also to make contact with local taxi firms to gain their perspective. A collation of these views will hopefully indicate possible wording for the draft NP4B.

b.      Buses: There has been quite a lot of feedback on this subject:

                                                               i.      Possible use of smaller buses

                                                             ii.      Concern about loss of DCC funding (current subsidies amounts to 15% of Derbyshire buses).

                                                           iii.      Loss of services for disabled and vulnerable adults.

                                                           iv.      Loss of services to isolated communities

                                                             v.      Possible impact of devolution and formation of an East Midlands Unitary Authority. Initial action point: This point was raised with Anne Western (the leader of DCC) who said that in that eventuality the county would explore the possibility of a franchise based system. Early days yet but devolution might or might not happen.

                                                           vi.      Possible deployment of “Uber” style bus services

                                                          vii.      In the same vein Belper could develop a “dial-a-bus” service that ran more frequently by being flexible on timing and routes.

                                                        viii.      Possible extension of free bus passes via a local initiative (funding problems come to mind but we live in hope that someone will suggest a possible way forward)

                                                           ix.      Production of bus stop map indicating distances from houses.

                                                             x.      The 2011 National Census noted that there were only 400 Belper daily bus commuters. No differentiation was made between those travelling to work outside Belper (for instance Derby) and those who worked in Belper. The same census indicated that 40% of those working in Belper lived outside the town. Initial action point: It has to be determined what relevance this has for the NP4B.

                                                           xi.      Initial action point: There has been an exploratory meeting with the DCC and a meeting with Trent Barton is in the pipeline.

Source data: DfT - Graphic by NP4B

Source data: DfT - Graphic by NP4B

c.       Trains: Again quite a lot of feedback which demonstrates some feeling in the town:

                                                               i.      Desire for more mainline trains to stop at Belper. The efforts of the rail pressure groups in this regard are noted but there is a general feeling that more trains should call at Belper. That there is only one train at 07:29 to Sheffield and one return working back to Belper at 17:36 was felt to be unacceptable. Initial action point: A timetable analysis indicates further intercity trains that could call at Belper without incurring any adverse effect on the timetabling of other trains - - notably late evening trains. A meeting with the relevant railway undertakings is being sought as part of the NP4B process.

                                                             ii.      The Matlock branch should be electrified. (If only the NP4B could make this happen).

                                                           iii.      Belper Station access is mentioned by more than one person. That there are no taxis has already been mentioned but the link with King Street and access for cars through Field Lane car park are also mentioned.

                                                           iv.      One radical proposal was to re-orientate the Lion Hotel filling station thus providing a direct route to the station. This would enable the creation of a bus/rail interchange.

                                                             v.      A similar outcome of a bus/rail interchange was suggested by the demolition of the Poundland building.

                                                           vi.      Possible impact on parking if more trains stop at Belper has been noted.

                                                          vii.      The Nottingham tram network was mentioned and the possibility of linking Belper to the proposed Nottingham – Ripley extension was suggested.

                                                        viii.      Possible action point: The NP4B could explore the idea of an integrated public transport plan for Belper. As the town moves from being a small rural manufacturing town to becoming a busy retail centre perhaps it is time for such a thorough rethink of the transport options available to commuters, shoppers, scholars and visitors.

Imagine something like this shuttle bus servicing the estates in the evening

 The use of cars (and car parks)

                                                               i.      There is a very real concern about car parking and traffic in the town with contributing factors:

                                                             ii.      Loss of Derwent Street car park following housing development

                                                           iii.      Additional car parking required following opening of Aldi/B&M development

                                                           iv.      Proposal to create visitor car park incorporating tourist information, toilets, RV and caravan hook ups and electric vehicle charging points.

                                                             v.      Park and ride was mentioned at 1^st public consultation meeting.

                                                           vi.      Car park charges --- feedback was both for and against but the sample being so low this is inconclusive and would suggest that this may not be an issue for the NP4B.

                                                          vii.      Initial action point: NP4B to collate the car parking strategies of the various levels of local government and compare with public feedback.

                                                        viii.      Proposal to introduce 20 mph restriction on certain sections of road or blanket town centre speed limit.

                                                           ix.      Proposal for a restriction on HGV’s using the town as a through route, especially via the High Street/Market Place/Nottingham Road route.

                                                             x.      Concern was voiced about the apparent increase in traffic levels even though annual traffic monitoring figures published by the DCC show a gradual decline over the past 15 years. Perhaps the DCC traffic survey is not picking up local traffic movements.

                                                           xi.      A proposal was made that a car sharing initiative could be of benefit to the town.

                                                          xii.      “Why doesn’t the town have a bypass” was mentioned; a well-worn subject. Who can forget the Tesco debate? However – Initial action point the meeting with DCC to include reference to future traffic strategy along the Derwent Valley.

                                                        xiii.      Perhaps an overriding concern shared by many respondents was the perception that not enough consideration was given to potential growth of traffic when planning applications were being accessed.

                                                        xiv.      In the same vein, many were concerned that traffic growth was not a more prominent feature of the 2011 -2028 Core Strategy. 

Heavy goods and other commercial vehicles

                                                               i.      It is noted that there has been a decline in the number of HGV’s using all routes through the town and this must reflect the decline in industry in the town.

                                                             ii.      The DCC traffic surveys reflected fewer HGV’s passing through the town but there had been a significant rise in the number of small vans and light trucks.

                                                           iii.      There is concern that large vehicles are delivering to shops and all too frequently result in bottle-necks to the free flow of traffic.

                                                           iv.      Planning, in relation to the growth of Belper as an emergent retail centre should take into account the likely impact of increased commercial vehicle traffic.

4.       Pollution included in the T&T section of the NP4B because transport is the main source of pollution in the town.

                                                               i.      It was suggested that the use of electric vehicles should be encouraged including hybrid buses and of course electric cars to be encouraged.

                                                             ii.      Local companies to be encouraged to use electric delivery vehicles where possible.

                                                           iii.      Tree planting as defence against pollution. (Treeconomics)

                                                           iv.      Initial action point: To determine the level of pollution there is in Belper Streets by referencing relevant government agencies and, if necessary, creating the means to monitor and report pollution levels in the town.

                                                             v.      Initial action point: To explore the possibility of including target pollution figures in the NP4B.