Agenda item

(a)  That the key principles of the transport vision for 2040 be welcomed as input to the Centre of Slough Development Strategy and the emerging Local Plan.

(b)  That the importance of transport in achieving the vision for the centre of Slough be noted and how the transport vision will:

·  make public transport the dominant mode of travel to and from the centre of Slough;

·  provide a public transport network with the capacity to enable a higher scale of development, and which maximises the benefits of Crossrail and Western Rail Access to Heathrow;

·  make walking and cycling to and from the centre of Slough an attractive option;

·  create a safe, healthy and vibrant urban space which encourage people to live, work and relax locally;

·  reduce the dominance of the car, improving air quality and road safety.

(c)  That the commencement of work on the next stages of technical work be approved to feed into the Centre of Slough Development Strategy and the Local Plan and to provide the basis for subsequent decisions on implementation.

(d)  That delegated authority be given to the Service Lead Major Infrastructure Projects, following consultation with the Lead Member for Planning & Transport, to submit a response to the Department for Transport consultation on Pay-as-you-go on Rail.

(e)  That the Cabinet receive a further report in June or July 2019 to update on the delivery of proposals and milestones for reporting.

The Lead Member for Planning & Transport and the Service Lead Major Infrastructure Projects introduced a report that sought approval for the key principles of a new transport vision for the centre of Slough.  It was noted that an updated version of the vision, at Appendix A to the report, had been circulated in the Supplementary Agenda and this replaced the version in the original agenda pack.

The transport vision was an ambitious, high level, long term plan which aimed to make public transport the dominant mode of travel to and from the centre of Slough; provide capacity on the public transport network to enable a higher scale of development; and create a safe, healthy and vibrant urban space which encouraged people to live, work and relax locally.  The plans were also central to the Council’s ambitions in the Low Emissions Strategy to improve air quality.

The transport vision would provide input to the Centre of Slough Development Strategy and emerging Local Plan which would help shape the regeneration of Slough over the next twenty years.  It was a public transport led vision to help facilitate regeneration and enable the continued growth of Slough in the long term.  Lead Members welcomed the vision and agreed that it was crucial to have a strategic plan that shaped future development and facilitated growth.  The vision included a Mass Rapid Transit scheme along the A4 east-west corridor which was segregated from general traffic to provide high capacity, quick and reliable journeys.  There were various options for the specific technology that would be adopted which could include guided buses or light rail/trams.  There were also plans for park and ride sites and a reduction in car parking provision in the town centre.  Further detailed testing would be carried out and the next update to Cabinet would be in June or July 2019.

The Cabinet discussed a number of aspects of the vision including connectivity to communities across Slough.  It was noted that the network would enable conventional buses to and from destinations not served by MRT for part of their journey as part of a ‘hub and spoke’ model utilising the new east-west spine.  Lead Members agreed that the vision was of much wider importance than transport in that it would have a significant impact on transforming the town centre and ensuring the town had a clear plan for growth in the coming years.

At the conclusion of the discussion, the Cabinet endorsed the transport vision as at Appendix A to the report.

Resolved –

(a)  That the key principles of the transport vision for 2040 be welcomed as input to the Centre of Slough Development Strategy and the emerging Local Plan.

(b)  That the importance of transport in achieving the vision for the centre of Slough be noted and how the transport vision will:

·  make public transport the dominant mode of travel to and from the centre of Slough;

·  provide a public transport network with the capacity to enable a higher scale of development, and which maximises the benefits of Crossrail and Western Rail Access to Heathrow;

·  make walking and cycling to and from the centre of Slough an attractive option;

·  create a safe, healthy and vibrant urban space which encourage people to live, work and relax locally;

·  reduce the dominance of the car, improving air quality and road safety.

(c)  That the commencement of work on the next stages of technical work be approved to feed into the Centre of Slough Development Strategy and the Local Plan and to provide the basis for subsequent decisions on implementation.

(d)  That delegated authority be given to the Service Lead Major Infrastructure Projects, following consultation with the Lead Member for Planning & Transport, to submit a response to the Department for Transport consultation on Pay-as-you-go on Rail.

(e)  That the Cabinet receive a further report in June or July 2019 to update on the delivery of proposals and milestones for reporting.