A Summary of the long awaited Saturn study has been now been published. The major suprise maybe that rather than decrease traffic in East Whiteley opening Yew Tree Drive will increase traffic by a predicted 300 cars per day.
Re: Access to Whiteley
Whiteley has developed as a community with one principal access onto the M27. This has created unique transport access difficulties. The current rate of ownership and consequential usage of the private car was never envisaged, the result has been a very car dominated development that experiences peak hour congestion. In addition legal land acquisition issues and Local Plan policies have prevented the road network from being built as originally intended and continue to prevent the creation of additional road connections to the A3051 Botley Road. Consequently Hampshire County Council has been working hard to create better access opportunities in very difficult circumstances. Since the opening of the Yew Tree Drive bus gate onto Botley Road in May 2008, questions have been asked of the impact of opening the bus gate up to all traffic on the local road network which is currently prevented by Fareham Borough Council Local Plan policy T9 shown below: (A) Road connections from Whiteley to Botley Road for general traffic will not be permitted until Whiteley Way is complete between Junction 9 on the M27 and the A3051 north of Curbridge. (B) Bus only access from Botley Road to Yew Tree Drive and/or Rookery Avenue will be permitted provided that it can be demonstrated to be safe and that satisfactory arrangements can be made to exclude other vehicular traffic
East Whiteley residents have also expressed concerns over the volume of traffic, particularly in the morning and evening peak periods, using the route from Cartwright Dive, via Bleriot Crescent, Bader Way and Leafy Lane, to access Whiteley and the Solent Business Park. Despite various ideas being tabled, it has not been possible so far to find a solution that is agreed on, to help reduce the flow of through movements. However, it was thought that any improvement to access arrangements for Whiteley as a whole, could have the potential to assist this situation.
As a result of these enquiries Hampshire County Council have developed a SATURN traffic simulation model to test different access scenarios and their impact on Whiteley and its environs. It is important to recognise that this model does not provide all the answers. For example, it is not possible to predict with any certainty what the effects will be on the existing road network, including the M27 junction 9 and on Yew Tree Drive, until the transport impacts of the proposed development at North Whiteley are better understood. Therefore the model and its results are being used to help Hampshire County Council and the Local Planning Authorities, Fareham Borough and Winchester City Councils, to consider appropriate road connections and uses.
SATURN Model Results
The SATURN model has been constructed and validated as an AM peak model (8am -9am) using a variety of information including the 2001 census data, local traffic counts and the results of a number of road side interviews undertaken in September 2008. The construction of the model has allowed the testing of various highway network arrangements compared with the existing situation (2008 base year scenario) and with anticipated development in the area to assess both the short and longer term effects of any potential access changes. The modelling results have provided a prediction of likely traffic flows if the Yew Tree Drive bus gate were to be opened to all traffic in the current circumstances. The main points of interest are:
- 6% (181 trips) fewer vehicle movements between the M27 junction 9 and Whiteley Way Roundabout 1,
- 24% (199 trips) more vehicles movements on Yew Tree Drive,
- A reduction in movement along A3051 Botley Road (south of Yew Tree Drive),
- A nine second reduction in the average journey time for vehicles exiting Whiteley,
- An increased delay at the junctions of Rookery Avenue with Yew Tree Drive and Whiteley Way Roundabout 1.
The closure of Leafy Lane to all traffic was also tested. The model predicts a significant increase in the average journey time for all vehicle trips out of Whiteley (2 minutes 18 seconds) if the road were closed at its mid point.
What will happen next?
It is proposed that all householders within Whiteley, Burridge, Botley Road, Swanwick Lane and relevant parts of Park Gate, in addition to key employers within Solent Business Park, will be consulted on the opening of additional road links onto Botley Road from Whiteley. It is anticipated that this consultation will be undertaken jointly by Hampshire County Council, Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council and will take place early 2010.
The results of this consultation together with the modelling results will be used by both Fareham Borough Council and Winchester City Council in developing suitable policies for proposed development and within their respective Local Development Framework documents.
It is anticipated that the results of the consultation will also be considered by the Whiteley Forum. This forum will include Councillor representatives from the County Council, Fareham Borough Council, Winchester City Council, Whiteley Parish Council and Curdridge Parish Council. The aim of this forum will be to consider all aspects of the proposed North Whiteley Development, including transport arrangements.
If you require any additional information do not hesitate to contact myself on 01329 824611 or via This e-mail address is being protected from spambots. You need JavaScript enabled to view it .
Stephen Gee
Transport Planner
