Issue - meetings

Report ES14041

Local Investment Plan (LIP) funding, of the order of £150k over each of the next three years, has been earmarked for station access improvements across the borough.

Improvements for all modes of travel to and from stations can be considered: walking; cycling; public transport interchange; parking; drop off and pick up; and disabled access to the station buildings themselves. However, with insufficient funding to implement schemes at every station, a priority methodology was proposed to progress works.

Taking all factors into account, the proposed first priority stations in the Borough were listed as Elmstead Woods, Penge East, Petts Wood and Shortlands. Individual schemes would be reported to Members with details of design and implementation costs, along with details of any potential on-going costs and funding.

Suggesting that Kent House station might benefit from pedestrian access improvements, Councillor Phillips asked whether more stations might similarly benefit if improvements were of a lower scale and at reduced cost. It was confirmed that the access road leading to Kent House Station was unadopted, although officers could look at the possibility of adoption next year when developing a further round of station access improvements.  

Rather than have a number of minor improvements with minimal impact, it was intended to have a rolling programme of larger access improvements for a small number of stations in each the next three years. There would be an in-depth review of station access across the borough. Priorities could then be investigated one year and improvements implemented the next at a small number of stations. It was confirmed that it would be for Network Rail to take forward access improvements on land it owned, and officers had met Network Rail representatives.

Individual schemes for station access improvement would be taken forward via Ward Members and the Portfolio Holder. The Chairman suggested that Ward Members be consulted on the demand for access projects at the proposed stations. Councillor Brookes confirmed that he had received suggestions from residents on access improvements for Penge East station. 

The Chairman also expected Network Rail to provide measures for disabled access at stations and highlighted the forthcoming Public Transport Liaison meeting (scheduled for 24^th July 2014).

Referring to Orpington, the Chairman highlighted local support for improved means to link Orpington High Street and Orpington Station. In this context, he referred to having effective way-finding for the High Street and station.

 RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to confirm:

(1)  the suggested priority rationale set out in Paragraph 3.2 and Appendix 1 of Report ES14041; and

(2)  Elmstead Woods, Penge East, Petts Wood and Shortlands as the first priority stations in the borough for station access improvements.