Agenda item

This report considers the outcome of public consultation on proposed alterations to parking and restrictions along Seabourne Road (and adjoining streets), Southbourne Grove and Southbourne Road aimed at improving journey times and reliability for buses and general traffic whilst balancing the needs of residents and businesses.

The report recommends full consideration of the consultation outputs and implementation of the measures proposed. 

The Head of Transport and Sustainable Travel presented a report, a copy of which had been circulated to each Member and a copy of which appears as Appendix 'B' to these Minutes in the Minute Book.

The Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) was advised of the report and recommendations that were submitted to Cabinet at their meeting on 13 May 2025.

The report considered the outcome of public consultation on proposed alterations to parking and restrictions along Seabourne Road (and adjoining streets), Southbourne Grove and Southbourne Road aimed at improving journey times and reliability for buses and general traffic whilst balancing the needs of residents and businesses.

In 2021 the government published it’s national bus strategy for England called bus back better which set out their vision to transform the quality of bus services across the country.  This included local transport authorities where possible pursue franchising or a statutory enhanced partnership with bus companies.  BCP already had strong relationship with the bus company so went for the statutory enhanced partnership.

The BSIP aligned with the corporate strategy and the 2022 Council motion to get 50% of journey’s within the BCP area to be done by walking, scooting, cycling or public transport by 2030 and BSIP was also a funding requirement.

BCP council was only 1 of 31 local transport authorities in England to be awarded funding as part of the first phase of BSIP. BSIP sets out the aims to make buses more frequent, faster and reliable.

Pokesdown and Southbourne were identified as routes that would benefit from improvement as services regularly suffered disruption.

The section between Pokesdown Station and Carberry Avenue, was being looked at, the journey was scheduled to take 5 mins, however analysis of data showed that some journey’s took over 20 minutes.

The proposals looked to remove some sections of parking at particular points along the scheme where congestion occurred and provided replacement parking on adjacent side roads as this would improve traffic flow.

A consultation was launched in January and received a total of 196 respondents commented, 59 in support, 110 in objection and 27 general comments. 

The objections were from residents that highlighted concern’s about the impact on businesses and residential addresses.  A 2018 report highlighted the fact that those people who travelled to businesses by means other than private car, increase their spend at local businesses by as much as £32.

It was raised that 1 hour parking restrictions cause people to not stay in shops or cafes as they would need to get back for their parking, which would have a negative effect on businesses.  The benefits of arriving by bus means people will stay as long as they want without the need to rush off.

The scheme had been worked on very closely with local bus operators as part of the enhanced partnership and lots of engagement with them and local businesses and obtained their views and where adjustments had been made the bus company was consulted again and they supported them.

RESOLVED that the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG) recommends to Cabinet that the scheme (as per Appendix A) is delivered as proposed.

Voting: Unanimous