Newton Abbot Town Council

NOTES OF THE ELEVENTH MEETING OF THE NEWTON ABBOT LOCAL
TRANSPORT PARTNERSHIP HELD IN THE COUNCIL CHAMBER, TOWN
HALL, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT ON WEDNESDAY 10TH
SEPTEMBER 2008 AT 7.00 p.m.

Present:

Chairman: Councillor Mrs Daphne Watts
(Newton Abbot Town Council) Presiding

Representing:

Newton Abbot Town Council:  Councillors:   

Mrs C Bunday - College
H Cole – Buckland
D J Corney-Walker - Milber
M Hocking - Bradley
D Howe - College
K Purchase - College

Devon County Council:     Mr Derek Fishpool
      
Bus Companies:  

Stagecoach   Ms Christina Ratcliffe
Country Bus   Mr Nick Elgar
    
Local Residents:      

Mr Alec Morley
Mr Denis Tyler
           
By Invitation:

Newton Abbot & District Community Strategy Transport &
Accessibility Theme Group     Mr Graham Wickham
Senior Council for Devon   Mr Malcolm Froude 
Torbay Rail Line Users   Mr John Hartley 
   
1. WELCOME AND INTRODUCTIONS

The Chairman welcomed members of the Forum and guests to the eleventh
meeting of the Newton Abbot Local Transport Forum.

2.  APOLOGIES

Apologies for absence was received on behalf of Councillor Mrs S J
Maddicott, NATC; Mr Mark Chorley, First Great Western; Alison Ellison,
Country Bus; Mr Eric Collar; Mr G-A Husband; Mr Bob Newton.
.    
3. NOTES OF LAST MEETING

The Notes of the 10th Meeting of the Partnership held on 30th April 2008 were
received and noted.

4. TRAIN SERVICES

The Chairman explained that unfortunately Mr Mark Chorley of First Great
Western had been unable to attend this meeting as he was out of the County.
However, the Group wished the rail company to be aware of its concerns with
the planned timetable changes for later in the year which would result in 4/5
fewer trains west of Exeter following reduction in the trains from Waterloo.
The Forum noted that trains were currently fully occupied on this service and
the reduction in the number of trains would likely lead to serious overcrowding.
It was noted that this was happening at a time when there was a television
marketing campaign to encourage the public to make greater use of trains.
Reference was also made to the fact that the fare structure meant local
services were reasonably priced but the longer journeys tended to be much
more expensive. This was coupled with the issue of special offers being
advertised which were seldom actually available.

It was agreed that the Town Clerk would write to First Great Western drawing
attention to the Forum’s concerns.   

5. BUS COMPANIES/SERVICES

Stagecoach – Christina Ratcliffe announced changes from Monday 8th
September which would involve the No. 66 providing a direct link from Newton
Abbot to Torbay Hospital and South Devon College. Also, the No. 79 (Local
Loop) will be withdrawn and replaced by the No. 2 service and will run every
20 minutes. Christina also reported a slight change to the Service No. 70 from
end of September which will no longer use Manor Road, but will use Barton
Drive instead. The County Council had identified two sites for possible bus
stops. The Forum noted that the new services mentioned above will be low-
floor double deck vehicles. In fact it was proposed that all their local services
would in future become low-floor.

Country Bus/ Devon County Council – It was announced that Country Bus had
been successful in winning the contract to provide the service to the new
Newton Abbot Hospital. Mr Fishpool explained that from January 2009 there
will be a half hourly loop service from Sherborne Road provided by two new
low-floor buses. A bus stop in Jetty-Marsh Road was being investigated. Mr
Fishpool announced that the Winter timetable was being distributed from 28th
September.
    
Arising from the above the following issues were raised:-

o Stagecoach and the County Council were requested to take
note of the difficulty experienced by the larger buses in
negotiating the junction between Highweek and Coombeshead
Road. It was also noted that parked cars in the area were
exacerbating the situation and consequently the Police should
be requested to enforce any junction parking infringements;
o Stagecoach was asked about the technology available relating
to the card readers required arising from the Concessionary
Bus Fares Scheme;
o Experiences of tickets being issued for destinations beyond that
travelled and its effect arising from the Concessionary Bus
Fares Scheme;
o The fact that the new No. 40 bus service for South Devon
College at 7.53 a.m. from Ashburton has no connecting
service;
o Issues with double parking on Buckland causing problems for
buses;
o The No. 2 service having to negotiate narrow lanes thereby
leading to delays when meeting other services, accidents etc.;
o Problems caused at Sherborne Road when the No. 66 and 12
services arrive at the same time;
o The benefits experienced last year when the Inspector at
Sherborne Road was re-introduced;
o The Town Clerk reported that two new bus shelters would be
installed at Sherborne Road on 23/24 October and one in
Highweek Way (near the ASDA Superstore) on 27th October.
Adshel had agreed to maintain the shelters until such time as
the Council’s contract with Adshel is renegotiated in 2010;
o Bus lay-up in Sherborne Road. Christina requested and
incidents be reported to her.

Sherborne Road – The Forum discussed in some detail issues created by the
inadequacies of the service provided from Sherborne Road. The Mayor,
Councillor Corney-Walker, expressed the view that he felt the need to resolve
the future for a bus station in Newton Abbot was desperately needed. He
encouraged all the agencies involved to get together to debate the issue as
soon as possible. The representatives of the County Council and bus
companies expressed the view that their respective organisations would be
willing to discuss the issue.

Arising from consideration of the issues above it was

AGREED that the Town Council should take a lead in encouraging all
the agencies involved to discuss the future of the Newton Abbot bus
station as a matter of urgency and an item be placed on the next
available Council agenda.

6. REMEMBRANCE SUNDAY

The Forum noted the need for public transport diversions to be operated on
Sunday 9th November from 10.30 a.m. to 11.30 a.m. due to the
Remembrance Sunday Parade and Service.

7. DEVON CAR FREE DAY – MONDAY 22ND SEPTEMBER 2008

The Forum noted details of information issued in support of Devon Car Free
Day to be held on 22nd September 2008 (previously circulated).

The Town Clerk requested that members of the Forum support the Devon Car
Free Day in any way they were able. The Mayor reported that he had
undertaken to use public transport for each of the three public engagements
he was involved in on 22nd September.

8. DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING

It was noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be held on Wednesday
15th April 2009 at 7.00 p.m.

CHAIRMAN

The meeting concluded at 1955 hours.