Scheme on Hold
MSBC Guidance
Attached is a letter from DfT regarding all schemes seeking funding via their Major Scheme Business Case process.
DfT Letter
The delay in reviewing any MSBC until Autumn at least means that the intended programme for delivery by July 2012 for use at London 2012 Olympics cannot be achieved nor the fall back programme of completion by 31/03/13.
Transportation Funding
In addition to the programme delay above, BCC has been informed that it's Transportation funding has been cut significantly as part of the Government's £6.2Bn spending cuts. The issue for Coachway is that the 'Integrated Block' part of the Transportation budget has been hit hardest and this is where the development work for Coachway is funded from.
As a result of all of the above, BCC has taken the decision to put work on Coachway/P&R on hold, with immediate effect. Buckinghamshire County Council, together with Wycombe District Council, still aspire to delivering Coachway and are working to this end but for the moment design work and the work required to submit the next stage of bid to DfT for funding is on hold.
Handy Cross Hub is the name given to the whole Sports Centre Site which includes both the proposed High Wycombe Regional Coachway Park & Ride and the proposed Business Park. Since the concept of improved coach connections in the Thames Valley was first identified by Central Government in 2002,Buckinghamshire County Council and Wycombe District Council have had an aspiration to develop a regional Coachway Park and Ride facility at Handy Cross, High Wycombe.
A coachway is defined as a coach station built adjacent to a motorway interchange to allow regional coach services to serve the local area while allowing the integration of local feeder services serving the adjoining urban and rural areas. This will enable residents of the area to have access to existing regional coach services and also to potential new services. It is our aspiration that the coachway facility will enable local residents to access a regional coach network, with services to Oxford and London, to the Thames Valley and potentially north of High Wycombe. Access to key facilities such as airports is also expected to be improved.
Within High Wycombe an interim Park & Ride was established at Cressex Island in September 2005. It is expected that once the coachway is opened the interim Park & Ride will relocate to the Coachway site to enable the integration of the two facilities. The location of the Park & Ride on the Handy Cross site also helps support the development of the vision for a cross-town north-south Park & Ride bus link.
It is anticipated that the scheme could be constructed as early as 2011/12, although this would be dependent on success with various statutory processes for planning and funding.
Scheme Proposals
The coachway and park & ride facility will offer the following facilities:
- High quality interchange for regional and long-distance coaches
- Re-location of existing local Park & Ride service to site to allow for integration of facilities
- Interchange facilities for local bus services with links for cycling and walking
- Prioritised access /egress point for buses and coaches into the site to allow for quick and easy pick ups/drop offs
- High quality waiting facilities for passengers
- 8 bays for Coaches, local bus services and Park & Ride buses
- 550 space car park with specific spaces for disabled drivers, electric vehicles and bicycles
- Real Time Passenger Information
- Refreshment facilities
The scheme requires that 2 new junctions will be installed on A404 Marlow Hill to prioritise access/egress for buses and coaches as well as enhancements to the existing Sports Centre access road junction. The existing Sports Centre will remain in situ but the car parks that serve it will need to be amended to enable the access road to Coachway to be constructed.