Lorries come off the M3 (junction 11) directly onto a B-road, the B3335 – Twyford's High Street. Note that very little space is left for oncoming traffic and the front doors of many homes open directly onto the road.
Transport
In Twyford we benefit and suffer from various transport related issues and the village infrastructure needs to be improved.
Some Transport & Infrastructure Problems
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The amount of traffic and lorries passing through the village.
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The main road (the B3335) splits the village in two.
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The high speed of traffic through the village.
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The lack of crossing facilities south of the traffic lights.
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There are notable gaps on some footways (such as Finches Lane, Norris Bridge, Park Lane and Church Lane).
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Shortage of parking on some roads and near the surgery, Post Office and primary school.
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The lack of a continuous cycle route into Winchester.
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Lorries travelling to Northfields ignoring the HGV ban.
Some Transport Benefits
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We are close to a motorway junction and have good access to main roads.
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We have regular daytime bus services to Winchester and Eastleigh.
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We are close to a railway station.
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It is possible to cycle into Winchester.
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Many roads have a footway alongside them.
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There is a good network of rural footpaths and bridleways.
What we can suggest includes
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The location, type and size of any new development within Twyford
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The amount of parking associated with any new development
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Creation of ‘Home Zones’ or the introduction of lower speed limits on certain residential roads
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Improved pedestrian and cycle links
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Lorry restrictions on certain roads
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Better facilities for pedestrians and cyclists
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Improved bus stops and bus shelters
We are restricted in what the Neighbourhood Plan can propose
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For instance, we cannot comment or object to new development outside Twyford
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We cannot suggest a lorry ban along the B3335 through the village or a ban on planes flying over the village
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Getting changes to the main speed limits are a separate process
Improvements to our infrastructure
Nearly all new development has to make a financial contribution to the Community Infrastructure Levy (CIL).
The SDNP has a tariff for different sizes and types of development. The money raised has to be spent on local infrastructure schemes (transport, schools, healthcare, flooding etc.)
Were you aware that the new pedestrian crossing near Bourne Lane was funded by CIL payments?
With a Neighbourhood Plan in place 25% of any CIL payment comes directly to the Parish Council, for spending on local schemes for local needs.
What would you spend any CIL payments on?
Parking Demand
Is there a need for additional parking?
Twyford Parish is in a rural area and the use of a car is very important for most journeys. Twyford has limited bus connections and it’s access to a mainline rail station only gives options for travel along a single corridor. Thus, alongside locating development so as to minimise the need to travel by car, adequate car parking is nevertheless needed in all new development. Public car parking within the village, particularly around the centre (village hall, surgery, post office, village stores) is also essential. The existing Parish Hall car park and on-street spaces do not provide sufficient-capacity and additional provision is required. Parking provision for cyclists throughout Twyford is also poor and opportunities need to be taken to redress this.
Good parking provision contributes to improving the quality of the built environment, promoting a village that functions as a single community, and improves the safety for those who walk and cycle. Various surveys have been undertaken of the Village Hall car park. These included numerous observations of the total usage of the car-park at various times throughout the day and a continuous 11hr survey in April 2016 when the usage, turnover and duration of stay were determined. Full details of this survey are set out HERE but the main findings were:
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Maximum occupancy was 46 vehicles* despite there being only 35 marked spaces. This occurred mid-morning.
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2/3rds of all users stayed less than 30 minutes.
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Extensive on-street parking occurs on Hazeley Road and Dolphin Hill.
(* at a time when the area in front of the Village Hall (7 spaces) was cordoned off)
Based on the findings of these surveys and the likely demands created by the users of the surgery, the Parish Hall and Gilbert Rooms, possible diversion of some users to adjoining residential streets and repressed demand, it is considered that there is a need for at least 20 additional off street spaces in the village centre at the outset. To provide some flexibility provision of land for up to 40 spaces is proposed. This provision complements Strategic Policy SD 22 of the South Downs Local Plan.
Current parking standards are set by HCC as Highway Authority and WCC as Parking Authority; SDNPA are now revising these and will set their own.
The Parish Council has considered the possibility of additional parking in the vicinity of Park Lane, Queen Street, School Road and Hill Rise but sees no opportunity of delivering or implementing any such measure.
Motorway traffic jam near Twyford*
There are regular bus services to Eastleigh and Winchester, but none after 7 p.m.
There are no pedestrian crossings south of the High Street traffic lights. The village primary school is west of the main road, while many of the children live on the east side.