1. The overall aim of the study is to make recommendations for a long term strategy to
address passenger and freight transport needs within the M4/M5/A303/A30/A38 key transport
corridors incorporating the parallel rail routes, including where appropriate a plan of
prioritised, specific interventions to address existing and predicted strategic transport
problems in this area, looking in particular at opportunities for reducing congestion by
better management and modal shift, as well as options for taking forward focused
improvements.
2. The study will take account of the policies set out in the White Paper, ‘A New
Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone’, including the associated publications
(‘daughter’ documents), and the 5 main national objectives for transport ie
integration, safety, economy, environmental impact and accessibility. It will also take
into account, and be complementary to, the Regional Planning Guidance for the South West
(RPG10), a revised draft of which, incorporating the Regional Transport Strategy, was
published in August 1999, and the SWRDA’s Regional Strategy. It is, however, expected
by SWRPC that an early revision of the RTS will be needed to reflect the study outcomes.
In the longer term, the outcomes may also inform future RPG revisions. The study will
similarly take into account the RPG and RTS for the South East and SEEDA’s Regional
Strategy.
3. The study will be compatible with spatial strategy underpinning the draft RPG for the
South West, which has the effect of concentrating most of the development up to 2016
within, or close to, the Region’s principal urban areas, to promote self containment
and minimise the amount of travel.
4. The study will identify measures to address the following local and regional objectives
(others may be identified in the course of the study):
- To reduce congestion on the key road and rail transport corridors, particularly around
the principal urban areas of Bristol, Swindon, Weston-Super-Mare, Taunton, Exeter and
Plymouth
- To assess the main land use options for the principal urban areas, and the related
transportation options, in particular public transport
- To improve safety
- To reduce the impact of seasonal traffic on the key transport corridors, whilst
safeguarding regional and local economies.
- To improve modal integration, for passengers and freight
- To examine broad solutions to the problems at those locations where schemes are ‘on
hold’, as listed in the Annex to these Terms of Reference.
5. The study area will focus on (but should not be limited to) the following routes but
examine the contribution that local measures, adjacent to these routes, can make toward
the study objectives. The study will also examine the role of ports and airports in
meeting the study aims, including their integration with other modes.
Road:
- M4 from Junction 4B (M25) to Junction 20 (Almondsbury)
- M5 from Junction 15 (Almondsbury) to Junction 31 (Exeter)
- M3/A303/A30 from M3 Junction 2 (M25) to Penzance
- A38 from Exeter to Bodmin via Plymouth
Rail:
- London Paddington – Penzance via Bristol and Westbury (both routes)
- London Waterloo – Exeter.
6. The Study will be complementary to the proposed London to Reading multi-modal study and
take account of the overlapping study areas. The London to South West and South Wales
study will consider, at an early stage, the impact on the SW of road/rail congestion
between London and Reading, and make recommendations for the terms of reference and scheme
brief for the London to Reading study, being managed by a steering group led by Government
Office for the South East.
7. Where feasible, the study will reach early conclusions, including the rejection of
unsuitable options, in advance of the overall study completion, in particular in respect
of Dobwalls Bypass.
8. The study will follow the general guidance contained in the Guidance on the Methodology
for Multi-Modal Studies [GOMMMS], published by DETR.
9. The output of the study will:
- Make recommendations on options to the South West Regional Planning Conference for
consideration in drawing up revisions to the RPG/RTS
- Make recommendations to the Secretary of State, Highways Agency, local authorities,
Strategic Rail Authority, Railtrack, transport operators etc about delivery of solutions
through their programmes
- Describe constraints on implementation of any of the options eg resources, timescale.
10. The study duration will be 21 months ie from the appointment of consultants to
completion.
11. The study will be steered by a group chaired by GOSW and including representatives of
SWRPC, SWRDA, Highways Agency, Opraf/Strategic Rail Authority, Regional Chamber/CBI and
the South West Sustainable Development Round Table. Representatives of GOSE and the
National Assembly for Wales will attend as ‘observers’.
12. The management structure for the study will include a number of supporting groups to
allow for the active participation of a wide range of organisations, including local
authorities, user groups, environmental organisations, public transport interests and
business groups.
13. Consultation with the public and a wider range of interest groups will also be
undertaken.
Annex to Terms of Reference
- A30/A303 Marsh – Honiton and A35 Honiton Eastern Bypass
- A38 Dobwalls Bypass
- A38 Saltash – Stoketon Cross Improvement
- A303 Ilminster Bypass Improvement
- A303 Ilminster – Marsh Improvement
- A303 Sparkford – Ilchester Improvement
- A303 Wylye – Stockton Wood Improvement
- A303 Chicklade Bottom – Mere Improvement
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