The Study
The London to South West and South Wales Multi Modal Study (also known as
"SWARMMS" - South West ARea Multi Modal Study) aims to make recommendations for
a long term strategy to address passenger and freight transport movement needs on the key
transport corridors providing routes between London and the South West of England and
South Wales.
What is it all about?
This study covers a large and diverse area. Economically, it varies from the buoyant
activity along the M4 in Berkshire’s ‘Silicon Valley’ to parts of Cornwall
which are as poor and depressed as anywhere in England. There are many reasons for these
economic differences, and it is a key objective of all the planning agencies in the South
West to improve conditions for the worst affected areas. Reducing social exclusion is very
important to this study.
These differences are illustrated very clearly within the Consultation Draft of the
Revised Regional Strategy for the South West of England. The western part of the region is
categorised as "we need to tackle high unemployment, low wages, declining industries
and remoteness". In contrast, the eastern part requires an approach where "we
need to avoid congestion, overheating of the economy and damage to sensitive
environments".
There will be further pressures in the years ahead. For instance, the South West Region is
growing faster than the national average for both population and household growth. Job
growth rates higher than the national average are also predicted in the region up to 2016.
Berkshire is also experiencing growth, with the Reading/Newbury areas predicted to
increase in both numbers of residents and employment. For example, in the western corridor
of the Thames Valley consents exist for development that could lead to around 100,000
jobs. This area has been identified in SERPLAN (South East Regional Planning) documents as
an Area of Economic Pressure. With most employment growth predicted to occur in existing
employment centres within the Thames Corridor from London to Reading/Newbury, and within
existing urban areas in the South West and South Wales, there will be continued pressure
on transport corridors to service, connect and enable efficient patterns of development.
Significant diversity also exists within the transport sector, both in terms of the
infrastructure provided and the transport conditions which prevail. The M4 and M5 provide
a high level of provision to a consistent standard which links London-Swindon-Bristol and
onwards to Taunton-Exeter. It also provides high quality linkages to other regions,
particularly Wales, the Midlands and beyond. In contrast, the strategic A38 and A30 routes
beyond Exeter towards Penzance are of variable non-motorway standard, the variability
becoming most acute within Cornwall. The A303 route from Exeter towards Andover–M3
has similar characteristics.
Congestion problems also vary significantly. The M4 is particularly susceptible to delays
at peak commuting times, and this is likely to become worse in the future as development
pressure continues along the corridor. The M5 around Bristol and Weston-super-Mare suffers
in a similar fashion, but also experiences significant congestion in the summer months.
The A30, A38 and A303 also experience seasonal congestion, with the latter also having
particular safety concerns along specific sections. Such issues affect both passenger and
freight transport.
Rail services are very frequent along the Bristol-Paddington axis, although there is a
less frequent service on the Bristol-Exeter-Penzance, Waterloo-Exeter, and
Reading-Westbury-Taunton routes. This clearly offers a less attractive service to those
who wish to travel by rail along those routes.
The rail network is also under pressure. Moreover, the opportunities for increasing rail
borne passenger and freight traffic is limited by the capacity available, both in terms of
the infrastructure delivering the pathways and by the availability of rolling stock to
absorb the new traffic demands. There are also proposals for new intermodal interchange
facilities in the Study Area, east of Exeter and east of Swindon being two examples.
The Study Area contains a number of regionally important ports and airports. Some ports
are of national importance, and several have significant expansion plans. There continues
to be strong support in the Study Area for coastal shipping to play a larger role in the
overall transport strategy. In terms of airports, the far south western part of the Study
Area values its air links with elsewhere in the UK and international destinations. Indeed,
the local business community is particularly vociferous in arguing its need. However, the
relatively low density of population is not ideal in maintaining a high provision of
service, either to the South East or into Europe. Indeed, there is competition between
modes for some travel demands, and competition between airports for both the existing air
market and future expansion plans.
From an environmental perspective, the high qualities of landscape and biodiveristy
assets, and cultural heritage of the Study Area are particularly distinctive and important
in a national context and a key resource for the region’s economy. Apart from the
safety, community and access issues in settlements there has also been, through
infrastructure improvement and increasing traffic, a steady deterioration in countryside
quality as environmental character and tranquillity is degraded. This is most obvious at
high profile points like Stonehenge, but also occurs in many more average landscapes.
Hence, whilst the aim of this study is to produce transport proposals for the Study Area,
it must do so with full cognisance of the overall Government framework of environmental,
economic and social objectives. Only then will it be possible to address the
transport-related needs of the region in a fully integrated way.
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How will the Study be done?
The study follows both a ‘top down’ and ‘bottom up’ approach.
The first half of the study period (until May 2001) is mainly concerned
with following a ‘top down’ approach to define a transport Strategy
for the Study Area. During this period progress on the ‘bottom up’
approach in relation to the individual Plans will commence, with the
majority of this work taking place in the second half of the Study (May to
December 2001).
Key tasks of the study include:
- Scoping
- London-Reading
- Participation, Surveys, Modelling and Problem Identification
- Strategy Development and Appraisal
- Strategy Recommendations
- Plan Surveys and Modelling
- Plan Development and Appraisal
- Final Recommendations and Implementation
Scoping
(April-May 2000) – the first period of the study focuses on reviewing
all relevant information for the study and confirming details of the
methodology. For instance, many organisations have undertaken their own
research and/or studies, and produced subsequent plans and programmes
(e.g. Local Transport Plans and those of the transport providers). All
of these will need careful review and understanding.
London-Reading (May-December 2000) – the Study
provides inputs to a future multi-modal study of the London-Reading
corridor, particularly in respect of any problems and issues between
London and Reading that have an impact on routes elsewhere in the study
area.
Participation, Surveys, Modelling and Problem Identification
(May-November 2000) – the main study tasks during 2000 focus on
starting the participation and consultation processes, specifying and
undertaking surveys, constructing a suitable model for strategic
purposes (a ‘Strategy Model’), and identifying transport related
problems in the study area (continuing on from the work started in the
Scoping stage).
Strategy Development and Appraisal (May-June 2001) – having completed the identification of transport-related
problems, and with the benefits of the public participation, new surveys
and a ‘Strategy Model’, it will be possible to identify and appraise
different strategy options. At this stage in the study, it will be
important to establish the extent to which long distance travel
movements are susceptible to change and the magnitude of impact which
such change would have on local transport conditions. This stage will
include participation and consultation on the emerging results.
Strategy Recommendations (May-June 2001) – the
results of the Strategy Appraisal will suggest a way forward for the
study. Once agreed with the Steering Group, the Strategy provides a
framework in which the remainder of the study is undertaken, and in
particular, assists in identifying Plan options for assessment in the
rest of the study period. Around 15 ‘Plans’ are likely to be
identified. These could include, for example, separate Plans around the
main urban areas and/or investigations into the roles individual
transport modes for freight movement.
Plan Surveys, Modelling and Appraisal (May-December 2001) – Having agreed the overall Strategy, work can be focussed on
the development of the Plan options and their appraisal.
Plan Development and Appraisal (July 2001-February
2002) –
each of the Plans will have local objectives defined with reference to
the overall transport Strategy for the Study Area, and a number of
different options identified and assessed. For instance, an example
could be Bristol, with an objective to encourage as much ‘local’
traffic as possible to transfer from the private car to other modes.
Options could include investment in new and/or improved public transport
systems, Park and Ride, road pricing and/or workplace charging, access
control on the M4/M5, and so on. At this stage of the study, there will
be up to 15 different studies running in tandem. This stage will include
participation and consultation on the emerging results.
Final Recommendations and Implementation
(December 2001-February 2002) – each of the Plan areas will have its own
recommendations emerging from the appraisal process. All fifteen would
nest within the overall transport Strategy agreed in January 2000.
Accompanying these recommendations would be an implementation plan,
which would describe the possible timing and phasing of the different
measures, including outline costs and funding opportunities.
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The Study Area
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