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£18 million bid on Olympic transport
AN £18 MILLION bid to help people in Weymouth and Portland breathe more easily and let buses take the strain during the 2012 Olympics is under way.
Dorset County Council is launching a roadshow this autumn so people can have their say on measures designed to improve public transport, tackle congestion and reduce delays.
The council aims to submit a business case to the government by Christmas to support a £18 million funding bid.
It proposes to have the measures in place in three years' time when Olympic tests events will be held in the borough.
While acknowledging that Weymouth's air quality is far better than London or Beijing's, officers will concentrate their efforts on improving King Street and Boot Hill, two of the most clogged-up corridors in Dorset.
They want to make it easier for buses to operate in the town, ease congestion and improve air quality.
Plans include improving junctions at hotspots, intelligent' use of traffic signals, introducing new technology such as real time' passenger information on display screens at bus stops, and sending data to mobile phones.
There is also a proposal to remodel the area around Weymouth train station to create a bus-rail interchange.
David Beaman, director of the Portland-based bus firm Sureline, has been calling for improved access to the rail station for years. The existing road layout prevents it from operating a full service out of the station.
Mr Beaman welcomes the bus-rail interchange and also revealed that his company was investigating operating electric buses in the borough in time for the Olympics.
"It's very early stages and discussions are ongoing but obviously it's an exciting development," Mr Beaman said.
The First bus company is also investigating greener options for vehicles as part of its own climate change strategy.
It has conducted trials of electro-diesel hybrid engines in the past, and last month introduced seven new generation vehicles to operate the X53 Jurassic Coast route.
A spokesman said: "We are always looking at ways to improve our business, and when opportunities arise to look at new technologies, we do embrace them."
The county council says it is important that people contribute their ideas so it can make the best bid possible to the Department for Transport.
Regional government has indicated that £18 million could be available for 2012 improvements but the county must submit a business case to support the package.
Regional spokesman for the Campaign for Better Transport David Redgewell welcomed the measures but said it was unfortunate that it took the Olympics to prompt the authority to act.
While there had been some improvements, Mr Redgewell claimed the current public transport system in the borough was worse than Romania'.
He called for park and ride sites to be set up and improvements to bus services running to towns like Yeovil, Blandford, Salisbury and Poole.
Mr Redgewell added that his group would be vehemently opposing the closure of the section of the Weymouth Harbour Tramway which is needed for the Pavilion redevelopment.
He said: "We believe this line has a future and would help to keep the Channel Island ferry link.
"There needs to be better links to the ferries and we believe the Parry People Mover light rail system operating in the West Midlands which is fully supported by the government would be ideal for the tramway."
10:24am Tuesday 26th August 2008
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CommentPosted by: Voice Of Reason, Weymouth on 12:10pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Make bus travel cheaper. Currently, a day ticket costs £2.40 for those over 13. So for a family of 4, it would cost £9.60 per day. This is incredibly expensive, and it is actually cheaper to drive to Weymouth, park on the outskirts for free, and then drive home. Congestion and pollution will never be reduced whilst it is cheaper (and more convenient) to drive. Buses in Weymouth are generally old and dirty. They also need to look at the times- after 6pm, the buses leaving the statue run every half an hour to Littlemoor/Upwey/Dor
chester- if you leave work late, you've had it.
Make bus travel cheaper. Currently, a day ticket costs £2.40 for those over 13. So for a family of 4, it would cost £9.60 per day. This is incredibly expensive, and it is actually cheaper to drive to Weymouth, park on the outskirts for free, and then drive home. Congestion and pollution will never be reduced whilst it is cheaper (and more convenient) to drive. Buses in Weymouth are generally old and dirty. They also need to look at the times- after 6pm, the buses leaving the statue run every half an hour to Littlemoor/Upwey/Dor
chester- if you leave work late, you've had it.
Posted by: Ian Coleman, westham on 4:50pm Tue 26 Aug 08
being a transport manager and also having been involvedfor 10 yeard with alternative fuels for commercial vehicles the are several optins open to the bus company's. the have the choice of natiral gas or they can go down the ethanol line there are at least 2 manufacturers that have is option on there engine list.
being a transport manager and also having been involvedfor 10 yeard with alternative fuels for commercial vehicles the are several optins open to the bus company's. the have the choice of natiral gas or they can go down the ethanol line there are at least 2 manufacturers that have is option on there engine list.
Posted by: pp, Portland on 4:55pm Tue 26 Aug 08
A bus stop at the railway station? Some sense at last!
A bus stop at the railway station? Some sense at last!
Posted by: tiger, preston on 5:41pm Tue 26 Aug 08
[quote]Dorset County Council is launching a roadshow this autumn so people can have their say on measures designed to improve public transport, tackle congestion and reduce delays.[/quote]
They've probably made up their minds already, and like W & P do not intend to listen to the general public's views however sensible they are.
Dorset County Council is launching a roadshow this autumn so people can have their say on measures designed to improve public transport, tackle congestion and reduce delays.
They've probably made up their minds already, and like W & P do not intend to listen to the general public's views however sensible they are.
Posted by: tiger, preston on 5:42pm Tue 26 Aug 08
[quote]Dorset County Council is launching a roadshow this autumn so people can have their say on measures designed to improve public transport, tackle congestion and reduce delays.[/quote]
They've probably made up their minds already, and like W & P do not intend to listen to the general public's views however sensible they are.
Dorset County Council is launching a roadshow this autumn so people can have their say on measures designed to improve public transport, tackle congestion and reduce delays.
They've probably made up their minds already, and like W & P do not intend to listen to the general public's views however sensible they are.
Posted by: Paul, Weymouth on 6:02pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Sounds like the council passing the buck to me. Totally agree we need to do soemthing, but we are ALEADY getting to the stage when its going to be TOO LATE. Did anyone think to ask, what happens if the bid is rejected? Why didn't the Echo reporter Martyn Lea, ask these kinds of questions? Are we all supposed to believe that 18 million pounds is going to come our way, and BINGO all our problems will be over? Are we supposed to believe that a MOBILE TEXT SERVICE is going to help! This is a major traffic problem, that needs radical action.
Ironic that one of the most "clogged up areas in Dorset" is Boot Hill, and a perfectly good plan to move ASDA was rejected just over 2 years ago. Rejected on a couple of very wishy washy reasons by an inspector looking at the Wessex Stadium area. To solve this problem is not going to be easy but we need to get a move on, because if this 18 million does not get approved, WHERE do we go then?
The facilities in Portland are the best in the country, you can even feel the lift in the country with the fantastic results from Beijing. Lets hope its NOT the roads of Weymouth that get the headlines, because right now, its certainly looking like it that is going to be the way.
Sounds like the council passing the buck to me. Totally agree we need to do soemthing, but we are ALEADY getting to the stage when its going to be TOO LATE. Did anyone think to ask, what happens if the bid is rejected? Why didn't the Echo reporter Martyn Lea, ask these kinds of questions? Are we all supposed to believe that 18 million pounds is going to come our way, and BINGO all our problems will be over? Are we supposed to believe that a MOBILE TEXT SERVICE is going to help! This is a major traffic problem, that needs radical action.
Ironic that one of the most "clogged up areas in Dorset" is Boot Hill, and a perfectly good plan to move ASDA was rejected just over 2 years ago. Rejected on a couple of very wishy washy reasons by an inspector looking at the Wessex Stadium area. To solve this problem is not going to be easy but we need to get a move on, because if this 18 million does not get approved, WHERE do we go then?
The facilities in Portland are the best in the country, you can even feel the lift in the country with the fantastic results from Beijing. Lets hope its NOT the roads of Weymouth that get the headlines, because right now, its certainly looking like it that is going to be the way.
Posted by: maximus, Weymouth on 6:16pm Tue 26 Aug 08
[quote]Parry People Mover light rail system operating in the West Midlands which is fully supported by the government would be ideal for the tramway[/quote] Come on, Weymouth is a relatively small town compared to some of those in the Midlands that have these light railway systems. To put in a railway system around and through this town and peripheral communities could cost huge amounts of money which is currently in short supply - unless the Campaign for Better Transport and David Redgewell can provide it from their own, not the taxpayers pockets. If any new transport system in Weymouth is really viable, then commercial companies will be falling over themselves to implement it. I haven't heard of any such companies.
Parry People Mover light rail system operating in the West Midlands which is fully supported by the government would be ideal for the tramway
Come on, Weymouth is a relatively small town compared to some of those in the Midlands that have these light railway systems. To put in a railway system around and through this town and peripheral communities could cost huge amounts of money which is currently in short supply - unless the Campaign for Better Transport and David Redgewell can provide it from their own, not the taxpayers pockets. If any new transport system in Weymouth is really viable, then commercial companies will be falling over themselves to implement it. I haven't heard of any such companies.
Posted by: John Holmes, Weymouth on 6:20pm Tue 26 Aug 08
Paul, you are spot on Sir! This is an inadequate infrastructure problem - a problem that has been around for many, many years - but has been ignored or derailed by do-gooders.
Paul, you are spot on Sir! This is an inadequate infrastructure problem - a problem that has been around for many, many years - but has been ignored or derailed by do-gooders.
Posted by: yogi, weymouth on 9:15pm Tue 26 Aug 08
why not move the railway station to where new look is by the manor roundabout and use what will be the old railway lines as a route into town,maybe just for buses, taxi and goods vehicles in and out of town.
Just an idea.
why not move the railway station to where new look is by the manor roundabout and use what will be the old railway lines as a route into town,maybe just for buses, taxi and goods vehicles in and out of town.
Just an idea.
Posted by: fergus, Weymouth on 11:57pm Tue 26 Aug 08
[quote][bold]yogi[/bold] wrote:
why not move the railway station to where new look is by the manor roundabout and use what will be the old railway lines as a route into town,maybe just for buses, taxi and goods vehicles in and out of town. Just an idea.[/quote] Excellent idea Yogi. Only problem is that the Relief Road approaches will take up all that spare space near the Manor Roundabout on the New Look side. Some of us have been crying out to DCC and the DfT for a station at that point together with a large park and ride, instead of the relief road. Unfortunately the majority in Weymouth are fixated on the relief road and have no interest in the trains at all.
yogi wrote:
why not move the railway station to where new look is by the manor roundabout and use what will be the old railway lines as a route into town,maybe just for buses, taxi and goods vehicles in and out of town. Just an idea.
Excellent idea Yogi. Only problem is that the Relief Road approaches will take up all that spare space near the Manor Roundabout on the New Look side. Some of us have been crying out to DCC and the DfT for a station at that point together with a large park and ride, instead of the relief road. Unfortunately the majority in Weymouth are fixated on the relief road and have no interest in the trains at all.
Posted by: Ask Archie, Weymouth on 9:24am Wed 27 Aug 08
[quote][bold]pp[/bold] wrote:
A bus stop at the railway station? Some sense at last![/quote] There has been a bus stop and a bus service to/from the railway station for ages thanks to Mr Beaman's "Sureline"
pp wrote:
A bus stop at the railway station? Some sense at last!
There has been a bus stop and a bus service to/from the railway station for ages thanks to Mr Beaman's "Sureline"
Posted by: weymouthfox, Weymouth on 11:06pm Wed 27 Aug 08
Here comes another consultation! Many people won't bother to comment as the council doesn't take any notice of what the ordinary people think anyway.
Here comes another consultation! Many people won't bother to comment as the council doesn't take any notice of what the ordinary people think anyway.
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