Completion of the Park & RideLast revised 14th January, 2004Congratulations, at the end of March, 2006 the Park & Ride opened on-time & on-budget.
The Bus-Lane from the Fire Station Roundabout at Great Baddow to the Army & Navy Roundabout had been created some time before and was being used by Taxis, much to the envy of the car drivers stuck in a jam!
The first 3 weeks were free and after that £1.50 for the return journey.
The car park was well used although very few people had parked in the Disabled slots of which there seemed too many.Having left the Sandon Park & Ride Centre the next stop is by the car park in Parkway serving Moulsham Street.
Photograph of the next new black Bus Stops, this one outside the Army Recruiting Offices in Duke Street and serves the Railway Station. Next at the back of Marks & Spenser, then just up from Rayleigh HiFi in Parkway. Next stop back at the Sandon Park & Ride.
The black buses are ex-airport buses so have very little in the way of springs! They will be replaced by the Borough Council at some time in the near future.
At the Exhibition in November, it was suggested that the Car Park should be built for 900 cars instead of the 600 which has now been built. Problem at the end of May is that the Car Park is usually totally full by 9.30am. This is also backed up by reports of free spaces in the normal Car Parks in the centre of Chelmsford.
On 13 & 14th November, 2004 the Borough Council held an Exhibition about the Park & Ride scheme in Christchurch, London Road.
This is a potted report of what was seen with comments to assist one to follow what is, and is not happening.This Scheme got Planning Approval by CBC on 11 January 2005.
If you feel you can add more comment, please contact the Danbury Society & tell us. Thanks.
The Council surveys indicate that the centre of Chelmsford is clogging with traffic. To attempt to reduce this they have come up with the first of 4 Park & Ride schemes similar to Oxford & Cambridge.
This is to be built on land at the junction of the A414 & the A12 where the White House Farm used to stand.
The opening date for the scheme is expected to be Spring 2006.
Council picture of the A130 Great Baddow Bypass stationary traffic. This occurs at peak times & sometimes just after the one way Fly-Over has switched.
The Key Aims of the scheme is to:-
Contribute to the reduction of congestion in the Town Centre and on the immediate approach roads during the peak times.Increase the attractiveness of the Town to shoppers and Visitors by helping to improve the environment, minimise the impact of traffic in the town, improve the air quality and creat safer roads.
These sound a bit like a typical "cure all".
Council Plan of where it will be located & where the Bus Route to Chelmsford will go. Note the new Bus-Lane (in red) along the A1114, Great Baddow Bypass, Westbound.
Council close up of the location of the scheme. The A12 runs from top to bottom. The Danbury Society wonders if the scheme has taken into account of the A12 to M12 upgrade, scheduled in a few years. Also the 2 roundabouts which straddle the A12 are rated at 60 MPH as is the stretch of road to Molrams Lane. The Danbury Society feels that all of this area should be 40 or even 30 MPH.
Close up of the layout of the proposed Car Park.600 cars spaces are allocated to start with - expansion to 850 is allowed for. It begs the question - why not provide for this quantity to begin with rather than dig it up at a later date.
Security for the parked cars will be by CCTV Cameras.
Talking & listening to the comments it became clear that the Council are aiming to encourage people who service the Town to "Park & Ride".
If this means that the Council's own car parks are turned over to shoppers then it will be a very good thing. It will bring in real revenue both from the £2.00 which each Council Employee will pay to "Park & Ride" and the extra revenue brought in from charging commuters & shoppers.
The Danbury Society consider that Commuters who travel early or late will never use the "Park & Ride" as it operates from 7 AM to 7 PM. This always be amended - by pressure?.
The provision of another Rail Station towards Boreham should still be activity persuaded for Commuters as Chelmsford is mainly a Commuting Town.
The use for Coach Companies for typically trips to London is to be encouraged.
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