'My Journey' travelling to Aldershot Railway Station

Friday, 22 March 2013

Plans for measures that will help local residents in Aldershot get to the railway station more easily on foot, by bicycle or bus are set to be considered by Hampshire County Council.

The Aldershot Railway Station Travel Plan is one of six station travel plans to be funded from part of the £4.1 million of Local Sustainable Transport Fund bid, awarded by the Department for Transport to the County Council for the 'My Journey' campaign - being rolled out across six Hampshire towns (Aldershot, Andover, Basingstoke, Farnborough, Fleet and Winchester).

The objectives of the Government's fund are to reduce congestion at peak times, and to reduce carbon and greenhouse gas emissions. These objectives will be met at a local level, through 'My Journey' initiatives to encourage less use of the private car and a more active lifestyle by encouraging walking, cycling, use of public transport or car sharing to travel around, particularly for local journeys.

The plan complements the Aldershot Town Access Plan and, if approved at the Environment and Transport Decision Day on 2 April, it will help to inform planning and investment decisions for local transport infrastructure. Plans include a programme of actions to increase the number of people walking, cycling, taking the bus or car sharing to get to the station. Proposed measures include developing improved pedestrian and cycle routes to the station and offering 'Dr Bike' cycle maintenance sessions to commuters who cycle to the station. The implementation of most of the measures detailed in the plan is subject to further funding becoming available.

In developing the plan, approximately 800 surveys were distributed to rail passengers at the station. Of these, 151 were returned by post and 53 people returned their responses online. As part of the consultation, rail users' starting point for their journey was mapped to inform the study and provide a better understanding of where people are travelling to the station from, how they get to the station and the route that they take.

Local councillors, South West Trains, Network Rail and local bus operator, Stagecoach were also consulted and contributed to the final draft Station Travel Plan to be considered for approval. Councillor Mel Kendal, Deputy Leader and Executive Member for Environment and Transport said: "Station travel plans help to contribute to improving and expanding the travel choices for people getting to the station by helping to ensure practical measures are delivered.

"Many people are beginning to consider the money-saving advantages of walking, cycling or using the bus, not to mention the health benefits. 'My Journey' is all about making it easier for people to work out whether their local journey in their own car could be made as conveniently by bus, bike or by car sharing instead. In deciding whether to approve the Aldershot Railway Station Travel Plan, I will want to be assured that Aldershot's plan fully addresses local issues."

• Aldershot Railway Station Travel Plan

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