Event Travel Plan. Poppies: Wave. Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

Transcription

1 Event Travel Plan Poppies: Wave Southend-on-Sea Borough Council

2 1.0 Introduction 1.1 Background Southend-on-Sea has been selected as one of two locations in 2017 to host the Poppies: Wave sculpture as part of the commemorative events around the First World War. The Wave is a sweeping arch of bright red poppy heads suspended on towering stalks. This sculpture, by artist Paul Cummins and designer Tom Piper, marking the centenary of the outbreak of war, is now being brought to audiences at venues across the country by NOW as part of the Poppies tour. As with all NOW projects, the presentation of these sculptures to new audiences across the UK aims to prompt a new, nationwide dialogue around the legacy of the First World War. This breath-taking sculpture was initially conceived as one of the key dramatic sculptural elements in the installation Blood Swept Lands and Seas of Red at the Tower of London in the autumn of Over the course of their time at the Tower, the two sculptures were gradually surrounded by a vast field of ceramic poppies, each one planted by a volunteer in memory of the life of a British and Colonial soldier lost during the First World War. In their original setting they captured the public imagination and were visited by over five million people. The park comprises five core zones: The Poppies: Wave will be sited on Barge Pier in Shoeburyness, a forma MOD structure. Barge Pier is situated on the foreshore at Shoebury Old Ranges, which is no longer used by the MOD and is a residential area and a public park called Gunners Park. The Sculpture will be open to the public from the 12 th April 2017 to 25 th June This Travel Plan is being put in place in advance of the Poppies Wave visit and is a working document that can be adapted and changed as the activities around the sculpture evolve. 1.2 Aim of the travel plan To effectively manage the travel behaviour of visitors to the poppies To manage car parking associated with visitors. To encourage the use of sustainable transport. 1.3 Potential effectiveness of the plan The plan will look at the key travel options for people wishing to visit the Poppies wave: Car Train Bus 2 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

3 Coach Taxi Cycle Walking The plan will also consider the remote nature of Barge Pier. An assessment of anticipated visitor numbers has been undertaken based on visitor numbers at other locations. Previous locations in which the sculpture has been installed have been attractions in their own right, unlike Barge Pier, which is not an attraction and is not promoted as a visitor location. The anticipated visitor numbers and dwell time are as follows: Monday to Friday 1200 visitors per day Saturdays, Sunday and public holidays 1500 people per day. Average dwell time 20 minutes 1.4 Benefits of the plan Minimising the impact on the local area Clear travel information for visitors Enhanced visitor experience Ensure a clear message is provided to visitors Reduce the chance of congestion associated with visitors 2.0 Travel Options 2.1 Car/Motorbike Vehicle route and options for directional signage. Vehicle to be directed in along the A127 to Cuckoo Corner then along Priory Crescent, Eastern Avenue, Royal Artillery Way, Thorpe Hall Avenue, Thorpe Esplanade. Black and yellow event directional signage to be installed from Cuckoo Corner. Signs to meet highways requirements CMS signs along A127 to display message informing people to follow the signs for Poppies: wave Car parking and associated information signage. A number of car parks will be promoted to visitors as follow: Car park 1 Shoebury Common South (250 spaces) Carp park 2 Shoebury Common North (300 spaces) Car park 3 Shoebury East Beach (250 spaces) Car park 4 Thorpe esplanade (250) 3 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

4 In addition to the promoted parking locations, additional parking is available along the Shoebury Common Road. However, visitors will not be directed to this area. The parking available at the designated car parks would be adequate for in excess of the visitors anticipated. Yellow and black event signage will be installed directing drivers to the different car parks. East beach car park will be promoted as a parking location for those who may also want to enjoy a walk along the coast to the Poppies: Wave, experiencing the historic elements of Gunners Park. 2.2 Bus travel. 2.3 Train. The Arriva number 9 is the service with the closest stop to the Poppies: Wave and is the most likely service that will be used by visitors wishing to use the bus. Visitors will be advised to use the Church Road and Ness Road bus stops, depending on direction of travel, where pedestrian signage will direct visitors to the Poppies: Wave. In the lead up to the opening of the Poppies: Wave, additional discussion. will be had with the bus operators in the town about bus travel by people visiting the sculpture. Visitors will be advised that the closest station to the Poppies is Shoeburyness on the C2C line. Pedestrian directional signage to the Poppies: Wave, will be provided from this arrival point. A taxi rank is located at Shoebury station for those wishing to reduce the walk and be dropped off in Gunners Park. Victors who use the Abellio Greater Anglia line and arrive at Southend Victoria will need to make onward travel arrangements to Shoeburyness. The following options will be communicated: Bus. The number 9 bus departs from outside Southend Victoria station. A plus bus train ticket is available for this journey. Train. Southend Central Station is a short walk from Southend Victoria Station and the C2C line can be used for travel to Shoeburyness. Taxi. A taxi rank is sited at Southend Victoria Station. 4 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

5 2.4 Cycle. 2.5 Pedestrians E v e n t T r a v e l P l a n Information about the Poppies Wave and travel options will be provided to train operators. Visitors will be advised to use National Cycle Network route 16 that runs along the seafront. Cycle Southend are currently working on a journey planer which may be in place by April. However, we do not have confirmation at this time. If the journey planner is not in place cyclists wanting assistance in planning their route to view the Poppies Wave will be advised to contact Cycle Southend cyclesouthend@southend.gov.uk, visit or call Temporary cycle parking will be provided as close as possible to Barge Pier. Signage from Shoeburyness Station will direct cyclists to the Poppies: Wave. Cycle hire is available from Southend Central Station. Visitors wishing to use this service will be advised to call or look at A useful travel map can be found at Map-PDF.jpg Pedestrian directional signage will be provided from all official arrival points (Car parks, stations and bus stops). A style of pedestrian signage will be developed for the event. Other than pedestrians arriving at the promoted travel locations, pedestrian visitors are likely to be local people who know the area so no additional information is required. 2.6 Coach drop off and parking. On reaching the Thorpe Hall Avenue Roundabout coaches will be directed on a different route than other vehicles. Coaches will be taken along Bournes Green Chase, North Shoebury Road and Ness Road. Coach drop off and parking will be on Ness Road in existing car parking days.. Yellow and Black event directional signage will be used to direct coaches. 5 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

6 2.7 Taxi A Taxi drop off area will be set out in New Barge Pier Road. Contact details for local taxi companies will be provided at in advanced travel information and onsite. 2.8 Traffic management considerations during the exhibition. The additional traffic associated with the exhibition has been considered. However, due to the use of major roads additional traffic management is not deemed necessary. Further investigation is required on the impact of other events that may take place during the exhibition, especially the raft race which will include a road closure. Works will take place on this during the on-going planning for the poppies: Wave. Due to the level of parking available staffing of the car parks will not be necessary. However, a review of this will take place once the exhibition has been opened. No additional on road parking restrictions are deemed to be necessary. Nevertheless, this will be reviewed once the exhibition has opened and if necessary emergency traffic orders implemented. 2.8 Site Audit Methodology An assessment and planning meeting was undertaken in January 2017 involving relevant sections of the Department for Place. This examined the access routes into Gunners Park and pedestrian routes to Barge Pier. Public transport to this part of Shoeburyness was also considered Site Description The site is located in the Shoeburyness Ward to the east of Southend-on-Sea, Barge Pier is situated on the coastal edge of Gunners Park with no vehicle access for the public. Barge Pier has good access through Gunners Park for pedestrians and cyclists. Barge Pier itself is located in an area of MOD restricted foreshore with no public access. The main entrances to the paths that lead to Barge Pier are: Ness Road New Barge Pier Road Warrior Square Road Mess Road 6 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

7 2.11 Site Operation The park is open access and therefore is open to the public 24 hours a day, 365 days per year. The Poppies: Wave will be viewable at any time. However, promoted visitor hours will be 9:00am till 7:00pm Blue Badge Parking Blue badge parking is to be made available in the short section of Ness Toad leading to the slipway.. This area allows disabled access to all the facilities such as toilets and the paths to Barge Pier. An accessibility statement will be produced for the site to cover the duration of the Poppies: Wave visit. 3.0 Travel Patterns 3.1 Introduction Visitor numbers to Gunners Park are relatively low at this time. However, as the park is becoming more known numbers are increasing. The majority of visitors are local to the site. 3.2 Existing Travel Patterns No survey data is available with regard to visitor numbers or travel patterns. Staff who work around the site have indicated that the peak in visitors is around 6:00am to 8:00am and 5:00pm to 7:00pm. These visitors are predominantly dog walkers. The biggest concentration of visitors is on Saturday mornings when Park Run uses the park and around 100+ runners use the park between 9:00am and 10:00am. The Park Run organisers have been advised of the Poppies Wave installation to ensure that runners are aware of expected increased visitor numbers. 3.3 Predicted Travel Patterns It is envisaged that visitor numbers will be 1200 week days and 1500 weekends and public holidays. Average dwell time for people visiting the sculpture is usually around 20 minutes. It is anticipated that the majority of visitors will come by car or train and that visitor numbers will be spread throughout the day. 7 P a g e V e r s i o n 4

8 4.0 Travel Plan Strategy 4.1 Management The travel plan will be managed initially by Southend-on-Sea Borough Council s Poppies: Project Team. This travel plan has been produced by Paul Jenkinson Parks Technical Officer, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council, in conjunction with the Transport Sections of Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. The information within this travel plan has been assessed by the Poppies Project Team The report has been approved by Scott Dolling, Director of Culture, Tourism and Property, Southend-on-Sea Borough Council. 4.2 Communication Travel advice and information will be provided as part of the overall communication strategy for the Poppies: Wave visit to Southend-on-Sea 8 P a g e V e r s i o n 4