SCC takes control at Wyndham Park

Somerset County Council has recently taken charge of a travel plan for the new Wyndham Park housing estate in Yeovil.

Yesterday Somerset County Council's Smarter Choices Team met with Barratt's site manager Jason Gower to begin work on a new travel plan scheme, funded by the developers but administered by the Council. Members of the Moving Forward Team (pictured) were given a tour round the site, and analysed local walking, cycling and bus links to and from the development site. The first residents are due to begin moving in during the next week.

L-R, David Mitchell (Cycling Officer), Reggie Tricker (Travel Plan Coordinator), Hannah Fountain (Smarter Choices Team Leader)

The total package of measures is worth £685,000 to the Council, on top of the highways alterations and walking and cycling improvements that the developer has already funded. £500,000 of this is going directly into improving bus services in the area. The rest of the money will be spent ensuring residents are informed about their travel choices and are given incentives to think about how they travel, to minimise the increase in traffic in the local area and to help them live healthier lives. The developer also has commitments to install cycle parking and home office space to meet with the Code for Sustainable Homes.

This scheme is a long-term project which will ulmimately cover nearly 800 houses plus a new school. There is a plan which sets out what must be delivered, with other ideas coming forward including a community electric bike scheme (to assist residents with the hills in Yeovil!), better bus information and personal travel plans for individual local workplaces. An initial website has already been put together and this will be developed in the coming months.