Tra40 Park and ride schemes along the M4

10 May 2011

Dear 

Request for Information – Reference 5072

My colleague Paul Witham wrote to you on 21 April following your request for information. In your request you asked for:

1. Details of commissioned studies relating to park and share facilities along the M4, particularly Junction 34.

2. Information on any actions towards park and share facilities that have already been started around Junction 34, which you might benefit from now or in the near future.

3. What priority Welsh Assembly Government rate the provision of park and share facilities at Junction 34 of the M4 in relation to the financial climate, CO2 reduction schemes and other critical strategies.

4. Confirmation as to whether there is a dedicated team focused on achieving recommendation from the Transport Review as published by Andrew Davies.

The information which you requested is as follows:

1. The Welsh Assembly Government, Cardiff Council and the South East Wales Transport Alliance have been engaged in considering park and ride and park and share facilities the South East Wales region. Outline details of these studies are as follows:

a) The City & County of Cardiff:
Greater Cardiff Area Park & Ride Study

Commissioned: September 2003 by Cardiff Council
Completed: June 2004

Scope:  Study undertaken to examine the opportunities for Park and Ride sites to be developed to serve the Greater Cardiff Area on major transport corridors into Cardiff.

b) A470/M4 Park and Ride Study – Phases 1 & 2

Commissioned: Phase1 commissioned in 2003 by Welsh Assembly Government
Completed: January 2006 for Phase 2

Scope:  Study undertaken in two phases to indentify the potential benefits of a Park and Ride facility adjacent to the A470 and M4 and the physical measures that would be required to implement them.  

c) Sewta Park and Share Scoping Study

Commissioned: September 2003 by the South East Wales Transport Alliance (SEWTA)
Completed: September 2005

Scope: Study investigated the feasibility of Park and Share within the South East Wales region including a review of the reasons why people park and share, research into best practice and the establishment of a preliminary estimate of the level of formal and informal park and share facilities within the region.

d) Sewta Park & Share Study Phase 2

Commissioned: October 2006 by SEWTA
Completed: November 2007

Scope:  The study considered potential sites, the work of other related studies, policy aspects and the fit of park and ride/park and share facilities with any new road schemes that may be undertaken within the SEWTA region.

e) Welsh Assembly Government; Cardiff Sustainable Travel Centre, Regional Park & Ride/Park & Share Study.

Commissioned:  March 2010
Completed: August 2010

Scope:  Study commissioned to update previous work into park and ride in light of economic developments that have occurred 2006 and in recognition of the Park & Ride facilities associated infrastructure that has occurred during that time.

2. There have not been any formal park and share facilities developed at Junction 34 of the M4 although options have been studied.

3. The Welsh Assembly Government considers that there may be strategic benefits in locating park and share facilities in the vicinity of Junction 34 although these would need to be compatible with the National and Regional Transport Plans as well as priorities and available budgets going forward.

4. The Transport Review published by Andrew Davies is part of the work of a previous government. That review has been replaced by the National Transport Plan (NTP), the details of which are available on the Welsh Assembly Government’s website.   The department responsible for dealing with the NTP is the Department for the Economy and Transport.

We hold information on the reports listed above although the files are too large to provide you copies by email.  If you were able to provide details of your postal address I could, if you wish, arrange for copies of the reports to be sent to you electronically on CD.

I trust that the information provided fulfils your query.

Any information released under the Freedom of Information Act 2000 or Environmental Information Regulations 2004 will be listed in the Assembly Government’s Disclosure Log (at www.information.wales.gov.uk).

If you believe that I have not followed the relevant laws, or you are unhappy with this response, you may request an internal review by writing to:

Tim James
Deputy Director - Networks & Planning
Department for the Economy & Transport
Welsh Assembly Government
Cathays Park
Cardiff, CF10 3NQ

When dealing with any concerns, we will follow the principles set out in the Assembly Government’s Code of Practice on Complaints which is available on the Internet at www.wales.gov.uk or by post.

You also have the right to complain to the Information Commissioner.  Normally, however, you should pursue the matter through our internal procedure before you complain to the Information Commissioner. The Information Commissioner can be contacted at:

Information Commissioner’s Office
Wycliffe House
Water Lane
Wilmslow
Cheshire
SK9 5AF
Tel: 01625 545 745
Fax: 01625 524 510
Email: casework@ico.gsi.gov.uk

Also, if you think that there has been maladministration in dealing with your request then you may make a complaint to the Public Services Ombudsman for Wales who can be contacted at:

Public Services Ombudsman for Wales
Ffordd yr Hen Gae
Pencoed
Bridgend
CF35 5LJ

Yours sincerely

Vivien Collins
Integrated Transport Division