The LCWIP needed to ensure connectivity into Christchurch town, around the surrounding villages and the wider BCP (Bournemouth Christchurch Poole) Council network (including the Local Transport Plan and Local Transport and Connectivity Plan as part of the BCP Council Strategic Active Travel Network).
A stakeholder engagement exercise was needed to allow residents and businesses the opportunity to provide their feedback on the walking and cycling provision, as well as the option to outline any potential active travel schemes and routes that should be investigated as part of the LCWIP.
We were required to gather the necessary information to identify existing walking and cycling patterns and potential new journeys, reviewing current conditions and barriers, as well as related transport and land use policies. We created origin and destination points across the town and mapped out cycle flows to enable improvements to be determined, creating a network of routes.
To effectively plan for future walking and cycling infrastructure, it was essential to analyse existing patterns and potential new journeys using data from sources such as the Cycling Propensity Tool, Datashine (census walking journeys to work), cycle and e-scooter hire providers, Strava, and trip origin and destination evidence.
In addition, we needed to identify key trip generators, core walking zones, and audit existing provision to determine potential improvements to the walking network.
An appraisal framework was developed to assess the identified improvements, with an initial sift conducted based on an agreed criteria with the council. Following the appraisal, a shortlist of LCWIP schemes was agreed upon, with the top three priority schemes developed in further detail. This included utilising the DfT’s Active Mode Appraisal Tool (AMAT).
This enabled our project team to integrate the outputs into the wider BCP Council Strategic Active Travel Network, ensuring coordination with the emerging Neighbourhood Plan for Christchurch.
We undertook a stakeholder engagement exercise to ensure the appraisal criteria and LCWIP schemes were accurate and comprehensive. As part of the stakeholder engagement exercise we held a series of informal drop-in sessions across the town. This was supported by use of our consultation hub, which allowed stakeholders to provide feedback using a mapping function, as well as answering a series of questions on our online survey tool.
The LCWIP has also been a critical inclusion within the wider BCP Council Strategic Active Travel Network, which enables local routes within Christchurch to be linked into wider routes across Bournemouth and Poole as well as surrounding villages.
