Agenda item

To consider the following Notice of Motion, submitted by Councillor Claire Vickers in accordance with Rule 4a.26 of the Council’s Constitution:

 

“Motion in support of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham and the maintenance of rail services at Littlehaven Halt”.

 

Background Summary

1.     Two new rail stations are proposed between Littlehaven and Ifield stations, on the railway line between Horsham and Crawley. Both proposed stations are within Horsham District. One is at Kilnwood Vale adjacent to the district’s boundary with Crawley and the other is a “Parkway” station on the Land North of Horsham development. Business cases have been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by the developers of both these sites.  The DfT has however indicated that only one new station could be allowed and this would require the closure of Faygate station. The final decision lies with Network Rail and the  DFT.

2.     On 19 July 2017, Crawley Borough Council (CBC) passed a notice of motion to adopt a formal position of support for the construction of a new railway station at Kilnwood Vale. CBC agreed to write to Network Rail to make a formal submission in support of Kilnwood Vale and to WSCC requesting that it also adopts a position of support for this site.

3.     Both developments are located within Horsham District and so the Council is informing the DfT, before it  makes a decision, which option it believes would bring the greater benefits.

4.     Where  to locate something as important to the population and the district as  a new railway  station is very much a  decision that has long term implications. It is clearly important therefore to look at a minimum 7-10 year and beyond  horizon and try to judge the long term difference the geographical position  of a new station would make  based on a number of factors a) the future predicted homes numbers  and businesses within reasonable distance likely to use a station b) ease of access c) parking availability d) the effect on existing rail station provision.

 

a) The immediate potential catchment would be:

 

For Horsham Parkway

Land West of Horsham, Broadbridge Heath, Southwater, land North of Horsham (both residential & business park), existing residents in northern Horsham and along the A264 to the west of Crawley.

 

For Kilnwood Vale

The Kilnwood Vale development itself, existing and future residents in western Crawley and north Horsham.

 

b) ease of access:

Both stations would be reached from the A264. Horsham Parkway access would be located immediately off the road close to its roundabout junction with A24 and attract commuters off the A264 at an earlier point than Kilnwood Vale which is approximately 4 miles further along the road and where access to a station would be through roads that serve residential areas.

 

c) Parking availability

Parkway would have 600 places and Kilnwood Vale 200 places.

 

d) Existing stations

In June 2014 Network Rail completed a project costing £4.5m improving Littlehaven Halt station and extending the platforms allowing longer 8 carriage trains to stop there. Network Rail will want to realise the value of such a large investment and not damage it by reducing services. Usage numbers for Littlehaven (entry/exit) were 33,817 in 2015; 34,604 for 2014 and 35,746 for 2013. There are however significant parking problems at Littlehaven, particularly along Rusper Rd, which in the absence of a new Parkway station would be greatly exacerbated. A Parkway station is likely to reduce pressure on the current limited parking places at Littlehaven, Christ’s Hospital and Horsham town station and reduce peak time traffic going through the town.

 

Further details

 

1. A new station at either proposed location would mean the closure of Faygate station. Faygate is a village approximately 4 miles north east of Horsham town and 3.5 miles south west of Crawley, to the immediate north of the A264.  It has a population of around 1,200 people.  Faygate station is on the Arun Valley Line, which links London (Victoria) with Portsmouth.  It has five direct services to London Victoria on a weekday, although passengers are able to change at Horsham or Gatwick Airport for a more regular service to London Victoria, and for services to London Bridge.  The Annual Usage Figures from National Rail indicate that in 2015 there were a total of 1,617 entry/exits at Faygate station (an average of 32 per week),

 

2. Horsham Parkway station would be located within the land north of Horsham development, allocated in the Horsham District Planning Framework 2015. The scheme would comprise a two-platform railway station capable of accommodating 12-carriage trains with footbridge and passenger lifts on the Horsham to Crawley line, a bus interchange, short stay car park/drop off area and a 600-space Parkway facility. The Council has granted outline planning permission for the whole development, including the station, subject to the completion of a s106 (which is currently being negotiated and is expected to be completed shortly)

 

Kilnwood Vale Station would be situated inside the Kilnwood Vale development west of Crawley (but within Horsham District). This strategic development site was identified in the Horsham District Core Strategy 2007 and allocated in the West of Bewbush Joint Area Action Plan in 2009. The Kilnwood Vale development is being built in phases with outline permission including a new station but no specific details of this have been issued.

 

Network Rail has agreed with the assumptions made in the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the Parkway station. The SOBC shows that around 645,000 trips each year would be made to/from the Parkway station based on a projected 2 per hour each way (4 at peak times) service.  This compares with 386,000 trips at Kilnwood Vale if the platform length and the service level was the same.

 

Council notes that the North Horsham Parkway Station would:

·        Help promote economic growth in Horsham and the surrounding area and support the success and pace of delivery of the 0.5 million sq.ft. business park, which has the potential to create around 4000 jobs;

·        be an attractive facility for residents of the 2,750 homes allocated on the site, which will increase the desirability of the development and speed up delivery;

·        provide 600 car parking spaces which will relieve pressures on parking at Horsham station and Littlehaven, where car parking is currently at capacity with little to no land available for expansion;

·        increase car parking for rail access for both existing residents of the District and to help meet the needs of the other committed and planned developments in and around Horsham;

·        give many more commuters an alternative sustainable mode of transport other than by car for journeys to Crawley, Gatwick, and the Sussex Coast thereby taking pressure off the road network;

·        reduce traffic congestion on access roads into Horsham as it will be easier to access the station at north Horsham by car, straight off the main road;

·        allow WSCC to look at limiting the on-street parking on Rusper Road and surrounding streets, currently caused by commuters using  Littlehaven Station.

·        free space on Rusper Road currently used as commuter parking and would allow the delivery of this section of the Crawley-Horsham strategic cycle route; 

·        free up car parking within the town centre for other users and provide additional economic benefit, rather than being used by commuters to park all day; and

·        allow the closure of the level crossing at Wimlands Road with the provision of a new access road.

 

Conclusion:

The combination of  a) North Horsham's 2,750 houses, business park and 600 space car park b) the current lack of commuter parking close to Horsham, Littlehaven Halt and Christ's Hospital stations is likely to get worse as more housing developments are built and c) Parkway's location adjacent to the residential areas from Southwater northwards up the A24 as well as near the A264, would make a new station at Parkway a far better business opportunity than Kilnwood Vale for Network Rail and bring the greatest benefit to the public and the district.

 

The Council resolves:

1.     To adopt a formal position of support in favour of the construction of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham for the reasons given in this document.

2.     To write to Network Rail and make formal submissions in support of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham and seeking reassurances about the protection of services to and from Littlehaven.

3.     To write to the Leader of West Sussex County Council seeking the County Council’s support for a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham.

 

(Councillors Andrew Baldwin, Liz Kitchen, Paul Marshall and Christian Mitchell all declared personal interests in this item, by virtue of them also being Members of West Sussex County Council.

 

Ann-Maria Brown, Interim Monitoring Officer declared an interest in this item as she was an officer of Crawley Borough Council and had been in attendance at a meeting of that Council when a motion supporting a new railway station at Kilnwood Vale had been considered.  She withdrew from the meeting for the consideration of the item.)

 

A member of the public addressed the Council in opposition to the notice of motion.

 

The following Motion, of which notice had been given in accordance with Rule 4a.26 of the Council’s Constitution, was then moved by Councillor Claire Vickers and seconded by Councillor Paul Clarke:

 

“Motion in support of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham and the maintenance of rail services at Littlehaven Halt”.

 

Background Summary

1.     Two new rail stations are proposed between Littlehaven and Ifield stations, on the railway line between Horsham and Crawley.  Both proposed stations are within Horsham District.  One is at Kilnwood Vale adjacent to the district’s boundary with Crawley and the other is a “Parkway” station on the Land North of Horsham development.  Business cases have been submitted to the Department for Transport (DfT) by the developers of both these sites.  The DfT has however indicated that only one new station could be allowed and this would require the closure of Faygate station. The final decision lies with Network Rail and the DFT.

2.     On 19 July 2017, Crawley Borough Council (CBC) passed a notice of motion to adopt a formal position of support for the construction of a new railway station at Kilnwood Vale.  CBC agreed to write to Network Rail to make a formal submission in support of Kilnwood Vale and to WSCC requesting that it also adopts a position of support for this site.

3.     Both developments are located within Horsham District and so the Council is informing the DfT, before it makes a decision, which option it believes would bring the greater benefits.

4.     Where to locate something as important to the population and the district as a new railway station is very much a decision that has long term implications.  It is clearly important therefore to look at a minimum 7-10 year and beyond horizon and try to judge the long term difference the geographical position of a new station would make based on a number of factors a) the future predicted homes numbers and businesses within reasonable distance likely to use a station b) ease of access c) parking availability d) the effect on existing rail station provision.

 

a) The immediate potential catchment would be:

 

For Horsham Parkway

Land West of Horsham, Broadbridge Heath, Southwater, land North of Horsham (both residential & business park), existing residents in northern Horsham and along the A264 to the west of Crawley.

 

For Kilnwood Vale

The Kilnwood Vale development itself, existing and future residents in western Crawley and north Horsham.

 

b) Ease of access:

Both stations would be reached from the A264.  Horsham Parkway access would be located immediately off the road close to its roundabout junction with A24 and attract commuters off the A264 at an earlier point than Kilnwood Vale which is approximately 4 miles further along the road and where access to a station would be through roads that serve residential areas.

 

c) Parking availability

Parkway would have 600 places and Kilnwood Vale 200 places.

 

d) Existing stations

In June 2014 Network Rail completed a project costing £4.5m improving Littlehaven Halt station and extending the platforms allowing longer 8 carriage trains to stop there.  Network Rail will want to realise the value of such a large investment and not damage it by reducing services.  Usage numbers for Littlehaven (entry/exit) were 33,817 in 2015; 34,604 for 2014 and 35,746 for 2013.  There are however significant parking problems at Littlehaven, particularly along Rusper Rd, which in the absence of a new Parkway station would be greatly exacerbated.  A Parkway station is likely to reduce pressure on the current limited parking places at Littlehaven, Christ’s Hospital and Horsham town station and reduce peak time traffic going through the town.

 

Further details:

 

1. A new station at either proposed location would mean the closure of Faygate station.  Faygate is a village approximately 4 miles north east of Horsham town and 3.5 miles south west of Crawley, to the immediate north of the A264.  It has a population of around 1,200 people.  Faygate station is on the Arun Valley Line, which links London (Victoria) with Portsmouth.  It has five direct services to London Victoria on a weekday, although passengers are able to change at Horsham or Gatwick Airport for a more regular service to London Victoria, and for services to London Bridge.  The Annual Usage Figures from National Rail indicate that in 2015 there were a total of 1,617 entry/exits at Faygate station (an average of 32 per week).

 

2. Horsham Parkway station would be located within the land north of Horsham development, allocated in the Horsham District Planning Framework 2015.  The scheme would comprise a two-platform railway station capable of accommodating 12-carriage trains with footbridge and passenger lifts on the Horsham to Crawley line, a bus interchange, short stay car park/drop off area and a 600-space Parkway facility.  The Council has granted outline planning permission for the whole development, including the station, subject to the completion of a s106 agreement (which is currently being negotiated and is expected to be completed shortly).

 

Kilnwood Vale Station would be situated inside the Kilnwood Vale development west of Crawley (but within Horsham District).  This strategic development site was identified in the Horsham District Core Strategy 2007 and allocated in the West of Bewbush Joint Area Action Plan in 2009.  The Kilnwood Vale development is being built in phases with outline permission including a new station but no specific details of this have been issued.

 

Network Rail has agreed with the assumptions made in the Strategic Outline Business Case (SOBC) for the Parkway station.  The SOBC shows that around 645,000 trips each year would be made to/from the Parkway station based on a projected 2 per hour each way (4 at peak times) service.  This compares with 386,000 trips at Kilnwood Vale if the platform length and the service level was the same.

 

Council notes that the North Horsham Parkway Station would:

·        Help promote economic growth in Horsham and the surrounding area and support the success and pace of delivery of the 0.5 million sq.ft. business park, which has the potential to create around 4000 jobs;

·        be an attractive facility for residents of the 2,750 homes allocated on the site, which will increase the desirability of the development and speed up delivery;

·        provide 600 car parking spaces which will relieve pressures on parking at Horsham station and Littlehaven, where car parking is currently at capacity with little to no land available for expansion;

·        increase car parking for rail access for both existing residents of the District and to help meet the needs of the other committed and planned developments in and around Horsham;

·        give many more commuters an alternative sustainable mode of transport other than by car for journeys to Crawley, Gatwick, and the Sussex Coast thereby taking pressure off the road network;

·        reduce traffic congestion on access roads into Horsham as it will be easier to access the station at north Horsham by car, straight off the main road;

·        allow WSCC to look at limiting the on-street parking on Rusper Road and surrounding streets, currently caused by commuters using  Littlehaven Station;

·        free space on Rusper Road currently used as commuter parking and would allow the delivery of this section of the Crawley-Horsham strategic cycle route; 

·        free up car parking within the town centre for other users and provide additional economic benefit, rather than being used by commuters to park all day; and

·        allow the closure of the level crossing at Wimlands Road with the provision of a new access road.

 

Conclusion:

The combination of  a) North Horsham's 2,750 houses, business park and 600 space car park b) the current lack of commuter parking close to Horsham, Littlehaven Halt and Christ's Hospital stations is likely to get worse as more housing developments are built and c) Parkway's location adjacent to the residential areas from Southwater northwards up the A24 as well as near the A264, would make a new station at Parkway a far better business opportunity than Kilnwood Vale for Network Rail and bring the greatest benefit to the public and the district.

 

I therefore move that the Council resolves:

 

1.     To adopt a formal position of support in favour of the construction of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham for the reasons given above.

2.     To write to Network Rail and make formal submissions in support of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham and seeking reassurances about the protection of services to and from Littlehaven.

3.     To write to the Leader of West Sussex County Council seeking the County Council’s support for a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham.”

 

Members debated the motion with particular reference to the merits of either a new Horsham Parkway station or a new station at Kilnwood Vale and the need to protect the existing services at Littlehaven Station.

 

Councillor Claire Vickers, with the consent of the seconder Councillor Paul Clarke and the meeting, indicated that she wished to alter the motion by inserting the word “existing” before “services” in the second part of the proposed resolution.  This therefore became the substantive motion.

 

In accordance with Rule 4a.31 (d) of the Council’s Constitution, it was requested that the voting in respect of the motion should be recorded.

 

The voting was as follows:

 

FOR THE MOTION   Councillors: Toni Bradnum, Karen Burgess, Peter Burgess, Jonathan Chowen, Philip Circus, Paul Clarke, Roger Clarke, David Coldwell, Roy Cornell, Ray Dawe, Brian Donnelly, Billy Greening, Tony Hogben, Nigel Jupp, Adrian Lee, Gordon Lindsay, Paul Marshall, Mike Morgan, Brian O’Connell, Kate Rowbottom, Jim Sanson, Claire Vickers, Michael Willett, Tricia Youtan

 

AGAINST THE MOTION    Councillors: Andrew Baldwin, Leonard Crosbie, David Jenkins, Liz Kitchen, Christian Mitchell, Godfrey Newman, David Skipp

 

ABSTAINED   None  

 

ABSENT    Councillors: John Bailey, John Blackall, Alan Britten, John Chidlow, Christine Costin, Jonathan Dancer, Matthew French, Tim Lloyd, Josh Murphy, Connor Relleen, Stuart Ritchie, Ben Staines, Simon Torn 

 

The motion was therefore declared CARRIED and it was: 

 

            RESOLVED

 

            That the Council:

 

1.         Adopts a formal position of support in favour of the construction of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham for the reasons set out in the notice of motion.

 

2.         Writes to Network Rail and makes formal submissions in support of a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham and seeking reassurances about the protection of existing services to and from Littlehaven.

 

3.         Writes to the Leader of West Sussex County Council seeking the County Council’s support for a new Horsham Parkway railway station at land north of Horsham.