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The survey was carried out from Friday 17th May – Friday 24th May 2013.
Members that attended the warehouse fitness facility in those 7 days was asked how they travelled to / arrived that day.
To ascertain the pattern of how current users arrived at the gym to assess the impact upon / traffic generated.
Members of the gym filled the “tick box” questionnaire in reception. Parking and traffic was monitored on Westmoreland road and Demense road. It should be noted that whilst Westmorland road is a significant road – it is not primary. Also Demense road is designated as one way and has a 20mph speed limit.
The survey received 133 responses over the 7 day period (including the weekend). These responses can be defined in 4 distinct time period blocks.
In time block 1 – total 33 – 15 walked 11 drove and parked near 7 shared a car / lift
In time block 2 – total 37 – 29 walked (lunchtime from work) 2 walked (not work related) 5 drove and parked near 1 shared a lift
In time block 3 – total 44 21 walked (on the way home from work) 1 walked (not work related) 21 drove and parked near 1 shared a car.
In time block 4 – total 19 5 walked (not work related) 14 drove and parked near.
Project - Proposed gym extension & Day care nursery Project ref - PTA 102 Element of work - Traffic study results and traffic management proposals
To further analyse this it is clear that the main time for car use / local parking is in the "off-peak" times (time blocks 3 and 4). In the case of time block 3 it was found more specifically after 6pm (a class starts at 6-15pm). Time block 4 during none commuter times allowed users the benefit of the quieter gym times but also the quieter parking times in the 2 hour zones, that appeared to cope well with demand.
It was shown that a large percentage of users walked either on the way to or from work particularly in time blocks 1 and 3.
To further assess the situation car spaces were analysed along Westmoreland road and Demense road and the forecourt to the side of the building (adjacent to Demense road.)
This took place at 8.30 - 8.45am and 5.30 - 5.45 pm
At 8.30 -8.45 am - It was found that there was on average 5 spaces on Westmoreland road and 4 spaces on Demense road - plus the forecourt to Demense road. This could be that the early classes are from 7-15 - 8 am - allowing people to visit before work. However this also shows that at the potential 8.30 -8.45am drop off time for the proposed nursery there was parking available. This is despite the school drop off time being around then also. (Ballacloan School is on Demense road also)
At 5.30 -5.45pm it was found that there were fewer spaces available – on average 3 and 2 respectively. However this could be due to visitors to the class at 5-15pm. The class at 6-15pm was also busy – and more detailed inspection of the figures that car users in time block 3 were generally arriving later (approx 6.45pm) for the 7pm class. This time of parking was outside the disc zone and “peak” traffic times – so parking was readily available.
Project - Proposed gym extension & Day care nursery
Project ref - PTA 102 1300633
Element of work - Traffic study results and traffic management proposals
Scheme proposals and traffic management.
Gym extension
The proposal for an additional dance studio would extend the premises and therefore the potential occupancy. A 10- 15 % increase is anticipated, and given the figures it could be assumed that the same would apply for the potential traffic (both pedestrian and vehicular).
However the clear availability of parking spaces within both disc zone parking areas would easily accommodate this increase. Furthermore the addition of the new studio spaces is proposed to be for more classes to run at the busy time – possibly the 7-8am but definitely after 6pm. The Gym currently closes at 8pm – which may well be extended should the demand dictate. However this is proposed to be later in the evenings – possibly until 9pm - and as such will have little or no effect to the vehicular traffic and parking as it is considered an “off peak” time.
The primary access to the gym facility will remain at the Westmoreland road end of the building leaving the Demense road access for the users of the proposed nursery facility.
Day care Nursery facility
The Proposal for the nursery space would create the potential need for short term parking for “drop off” at times of approx 8.30 – 8-45 am and 5.30 – 5-45pm.
There is also the possibility of a requirement at 3pm – the school pick up time also. (Convenient for the possible users of both Ballacloan School and the proposed Nursery on Demense road).
It could be said however that given the amount of people using the gym on the way to and from work – a nursery facility in this location would attract users who were pedestrian commuters.
The Nursery facility would have storage space for users to leave the “buggies / pushchairs” that would be require for the walk to the facility – to be left there for collection with the child later. This would be a particular attraction of the Nursery facility for the pedestrian commuter.
The proposals include the use of the forecourt by the building to Demense road as a “short term” drop off zone – with a clear in and out one way route. This would obviously be in the same direction of the one way of Demense road and would be able to accommodate 4 cars. The idea would be that the spaces would be occupied for a period of 5 -10 minutes at a time. Longer term / staff parking would be provided on the forecourt area adjacent the building
The Nursery facility drop off zone and the Gym use would be easily manageable as both facilities would come under one operator. The terms of use of either/ both facility could be laid down in the membership / user agreements with clear signage for the guidance to all users.
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