Contact: Caroline Bonner, ext 6592

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out progress on several studies and schemes being undertaken to implement the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS). The report also includes two projects being carried out in Surrey County Council and bordering the CHARTS area. The schemes are:

(i) A3 Hindhead improvement scheme;

(ii) A325 Surrey County Council multi-modal scheme;

(iii) Passenger Transport update;

(iv) CHARTS cycling strategy; and

(v) Otterbourne traffic calming.

2. A3 Hindhead Improvement Scheme

2.1 Members may recall that at the November 2001 meeting details of the Highways Agency (HA) A3 Hindhead improvement scheme were discussed. Since November the HA has undertaken the following initiatives.

2.2 In March 2002 tenders were invited for a construction and a design company to act as a contractor team for the project. The contract has since been awarded to Balfour Beatty, which will be involved early in the life of the scheme as part of a new style of early design and build contract.

2.3 Additional traffic surveys have been carried out in the area in order to refine the traffic model to ensure it is capable of analysing alternative traffic management strategies in more detail. Surveys were carried out in the Grayshott area, including Headley Road.

2.4 A Project Advisory Group (PAG) meeting was held in July. These are meetings run by the HA and enable a dialogue with the districts and county councils (including Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council). At this meeting it was agreed that Hampshire County Council would develop its own traffic management scheme for the Grayshott area, with assistance from Surrey County Council for Headley Road, which crosses into both counties. Therefore a meeting has been arranged with Surrey County Council, Waverley District Council and East Hampshire District Council to discuss ways of taking forward a traffic management scheme for Grayshott. These would look at a strategy for the local roads in Grayshott, including Headley Road and Crossways Road.

2.5 A second newsletter was produced in April 2002 to keep the public and interested parties informed of the scheme's progress. It is still the HA's intention to have the new A3 tunnel open by 2009.

3. A325 Surrey County Council Multi-Modal Scheme

3.1 Surrey County Council has commissioned consultants to undertake a multi-modal transport study for the A325 within Surrey, covering South Farnham and Wrecclesham.

3.2 A public exhibition was held in April 2002 where details of the route options were displayed.

3.3 Surrey County Council sought the formal views of Hampshire County Council and East Hampshire District Council on the options and strategies proposed. Representatives of the two councils have met and agreed a formal response.

4. Passenger Transport Update

Mineva Accord Bus Services 94 and 95, Petersfield Town Centre

4.1 In August 2002 an official launch of a new low-floor bus services was held outside the Tesco store in Petersfield. Mineva Accord services 94 and 95, which have financial support from the County Council and Tesco, will now use new low-floor minibuses. The new low-floor services will offer a much improved vehicle for passengers with mobility difficulties or pushchairs.

4.2 Mineva Accord bus service 95 has also been re-routed to include a loop into Church Road, Steep. This is at the request of Steep Parish Council and enables both Bedales School and the County Infants School to be served.

A272 Bus Stop Improvements

4.3 New bus stops and hardstandings will be installed on the A272 road used by bus services 67 (Winchester to Petersfield) and 52 (Southampton to Winchester). A total of 25 bus stops will be upgraded.

Lovedean Taxi-share Scheme

4.4 A subsidised taxi-share scheme was set up to replace bus service 36, which was withdrawn. This taxi-share service is proving popular and it is expected that the contract will be renewed after December 2002.

Petersfield Railway Station

4.5 In July 2002 new secure cycle parking lockers were installed on the southbound platform. So far there has been an excellent uptake on the cycle lockers. The existing cycle parking in the forecourt was also improved and increased. As a result Petersfield station has been nominated for the `Cycle Mark' award for the best station promoting rail-cycle interchange. The results are expected by November 2002.

5. CHARTS Cycling Strategy

5.1 A meeting was held with two local cycling clubs, Hampshire Cycling and East Hampshire Cycling Forum, to discuss the cycle routes in the strategy area. It was decided that to assess specific cycle schemes the whole of the CHARTS cycling strategy would need a complete review.

5.2 It was therefore agreed that the two local cycling clubs would annotate a map of the CHARTS area to identify what they now considered to be priority cycle routes. The cycling clubs submitted their reports at the end of August 2002, highlighting their priority cycle routes as well as other suggested cycle routes.

5.3 These cycling reports are currently being assessed and will be looked at within the context of the cycle plans of both Winchester City Council and East Hampshire District Council.

6. Otterbourne Traffic Calming Scheme (Phase 2)

6.1 Work commenced in July 2002 on a package of measures, including a reduction of the 40 mph speed limit to 30 mph, supported by chicanes; mini-roundabouts at the Kiln Lane and Coles Mede junctions; various pedestrian refuges; and a new off-road cycle facility on Otterbourne Hill. The scheme is due to be completed in November 2002 when the 30 mph speed limit on the main road through the village will be implemented.

6.2 The cycle route part of the scheme will form part of the Winchester to Eastleigh cycle route. This cycle route link is funded with £50,000 from CHARTS 2001/02 programme, whilst the remainder of the traffic calming scheme at a cost of £575,000 is funded from the Special Project budget.

6.3 Design work has started on the next stage of the cycle route towards Eastleigh and Thornden Secondary School in Chandler's Ford. This will be funded from the Safer Routes to School programme which will ultimately provide an off-road cycle route facility between Otterbourne village and Thornden School.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7420/CB