Contact: Peter Bayless, ext 6882

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That proposed 20 miles per hour speed limits at Crondall and Liphook be implemented as pilot projects together with other proposed speed limit changes at Liphook, the effects monitored and taken into account in a review of speed limit policy, and an extension of the existing traffic calmed 20 miles per hour zone in Alton to the Tanhouse Lane/Amery Hill area be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 To implement the recommendation of the Environment Policy Review Committee to approve as a pilot project a 20 miles per hour (mph) speed limit without traffic calming at Crondall, together with the other outstanding pilot project at Liphook, with a view to a further report in due course on the effects of these schemes as part of a review of speed limit policy. The proposal in Alton is a minor amendment to an existing traffic calmed 20 mph zone which has reached the stage of having been advertised with no objections received.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 The other option is not to make the 20 mph speed limit orders and to retain the existing 30 mph speed limits in these areas.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - Not applicable.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Proposed 20 mph Speed Limit, Crondall

7.1 On 17 September 2001 the Environment Policy Review Committee considered a report on 20 mph Speed Limits in Rural Areas. Following a report to the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 3 July 2000 pilot 20 mph speed limits without traffic calming were being pursued at four locations, one of which is at Crondall. This proposal has reached a stage where it has been advertised without objection, but it was felt that the policy position on 20 mph speed limits, particularly in villages, should be reviewed before taking a decision to proceed. It was resolved:

"That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment to approve the implementation of the proposed 20 miles per hour speed limit at Crondall, as a pilot project, and a further report considered in due course on the effects of this scheme and the other pilot projects at Ringwood, Havant and Liphook."

8. Proposed Speed Limits, Liphook

8.1 The proposed 20 mph speed limit at Liphook has now also been advertised. It was included as part of a wider review of speed limits in the Liphook area following changes to the local road network in association with the Sainsbury's development. The 20 mph limit is proposed on The Square and short sections of all the approach roads to it.

8.2 A new 40 mph speed limit is proposed on B2070 Portsmouth Road together with a reduction of the limit from 40 mph to 30 mph on B2131 Haslemere Road and a 30 mph extension on to Chiltley Lane. On B3004, 40 mph limits are proposed on Headley Road and Standford Lane with a 50 mph limit on the Passfield Straight.

8.3 Nine letters were received in response to the advertisement of these proposals. The contents of which, together with the officer's comments, are summarised in the attached appendix. Six of these did not object to the proposals, but requested further measures, either to also reduce the existing speed limits on the Longmoor Road approach to Liphook or to introduce traffic calming in addition to speed limits.

8.4 Two letters objected on the grounds that speed limits should be lower than proposed. The first of these, from Mr J Ilett of Chiltley Way, suggested that Chiltley Lane should be 20 mph rather than 30 mph on the grounds that it is narrow, without footways, and 20 mph would be safer, deter extraneous traffic and encourage residents to use alternatives to the car. The other, from Mrs W F Suart of the Standford, Passfield and Hollywater Community Association, welcomed any move to curtail the speed of vehicles but requested a 40 mph limit rather than 50 mph on the Passfield Straight on the grounds that speeds are high and residents are experiencing increasing difficulty coming safely out of their properties.

8.5 The final letter, from Mr Q P Gallagher of Waterlooville, objects to the limits proposed on Passfield Road, The Square, Haslemere Road, Devils Lane and Midhurst Road on the grounds that there is no justification for the lower limits. Mr Gallagher feels that speeds are already low on The Square and Devils Lane, while on Passfield Road, Haslemere Road and Midhurst Road the existing limits are appropriate and should not be changed.

8.6 The objections and comments received have been discussed with the local Member, Councillor Cartwright, and he supports the implementation of the proposals as advertised, so that the effects can be monitored and a further review undertaken in due course. The Police also support the proposals. It should be noted that special measures such as `gateway' signing, pinch- points and coloured surfacing would be introduced to reinforce the proposed limits on the approaches to Liphook.

9. Proposed 20 mph Zone Extension, Alton

9.1 A minor amendment to the existing traffic calmed 20 mph zone in the centre of Alton is proposed to incorporate the Amery Hill area. This has been advertised, no objections have been received and the local Member, Councillor Ludlow, supports the proposal. It is not related to the pilot projects for 20 mph speed limits using normal speed limit signing, since it is part of the Alton 20 mph zone, one of many existing traffic calmed 20 mph zones throughout the county.

TITLE LOCATION

Correspondence - File 19/1/3 (Alton) County Surveyor's Department

File 19/1/30 (Liphook)

File 19/1/56 (Crondall)

6701/PDB

APPENDIX