Archived decisions

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1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That approval be given:

(i) to bring forward from the 2002/03 programme to 2001/02 £1.5 million for structural maintenance of highways and bridges;

(ii) to bring forward from 2002/03 to 2001/02 the Dorchester Arms junction improvement at a cost of £315,000 (including £50,000 developer funding);

(iii) for £30,000 Supplementary Credit Approval to be added to the pedestrian crossings programme for 2001/02 to implement the crossing on the A30 at Hook;

(iv) for Ayling Lane Traffic Calming (£50,000) and Solatron Road Cycles (£25,000), both in Rushmoor, to be added to the Capital Programme as developer funded schemes;

(v) the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport and the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy are amended as shown in Appendix 2;

(vi) the allocation for TAPESTRY is to be reallocated to Central Hampshire Area Rural Transport Strategy air quality monitoring;

(vii) cycle facilities at rail stations are added to the programme for New Milton (£20,000), Sway (£5,000) and Hinton Admiral (£10,000); and

(viii) to amend the casualty reduction programme as shown in Appendix 3.

2. Reason

2.1 Progress assessments of the 2001/02 Capital Programme have revealed that it will be possible to increase the programme for structural maintenance of highways and bridges in 2001/02 without exceeding the total Supplementary Credit Approval (SCA) allocation for the year.

2.2 Similarly, the Dorchester Arms scheme is now ready for implementation, ahead of the original programme date of 2002/03, and can be brought forward.

2.3 The A30 Hook pedestrian crossing scheme, originally expected to be funded by a developer contribution, can only be implemented in 2001/02 if an additional £30,000 SCA is used, as developer funding is not available.

2.4 Schemes at Ayling Lane and Solatron Road, Rushmoor have developer funding available and should be added to the programme.

2.5 Since their approval by the former Planning and Transportation Resources Sub-Committee in January 2001 many of the generic headings, eg North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) cycles and pedestrians, have been developed into programmes, often a combination of new schemes and contributions to other projects. This development is most marked in the Basingstoke Area Strategy (BEST) where the programme has been transformed identifying a large number of schemes for implementation. There are also changes in the SEHTS strategy where the amount of funding required for Fareham Rail Station has fallen while the costs for the Lee-on-the-Solent to Browndown cycle route, Havant Urban Centre and Safer Routes to Schools programme have increased. Within the Central Hampshire Area for Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS) area the £70,000 allocation for the TAPESTRY European project is not required in 2001/02, therefore the funding can be reallocated to CHARTS air quality monitoring.

2.6 It is proposed that approval is given to allocate funding, as set out in the appendices to this report, provided:

(i) the total SCA allocated to each strategy area in any one year is not exceeded; and

(ii) Area Transportation Strategy Panels are kept informed of changes and contribute fully to the future development of these programmes.

2.7 There is also an opportunity to bring cycle facilities at rail stations at New Milton (£20,000), Sway (£5,000) and Hinton Admiral (£10,000) into the 2001/02 programme.

2.8 Changes in costs and delays with the Fishers Pond, Colden Common scheme mean that a scheme at Bashley Cross Roads can be brought forward.

2.9 Approval of these measures will facilitate spending within 2001/02 which will maintain the County Council's record of spending and enhance the chances of continued high settlements, as well as bringing forward much needed maintenance works.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 It would be possible to leave the programme unchanged until the new programme is approved in 2002 or all Panels have been consulted. This would result in less SCA spending within 2001/02 which could adversely affect future Government support levels. It would also unnecessarily delay much needed maintenance works and other schemes listed.

4. Conflicts of Interest declared by the decision maker or a member of 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. Background

7.1 The former Planning and Transportation Committee capital programme was approved in January 2001. The transport programme is supported by SCA from the Government, by developers' contributions and by local resources (principally through revenue contributions to the highways structural maintenance programme).

7.2 This report is primarily concerned with the management of the SCA although details of progress with all the programmes are available.

7.3 The SCA resource available in 2001/02 is as follows:

£ millions

SCA 2000/01 1.96 carried forward

SCA 2001/02 23.37 available for two years

25.33

to which £5.05 million has recently been added specifically for flood damage.

7.4 On the basis of this resource (and the knowledge of a similar SCA award to be received for the next four years) a programme was approved as follows (for SCA use):

Integrated Transport £ millions

Area Transport Strategies and 12.34

Priority Projects

Casualty Reduction Programme 1.60

Other Integrated Transport 1.49

15.43

Structural Maintenance of Highways 11.87

and Bridges

27.30

7.5 These programmes were amended by schemes carried forward from 2000/01 and by changes made at the October meeting with the Executive Member to become:

£ millions

Area Transport Strategies and Priority Projects 14.97

Casualty Reduction Programme 1.60

Other Integrated Transport 1.62

Structural Maintenance of Highways and Bridges (SCA) 11.87

30.06

(Includes transfer of £120,000 to Historic Buildings Grant; excludes Flood Damage funding.)

7.6 SCA spending in 2001/02 up to 4 October 2001, including spending on schemes which started in 2000/01 or earlier, is as follows:

Integrated Transport £ millions

Area Transport Strategies and 1.69

Priority Projects

Casualty Reduction Programme 0.76

Other Integrated Transport 0.41

2.86

Structural Maintenance and Bridges 3.17

Total SCA 6.03

7.7 The recent review of the programmes has produced the following forecast spending for the whole of 2001/02:

Integrated Transport £ millions

Area Transport Strategies and 6.80

Priority Projects

Casualty Reduction Programme 1.60

Other Integrated Transport 1.86

10.26

Structural Maintenance and Bridges 10.86

LRT Fees 0.75

21.87

7.8 The above forecast includes all the proposed programme amendments in this report, except the addition (bringing forward from 2002/03) of £1.5 million with respect to highways and bridges. There is a resource available to accommodate this increase and any late increase in spending in 2001/02 above currently forecast levels.

7.9 Individual progress reports on Area Transport Strategies and other programmes are attached as Appendices 1 and 2.

6783/JWB

APPENDIX 1

ANDOVER TRANSPORT STRATEGY (ATS)

The strategy has a £500,000 SCA starts allocation in 2001/02 and in 2002/03, together with £200,000 brought forward from 2000/01. An additional £80,000 was added for King Arthur's Way street lighting at the October 2001 meeting. The Salisbury Road corridor is starting this year with the Weyhill Road scheme commencing early in 2002/03. The main project for 2002/03 Foxcotte Road/Charlton Road is scheduled for a summer 2002 start while the Weyhill-Portway cycle scheme, funded by developers' contributions and SCA, will start in spring 2002.

In order to keep to this programme additional SCA will be required in 2002/03 (estimated £250,000) largely to meet extra costs on the Salisbury Road and Weyhill Road corridor projects.

BASINGSTOKE STRATEGY (BEST)

The Basingstoke programme has seen considerable development in the first six months of the year. The initial programme, based largely on generic headings (eg A33 corridor), has been replaced by a series of named schemes (eg five on the A33 corridor) funded from SCA, developers' contributions and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council resources.

It is proposed to replace the original BEST programme for 2001/02 and 2002/03 with the table below.

The proposed new programme identifies starts of £7.36 million in the two years for this strategy area alone. The programme is likely to change often in this dynamic area. Altogether £3.0 million of SCA is expected to be consumed by the end of 2002/03.

BEST - Revised Starts Programme 2001/02

Note: 2002/03 Programme to be reviewed for January 2002 meeting.

CENTRAL HAMPSHIRE (CHARTS)

CHARTS had an original SCA starts allocation of £760,000 for 2001/02 with an additional £365,000 added in October 2001 to cover the improvements to the High Street and The Square at Petersfield.

The progress review of CHARTS indicates that, apart from the High Street improvements which may start early in 2002 and improved cycle facilities at Petersfield Station under the modal integration heading, the Petersfield works for 2001/02 (£200,000) are all now likely to start in the following year. This includes the proposed B2070 improvements which will be assessed following the opening of the new Tesco store.

The funding allocated for the A325 corridor at Bordon/Whitehill (£90,000) will be used to meet additional costs on the extended Whitehill safety and cycling project. Development of a draft strategy is under way for the Alton area and the B2177/B3354 corridor (Winchester to Wickham), Integrated Transport Systems, TAPESTRY and Access to the Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty, but no works expected until 2002/03. The £70,000 allocation for TAPESTRY is proposed to be reallocated to air quality monitoring. W S Atkins will be initiating works on village initiatives for West Meon and Hambledon. The CHARTS cycle programme has progressed through a contribution to the Otterbourne village scheme (Eastleigh to Winchester cycle route) and feasibility work elsewhere. Safer Routes to School schemes have been or are to be carried out in Purbrook Heath, Hambledon Road, Denmead, Colden Common and West Meon.

COASTAL TOWNS STRATEGY (CTTS)

The Coastal Towns Strategy programme was approved by the former Planning and Transportation Resources Sub-Committee in March 2001 at £300,000. The introduction of pedestrian facilities at Avenue Road/Southampton Road, Lymington (£115,000), incorporating £40,000 of maintenance works, is scheduled to start within the financial year while the work at Lymington Quay (£50,000) has been carried out. The improvements in New Milton are expected to be progressed in 2002/03 following local consultation. New Forest District Council is progressing improvements in Milford-on-Sea and the southern access to Lymington, scheduled for 2002/03.

NEW FOREST TRANSPORT STRATEGY (NFTS)

New Forest has an SCA starts allocation of £190,000 in 2001/02, as well as £100,000 carried forward from 2000/01 for Brockenhurst traffic management. The Brockenhurst scheme is now to be introduced as a smaller project later in the financial year. Part of the £50,000 Safer Routes to School allocation will be used in Northfields Road, Ringwood late in the year while the remainder may be combined with the £10,000 Sway footways contribution. The projects in Lyndhurst and Fordingbridge are being developed with a projected start now in 2002/03. The Bickerley Road developer funded footway is also now expected to start in 2002/03.

NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE (NEHTS)

The NEHTS starts programme for SCA is £1.4 million, including £95,000 carried forward from 2000/01 and £55,000 added to the programme at the last meeting with the increased allocation for Safer Routes to Schools.

The flagship scheme in this area, the Route 1 bus corridor (formerly described as A325/A30) was recently approved for a start early in 2002. The Rushmoor Safer Routes to Schools scheme was approved at the October meeting and should start shortly. A Project Appraisal for other safer routes to schools schemes is Agenda Item 11. The allocation for North Camp of £50,000 is to be used for a crossing in Lynchford Road early in the New Year and new cycle facilities are to be introduced shortly at rail stations in the area. A programme has been developed for cycles and pedestrians, with part of the 2001/02 allocation being used to supplement the developer funded schemes at Farnborough Gate, Ively Road and Summit Avenue.

Two developer schemes, Ayling Lane Traffic Calming (£50,000) and Solatron Road Cycle Route (£25,000), need to be added to the programme.

Other schemes in the programme, including the B3272 Eversley-Blackwater (including Yateley Centre), Minley Cycles and Aldershot Town Centre, are being developed and will be deferred to the 2002/03 programme.

SOUTHAMPTON AREA (SATS)

The SATS programme has a 2001/02 SCA starts value of £2.25 million. Eastleigh Bus Station (from the 2000/01 programme) is to be partly financed (£130,000) from the 2001/02 allocation for Eastleigh Central Area. A study by W S Atkins will produce the programme for the rest of the Central Area project. Roadside passenger improvements are being provided as part of the Eastleigh Bus Quality Partnership and Romsey to Southampton Bus Corridor programmes.

The Safer Routes to Schools programme for Eastleigh are being progressed by the Borough Council with a project appraisal expected to cover schemes at Crestwood, Wyvern, Merdon and Hamble schools, while W S Atkins will undertake development work on Romsey schemes. The Totton and Waterside cycle programme includes a contribution to the maintenance scheme on the A36 which will introduce improved cycle facilities.

The projects at Chandlers Ford Rail Station, Hythe Ferry Interchange, Test Valley Cycles and Romey Town Centre will not start until 2002/03, although some maintenance work is being carried out on Hythe Pier from the LTP programme.

Design work is continuing on developer funded schemes in Knightwood, Chestnut Avenue and Water Lane, Totton with works starting in 2002/03.

SOUTH EAST HAMPSHIRE (SEHTS)

The SEHTS programme has a 2001/02 starts value of £5.1 million, including the additional allocation of £355,000 approved at the last meeting. The A3 corridor scheme has an allocation of £3.3 million in 2001/02 and the first significant section of the project is expected to start late in 2001/02.

Programmes have been developed for the Fareham-Gosport peninsula and for Fareham, Gosport and Havant urban centres, some of which will be started on site within the financial year. The A27 cycle schemes near Cams Hill School and the Lee-on-the-Solent to Browndown cycle route are both scheduled to start late in the year, as are improvements at Fareham bus and rail stations and Gosport bus station. The works at Fareham Rail Station in 2001/02 are on a more limited scale than originally envisaged, while there are additional costs involved in the schemes at Havant Urban Centre, the Lee-on-the-Solent to Browndown Cycle Route and the Safer Routes to Schools Programme. It is proposed therefore that the funding allocation be reduced for Fareham rail station by £150,000 and that Havant Urban Centre, Lee-on-the-Solent to Browndown Cycles and Safer Routes to Schools be increased by £10,000, £60,000 and £20,000 respectively while the remaining £60,000 be kept for other SEHTS schemes.

The developer funded schemes in the programme that are scheduled to start on site in 2001/02 are the Fareham Western Wards Western Distributor Road - Schooner Way to Dibles Road, and the A3051 Burridge to Curbridge traffic management, as well as signing improvements in the Whiteley and Segensworth areas and the Warsash Road/Locks Road roundabout. Other schemes are deferred to 2002/03.

WINCHESTER (WMAP)

The Winchester starts programme for 2001/02 is for £775,000, plus the Bar End Road Park and Ride extension carried forward from 2000/01. The Park and Ride scheme is funded from a combination of SCA, developer funding and On-Street Parking surplus. It is currently subject to a legal challenge but if this is resolved quickly, and in favour of the County Council, then work can be started within the financial year.

The other schemes in the programme expected to start on site this year are the Stockbridge Road/Stoney Lane improvements costing £150,000 and the Badger Farm cycle crossing (£100,000) as well as ITS works. The Station Interchange and Chesil Street schemes will be reprogrammed to 2002/03 and Romsey Road traffic management works to 2003/04. Parts of the cycle and pedestrian programmes will be started in 2001/02.

WESTERN HAMPSHIRE (WHTS)

The first meeting of the WHTS Panel is due in November when the programme will be considered. An allocation of £100,000 has been made for 2001/02, including £50,000 for Safer Routes to Schools. Test Valley School, Stockbridge has already been the subject of an improvement scheme funded through SCA.

CASUALTY REDUCTION PROGRAMME

The principal change to the Casualty Reduction Programme is the substitution of Bashley Cross Roads for Fishers Pond, Colden Common necessitated by delays in developing options for the latter scheme.

A new programme has been introduced to refurbish and enhance accident remedial sites from previous years' programmes to re-establish their effectiveness which may have diminished over time. The proposed new programme is set out in Appendix 3.

OTHER INTEGRATED TRANSPORT

Dorchester Arms is proposed to be brought forward into 2001/02 and implemented at the same time as the two crossings in Hook from the pedestrian crossings programme. The Otterbourne scheme is also to be implemented this year. Eight pedestrian crossings are scheduled to be introduced in the year and all the county-wide programmes are on target for work in 2001/02.

STRUCTURAL MAINTENANCE OF HIGHWAYS AND BRIDGES

The highways maintenance programme is on course for completion within the year and can accommodate an additional £1 million in works being brought forward in the programme. The Langstone Bridge programme has been increased in size to accommodate improved facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. It is proposed to increase the starts allocation for this scheme by £500,000, again bringing the starts value forward.