Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

13 November 2001

Combined Project Appraisal for Minor Schemes -
Safer Routes to Schools

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 11

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

COMBINED PROJECT APPRAISAL FOR MINOR SCHEMES - SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOLS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

VARIOUS

COMPLETION DATE:

VARIOUS

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2001/02

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Safer Routes to Schools Programme 2001/02

(i) Overton, footway widening and formalisation of parking £15,000

(BEST)

(ii) Charles Kingsley School, Eversley, new footway and £30,000

widening/improving existing footway

(NEHTS)

(iii) Northfield Road, Ringwood, top up for 2000/01 scheme £15,000

(NFTS)

(iv) Privett Road/Browndown Road, Gosport, toucan crossing £20,000

(SEHTS)

(v) Avery Lane, Gosport, school zone £25,000

(SEHTS)

(vi) New Road, Havant, pelican crossing £35,000

(SEHTS)

(vii) Bay House, St Helen's Road, Gosport, cycle track £35,000

(SEHTS)

(viii) Station Road and Westbeams Road, Sway £23,000

improving conditions for child pedestrians

(NFTS)

Total £198,000

The revenue implications for the above schemes are net current expenditure (£3,700 - 0.01%) and capital charges (£15,000 - 0.025%).

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

In 2001/02 the County Council introduced a Safer Routes to Schools Capital Programme within its Local Transport Plan programme, with over £1 million available per year from 2001/02 to 2005/06. This is being allocated across the 10 Area Strategies. Partnership arrangements are being developed with schools to prepare school travel plans, leading to the identification of any appropriate infrastructure measures to improve child safety and the convenience of pedestrian, cycling and passenger transport usage on the journey to school.

County Council financial regulations currently require all transport capital schemes costing over £10,000 to have a project appraisal approved by the Executive Member for Environment.

The following seven schemes form part of the Safer Routes to Schools Programme for 2001/02. The schemes have been identified through a variety of sources including local schools, district and borough councils, and local residents.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

These schemes are being funded through the Safer Routes to Schools Capital Programme. They are therefore in line with Government policy to improve child safety as well as make the environment for walking and cycling safer.

Details of scheme and design standards

Plans are attached which provide details of the proposed improvements. The scheme details are as follows:

(i) Overton. To widen the footway and segregate more clearly parking from pedestrian activity outside Overton Primary School. Aims to improve safety for children walking to the school.

(ii) Charles Kingsley School, Eversley. The installation of a new section of footway outside the school and improvements to the existing footway from Eversley along the B3272. Aims to improve safety for school children and encourage children to walk to school.

(iii) Northfield Road, Ringwood. Top up for 2000/01 scheme that proposes to change the priority at the junction between Northfield Road and Salisbury Road, having the effect of reducing vehicle speeds. This is part of a Ringwood-wide travel plan to improve conditions for pupils attending schools within Ringwood.

(iv) Privett Road/Browndown Road, Gosport. This provides for the upgrading of the existing toucan to cater for all cycle movements at the junction and for pedestrians. This will improve conditions for pupils at both Privett School and Bay House School.

(v) Avery Lane, Gosport - School Zone. It is proposed to introduce gateway features, road narrowings and pedestrian crossing points to improve conditions for child pedestrians attending Brockenhurst Infant and Brockenhurst Junior Schools.

(vi) New Road, Havant. The pelican crossing will help pedestrians and cyclists to/from Havant College, the adjoining residential areas and bus stops. It will also assist pedestrians between Leigh Park and the town centre and civic centre. New Road is a dual carriageway and carries a high volume of traffic and well satisfies the criteria for a controlled crossing. Havant Borough Council has carried out works to widen the central reserve and provide pedestrian protection.

(vii) Bay House, St Helen's Road, Gosport. This provides for a dedicated cycle track on a grassed area adjacent to Bay House School, plus footway widening and the conversion to shared use of the existing path from Western Way to St Helen's Road. Consultation will be needed with the school and local residents and a resolution by Gosport Borough Council to convert the existing footways to cycle track.

(viii) Station Road and Westbeams Road, Sway - Stage I measures to improve conditions for child pedestrians attending St Luke's Primary School, as identified through the school's published travel plan.

Environmental impact

The schemes should help to ensure a safer and improved environment for all pedestrians and vulnerable road users, but in particular pupils on their journeys to and from school.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway boundary.

Statutory procedures

None.

Public consultation

The appropriate local Members (Councillors Wall, Glen, Waddington, Snaith, Searle, Miss Wride, Wheeler and Geddes) have been consulted about the schemes in their respective areas. All are very supportive of the proposals.

Facilities for the disabled

Accessibility will be improved with new footways and crossings assisting all users, including people with disabilities.

Maintenance implications

As detailed in Section 1, the maintenance implications for the Revenue Budget are minimal and will be taken into account at the setting of the annual budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

No impact.

Sustainability

The schemes will improve the environment for walking, cycling and passenger transport, thus widening travel choice and reducing dependence upon the motor car.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

There are no alternative schemes considered appropriate.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

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