Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

13 November 2001

Improvements to Interchange Facilities at
Hampshire Rail Stations

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 13

ITEM

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

IMPROVEMENTS TO INTERCHANGE FACILITIES AT HAMPSHIRE RAIL STATIONS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

DECEMBER 2001

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2002

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)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Nov 01

(at Nov 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

121

121

Fees

10

10

131

131

Less developers/

other contributions

131

131

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

(b) NEHTS Programme 2001/02

(c) CHARTS Programme 2001/02

(d) CTTS Programme 2001/02

(e) NFTS Programme 2001/02

70

26

20

15

131

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

131

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Nil

Nil

Capital charges

21

0.035

TOTAL net expenditure

21

0.035

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Hook, Winchfield, Fleet and Blackwater stations lie within Hart District; Farnborough, Farnborough North and Aldershot are within Rushmoor District. Together they comprise all the rail stations covered by the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS).

On 21 March 2001 the NEHTS Panel approved £70,000 for modal integration at rail stations in 2001/02, with £80,000 in each of the following two years. This was reviewed at the Panel on 26 September 2001 which approved a total of £350,000 for the five years 2001-06, specifically for cycle parking and bus stop improvements at the seven NEHTS stations.

Alton, Bentley, Liss and Liphook are within East Hampshire District. Micheldever is within Winchester District. All these stations are covered by the Central Hampshire Transport Strategy (CHARTS).

On 23 February 2001 the CHARTS Panel allocated £60,000 to modal integration in 2001/02. This was endorsed by the former Planning and Transportation Committee. Of this, £34,000 is being spent to provide improved bus and cycle facilities at Petersfield station.

New Milton, Sway, Hinton Admiral and Lymington Town are within New Forest District. New Milton and Lymington are covered by the Coastal Towns Transport Strategy (CTTS). Sway and Hinton Admiral by the New Forest Transport Strategy (NFTS).

South West Trains proposes to devote some of its matched funding to providing cycle lockers and bus information at Winchester station.

All these stations have experienced growth in patronage over recent years. In particular, the route serving Farnborough North and Blackwater has had 40% growth since 1996. Car parking at Alton, Winchester, Farnborough and Fleet stations is full to capacity, while roads in the area are heavily congested at times of peak rail demand, yet many Hampshire stations are well suited to access by bicycle, with large populations within a short distance along relatively level roads. Indeed, cycle parking at Winchester, Fleet and Farnborough is near to capacity. Blackwater has no cycle parking, while Fleet has none on the London-bound side. None of these stations currently has secure cycle lockers, a particular omission at the unstaffed or semi-staffed stations, where theft or vandalism is likely to be a deterrent. There are longer term proposals to improve bus services to the main urban stations, but at the other stations there is a lack of information directing rail passengers to existing bus stops, or directing pedestrians between the two stations in Farnborough.

This scheme will address this situation by improving or expanding cycle parking and providing secure lockers at the above Hampshire stations. Maps indicating local bus stops will be provided at all stations, apart from Aldershot - where the bus station adjoins the rail station exit, Fleet - where buses serve the forecourt, and Sway - which has very few buses.

South West Trains will contribute further investment of £50,000 to `top up' the County Council's spending at its stations in the county and to provide similar facilities at Winchester station. Its share needs to be spent by the end of 2001.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The County Council's Rail Infrastructure Blueprint, approved by the former Public Transport Sub-Committee on 29 November 1999, sets out a number of improvements at rail stations to which the County Council will target funding which becomes available. These include `Sheffield' cycle stands and consideration to provide cycle lockers at all categories of station; a local `bus stops map' where there are services within walking distance, and a bus stop/ shelter at all stations where bus routes and road layout permit.

Details of scheme and design standards

Thames Trains Stations

(i) Farnborough North

Provision of four cycle lockers. Provision of a map indicating the walking route to Farnborough main station.

(ii) Blackwater

Provision of four cycle lockers on each side of the station. Provision of bus stop maps at both exits.

South West Trains Stations

(i) Hook

Replacement of cycle racks with 10 `Sheffield' hoops, to which up to two cycles can be securely chained. Provision of four cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the three exits.

(ii) Winchfield

Replacement of cycle racks with 10 `Sheffield' hoops. Provision of four cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the three exits.

(iii) Fleet

Provision of new hard standing on the London-bound platform, for two cycle shelters with integral hoops, plus four steel cycle lockers. Levelling of surface and provision of four lockers on the southbound platform. Improved signing to station forecourt bus stop.

(iv) Farnborough

Replacement of obsolete cycle racks on the station forecourt with 20 `Sheffield' hoops. Levelling surface and provision of 10 steel cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the two exits.

(v) Aldershot

Provision of six cycle lockers, including levelling the surface. Provision of a cycle shelter with integral hoops.

(vi) Alton

Replacement of cycle racks with 10 `Sheffield' hoops. Provision of six steel cycle lockers. Provision of an improved bus shelter, with raised kerbs, in the station forecourt.

(vii) Bentley

Provision of four cycle lockers.

(viii) Micheldever

Provision of two cycle lockers.

(ix) Liss

Provision of five additional `Sheffield' hoops and four cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the three exits.

(x) Liphook

Replacement of cycle racks with 10 `Sheffield' hoops. Provision of four cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the two exits.

(xi) Winchester

Provision of 10 cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the two exits.

(xii) New Milton

Provision of four cycle lockers on each side of the station, including level bases. Provision of three cycle shelters with integral hoops. Provision of bus stop maps at the three exits.

(xiii) Sway

Provision of two cycle lockers.

(xiv) Hinton Admiral

Provision of four cycle lockers, including level bases. Provision of a cycle shelter with integral hoops. Provision of bus stop maps at the three exits.

(xv) Lymington Town

Provision of four cycle lockers. Provision of bus stop maps at the two exits.

Environmental impact

An environmental impact statement has not been carried out for this scheme, but increasing use of cycling and existing bus services to and from stations is likely to reduce pollution, congestion and other local impacts caused by motor vehicles.

Land requirements

All land is owned by Railtrack and leased by the train operating companies, who are supporting this initiative.

Statutory procedures

No statutory procedures are applicable.

Public consultation

Although no scheme specific public consultation has been undertaken, the NEHTS, CHARTS, CTTS and NFTS have been developed following public consultation. The Rail Infrastructure Blueprint was subject to consultation with district, parish and town councils, and rail user groups. Comments were incorporated. Feedback from other stations where cycle lockers have been installed indicates support.

The local Members (Councillors Baulk, Collett, Mrs Devereux, Glen, Hutcheson, Roberts, Sheehan and Stocks) have been consulted. At the time of writing the report Councillors Collett, Mrs Devereux, Glen and Stocks have indicated their support for the proposals.

Facilities for the disabled

No provision for the physically disabled is included in the scheme. The bus stop maps are large (1016 millimetres x 636 millimetres) to improve legibility for the visually impaired.

Maintenance implications

The station operators will take responsibility for the maintenance of cycle parking. The cycle lockers will be constructed from stainless steel, avoiding the need for painting.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The locker and hoop designs are selected to minimise the potential for vandalism and theft. South West Trains is also in the process of upgrading and extending its CCTV system to include Hook and Winchfield stations. This will reduce the likelihood of vandalism and theft.

The lockers will have a perforated panel in the door, allowing inspection of the contents by the Police.

Sustainability

The scheme will assist in providing viable alternatives to the private motor car, thereby helping to deliver sustainability by reducing the effects of local traffic congestion and pollution.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Other types of locker were considered, but this type is the most robust and made best use of available space. Open types of secure lock were also considered but are more vulnerable to vandalism. Providing lockers on both the north and south sides at Hook and Winchfield was also considered, but not found to effectively target likely users.

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

Rail Station Files

County Surveyor's Department