Archived decisions

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1. Summary

1.1 A consultation exercise has recently been completed in the Fairfields and St Michael's Road areas regarding the implementation of 20 miles per hour (mph) zones. Such schemes will contribute towards the objectives of the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST). Fairfields, the first of the two schemes to be progressed, is anticipated to commence this year and be completed next financial year. This 20 mph zone will be complemented by a pedestrian crossing at Hackwood Road to link the 20 mph zone into Memorial Park. The crossing will form part of a `safer route' from the Riverdene area which may encourage more pupils to walk, rather than be driven to the school. The St Michael's Road area scheme is expected to commence in 2002/03, funded through developer contributions.

2. Overview of Proposed Schemes

2.1 A series of public exhibitions was held in July 2001 to seek the views of the public to the proposed 20 mph zones and associated traffic calming features for the Fairfields and St. Michael's Road areas. All public exhibitions were well attended by local residents, with considerable support being expressed for the proposals.

Fairfields

2.2 The proposals exhibited for the Fairfields area comprised the introduction of a 20 mph zone and a series of vertical deflections (ie speed cushions and raised tables), carriageway narrowings and junction realignments to reduce traffic speeds. A total of 83% of consultees expressed support for a 20 mph zone in the Fairfields area, with 14% against.

2.3 Fairfields Primary School has also expressed its support for the 20 mph zone. This was reinforced by the presence of teachers and pupils at the exhibition. As part of the consultation officers devised a competition whereby the children could design a road sign for use in this area to advise motorists that they were entering a 20 mph zone. The sign will be prescribed as a supplementary plate to the regulatory entry point sign.

2.4 The provision of a pedestrian crossing on Hackwood Road will complement the scheme, linking the 20 mph zone to Memorial Park. The school has already undertaken a school travel survey and is keen to encourage pupils to walk to school by promoting initiatives such as a `walking bus'. In association with the County Council's and Borough Council's 'Safer Routes to School' initiative (see agenda item 11), the crossing would form part of a `safer route' to the school for Fairfields' pupils from the Riverdene area of the catchment, thereby encouraging more pupils and their parents to walk to school and reducing the number of car-borne school run journeys.

St Michael's Road

2.5 The proposals exhibited for the St Michael's Road area comprised the introduction of a 20 mph zone and a series of vertical deflections (ie speed cushions and raised tables), central traffic islands, carriageway narrowings and junction realignments to reduce traffic speeds. Consultees expressed 100% support for a 20 mph zone in the St Michael's Road area.

2.6 The location of the Bishop Challoner RC Secondary School in St Michael's Road supports the introduction of measures to reduce traffic speeds and create a safer pedestrian environment.

3. Monitoring

3.1 The introduction of 20 mph zones can help to make the streets of Basingstoke and Deane a safer and more pleasant environment for communities. Such schemes also contribute to improving highway safety by reducing speed on residential roads.

3.2 To assess the effectiveness of the built measures on traffic speeds within the zone, it will be necessary to conduct regular speed surveys to ascertain both the 85%ile and mean speeds. If the results showed that the overall mean speeds at and between features exceeded 20 mph, then it would be necessary to introduce additional measures. Hence, these two initial pilot schemes.

4. Conclusion

4.1 Schemes presented to the public to improve pedestrian facilities and support Safer Routes to School initiatives in the Fairfields area of Basingstoke and St Michael's Road attracted significant levels of support. The proposed measures will help reduce traffic speeds and their effectiveness would be subject to review following implementation.

Recommendation

That the Panel notes the measures outlined in this report for the Fairfields area and St Michael's Road in Basingstoke, following a positive response from public consultation exercises.

6752/NR/BDBC