Archived decisions

Contact: Heather Walmsley, ext 6581

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a progress update on key traffic management schemes and cycle and pedestrian schemes within the Andover Transport Strategy Area. It recommends that scheme progress be noted and seeks Members' views on a preferred strategy for the shops area of the Weyhill Road traffic management scheme.

1.2 In addition, Members are advised that the first meeting of the Western Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel will be held on 20 November 2001.

2. Introduction

2.1 This report considers:

(i) the Salisbury Road and Millway Road traffic management scheme, and provides an update on progress and the timing of implementation;

(ii) the Weyhill Road traffic management scheme, and provides an update on detailed design work and programming, and also seeks Members' views on a preferred strategy for the shops area of the wider scheme;

(iii) the Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane and Hatherden Road traffic management scheme and provides a progress and programme update; and

(iv) the draft cycle strategy and network for Andover and provides a progress update on the prioritised schemes.

Scheme plans will be available at the meeting.

3. Salisbury Road and Millway Road Traffic Management Scheme

3.1 On 24 May 2000 the Panel recommended approval be given for detailed design work to commence on the Salisbury Road and Millway Road traffic management schemes. Detailed design work and the tender process have now been completed and implementation is programmed to commence in November 2001 with completion by March 2002. The two month delay from the programme previously advised to Members is due to the resolution of problems encountered during site investigation and statutory undertaker works.

3.2 Part of the Salisbury Road scheme results in an element of planting being removed. Every effort is being made to reuse or replace the planting along appropriate sections of Salisbury Road. To this end landscape opportunities are being explored and an allowance of £5,000 has been made in the budget for new planting. The timing and implementation of the landscape works will, however, fall beyond the construction period of the traffic management scheme. The start of the landscape works will depend upon the completion date of the landscape scheme design and appropriate season for planting.

4. Weyhill Road Traffic Management Scheme

4.1 On 11 October 2000 approval was recommended to be given for detailed design work to commence on the Weyhill Road traffic management scheme. This design work is currently underway and is due for completion by the end of the year. Implementation is anticipated to commence in spring 2002 with completion during autumn 2002.

Weyhill Road Shops Area

4.2 As part of a public consultation in August 2000 overwhelming support was received for proposed improvements to the area around the shops in Weyhill Road. As a consequence, in October 2000 Members recommended that the two phases of the proposals for the shops should proceed in tandem and at the same time as the wider scheme.

4.3 To progress the proposals traffic survey work was required. In addition, further limited consultation was needed to determine the views of the shopkeepers and local residents regarding parking lay-outs for the forecourt, and the necessity for parking restrictions around the shops area. The traffic survey work and consultations have now been completed. In addition, further technical assessments have been undertaken. A summary of the results and further information is included in the attached appendix.

4.4 The following key points were raised through the consultations, that:

(i) non-residents' parking is a problem:

(a) in Portway Close, including on the Weyhill Road service road;

(b) on Meadow Way; and

(c) on Weyhill Road adjacent to the shops;

(ii) from initial discussions residents in Portway Close did not support the opening up of the eastern end of the Close, as they believed it would enable traffic to avoid the pedestrian crossing on Weyhill Road and would increase speeds in the service road with associated safety disbenefits for pedestrians;

(iii) there was concern from the shopkeepers that vehicles would have difficulty exiting the shops' forecourt due to traffic queuing back at the Meadow Way junction; and

(iv) right turning traffic into the forecourt would encounter difficulties.

4.5 The issues outlined above have been discussed with shopkeepers and residents. They have also been considered as part of a full technical scheme assessment and addressed as follows:

(i) parking restrictions have been included in the scheme, subject to the necessary traffic regulation procedures;

(ii) modifications have been made to the scheme design for Portway Close and the service road and have included carriageway narrowing, the provision of a raised crossing area for pedestrians, landscape improvements and revisions to the design of the parking bays. These improvements have helped to overcome the concerns of some residents;

(iii) technical assessments have indicated that the proposed exit from the forecourt onto Meadow Way will operate satisfactorily, however `Keep Clear' markings and parking restrictions around the junction have been included within the scheme; and

(iv) detailed consideration of all turning movements for the scheme have shown that vehicles should be able to turn satisfactorily.

4.6 After consideration of the assessments summarised in the attached appendix and the issues raised through consultation, it is suggested that the currently proposed scheme, including the opening of Portway Close at the eastern end of the service road and the minor modifications mentioned above, should remain the preferred solution and be pursued to detail design. Members are asked to recommend this as the preferred approach. A scheme layout is included in the attached appendix. In relation to parking restrictions, a preferred strategy has been identified and will be implemented in conjunction with the proposed scheme, subject to the timing of the necessary traffic regulation orders.

5. Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane and Hatherden Road Traffic Management Scheme

5.1 On 11 October 2000 approval was recommended to be given for the Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane and Hatherden Road traffic management scheme to be progressed to detailed design stage, subject to the results of the public consultation showing general support for the scheme. Following the public consultation, a number of revisions were made to the proposed scheme. The main changes, including measures to be taken forward to detailed design stage and also some areas where further feasibility work was required, were outlined, discussed and agreed at the meeting on 14 March 2001.

5.2 A key concern was the provision of a controlled pedestrian crossing in the vicinity of the hospital on Charlton Road. Both safety and technical difficulties exist in relation to the siting of a controlled crossing at this location. Additional investigations and feasibility work will be undertaken to help address concerns and will include consideration of the provision of additional calming measures to reduce speeds and make crossing safer. These matters will be considered in conjunction with the currently proposed refuges.

5.3 Feasibility work will be finalised in early 2002 and will address the particular issues highlighted by Members at the previous meeting; including the hospital area, the northern section of Charlton Road and the area around the ambulance station. Detailed design work will be completed in summer 2002 and it is anticipated that implementation will be completed in early 2003 in line with the current programme.

6. The Draft Cycle Strategy and Network for Andover - Prioritised Schemes

6.1 On 14 March 2001 a priority listing of six cycle and pedestrian schemes was recommended for approval by Members for progression to the feasibility design stage. It was recognised that, once feasibility work commenced, matters could arise relating to land and legal issues which might result in some adjustments being made to both the timing and ordering of the schemes. In addition, once feasibility costs have been established it may be that additional funding will be required to implement all of the six schemes within the five year programme. Contributions from future developments could be used to help achieve programme delivery.

6.2 In September 2001 W S Atkins was commissioned to prepare the initial feasibility design and identify preliminary scheme costs for the six cycle routes in Andover. A draft report and initial route proposals will be completed by the end of the year and the results of the study reported to Members at the next meeting. A recommendation of approval will then be sought to agree the programme, and also for consultation to be undertaken to determine the views of all interested parties regarding the initial route proposals.

7. Western Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel

7.1 In accordance with the Panel recommendations from 24 May 2000, the Western Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel will not be merged with the Andover Transportation Strategy Members' Panel. The first meeting of the Western Hampshire Transportation Strategy Panel will be on 20 November 2001.

8. Programme Overview

8.1 A summary table is included below to highlight key dates:

Scheme	Feasibility design	Detail design	Implementation
Salisbury Road/ Millway Road traffic management scheme	-	-	November 2001 to March 2002
Weyhill Road traffic management scheme	-	Ongoing to December 2001	spring 2002 to autumn 2002
Foxcotte Road/ Foxcotte Lane/ Charlton Road/ Hatherden Road traffic management scheme	early 2002	summer 2002	early 2003
Andover pedestrian and cycle schemes	early 2002	to be confirmed	to be confirmed

Recommendations

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the preferred scheme layout for the shops area of Weyhill Road remain as the previously proposed scheme with some minor alterations, and be approved for detailed design.

2. That the contents of this report be noted.

6779/HW

APPENDIX

WEYHILL ROAD SHOPS AREA

Summary of Technical Assessments, Traffic Survey and Questionnaire Results

1. Questionnaire Survey

1.1 In June 2001 a questionnaire survey was undertaken with residents and businesses in the immediate vicinity of the shops area to seek views on parking restrictions. This was supplemented by discussions with the shopkeepers and, more recently, with residents in Portway Close and the service road opposite the shops forecourt.

1.2 Of the 75 questionnaire surveys distributed only 12 were returned. A copy of the questionnaire is included at Figure 1 and the results are included at Figure 2. A number of phone calls and letters were received and also a petition with 29 names from the residents in Portway Close. Copies of the letters and petition are included at Figure 3.

1.3 Analysis of the questionnaire survey enabled a preferred approach relating to parking restrictions to be identified, subject to the necessary traffic regulation procedures. The approach has been discussed with some residents subsequently.

2. Traffic Surveys and Technical Assessments

2.1 In July and September 2001 traffic surveys were carried out to provide base data to enable a full assessment to be carried out regarding the implications of the proposals for the shops area.

2.2 The results of the traffic surveys enabled the likely changes in traffic movements around the forecourt to be determined. The proposed scheme and variations on the scheme were assessed, taking into account the modified changes and points raised throughout the consultation. The survey results also enabled a full junction assessment to be carried out for the Meadow Way/Weyhill Road/Portway Close junction.

2.3 The options tested included the proposed scheme with Portway Close open at the eastern end of the service road and also an option with Portway Close closed at the eastern end of the service road, as it is now but including a turning head. Manual traffic reassignments showed that as a result of the redirection of traffic through the forecourt there was a significant increase in traffic at the Meadow Way junction with either option. Assessments show no capacity issues with either option at Meadow Way, however the junction does work slightly better in capacity terms with Portway Close as one-way inbound.

2.4 It should be noted that the majority of the increased traffic at Meadow Way currently accesses Weyhill Road directly from the forecourt only two to three metres east of the junction. With the removal of the western forecourt access and the associated conflict of movements at this location, it will be easier and safer for traffic to exit Meadow Way and also for pedestrians to cross the road. The relocation of the exit from Portway Close would further assist in reducing conflict and improving safety at this location, and is considered more satisfactory in terms of traffic movements as part of the overall scheme for the shops area.

3. Proposed Scheme Details

3.1 A number of design layouts for the shops forecourt and the parking bays in Portway Close and the service road have been identified and discussed with residents and shopkeepers. Following discussions a preferred layout has been prepared and is included at the end of this appendix.

3.2 A design layout has been identified for the shops forecourt which involves the provision of 19 formally marked bays plus a designated loading bay. (This maintains the same number of spaces as are there at present.) The loading bay will be supplemented by lockable bollards to enable heavy vehicles to exit.

3.3 Discussions with some residents in Portway Close and the service road identified a preference for horizontal parking bays (as existing), rather than the option of diagonal bays. Horizontal bays will accommodate five cars in formally designated parking bays (compared to the eight existing informal spaces) and diagonal bays will accommodate up to eight cars.

3.4 In addition to the proposed reduction in the carriageway width in the service road, residents suggested a raised crossing area should be included in the scheme. The raised area will reduce speeds and help address the concern of residents that traffic will use the service road as a short cut to avoid Weyhill Road and the pedestrian crossing. The raised area has been included in the scheme, together with the provision of new and improved landscaping by the parking bays.

3.5 In light of the issues raised previously by residents and businesses, a number of minor modifications are suggested to be made in conjunction with the proposed scheme. The main revisions to the proposed scheme are identified below, together with those parking restrictions which will be sought.

3.6 Portway Close

(i) `No Waiting At Any Time' restrictions to be sought from the two junctions with Weyhill Road, to include all the service road except the parking bays and the radius of the entrance into Portway Close.

(ii) The new lay-bys to be limited to two hour parking between 9 am and 6 pm (Monday to Saturday).

(iii) Carriageway width to be reduced to encourage west to east directional movement through the service road.

(iv) A raised crossing area to be provided to link with the crossing on Weyhill Road and to improve safety for pedestrians and reduce traffic speeds.

(v) New and improved landscaping to be provided alongside the proposed parking bays to improve the environment for residents.

(vi) `Keep Clear' markings to be implemented opposite the new exit from the service road to enable easier exit.

3.7 Meadow Way

(i) `No Waiting At Any Time' restrictions to be sought from the junction with Weyhill Road to south of the exit from the shops forecourt.

(ii) No Waiting between 9 am and 6 pm (Monday to Saturday) on the western side of Meadow Way to be reinforced by cast iron bollards to prevent parking on the footway.

(iii) No Parking limits as at present on the eastern side of Meadow Way.

(iv) `Keep Clear' markings to be implemented opposite the exit from the forecourt to ensure vehicle access.

3.8 Weyhill Road

(i) New lay-by to have limited parking between 9 am and 6 pm (Monday to Saturday).

(ii) `Keep Clear' markings to be implemented opposite the Meadow Way junction to make it easier for vehicles to exit the side-road.

(iii) Carriageway narrowing to be installed adjacent to the forecourt to reduce speeds and improve safety for pedestrians.

(iv) Cast iron bollards to be considered to supplement or replace the existing railings.