Contact: Terry Williams, ext 7046

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That on completion of Phase 1 of Stage 4 of the Fareham Western Wards - Western Distributor Road scheme the new road be linked to Schooner Way.

2. Reason

2.1 On 25 June 2001 the former Environment Committee approved a Project Appraisal subject to further consultation being undertaken to determine how the new road links into the existing road network.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not linking the new road to Schooner Way until Phase 2 (Schooner Way to Warsash Road) is complete.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or 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. Summary

7.1 On 10 September 2001 the Executive Member for Environment approved the making of a Traffic Regulation Order to prohibit all vehicles from proceeding on that length of Dibles Road, Warsash between the turning head constructed adjacent to property No. 63 and property No. 79. This would enable Dibles Road east of the closure to be connected to a new length of distributor road linking north-west to Schooner Way.

7.2 Works relating to phase one started on site on 15 October 2001 (see attached general arrangement plan) and are due to be completed in February 2002. A Temporary Road Closure of Dibles Road commenced on 22 October 2001 to permit the construction works to start. The permanent order comes into effect in February 2002.

8. Consultation

8.1 An exhibition was held on 3 October 2001 between 4 pm and 8 pm at the Victory Hall in Warsash. The exhibition showed details of the scheme and two options for linking the new road into the existing road network (see attached second plan):

Option 1 - linking the new road into Schooner Way; and

Option 2 - not linking the new road into Schooner Way until Phase 2 is completed (Schooner Way to Warsash Road).

With these options traffic will either use one of the following routes to access Warsash Road:

(i) the new road, Schooner Way and Cutter Avenue (option 1 only);

(ii) Brigantine Road/Trimaran Road/Schooner Way and Cutter Avenue; or

(iii) Dibles Road (east), Fleet End Road/Schooner Way and Cutter Avenue; or

(iv) Dibles Road (east) and Fleet End Road.

8.2 A questionnaire was available for those attending which enabled them to indicate their preferred option on how the new road should be linked into the existing road network.

9. Comments Received from Exhibition

9.1 Approximately 155 people attended the exhibition and 153 completed questionnaires were returned.

9.2 Table of Summary of Questionnaires

More respondents chose Option 1 than Option 2, however out of 153 responses the following comments were expressed:

10. Traffic Figures

10.1 Traffic counts/surveys were carried out on the surrounding roads on 21 September 2001 prior to the roadworks commencing for Phase 1 (see table below - before roadworks). Further traffic counts/surveys were subsequently carried out on 30 November 2001 (see below).

10.2 In order to carry out the roadworks associated with Phase 1 a Temporary Road Closure of Dibles Road was implemented on 22 October 2001. At present with the road closure in place and Schooner Way not connected into the new road the road network is the same as it would be for Option 2. Hence the flows shown in the table above for the existing situation are those that would exist for Option 2.

10.3 For Option 1 linking the new road into Schooner Way the predicted traffic movements are as follows:

(i) traffic flows are unlikely to be very different on Cutter Avenue than they are at present during the roadworks;

(ii) traffic flows on Fleet End Road and Schooner Way (east) should fall as traffic transfers onto Dibles Road (east), the new road and Schooner Way (west) to access Cutter Avenue; and

(iii) some traffic may also transfer from Brigantine Road onto the new road instead of travelling along Trimaran Road to access Schooner Way.

10.4 Hence Option 1 would provide the opportunity for flows on Fleet End Road and Schooner Way east to be reduced compared with Option 2.

11. Phase 2 - Schooner Way to Warsash Road

11.1 In light of the comments received, both at the consultation on 3 October 2001 and in relation to the Traffic Regulation Order Procedures for Dibles Road, the County Council should as a priority try to acquire the remaining parcel of land necessary to construct the final section (Phase 2) of the Western Distributor Road from Warsash Road to Schooner Way. Negotiations are actively proceeding.

11.2 Once the final section of the Western Distributor Road from Warsash Road to Schooner Way is programmed, consultations should be undertaken with a view to closing Cutter Avenue to through traffic, with the exception of pedestrians and cyclists, as proposed in the Area 15 Development Brief published by Fareham Borough Council.

12. Conclusion

12.1 From the responses there was an overall preference for Option 1. There were also comments that the road was not required, however Stage 4 of the Western Distributor Road is considered necessary to provide access to development south of Warsash Road although it cannot be provided in its entirety at this time. Some respondents wished to see Dibles Road remain open but this would reduce the benefits to Dibles Road west of the new road and the use of Stage 4. In addition, there was support for its closure amongst the respondents. Several respondents also thought the new road should not be built until all the land necessary for Stage 4 has been acquired.

12.2 In line with the majority of respondents and the forecasts that traffic flows are likely to reduce on Schooner Way east and Fleet End Road (although traffic flows on Cutter Avenue may increase correspondingly) it is considered that Option 1 should be implemented.

12.3 The County Council should expedite negotiations with Warsash Motors to seek to acquire the remaining parcel of land necessary to construct the final section of the Western Distributor Road from Warsash Road to Schooner Way.

6839/TPW