Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 January 2002

Project Appraisal - Badger Farm Road, Winchester - Junction Improvement Scheme and Cycle Crossing

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 10

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ROADS

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

BADGER FARM ROAD, WINCHESTER - JUNCTION IMPROVEMENT SCHEME AND CYCLE CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

APRIL 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2002

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at Jan 2002

(at Jan 2002

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

5

}

Construction

95

} 120

Fees

20

}

120

120

Less developers/

Nil

Nil

other contributions

120

120

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

120

(b) Other

2.

From other resources

Nil

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

120

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

N/A

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2

0.004

Capital charges

Nil

Nil

TOTAL net expenditure

2

0.004

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

This project is part of the programme to create an Oliver's Battery area to City Centre cycle route. The proposed scheme also supports safer walking and cycling to three local schools and makes provision for elderly and mobility impaired people. There are additional benefits in that the scheme helps constrain traffic speeds on Badger Farm Road. A location plan is attached.

When Badger Farm Road was built, in the 1970s, no provision was made for cyclists to cross the road and continue their journey towards the City Centre following the line of the then severed Oliver's Battery Road. It was thought sufficient simply to provide a subway for pedestrians to cross the road at this point.

The subway has limited facilities and does not provide adequately for disabled people. The stepped ramp is difficult to negotiate and there is only one full ramp which directs pedestrians generally away from their intended direction of travel. It is not feasible for cyclists to cross the road safely at this point and as a result they are required to use the busy Badger Farm Road to reach Romsey Road at Pitt Roundabout.

There is now a significant movement across the line of Badger Farm Road by both pedestrians and cyclists. In order to sustain the present use and encourage its greater use by others in the future, better provision for cyclists and pedestrians is urgently required, particularly in view of the need to create safer routes to schools. This route provides access to three local schools, one of which (Oliver's Battery Primary School) has a school travel plan and another (King's School) is currently in discussion about transport improvements.

It is anticipated that this project will be completed before the start of the next academic year.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

There is a clear need to enhance the opportunities for cycling and walking in the Badger Farm Road/Oliver's Battery area within Winchester by making it both attractive and safe, to use a suitable crossing arrangement. These proposals will achieve this objective and encourage others to use this route in the future.

Details of scheme and design standards

The proposal is to provide an at-grade crossing for use by cyclists and pedestrians and to re-open the route into Oliver's Battery Road North for cyclists by revocation of part of the order which originally closed off this route.

The original scheme sought the infilling of the subway together with the creation of a new traffic signal controlled junction which would include a pedestrian phase in the phasing to provide a more acceptable means of crossing this busy route.

The design would fully adhere to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridgeworks (DMRB) issued by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions. It also complies with Hampshire County Council standards where these supersede those in the DMRB.

Arising from the consultation exercise, significant representation was received in support of the retention of the subway for use by younger children and other more able pedestrians at peak periods. This suggestion was reviewed and it was found possible to accommodate this request, subject to the stepped ramp becoming a simple stepped arrangement.

The steps will be infilled and the retaining walls cut down where they are no longer required. The ramp on the north side will be retained although it is acknowledged that there is no similar provision on the south side. Mirrors will be placed in the subway to improve inter-visibility between steps and subway sections to enhance the feeling of security for users.

Since pedestrians will gather to cross the road at-grade on the south-east corner of the junction, a suitable waiting area is to be provided. This will be clear of the rebuilt subway steps. However, the footway beyond and into Oliver's Battery Road South is extremely narrow and concern was raised about pedestrians' safety at this point. This has to some degree been reduced by the offer of land to slightly widen the footway at this critical point.

Environmental impact

There is expected to be only minimal environmental impact arising from this proposal although the opportunity will be taken to provide soft landscaping if possible within the works area.

The effect of the scheme on queue lengths and delays arising to traffic at this junction is expected to be broadly neutral, with traffic emerging from Oliver's Battery Road South with slightly less delay in the peak periods, but slightly longer delay in the off peak situation.

Land requirements

The original creation of the new junction between Badger Farm Road and Oliver's Battery Road South left two properties with their accesses very close to the junction. The existing footway is extremely narrow, less than one metre, and as a result it is difficult for the owners to emerge from their driveways in their vehicles without encroaching upon the carriageway. The greater difficulty arises for the occupier of No. 80 Oliver's Battery Road South, which lies on the inbound side of the junction.

As a result, the owner has offered to dedicate a small area of land to highway use to improve his exit visibility in return for setting back his present highway boundary. This offer has been accepted and the land will be acquired by agreement.

Statutory procedures

The original road closure order of Oliver's Battery Road South will need to be amended so that cyclists will now be allowed to use this route to cross Badger Farm Road and follow the route used by pedestrians in the past. It is not expected that the revocation order will meet any objection.

Public consultation

Full public consultation was undertaken between 27 July and 1 August 2001 when letters were widely circulated in the area, notices prominently displayed and an exhibition held at St Mark's Church and Sainsbury's Badger Farm Store. The exhibition was well attended and some 315 responses were received from local residents.

The outcome of the analysis showed that over 66% of the residents supported the scheme, particularly those in Oliver's Battery.

Specific meetings were arranged with the residents most likely to be affected by the changes, ie those immediately on the corners of the junction. They expressed some reservation about noise and traffic queues, but were generally in support of the scheme.

Local Member

The local Member, Councillor Mrs Bailey, is fully supportive of the scheme.

Facilities for the disabled

Since it is recognised that the present arrangement is positively disadvantageous to the disabled, the revised arrangements to provide an at- grade crossing with pedestrian control incorporated into the signal control will be a vast improvement.

Maintenance implications

These will include the ongoing maintenance of a set of traffic signals and will be taken into account at the setting of the annual budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

No impact.

Sustainability

The scheme will enhance the environment for walking and cycling, thus widening travel choice and reducing dependence on the motor car.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No alternative arrangements were considered in view of the very limited space to incorporate any significant improvement at this junction.

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

None