Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 January 2002

Project Appraisal: Botley Road, Fair Oak - Proposed Pelican Crossing

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 12

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ROADS

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

BOTLEY ROAD, FAIR OAK - PELICAN CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2002

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 Mar 01

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Construction

23

Fees

7

30

30

30

Less developers/

other contributions

Nil

30

30

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (Safer Routes to Schools 2001/02)

30

(b) Other

30

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

30

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1.2

0.003

Capital charges

3.0

0.005

TOTAL net expenditure

4.2

0.008

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Requests have been received from members of the public and the three schools on the Wyvern Campus, supported by the local Member - Councillor Mrs Boulton - and Eastleigh Borough Council, for the provision of a controlled crossing on the B3354 Botley Road, near Cotsalls, Fair Oak (see attached location plan). In the past a school crossing patrol has operated outside the schools. However, of concern has been the difficulty in recruiting patrol wardens which has led to the request for the provision of a controlled crossing to help pedestrians, especially children and parents, cross this busy road. A count of vehicle and pedestrian flows has produced a PV² value of 2.36 x 10⁸ which reaches a level where a controlled crossing is justified. A controlled crossing at this location would help the majority of children to cross the road on their journey to and from school. However, it is recognised that it would not cater for all pedestrians from the schools wishing to cross Botley Road.

In view of the site conditions at this location it is considered that a signalled controlled Pelican crossing is the appropriate type of crossing to be installed. A detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The proposal is consistent with the County Council's transportation strategy, ie to reduce accident potentials, provide improved facilities for pedestrians and to provide safer routes to schools.

Details of scheme and design standards

The crossing design adheres to the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions' standards together with Hampshire County Council standards, and has been safety audited at the appropriate stages in the design process. The provision of a crossing at this location is justified in accordance with the criteria.

Environmental impact

The proposal has negligible consequences for the environment.

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory procedures

All necessary statutory requirements have been satisfied in the development of this proposal.

Public consultation

Public notices have been posted on site for 28 days giving details of the proposal. Two letters of objection were received.

Mr E D Anwyl of 1 Cotsalls, Botley Road, Fair Oak who raised the following points.

(i) the proposed location ignores children wishing to cross from the houses opposite the schools and those further south towards Horton Heath;

(ii) children from the infant school will have to cross the main campus entrance at busy times of the day to reach the proposed location of the crossing;

(iii) the proposed location of the crossing will increase the vehicles parking in Cotsalls. These vehicles will have difficulty turning right out of the road because of those queueing at the crossing leading to congestion and the risk of inconsiderate action by drivers;

(iv) the pavement is narrow on the east side of Botley Road and this will cause congestion between those pedestrians waiting to cross and those wishing to continue south;

(v) the proposed construction will damage his trees which are protected by a preservation order and would hold the County Council responsible for any damage to them;

(vi) the audible tone will disturb the residents of his property especially the bedrooms which are occupied in the morning peak time;

(vii) there have already been problems caused by pedestrians late at night returning from the local public houses with items thrown into gardens and fences kicked. The location of the crossing will add to these problems; and

(viii) the proposed location of the crossing has poor advanced visibility.

Mr. Anwyl suggested that the crossing should be located further south which would remove the above objections.

Southern Planning Practice on behalf of the Trustees of Sunnybank Farm, Botley Road, Fair Oak.

(i) Southern Planning Practice is concerned that the proposed pelican crossing will prejudice the development of Sunnybank Farm and has requested that the decision on the siting of the crossing be deferred

Comments on the objections.

Mr Anwyl

(i) There has been consultation with the County Education Officer who supports the proposal and agrees that the proposed position is the best location to serve all the schools on the campus. The schools are in agreement on the need for the crossing and have been consulted by the County Education Officer on the scheme. Recent counts have shown that 10 times as many children cross at the proposed site than the one suggested by Mr Anwyl.

(ii) There is considerable congestion outside the schools in the morning and the afternoon. When the crossing has stopped traffic it will be easier to exit from Cotsalls.

(iii) There is sufficient footway width on the east side of Botley Road for a crossing. The major pedestrian congestion will occur on the side of the schools in the afternoon. There is sufficient width to cater for pedestrians on this side.

(iv) Any proposed construction will avoid damage to trees.

(v) The audible warning would be turned off during the night. It would be set at a level to reduce annoyance but still provide sufficient indication of when it is safe to cross for the visually impaired.

(vi) The Chief Constable will be informed of Mr Anwyl's concerns regarding possible additional vandalism if the crossing is installed.

(vii) The forward visibility of the crossing complies with DTLR standards.

Southern Planning Practice

(i) Eastleigh Borough Council refused planning permission for the development of the Sunnybank site in 1997 on the grounds of environmental pollution. At present the planning application has not been resubmitted and the developer is in discussion with Eastleigh Borough Council. However, the installation of a crossing should not prejudice the possible future development of this land. The site has a large enough frontage for a new access to be located sufficiently far away from the proposed position of the crossing.

The local Member - Councillor Mrs Boulton - is aware of the objections and continues to support the installation of a crossing at the proposed location.

Facilities for the disabled

The proposed scheme incorporates tactile paving and audible warnings for the visually impaired and flush kerbs at the crossing point for wheelchairs, prams and the less mobile.

Maintenance implications

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

See paragraph on Public Consultation.

Sustainability

The Pelican crossing supports walking which is a sustainable form of transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

A Zebra crossing was considered but a Pelican crossing is more appropriate. There are no other suitable locations that satisfy both local requirements and technical constraints.

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

Pel/6137

County Surveyor's Department

ITS Group, Monument House