Contact: Helen Ackerman, ext 5077

1. Background

1.1 In August 2000 WSP Consultants was appointed by the County Council to carry out a study into the transport needs for the Hedge End Area. The study reviewed existing transport arrangements in the area and proposed improvements in Hedge End, Botley and West End which reflected the aspirations of the local community, businesses and the County Council's Transport Policies. The final report was submitted to the County Council in March 2001.

1.2 A meeting in July 2001 with Members of the County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Hedge End, West End and Botley (HEWEB) Local Area Committee approved a preferred list of projects from the WSP report. This list was recommended for approval by the former Southampton Area Transport Strategy Panel in November 2001.

2. Financial Details

2.1 The Hedge End Transport Strategy (HETS) is funded from various developer contributions (Section 278 Agreements) where monies have not been allocated to a specific project, but have an area qualification, for example the Hedge End area. This funding has been allocated to projects identified within this study and other projects that Eastleigh Borough Council has been developing, such as West End to Swaythling Cycles. There is currently £900,000 available for schemes recommended at the joint Members' meeting and in this report.

3. W S Atkins Review

3.1 In October 2001 as part of the Partnering Agreement with Hampshire County Council, W S Atkins (WSA) was commissioned to review the reports prepared by WSP, and others on some of the specific schemes by Eastleigh Borough Council and the County Council. The list of reports is provided in the attached appendix. WSA was required to assess each of the preferred schemes, and determine the nature and content of the likely works with a view to providing more detailed initial estimates.

4. Hedge End, West End and Botley/Hampshire County Council Member Forum

4.1 Following WSA's assessment, and the meeting of the Members on 13 February 2002, the following schemes are proposed.

4.2 In order to progress schemes with a shorter lead-in time, a list of projects that could be implemented within the next six to nine months has been prepared. These schemes were assessed using the following criteria:

(i) little or no survey work required;

(ii) little or no consultation required;

(iii) no Traffic Regulation Orders required;

(iv) little or no further feasibility work required;

(v) no significant utility works required;

(vi) no land acquisition required; and

(vii) no significant utility diversions.

4.3 The projects identified using these criteria are:

Project Name	Brief Description	Estimated Cost
Missing links to Wildern School	Extend existing footways to provide continuous pedestrian facilities to the school.	£7,100
Tollbar/Charles Watts Way	Apply coloured surfacing to pedestrian crossing and alter markings on approach from M27.	£3,600
Charles Watts Way	Make improvements to signing and quality of route over footbridge.	£11,600
Chalk Hill/ West End Road	Realign junction.	£29,800
St Johns Road		£35,600
	Estimated Costs	£87,700

These projects are recommended for approval and to be taken forward for immediate implementation, taking advantage of the County Council's Term Maintenance Contract where possible.

4.4 The preferred list of schemes, excluding those above, has also been assessed to identify where it is appropriate to group like or dependent schemes together. Packaging schemes is likely to generate some cost savings in preparation, design and supervision fees. The recommendations have been made with the following criteria in mind:

(i) related projects, ie dependent on another scheme;

(ii) schemes contributing to a common policy; and

(iii) schemes in close proximity to others.

Packaging of schemes does not indicate a higher priority in terms of construction or need.

4.5 The following tables identify the recommended 'Packages':

It is proposed that this package be taken to its preliminary design stage.

It is proposed that this package is taken to preliminary design stage.

This package is seen to have a low priority at this stage. No further work is to be done on this package at this time.

It is proposed that this package is taken to preliminary design stage.

The Tollbar Way formal crossing is to be put on hold by the County Council as this is the subject of a Section 278 Agreement which may fund this work. Tollbar Way service access was deleted from the list of schemes by Members.

The High Street Improvement is to be assessed under the County Council's crossings criteria. The Chapel Road scheme is to be the subject of a feasibility study.

This package is to be reviewed with the Police to determine if it is required.

Estimated total cost of Packaged Schemes to be undertaken now is £865,400.

4.6 Of the preferred schemes, the following do not lend themselves to being undertaken quickly, or packaged:

5. The Way Forward

5.1 It is proposed that the projects identified for delivery within the next six to nine months will be progressed by WSA, and procured through the County Council's Term Maintenance Contract where possible.

5.2 The remaining funding will be allocated to those schemes recommended for feasibility or preliminary design as detailed in paragraphs 4.5 and 4.6. Each of these will be progressed by WSA for implementation in late 2002 and early 2003, depending on the level of consultation and any issues arising throughout the design stage.

5.3 One of the main aims for this study was to provide a basis for future negotiations with developers in the area. The County Council will continue to seek contributions towards the HETS, or particular schemes identified in this report, from developers as their proposals come forward.

Recommendation

That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the packaging of schemes and the way forward in this report be approved.

7000/HA

APPENDIX