Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 March 2002

Project Appraisal: Winchester Movement and Access Plan - Chesil Street/Bar End Road Improvement Scheme

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 14

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ROADS

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

WINCHESTER MOVEMENT AND ACCESS PLAN: CHESIL STREET/BAR END ROAD, WINCHESTER - IMPROVEMENT SCHEME

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

AUGUST 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

FEBRUARY 2003

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 `02

(at Jan `02

Prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

nil)

Construction

200)

235

Fees

35)

235

235

Less developers/

nil

nil

other contributions

235

235

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

235

(b) Other

235

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

nil

(c)

TOTAL

235

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

6

0.008

Capital charges

17

0.018

TOTAL net expenditure

23

0.026

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Chesil Street/Bar End Road, Winchester provides an important radial access route into the city centre as evidenced by the present high level of use (see attached location plan). Some 11,500 (2000 survey data) vehicles a day enter Winchester on this route and recent surveys indicate that this level of flow is continuing to grow. The road passes through an essentially residential area where many of the properties have direct access to the highway. There are a few sections along this road where the footway is either extremely narrow or does not exist. In addition there are a number of commercial premises along this road where regular deliveries create significant delay and give rise to increases in ambient noise levels and pollution.

Outside the very busy peak periods, speeds are in excess of the urban speed limit and visibility is limited by the vertical alignment. A number of junctions are located just beyond either the brows of hills or hidden by bends in the horizontal alignment.

A more managed environment and greater traffic control will reduce the speed of vehicles passing along this route and at the same time result in a reduction in the pollution of the area.

These proposals will also contribute to a safer residential area and reduce the social exclusion created by busy roads passing through residential areas.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

There is a clear need to enhance the opportunities for walking along this road to make it both a safer and more enjoyable option. The provision of a footway where none currently exists together with the widening of the present footway where it is very narrow will significantly aid the achievement of this objective.

The other engineering works which reduce the speed of vehicles passing through this area will also result in less pollution and create a safer environment.

Details of scheme and design standards

This scheme is essentially a series of small scale improvements which will improve both the appearance and quality of lifestyles in this part of the city. The work includes, inter alia:

(i)

widening the footway outside the Chesil Theatre;

(ii)

altering the existing T-junction at Chesil Street/Barfield Close;

(iii)

converting the Zebra crossing to signal controlled crossing;

(iv)

undertaking other footway widening along Chesil Street;

(v)

undertaking junction treatments at Wharf Hill/East Hill;

(vi)

installing a new Puffin crossing near Milland Road;

(vii)

constructing a new footway south of Bar End Road/Milland Road; and

(viii)

constructing a new mini-roundabout at the Barfield Close/Bar End Road junction.

The demanding physical constraints along this road have necessitated a high level of detailed design to ensure that the proposals can be achieved.

The scheme design adheres to the Design Manual for Roads and Bridges issued by the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR), together with Hampshire County Council standards where these supersede the national standards.

Environmental impact

This is an important route into the city and the finish of the work must reflect this requirement. High quality materials will be used throughout the project with the emphasis on both the visual impact and durability. This will improve the general environment of the area.

Land requirements

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

Statutory procedures

A public notice of the intention to provide a Puffin crossing at Milland Road has been displayed for the statutory period and one objection has been received (see consultation below).

The necessary statutory procedures will be followed where any traffic regulatory orders or traffic calming is introduced.

Public consultation

A number of proposals were presented to a public consultation in June 2001 at which officers were in attendance. Letters were also sent to all businesses to inform them of the proposals. Questionnaires were made available throughout this period.

The proposals were widely welcomed, although matters of detail were discussed and clarified with residents, local groups and Resident Associations.

Stagecoach in Hampshire was particularly consulted as the route is the main access to its Bar End depot and also to seek advice on the operation of the Park and Ride services. The company has expressed its support for the proposals.

The proposals and outcome of the consultation exercise were fully reported to the Winchester Movement and Access Plan (WMAP), Joint Members' Panel in December 2001.

Mr A R Davies of 6 Prinstead Close, Bar End, Winchester expressed support in principle for the proposal but felt that the crossing's location should be closer to the natural desire line of pedestrians exiting Millard Road and crossing Bar End Road, and be located nearer the corner. He also expressed concerns about the potential difficulty of moving in and out of Prinstead Close.

The crossing is located at a point to maintain a safe clearance from Prinstead Close, meeting the distance from the side road junction in the relevant technical guidance and on an optimum line for pedestrians to follow. It is considered that the provision of a formal crossing facility in this location will encourage pedestrians to cross the road at this site.

In the circumstances, it is recommended that the crossing should be implemented in the advertised position.

Facilities for the disabled

The needs of disabled people have been fully taken into account in the design of this project to include tactile paving at formal crossing points, together with flush crossing arrangements at other sites.

Maintenance implications

There will be minimal additional maintenance implications arising from this scheme and any which are to be encountered will be fully addressed in setting the annual budgets. There will be the running costs of the Puffin crossing together with maintenance of the enhanced white lining.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The proposals have no impact on this Act.

Sustainability

The scheme will enhance the environment for walking and thus widen the choice for travel in the area, reducing reliance upon the use of motor cars.

In addition, the measures cumulatively will reduce pollution in the area leading to an improvement in air quality.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Mrs Peskett, who is also on the WMAP Panel, supports these improvements.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No alternative arrangements were considered as effective in view of the constraints within which to achieve any improvements along this section of road.

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