Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 March 2002

Project Appraisal: A3057 King's Somborne - Enhancements

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 12

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A3507 KING'S SOMBORNE - ENHANCEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

END OF JULY 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

MID TO LATE SEPTEMBER 2002 (8 WEEKS FROM COMMENCEMENT)

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 Feb 02

(at Feb 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

-

-

Construction

35

35

Fees

10

10

45

45

Less developers/

other contributions

45

45

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Western Hampshire Transport Strategy Capital Programme 2001/02

35

(b) Safer Routes to Schools 2001/02

10

45

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

45

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

Capital charges

0.5

0.001

4.0

0.004

TOTAL net expenditure

4.5

0.005

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

King's Somborne is situated approximately 12 kilometres west of Winchester on the A3057, linking Romsey with Stockbridge. The Parish Council has had concerns with safety for road users in the village and through the County Council's Parish Partnership Scheme an investigation was undertaken into the existing conditions.

Traffic counts were undertaken in the village and, whilst the volume of traffic is acceptable for an A road, there are concerns over the speed of traffic and its suitability for a village environment.

Accident investigation at the time showed that during the current three year period six reported injury accidents had occurred along the A3057 within the village. They resulted in eight slight injuries. Three were single vehicle accidents involving loss of control, two were motorcycle accidents and one pedal cycle. There were no reported pedestrian accidents.

Preliminary designs for traffic calming in the village have been produced. following a meeting of the Western Hampshire Transport Strategy Members' Panel in October 2001 and after approval was given by the Executive Member for Environment in November 2001, the scheme was placed on the Capital Works Programme with a provisional budget of £35,000.

Further funding of up to £10,000 is available for works in King's Somborne under the Safer Routes to Schools scheme. The proposed works will directly increase safety outside the school and other improvements to school travel safety can be incorporated into the detailed design of the works. This will involve further liaison with the school, but by combining the budgets and undertaking the works at the same time the full £10,000 may not be required and the funding could be made available for other schools.

Discussions have taken place with the Parish Council and a way forward has been agreed with Parish Councillors Bidwell and Edmonds. The delivery of the scheme has now become a matter of high priority for the parish.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

This scheme is funded through the Western Hampshire Transport Strategy Capital Programme, with additional funds from the Safer Routes to Schools Capital Programme. It is in line with Government Policy in that it improves safety, particularly in the vicinity of a school.

Details of scheme and design standards

Location plans are attached and a detailed plan showing the proposed improvements will be displayed. The objectives of the scheme are to improve safety for all by raising driver awareness of the village through which they are driving. The works along the A3057 through the village include:

(i)

emphasising the entry into the village by enhancing the existing `gateways' at the northern and southern ends of the village;

(ii)

constructing visual carriageway narrowing to influence driver behaviour when negotiating the narrow section of road at the northern end of the village between `Bryony Cottage' and `Beulah', known locally as the `Mole Hole';

(iii)

constructing visual carriageway narrowing to influence driver behaviour when negotiating the narrow section of road at the southern end of the village in the vicinity of the house called 'Tollgate';

(iv)

narrowing the carriageway width through the centre of the village; and

(v)

resiting, replacing and enhancing some of the existing signs to more appropriate positions and renewing the existing carriageway markings where necessary.

Narrowing the carriageway through the centre of the village will specifically improve the safety and access for schoolchildren and parents, by increasing the existing footway width and providing new pedestrian guard railing at the main entrance to the school. Faded signs will also be replaced and yellow retroflective backing boards will be introduced to the school warning signs.

Environmental impact

There should be no loss of trees or established vegetation, and the proposed works will not create any further hard surfaced areas. The scheme also includes a proposal to increase the village green area around the War Memorial.

Land requirements

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

Statutory procedures

None.

Public consultation

The Parish Council has been involved since the early stages of this scheme and meetings between parish councillors and County Council officers have taken place regarding its design. The Parish Council was provided with copies of the preliminary design to discuss with local residents to seek their comments.

As a result of local comments further work on the design has been undertaken by WS Atkins in partnership with the County Council. These final plans were shown to parish councillors on 25 January 2002 at an on-site consultation; any minor variations were discussed and a final scheme was agreed.

The Parish Councillors as well as the local Member, Councillor Woodhall, support these proposals and are keen for works to begin.

The Police, Fire and Ambulance Services has also been asked to provide comment. Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service has responded and has no comments on the scheme. A formal response is awaited from the Police, although initial indications are positive.

Facilities for the disabled

No specific facilities are required. Access for people with disabilities using the school will be improved through widening of the footway outside the school. Investigation will also be undertaken to identify areas for dropped kerbs and additional signage through the Safer Routes to Schools scheme.

Maintenance implications

There will be standard maintenance required, through the renewal of line markings at approved intervals as well as the continued maintenance of verge vegetation. The pedestrian guard railing may also require maintenance depending on the requirements for recoating, etc.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The proposals have no impact on this Act.

Sustainability

The design of the scheme aims to maintain the character of the village, minimising the impact on the existing facilities and adding a minimal amount to the existing maintenance programme.

The new layout will improve the environment for walking and cycling, widening travel choice and also support and enhance pedestrian access to the school.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

The narrowing of the road through the village centre comprised two alternatives: visual road narrowing through line marking, and physical narrowing through altering kerb positions. The line marking was to be considered if financial constraints were such that more permanent works could not be funded.

Additional surfacing options were included in the preliminary design to enhance the entry to the village. However these surfacings are high cost and the introduction of large areas of proprietary surfacing and the removal of the existing road surfacing could not be justified in terms of the budget available; especially as it was only being used as a visual reminder that the driver was entering a village. Smaller areas of new surfacing and the refresh of the existing surface, combined with the proposed new signage, are a more appropriate and cost effective solution to highlighting the entrance at the northern end of the village.

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

Western Hampshire Transport Strategy

File 13/3/32

County Surveyor's Department