Archived decisions

Contact: Paul Basham, ext 6054

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides Members with an update on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programme 2001/02 schemes within the New Forest Transport Strategy (NFTS) area. Members are asked to note the latest position regarding Fordingbridge High Street, Colbury and Ashurst right turn and associated works, and Brockenhurst School and Sway footways.

1.2 Progress is also reported on the Brockenhurst Transport Interchange, Sway and Hinton Admiral and Parish Partnerships.

1.3 The revised 2001/02 NFTS Capital Programme was approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 25 January 2002 and is as follows :

£'000

Northfield School, Ringwood 15

Sway-St Lukes 35

Brockenhurst 70

Railway Stations 15

2. Fordingbridge High Street

Year 2002/03 Capital Programme £80,000

Developer Contributions £20,000

Environmental Funding £5,000

Total £105,000

2.1 An allocation of £80,000 has been made in the LTP Capital Programme for measures on Fordingbridge High Street. Following early input by the previous local Member and other local representatives, it was agreed that the focus of the design work should be in the vicinity of the High Street/Provost Street (Market Place) junction. A working group has therefore been formed, which includes County Council officers and New Forest District Council's Conservation Officer for Fordingbridge, to consider options for the junction. The general framework for the design work, which is in line with the Fordingbridge Environmental Improvements, is to reallocate road space around the junction to benefit pedestrians. The measures, combined with townscape features and careful choice of materials to complement and link with earlier work carried out in the High Street under the Country Towns Initiative, will provide additional space for pedestrians and a better and safer environment for those who use this area of the High Street.

2.2 Preliminary design has now been undertaken and a preferred option has been prepared. The local Member, Councillor Mrs Heron, was invited to discuss the scheme proposals, and in principle supports the proposed scheme. However, a site meeting is being arranged to further discuss minor technical issues. A plan of the proposals is attached as Appendix 1.

2.3 Initial consultations took place during November and December 2001. The opportunity may also be taken to implement footway improvements to link with previous works at the eastern end of the High Street.

2.4 It is proposed that a period of consultation, estimated to cost £2,000, will be undertaken following this meeting. The results of the consultation will be reported at the next meeting.

3. Colbury Right Turn and Ashurst Traffic Calming Measures

Year 2002/03 £1,300,000

3.1 On 6 December 2001 this Panel approved the consultation plan for the right-turn facility at Colbury, associated traffic measures along the A35 through Ashurst and a route signing strategy.

3.2 The proposed layout for the Colbury right-turn facility provides signal control for traffic from the A326 southbound to the A35 west and replaces the loop road arrangement safeguarded in the New Forest District Local Plan. A slip-road loop facility had previously been investigated but, while land had been allocated for this facility, it was insufficient to provide a layout in accordance with current design standards. Extending the safeguarded land to ensure that the minimum design standards could be achieved would have resulted in greater environmental impact on a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

3.3 The need for traffic to do a `u-turn' at Rushington roundabout to gain access to the A35 westbound will cease and reduce traffic flows along this section of the A35. The scheme will also provide a more direct route along the A326 and A35 to Lyndhurst and the New Forest and will help reduce the occurrence of inappropriate traffic through the residential area of Foxhills.

3.4 As an integral part of the phased strategic approach to dealing with traffic conditions in Lyndhurst, the scheme will incorporate traffic management and local access improvements along the A35 through Ashurst. The total estimated cost of the Colbury right-turn facility and improvements in Ashurst will be in the region of £1.3 million.

3.5 The local Member, Councillor Bright, has been closely involved in developing the scheme and supports the proposals. A productive relationship has been established with Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council and the local District Council Member, Councillor Spikins, to help develop the traffic management options for Ashurst village.

3.6 Public consultation took place over five days between 7 and 16 March 2002 at Ashurst, Church Rooms, Lyndhurst Community Centre and Hounsdown Hall, Hounsdown, Totton.

3.7 The proposed junction layout and traffic measures were exhibited and officers from the County Council and New Forest District Council were available to answer questions. The exhibition was advertised in the Ashurst Parish Newsletter, local newspapers and through the distribution of posters and letter drops, with the aim of informing local residents, schools, bus companies and road users over a wide area, in addition to the local parish councils of Ashurst, Colbury, Totton and Lyndhurst and others.

3.8 Analysis of the questionnaires and comments will give an indication of public support for elements of the proposed schemes. The results of the consultation exercise will be reported to the next meeting of this Panel, with a closing date of 19 April 2002 for public comments. An oral update will be given at the meeting.

4. Brockenhurst School Safety Zone

4.1 This scheme has been incorporated into the footway improvement scheme on Sway Road in Brockenhurst following discussions with the Area Surveyor. The footway works are currently being undertaken by the contractor, with the construction of the school safety zone scheme programmed to be carried out during the Easter school holidays.

4.2 The timing of these works will avoid the risk of school children having to negotiate construction equipment and materials which could be considered a potential safety hazard. It is anticipated that the works should be completed before the school reconvenes for the summer term.

5. Northfield Road, Ringwood

Year 2001/02 £15,000

5.1 This is a top-up allocation for the 2000/01 scheme, which proposes to change the priority at the junction between Northfield Road and Salisbury Road, Ringwood, with the effect of reducing vehicle speeds. This will increase safety for child pedestrians attending local schools.

6. Footway Improvements in Sway

6.1 Improvements to the existing unmetalled footway between Station Road and Westbeams Road have been identified and are programmed to be undertaken in spring 2002.

6.2 It is proposed to undertake a Feasibility Study which will investigate other measures in Sway to provide safer routes to school for children. Measures to be investigated are the provision of uncontrolled crossing points on Station Road, south of its junction with Middle Road and immediately south of the railway overbridge on Station Road; the creation of a gateway/school entry zone feature on Church Lane near its junction with Westbeams Road; and the upgrading of a section of the footway between Station Road and Westbeams Road to create a consistent width of footway of approximately 2.5 metres.

6.3 Other opportunities to improve footway provision within the village for pedestrians generally will also be investigated. A further progress report on this study will be submitted to the next meeting.

7. Brockenhurst Transport Interchange

Year 2001-02 £70,000

7.1 Interchange works at Brockenhurst Station have now been completed and the Wilts and Dorset public bus service route 56/56A is able to enter the station forecourt.

7.2 The Forest Link demand-responsive services have low patronage and have been reviewed. Over 550 people are registered to use these services.

7.3 It is planned to make some of the services semi-scheduled and improve marketing of the demand-responsive computer services. Some barriers have arisen with the current booking system run by the operator, so a demand call centre run by the County Council is to be set up in Winchester.

7.4 Demand responsive services will cease in their current format as from 31 April. Shopping trips on Thursdays will continue but with another operator. It is planned to launch new demand responsive services in the summer.

8. Sway and Hinton Admiral Rail Stations

Year 2001-02 £15,000

8.1 Secure cycle parking provision and bus information is being progressed at Sway and Hinton Admiral railway stations.

8.2 The scheme will cost in the region of £15,000 and will be funded from the LTP Programme 2001/02. Works at Hinton Admiral will comprise the provision of cycle parking and shelters on the south (westbound) platform.

8.3 Works at Sway rail station will comprise the provision of four cycle lockers on new concrete bases on the south platform.

8.4 Installation of lockers has been delayed by train operator uncertainty about interpretation of new Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions (DTLR) security standards. This has also delayed the procurement process, as design changes have increased the cost. DTLR security standards have now been resolved and groundworks for locker bases commenced at the end of March. It is expected that the majority of work will be completed by the end of April.

9. Parish Partnerships

9.1 The Parish Partnership Programme has been developed by the County Council in response to legislation enacted in 1997, which permits parish and town councils to fund or contribute towards traffic calming schemes. The County Council has been able to match locally-generated funds from the Minor Works Programme, and in some cases additional funding has been forthcoming from district councils.

9.2 The general concept is that the local community works jointly with the County Council to identify small-scale traffic problems and develop appropriate measures. Consultation is usually managed by the parish or town council and this ensures that a scheme proceeds with the approval of the local community. Local contributions have ranged from £1,000 to £20,000, with £2,000 to £3,000 being fairly typical. In some cases projects may evolve so that supplementary or alternative funds can be employed. Examples have included schemes within the Safer Routes to Schools Programme, the Casualty Reduction Programme and the Traffic Management Revenue Budget.

9.3 Common concerns are the speed and volume of traffic, with particular emphasis on improving pedestrian security, especially for children. The measures vary depending on the circumstances of each project, but examples include road markings, gateway features, chicanes and road humps.

9.4 For Hampshire as a whole, nearly half of the parish and town councils have expressed an interest in the programme. For the New Forest Transport Strategy area it is lower, at 6 out of 33. This may be as a result of projects carried out as part of the current Transportation Strategy and the previous Highways Strategy. Nevertheless, projects have been implemented or are being developed in five parishes, as seen in Table 1.

Table 1

Parish Council	Project	Status
Bramshaw 2000/01	B3079: Signs and road markings. Parish Council (PC) contributions of £2,000.	Completed August 2001.
Bransgore 2000/01	Burley Road, including crown crossroads, signs and road markings. PC has allocated up to £2,000.	Outline proposals approved by PC June 2001. Detailed proposals being prepared.
Copythorne 1999/00	Winsor Road: Signs and road markings plus coloured surfacing footway at school entrance. PC contribution of £500 supplemented by highway maintenance funds.	Completed March 2001.
Godshill 2001/02	B3078: Gateway signs and road markings. PC has allocated up to £3,000.	Proposals being developed.
Sandleheath 2001/02	Alderholt Road: Gateway signs and road markings. PC has allocated up to £1,000.	Proposals being developed.

10. Lyndhurst Village Cycle Network

10.1 The feasibility study to investigate a potential cycle network has now been completed following discussions with officers from New Forest District Council. The study has evaluated cycle proposals along Gosport Lane, Shrubbs Hill Road and Chapel Lane, which will involve re-allocating existing road space for the exclusive use of cyclists.

10.2 The next stage in progressing the scheme is to engage Lyndhurst Parish Council in discussion to establish its support for the proposals. Public consultation on the proposals is intended following feedback from the parish council.

11. Cycle Strategy

11.1 Officer working groups have been established to progress the preparation of cycle plans for the Forest, which include the representatives from the County Council, New Forest District Council, local cycle groups, the Forestry Commission and the New Forest Committee.

11.2 The review of previous work is underway and network plans are in the process of being drawn up by officers at New Forest District Council.

11.3 Officers will present the draft plans to the next meeting of the Panel with a view to public consultation. A priority assessment of the routes will be undertaken for implementation through the Capital Programme and developer contributions.

Recommendation

That the position of the schemes within the Capital Programme be noted.

7086/PB