Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

18 June 2002

Project Appraisal: The Square and the High Street (part), Petersfield - Pedestrian and Environmental Improvements

Report of the County Surveyor and County Planning Officer

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

THE SQUARE, AND HIGH STREET (PART), PETERSFIELD - PEDESTRIAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

AUGUST 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

OCTOBER 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 May 02

(at May 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

nil

nil

Construction

395

395

Fees

70

70

465

465

Less developers/

other contributions

465

465

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme 2001/02 - Special Project (as confirmed by the Executive Member - Environment, 9 October 2001)

365

(b) CHARTS Programme 2001/02

10

(c) Country Towns Initiative

90

465

2.

From other resources

TOTAL

465

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

nil

nil

Capital charges

33

0.034

TOTAL net expenditure

33

0.034

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Petersfield lies within the East Hampshire District and is covered by the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS).

The scheme is identified in the 2000/01 programme for Petersfield which was approved by the CHARTS Panel on 6 October 2000, and subsequently endorsed by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 20 November 2000.

The project also integrates with the County Council's approved Country Towns Initiative Programme, which identified Petersfield for 2001/02. This programme delivers environmental enhancement, traffic calming and landscape improvement works to identified rural towns and villages in Hampshire. Through such works the programme aims to add to the environmental character and distinctiveness of these areas and promote them as vibrant local service centres.

The first stage of the improvement works to Petersfield town centre was approved through a project appraisal in March 2002 and included work to St Peter's Road between The Square and the Police Station. The second stage of the proposals, which is the subject of this report, include The Square and part of the High Street (between The Square and Chapel Street). A further project appraisal will be submitted in the autumn of 2002 for the remainder of the town centre proposals once detailed design work has been completed for the remainder of the High Street (from The Square to Dragon Street) and the proposed 20 miles per hour (mph) zone.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The CHARTS area forms one of 10 transport strategy areas included in the Local Transport Plan, which was first published by Hampshire County Council in June 1999.

The strategy sets out a five year programme for the development of key transportation initiatives within the area; the final draft of which was endorsed by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 4 September 2000.

As part of CHARTS, a transport strategy for Petersfield has been developed and is known as the Petersfield Area Transportation Strategy (PATS). Its aim is to address future transport needs within the policy framework of sustainability, whilst maintaining the character of the town and supporting its economy. The scheme is expected to make a significant contribution to these objectives.

This scheme forms part of a package of transportation initiatives currently being developed for Petersfield under PATS, which was formally launched on 6 December 2000. The strategy sets out a series of transportation proposals for the Petersfield area over the next 20 years. This has been developed following earlier work by the County Council in partnership with East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and Petersfield Town Council. The main aim was to reflect the ideas provided by a series of community workshops and extensive local consultation. A draft report was produced by consultants Halcrow Fox, which was consulted on in November 1999. Following consultation the draft strategy was refined and included most of the proposals recommended by the Halcrow Fox report.

This scheme is expected to contribute to the delivery of Proposal 11 within PATS which aims to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in Petersfield. The scheme will form the first stage in the delivery of Proposal 13 of PATS which aims to provide a 20 mph speed limit zone for the `historic core' of the town centre. The `historic core' includes the High Street, The Square, part of Chapel Street, St Peter's Road, Sheep Street, Hylton Road and part of The Spain. The extent of this scheme and the future 20 mph zone are shown on the attached location plan.

Both proposals within PATS accord with the County Council's Local Transport Plan through the development of a safer environment that will help promote sustainable transport modes such as walking and cycling.

To fully implement the agreed proposals for The Square, it is expected that insufficient funds will remain in the existing allocation to complete those for the High Street. Options to reduce the estimated cost for The Square have been carefully considered and some revisions have been made. In order to preserve the integrity of the scheme and to complete the High Street, it is proposed to make up the shortfall from the Capital Programme - Contingency Reserve Allocation, as approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 14 May 2002.

Details of scheme and design standards

The scheme has been designed to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in The Square, part of St Peter's Road (between The Square and the Police Station) and part of the High Street (between The Square and Chapel Street). The benefits for cyclists may not be fully realised until implementation of the proposals for the remainder of the High Street and of the proposed 20 mph zone.

The proposals for The Square include the greater part of the environmental enhancements that are expected to complement the Market Square setting.

The primary features of the scheme are to:

(i)

widen footways and carry out improvement works to The Square and the High Street, including modification to the bus stop areas in the High Street;

(ii)

create a `courtesy' crossing across the High Street between The Square and Lloyds TSB Bank;

(iii)

install new bus shelters for the High Street bus stop area;

(iv)

improve street lighting;

(v)

improve public seating areas, including the creation of a new area in front of St Peter's Church;

(vi)

install new cycle storage/locking facilities;

(vii)

create landscape planting areas;

(viii)

resurface the carriageway on that part of the High Street disturbed by the works; and

(ix)

install cable ducting under the carriageway around The Square to enable the District Council to provide electricity supplies for the benefit of the market.

A detailed drawing will be displayed at the meeting.

The design conforms to the standards of the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions, as well as to Hampshire County Council standards, and has been subjected to the safety audit process.

The local Member, Councillor J West, supports these improvements.

Scheme Procurement

If approved, it is proposed to seek one tender for the construction of The Square and the High Street in an effort to minimise tendering costs and to achieve best value through economies of scale, whilst providing consistency of workmanship over both areas of the project. This method of procurement is expected to provide an improved client/contractor relationship where the benefit of the experience gained undertaking the construction work in The Square can continue when constructing improvements to the High Street.

The tender and contract documentation for The Square will take a traditional form but with an option to negotiate with the successful tenderer for the construction work in the High Street, based on the tendered rates for The Square. This would only proceed once the detailed design work and the project appraisal approval for the High Street had been achieved. The option to negotiate would be taken up within one year of the date of the award of the contract for The Square. For the purpose of the tender documentation, all work associated with the proposals for the High Street will be identified within a separate bill of quantities.

Environmental impact

The scheme is expected to provide an overall improvement to the street scene as well as creating an attractive and safe environment for all road users, in line with the conservation area setting.

The improved street lighting will focus light to the paved surfaces and is expected to reduce overall light pollution levels.

Land requirements

There are no land acquisition requirements that are essential for this scheme to proceed. However works are proposed on areas of land, eg outside Lloyds TSB Bank, that appear to be within the public street but are known to be in private ownership. Consultation with the landowners has taken place, who are supportive of the proposals. Permission to enter the land and undertake the work is currently being sought and is expected to be in place by the time this area is programmed to commence in September 2002.

Statutory procedures

As the works are taking place within the conservation area of Petersfield town centre, EHDC, which is a partner in the development of the scheme, has been consulted and is supportive of the proposals.

Part of the proposals outside St Peter's Church include the placing of a commemorative plaque on the church wall facing The Square. The necessary approval has been obtained from the Church authorities.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Orders for the 20 mph zone and revisions to the restricted parking zone brought about by the scheme will be the subject of a separate report once the procedures associated with the Orders have been completed. This will be achieved in advance of the commencement of the second stage of works at the High Street (The Square to Dragon Street) in early 2003, where the changes to the parking areas are affected.

Public consultation

The six week public consultation period was launched on 22 May 2001 at the Central Area Community Committee of EHDC, where a presentation was made by officers of both the County and District Councils. A public exhibition was held on 24 and 25 May 2001 at which preliminary proposals for the High Street, The Square and the proposed 20 mph zone were displayed. This was held at the Physic Garden Meeting Room and was staffed by officers of the County and District Councils. Visitors were encouraged to complete a questionnaire which also provided an opportunity to give additional written comments. On 27 May 2001 the exhibition was transferred to the Festival Hall in Petersfield where it remained, unmanned, until 2 July 2001. Questionnaires were also available at this location. The public consultation was widely advertised in the press and posters were displayed at public buildings.

The proposals for The Square were well supported with 76% of replies agreeing to every item in principle. The proposal for retaining one-way traffic around The Square was given a 90% level of support. The widening of the footways from Rams Walk to Lloyds TSB Bank and also on the Post Office side of The Square received a 76% level of support, whilst improvements to the pedestrian crossing point outside the Post Office (across the road around The Square) was endorsed by 83% of respondents.

As a result of requests made through the comment forms for an additional pedestrian courtesy crossing across the High Street between Lloyds TSB Bank and the Post Office, this has been investigated and incorporated into the proposals.

The improvements to the area outside Lloyds TSB Bank and the upgrading of the bus stop were welcomed by 86% of respondents, and the proposed landscaped sitting area in front of St Peter's Church attracted support from 85% of respondents.

A detailed report on the public consultation exercise was submitted to the CHARTS Panel on 9 November 2001. The Panel approved the proposals for the High Street, The Square and St Peter's Road, together with the proposed 20 mph zone for the historic core of the town, to proceed to detailed design and implementation stage. This decision was endorsed by the Executive Member for Environment on 12 December 2001.

Key stakeholders, such as Petersfield Town Council, Petersfield First (representing Traders), Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, East Hampshire Cyclists' Forum, The South Downs Association (representing mobility impaired groups) and the Town Centre Manager, have all been consulted and support these proposals. Discussions with representatives from the District Council, Town Council, Petersfield First and the Town Centre Manager have helped to identify an implementation programme which will minimise disruption to the functions of the town centre.

Facilities for the disabled

The widening of footways, narrowing of carriageways and providing courtesy crossings are expected to benefit people with mobility impairments. Drop kerb crossings and tactile paving will also be provided where appropriate. The scheme is also expected to complement the provision of the Shopmobility scheme which has recently opened in the town (to which the County Council has made a financial contribution).

The existing disabled parking allocation in The Square will be retained within this scheme.

Maintenance implications

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

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The promotion of street activities in The Square is expected to have the effect of creating further informal use by residents and visitors to Petersfield, which should discourage anti-social behaviour. The improved street lighting is expected to contribute towards both reducing anti-social behaviour and removing the fear of crime in the area.

All street furniture and planting areas have been designed to be robust and to provide ease of maintenance.

Sustainability

Part of the objective of the scheme is to improve the role of Petersfield town centre as a sustainable local service centre and to encourage sustainable transport modes, such as public transport, walking and cycling.

The materials selected for use in the scheme accord with those used in the earlier Petersfield Demonstration Project that focused on the nearby Dragon Street and College Street. The materials have also been selected for their durability and are in keeping with the conservation area setting.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

The proposal has evolved through a process of public and stakeholder consultation since the Halcrow Fox report was first prepared in 1999. This led to the evolution of PATS and the development of this proposal. Most of the strategic alternatives, for example pedestrianisation of the High Street and The Square, were considered at that time, providing a clear mandate for this scheme.

Where possible the design process has been responsive to issues raised through the public consultation process.

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

Files 10/5/67192, 10/5/67195, 10/5/69022

County Surveyor's Department

Implementation Section - Room 415