Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Policy and Resources

11 July 2002

Project Appraisal: A27 Portchester Road, Fareham - Cycleway

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 5

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - POLICY AND RESOURCES

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A27 PORTCHESTER ROAD, FAREHAM - CYCLEWAY

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 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 Feb 02

(at Feb 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

nil

nil

Construction

553

553

Fees

134

134

687

687

Less developers/

other contributions

12

12

675

675

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

675

(b) Other

2.

From other resources

(a) Developers contributions - Sainsbury's

10.9

(b) Developers contributions - residential

1.1

(c)

TOTAL

687

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

4

0.005

Capital charges

110

0.115

TOTAL net expenditure

114

0.120

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT/LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN CONSIDERATIONS (Client Department)

An extensive network of cycle routes and facilities, originally identified in the Fareham Cycle Plan 1996, is being developed in the Fareham area. This scheme builds on sections of cycle routes already completed in the area, including importantly the Portsmouth to Fareham length of the south coast cycle route section of the National Cycle Network, promoted by the national environmental and cycling charity SUSTRANS. It further extends the existing cycle route from Fareham towards Portchester by over one kilometre. There are future plans to eventually extend it to link with Portsmouth City Council's network. The scheme will provide a safer route for cyclists and help promote the County Council's aim of encouraging cycle use. Over 70 cyclists are currently using the road in the peak hour, together with over 2,400 other vehicles. There have been four cycle-related injury accidents in the last three years. It is considered that the number of cyclists could be increased substantially if a safe segregated route is provided.

The County Council, together with Fareham Borough Council and SUSTRANS, has over a number of years discussed with Cams Hill School measures to encourage pupils to walk and cycle to school.

This project will provide off-road cycle facilities on the south side of the A27 between Shearwater Avenue and Beaulieu Avenue, while assisting cycle movements in the area between Delme Arms roundabout and Cams Hill School. The proposal, as well as assisting all cyclists in the area on journeys between Portchester and Fareham, will provide a safer route for pupils travelling to and from the school (see attached location plan - detailed plans will be displayed at the meeting).

At the completion of this project an east-west cycle link will be available between Wickham Road (Fareham) and Beaulieu Avenue. Although its main users are initially expected to be pupils attending Cams Hill School, it will also bring significant benefits to the wider residential population of the area. Further cycle facility developments in the Gosport/Fareham and Portsmouth areas will eventually provide an unbroken dedicated cycle network around Portsmouth Harbour, linking a number of nationally and internationally important heritage/tourism destinations.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The proposals are consistent with the aims and objectives of the South East Hampshire Transport Strategy (SEHTS) and the related Fareham Cycle Plan, including measures to promote greater road safety, provide safer routes to school and encourage pupils to walk and cycle to school.

Details of scheme and design standards

The proposals consist of:

(i) upgrading the existing footway/cycleway between Shearwater Avenue and the Delme Arms roundabout; and

(ii) converting the footway between Beaulieu Avenue and Shearwater Avenue to a shared 3.5 metre wide footway/cycleway on the south side of the A27.

Upgrading of the footway to cycleway requires repositioning or replacement of the existing lamp columns and any signing along this part of the route, together with resurfacing the entire length.

The existing pedestrian crossing west of Cams Hill School near the golf club entrance will be upgraded to a Toucan crossing and the Shearwater Avenue junction will be realigned to include the 3.5 metre wide cycle track.

The existing traffic signals at the Shearwater Avenue junction will also be modified to include a Toucan crossing on Shearwater Avenue.

In order to maintain the four lane carriageway along the A27, it will be necessary to remove some of the traffic islands along the centre of the road and replace them with white lining and coloured surfacing.

Proposals also include a pedestrian guardrail adjacent to the carriageway at the Delme Arms roundabout and near Cams Hill School, relocation of a bus shelter and provision of a new bus shelter.

The shared cycleway design complies with Department for Transport standards and advice, together with those of Hampshire County Council where these supersede the national standards. The scheme has been safety audited at the appropriate stages in the design process.

Environmental impact

It is not expected that there will be any significant environmental impact arising from this proposal.

Land requirements

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

Statutory procedures

Section 65 of the Highways Act 1980 enables the County Council to construct a cycle track in or by the side of a publicly maintained highway. Under Section 64 of the Act the consequent works of alteration to the dual carriageway can be performed. Under Section 66 of the Act the Council has a duty to provide a proper and sufficient footway as necessary or desirable for the safety and accommodation of pedestrians. A resolution to construct the cycle track further to Section 65 is required. The other powers referred to will enable the scheme to be completed.

Public consultation

A public exhibition was held on 16/17 November 2001 at the Cams Hill Secondary School, Fareham, and visitors were invited to comment on the proposals.

From the questionnaires, 83% of the respondents were in favour of the off-road cycleway and 87% in favour of the upgrading of the existing footway/cycleway. A total of 63% were in favour of the segregated footway/cycleway outside numbers 35-63 Portchester Road.

Formal responses were also received from Fareham Borough Council, the Cyclists' Touring Club and Cams Hill School Governors. Where appropriate, all comments have been incorporated into the design.

The Executive Member for Environment originally deferred a decision on the project appraisal in May to allow for the Fareham Highway Management Advisory Panel to express its views on the scheme. The Panel considered a report on 1 July 2002 and expressed its support for the project. The Executive Member for Environment therefore similarly supports the proposals.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Ellis, supports the proposals.

Facilities for the disabled

Tactile surfacing and dropped kerbs will be provided at the pedestrian crossing areas to assist the partially sighted.

Maintenance implications

There will be minor maintenance implications arising from the building of this scheme, including the widening of footways, together with maintenance of lines, signs, traffic signals and new lighting.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact upon this scheme.

Sustainability

The scheme will enhance the environment for cycling, thus widening travel choice and reducing dependence on the motor car.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

A number of alternative options were considered in the development of this project but rejected on the grounds of undermining improvements to road safety. In particular, the schemes were:

(i)

on-road shared bus and cycle lanes - rejected due to insufficient road space or land to provide a safe width of lane;

(ii)

on-road cycle lanes - rejected due to insufficient road space or land to provide lanes and maintain the dual carriageway. (Removal of lanes to create segregated cycle lanes would jeopardise the future implementation of bus lanes and other public transport facilities); and

(iii)

do nothing - rejected due to recognised dangers of on-road cycling in a busy 40 miles per hour limit and where illegal off-road cycling occurred. This option also failed to promote corporate and SEHTS strategies.

Also arising from the development of this scheme was a request to reinstate the right turn facility off the A27 (eastbound) into Shearwater Avenue. This prohibition was originally promoted in the interests of road safety when the residential development in Shearwater Avenue was granted planning permission. A review of the proposal supports the maintenance of the status quo in that any change would be likely to:

(i)

(ii)

(iii)

(iv)

result in traffic on the A27 (eastbound) being further significantly impeded;

be counter to the policy to promote walking and cycling to school;

reduce the central reservation (following provision of a dedicated turning lane) to an unacceptable width to safely enable pupils to cross the A27 in two stages; and

result in queues extending beyond the length of any dedicated turning lane.

This turning movement can be safely and more efficiently achieved by travelling the short distance along the A27 to reach the Condor Avenue roundabout, to make a U-turn and return to Shearwater Avenue.

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.

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LOCATION

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