APPENDIX 2

Colbury and Ashurst Public Consultation March 2002

- Main Issues Raised

Figures in brackets indicate the number of individuals who raised the issue.

Colbury Right Turn

1. Level of Traffic Using the Right Turn (17)

Issue - The maximum additional traffic flow through Ashurst as a result of the right turn facility is estimated as 4,000 vehicles per day.

Response - It should be remembered that some traffic may have already diverted since the implementation of traffic signals at the Redbridge roundabout, as access to the A35 will now be seen as easier.

The lorry ban through Lyndhurst has been in place for a number of years now and westbound lorries will have already transferred to the A35. The right turn should not divert any more lorries. In turn, the ban has reduced the amount of eastbound lorries through Ashurst.

2. Queuing at the Signals (19)

Issue - Some residents felt that the proposed signals would worsen traffic congestion.

Response - The impact of traffic signals at the proposed junction has been modelled to estimate queue lengths. Queue lengths in the order of 6 vehicles on the A35 eastbound to 25 vehicles on the A326 are predicted for peak hour flows for the design year 2007. The phasing on the lights can be varied for different days of the week and different times of the day to optimise usage.

During the morning peak, queuing eastbound traffic sometimes extends back to this location on the A35. In such conditions, the signals should not exacerbate the situation as stopped traffic would soon catch up with the tail end of the slow moving queue.

3. Signing from the Motorway(12)

Issue - There was some concern that Lyndhurst would be signed from Junction 2 of the M27, which would attract high levels of traffic through Ashurst.

Response - It is not intended to alter the directional signs from the motorway to coincide with the right turn, however, the traffic flows will be monitored and the position of the signs will be kept under review. Since the traffic management measures in Ashurst are being provided to cater for this extra flow of traffic, it would be unreasonable not to consider directional signing some time in the future.

Ashurst Traffic Management

4. Hunters Hill/Deerleap Lane (17)

Issue - There was concern that traffic waiting to turn right into Deerleap Lane would feel exposed as they were only `protected' by white lining.

Response - The central reservation is to be extended into the hatching to create a single west bound lane on the A35 at this location.

The recent footway widening works undertaken by the Area Office have improved the pedestrian refuge at the Deerleap Lane junction.

5. Whartons Lane (8)

Issue - Some respondents thought it better to keep the existing eastbound left-turn deceleration lane into Whartons Lane.

Response - It is felt that the deceleration lane should be removed as through traffic will be slowed if it is held behind left turning traffic. This will help traffic turning out from Whartons Lane.

6. Foxhills (25)

Issue - There were some suggestions that this road could be made one-way.

Response - The road is a bus route and a one-way road would be impractical.

Pick up and drop off times create problems outside Foxhills school and this was highlighted by a number of residents. Presently cars park on the road and along the footway, which in turn causes an obstruction on the highway and forces pedestrians off the footway and onto the carriageway. One option to be progressed is to promote a school travel plan encouraging students to arrive by bus, cycle or on foot rather than by car.

At present, there is no school travel plan in place, however, the school has been contacted and a travel survey arranged to be completed in the summer term which will be analysed during the holidays as a precursor for a school travel plan to be developed in the autumn.

7. Gateways (11)

Issue - The gateways shown at the exhibition had yellow backing boards for maximum impact. This was felt by many to be out of keeping with the environment.

Response - The backing board could be changed to white or grey or omitted completely. The whole impact of the gateways could be further softened by the use of wooden posts and picket-type fencing, as suggested by some. There is potential to incorporate any reasonable designs proposed by the Parish Council or residents.

The eastern gateway can be repositioned 80 metres to the east, at the location of the pedestrian refuge by Whartons Lane. This would remove the need for two refuges in close proximity to each other. The 40 mph sign would remain in its current location and this would reduce the size of the gateway sign which some felt was out of keeping with the area.

8. New Road (25)

Issue - A ghost island was proposed at this junction, to help traffic turn right from the A35. Public comment was generally negative towards the proposal.

Response - It was felt that the ghost island would not help traffic turning right out from New Road and that westbound traffic on the A35 could continue unimpeded as it would not have to wait behind right turning vehicles. If traffic were held behind the right turning vehicle this would give useful breaks in the traffic downstream which would assist others turning out of side roads. It has therefore been proposed to remove the ghost island at New Road.

Public perception was that more traffic used Wood Road and that if a ghost island were implemented this would be a better location. The amount of traffic using Wood Road is in fact only nominally higher than that using New Road and a ghost island here would further complicate the junction which includes access to Alldays. No ghost island is therefore proposed along the A35 through Ashurst.

9. Wood Road (10)

Issue - The Alldays store access is alongside the Wood Road junction and this does cause some congestion.

Response - Earlier consideration to replace the existing access with one in Wood Road was rejected as it would concentrate more traffic into Wood Road.

The lighting column in the Alldays car park is frequently reversed into. Protective bollards are to be placed around it.

10. Lay-by at Alldays (13)

Issue - The proposed layout shown at the exhibition provoked a number of negative comments.

Solution - Some felt that moving the associated pedestrian refuge so that it was outside Alldays was a better layout. However, there are two accesses to Alldays and a field access on the opposite side of the road. The refuge cannot be located here without affecting vehicle swept paths from these accesses. The lay-by will not therefore be provided.

11. Pedestrian Refuges (33)

Issue - The size and location of some refuges was questioned by some members of the public.

Response - All refuges are 2 metres wide as this will accommodate a bicycle or a buggy. The carriageway will be widened locally either side of the refuge to give 3.5 metres passing space. The kerb face will be 75 millimetres high rather than the standard 125 millimetres, as this is an abnormal load route and this would allow an overhanging wide load to overrun the kerb face.

The location of some refuges is being amended to cater for local knowledge of pedestrian desire lines.

12. Access and Egress from the A35 (42)

Issue - The existing entrances to Holly, Beech, Wood and New Roads are all very narrow, however, widening them was met with mixed feelings. Whilst they will help motorists, they were seen to disadvantage pedestrians.

Response - A workable compromise would be to retain the layout for traffic entering the side roads, which would keep entry speeds low. The radius on the exit from the side road could be widened. This would ease left turns out of the side road. New Road is a bus route and widening at this junction will help buses. The location of some service chambers in these locations may finally dictate the solution if the cost to relocate them proves to be prohibitive.

13. Woodlands Road (12)

Issue - The limited visibility to the left when waiting to turn right out of Woodlands Road was seen as a problem. This is caused by the `hump-back' alignment of the A35 where it crosses over the railway.

Response - Realignment of the A35 would be a major project, not made any easier by the high embankments on two sides of the junction. However, the accident history and volume of traffic using Woodlands Road does not warrant this level of expenditure.

It is considered that the slow markings and warning sign proposed on the A35 west bound approach to the bridge plus the carriageway edge markings will reduce speeds and provide greater time to motorists in Woodlands Road to make their manoeuvre. A section of anti-skid surfacing is proposed for the A35 prior to this junction to aid braking if a right turning vehicle were to turn out from Woodlands Road without warning.

Woodlands Road is known to be a rat-run through from Netley Marsh on the A336. With the construction of the Colbury right turn it is felt that some of this traffic may use the A326 and A35. This would reduce the amount of queuing traffic on Woodlands Road.

14. Speed Limits (41)

Issue - The possibility of reducing the speed limit through the village to 30mph and on Hunters Hill to 40 mph was a frequent comment.

Response - As noted at the exhibition, a new limit or the extension of an existing one would require a Traffic Regulation Order. For it to be effective the limit should be self-enforcing.

An extension of the 40 mph limit either to Whartons Lane or to Deerleap Lane but just on the westbound approach to Ashurst has been investigated but is not recommended. If the combined effect of the traffic management measures and the increase in traffic volumes combine to reduce speeds effectively, a 30 mph limit through Ashurst could be reconsidered at a later date.

Other Issues

15. Cycle Paths (20)

Issue - A number of individuals wanted improved cycle facilities.

Solution - As part of a separate scheme, both footways on Hunters Hill have recently been widened to 2.5 metres, from Whartons Lane to Colbury roundabout, including an improved refuge for pedestrians and cyclists crossing at Deerleap Lane. This is a sufficient width to become a shared use cycle/pedestrian pathway. The paths are used mainly by children travelling to and from Hounsdown School, as such children are allowed to cycle on the footway.

Design of both the Ashurst to Lyndhurst cycleway and cycle facilities through Ashurst to link the above is currently being investigated.

16. Speed Cameras (12)

Issue - A question often raised was whether fixed speed cameras could be sited in Ashurst.

Response - The policy of the Hampshire Constabulary is generally that mobile units are more cost effective than fixed sites. Whilst more fixed sites are expected to appear in Hampshire, it is unlikely that they will be a sufficient speed or accident issue here.

17. Cocklydown Roundabout (19)

Issue - Visibility and warning of Cocklydown roundabout for northbound traffic on the A326 was a concern.

Response - Visibility between the A326 northbound and the A35 on-slip can be improved by trimming vegetation. Existing colour markings on the A326 at this location are worn and can be re-applied to help warn traffic of the proximity of Cocklydown Roundabout.

The possibility of closing all or part of the roundabout is not being considered as the proposed right turn at Colbury is expected to reduce inappropriate through traffic. However, the situation will be monitored after the new facility has been completed.

18. Use of Mini Roundabouts and Traffic Signals Through Ashurst (6)

Issue - The use of roundabouts and signals through Ashurst was raised.

Response - Roundabouts are most effective with balanced flows and will not help the small flow from the side roads. Mini-roundabouts are usually only placed in 30 mph limits and normal-sized roundabouts would require third party land.

A signal junction in Ashurst would tend to urbanise the village. It is possible that other side roads would need to be closed to channel traffic to the signalised side road. This increase in traffic on one of the side roads would be unwanted by the residents.

It is not recommended to connect the side roads to the existing Toucan crossing. A red signal would put a break in the traffic flow to help side road traffic onto the A35, however, the distance between the Toucan and the side roads is long and this option is not considered effective. There is also the safety issue of motorists ignoring the Toucan if they do not see any pedestrians waiting to cross.

19. Before and After Traffic Counts (6)

Issue - There was concern that traffic volumes would not be monitored.

Response - Traffic counts will be taken before and six months after the works are complete (summer 2003) for comparison. The locations will be:

- A336 (between its junctions with A337 and A326)

- A326 (between its junctions with A336 and A35)

- A35 (Ashurst)

- Whartons Lane/Foxhills

- Cocklydown Lane

20. Before and After Speed Checks (17)

Issue - There was concern that the proposals would not be effective at managing speed.

Response - Speed checks will be taken before and six months after the works are complete (summer 2003) for comparison. The locations will be:

- A35 (Hunters Hill)

- A35 (Ashurst)

- A35 (Main Road - near the proposed signals)