Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

16 July 2002

Project Appraisal: Festival Place, Basingstoke - Car Park Information Variable Message Sign System Phase 2

Report of the County Surveyor

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER- ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

FESTIVAL PLACE, BASINGSTOKE - CAR PARK INFORMATION VARIABLE MESSAGE SIGN SYSTEM - PHASE 2

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2002

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 Jun 02

(at Jun 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Construction

125

125

Fees

125

125

Less developers/

other contributions

125

125

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

125

(b) Other

125

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

125

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1.0

0.001

Capital charges

17.0

0.018

TOTAL net expenditure

18.0

0.019

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Introduction

This Project Appraisal proposes the installation of car park variable message signs (VMS) in Basingstoke town centre linked to, and controlled by, the VMS Control System at the County Council's Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) based at Monument House, Winchester. The work is to be funded from the 2002/03 Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport Capital Programme.

Background

The comprehensive redevelopment of Basingstoke town centre, to be known as Festival Place, is due for completion in autumn 2002. Festival Place will be approximately double the size of the old central shopping area (The Walks) and will include 70 new shop units and a new bus station.

Surveys conducted by the County Council show that car park information VMS systems are ranked highly by the public as one of the new technology systems, of which more should be installed by the County Council. The benefits offered by this system include less frustration when looking for a space, reduced time spent by vehicles on city centre roads looking for spaces and therefore a reduction in vehicle emissions which contributes to a healthier environment.

The installation of a 'core' VMS system in Basingstoke, jointly funded by the County Council and the developers of Festival Place, was completed in mid-March 2002. This included installing vehicle detection and counting equipment in 10 town centre car parks; installing two car park information VMS (one on Churchill Way East and one on Churchill Way West); linking of the car park detection and counting equipment to the County Council's Urban Traffic Control (UTC) System in Winchester; and displaying available spaces for the monitored car parks on ROMANSE On-Line.

Details

The proposal is to install car park VMS at the following locations:

(i) Alençon Link westbound approach to Victory Roundabout;

(ii) Churchill Way eastbound approach to Eastrop Roundabout;

(iii) Timberlake Road south of Eastrop Roundabout (close to access to Festival Place South car park);

(iv) Churchill Way westbound approach to Victory Roundabout; and

(v) Timberlake Road approach to Victory Roundabout.

A location plan is attached.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The proposal is consistent with the County Council's transportation strategy of using network management tools to utilise the full potential of the existing transport infrastructure.

Details of scheme and design standards

All scheme details will adhere to the Department for Transport, and County Council standards, as applicable.

Environmental impact

The proposal has negligible consequences for the environment but it should be noted that the signs are designed for visual impact and will be typically 2.9 metres wide x 1.4 metres high and mounted at a height of 2.1 metres to the underside of the sign. The displays will be light-emitting.

Land requirements

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

Statutory procedures

Department for Transport authorisation of the VMS under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is required and will be obtained by the County Council.

Public consultation

None undertaken. VMS are deemed to be street furniture and therefore planning consent is not required as this is permitted development. The County Members for Basingstoke - Councillors Gurden, Heath, Rita Collins, Mrs Frankum and Jo Kelly - have been informed and support the proposals.

Facilities for the disabled

Not applicable.

Maintenance implications

There will be minimal revenue implications arising from this proposal and they will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget. ITS equipment is designed to operate satisfactorily over a period of 10-15 years with only routine maintenance as recommended by the manufacturer. Beyond this period equipment may require refurbishment or replacement. In addition they consume electricity and require connection to an appropriate telecommunication system, incurring call charges and rental.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

The installation of the system described in this project appraisal supports the County Council's policies to make best use of the existing transport network and ensure a sustainable transport facility for future generations in Hampshire.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Auxiliary fixed signing will be in place, however there is no suitable alternative method of providing real-time car park information at the roadside.

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

Various files

County Surveyor's Department

ITS Group, Monument House