Archived decisions

Contact: Lionel Newman, ext 6051

1. Summary

1.1 This report summarises the transportation issues and initial proposals contained in the study report prepared by the County Council's term consultants for the B3272 between Eversley and Blackwater, the A30 between Hartfordbridge and Blackwater, and the A327 Eversley to Hartfordbridge.

2. Introduction

2.1 Yateley was included in the original North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) programme of town centres for improvement. The main centre in Yateley is dominated by the B3272 road that runs between the A327 at Eversley and the A30 at Blackwater. As a result, the initial work focused on developing proposals to improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists using the shopping centre, improving facilities for other modes, and the creation of a safer and more attractive shopping environment, being aimed at encouraging greater use of the centre by local residents and minimising travel to shopping centres further afield. Complementary proposals for environmental improvements in the local centre are also being developed as part of the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme as reported to the Panel on 13 February 2002.

2.2 In order to maintain the benefits of improvements for the town centre it was necessary to consider measures aimed at reducing extraneous traffic using the B3272. As a result, the study area has been extended to include the whole length of the B3272 between Eversley and Blackwater, the A327 and the A30 roads, thus forming a triangular network of roads in the area. The opportunity has also been taken in the wider study area work to consider measures for identified high risk accident sites on the route.

2.3 Local County, District, Town and Parish Council members in the area were briefed on the draft proposals in September.

3. Study Approach and Draft Proposals

3.1 The study concentrates on the following issues:

(i) pedestrian and cycle accessibility;

(ii) traffic management measures; and

(iii) improvements and amendments to the highway, to promote safety and improve the environment for residents and visitors.

3.2 The route is split into ten sections. These are designed to reflect the urban and rural context of the route, as well as taking into account current policies and targets contained in Hampshire County Council and Hart District Council documents.

The sections are as follows:

Section 1 A327/B3272 roundabout at Eversley to B3016 Marsh Lane

Section 2 B3016 Marsh Lane to Crosby Gardens

Section 3 Crosby Gardens to Hall Lane roundabout

Section 4 Hall Lane Roundabout to Cricket Hill Lane roundabout

Section 5 Cricket Hill Lane roundabout to A30 London Road roundabout

Section 6 A30/B3272 roundabout to Blackwater Station.

Other routes within the B3272 Route Management Strategy (RMS) remit:

Section 7 A30/A327 to A30/B3272

Section 8 A327 at Eversley to A30/A327 junction

Section 9 Cricket Hill to Sandhurst Road corridor

Section 10 A327/B3272 junction to Eversley (including Eversley bypass)

3.3 In general, the transportation issues highlight three main trends along the route:

(i) poor provision of cycle and pedestrian facilities;

(ii) lack of good public transport; and

(iii) excessive or inappropriate speed limits.

3.4 A summary of the proposals for each section is provided below. These include highway alignment, signage strategies, improvements for pedestrians, traffic management measures and other complementary treatments.

3.5 Summary and Section Proposals

Section 1: A327/B3272 roundabout at Eversley to B3016 Marsh Lane

(i) improve enforcement of speed limits;

(ii) install/upgrade gateway and other management features;

(iii) improve pedestrian crossing facilities;

(iv) investigate the reduction of lane widths, application of central hatching; and

(v) close Gaston Hill at junction with A327.

Section 2: B3016 Marsh Lane to Crosby Gardens

(i) improve enforcement of speed limits;

(ii) install pedestrian footways and, where appropriate, crossing facilities;

(iii) investigate the reduction of lane widths, application of central hatching; and

(iv) provide bus shelters at stops.

Section 3: Crosby Gardens to Hall Lane roundabout

(i) reduce traffic speed through this section to 30 miles per hour (mph);

(ii) upgrade gateway feature into Yateley;

(iii) install pedestrian footways and, where appropriate, pedestrian crossing facilities;

(iv) investigate the reduction of lane widths with the application of central hatching and ghost islands;

(v) improve pedestrian access to bus stops; and

(vi) narrow entrances to adjacent roads and remove tapers with kerb build-outs.

Section 4: Hall Lane roundabout to Cricket Hill Lane roundabout

(i) consider reduction of speed limit to 20 mph where suitable;

(ii) increase number of controlled pedestrian crossing facilities;

(iii) upgrade existing pedestrian crossings with visual reinforcement, pinch points and surface treatments;

(iv) install additional pedestrian footways where required and upgrade existing footways;

(v) install raised tables at junctions with B3272 Reading Road;

(vi) reduce lane widths with application of central hatching and ghost islands;

(vii) reduce overall carriageway widths with kerbing or white lining to incorporate possible cycle lanes and/or short stay parking bays;

(viii) remove tapers from junctions;

(ix) relocate bus stops to safer locations, away from junctions; and

(x) consolidate and improve current parking facilities.

Section 5: Cricket Hill Lane roundabout to A30 London Road roundabout

(i) reduce traffic speed through this section to 40 mph where applicable;

(ii) construct gateway feature into Yateley;

(iii) upgrade pedestrian footways and pedestrian crossing facilities;

(iv) investigate the reduction of lane widths, application of central island hatching and ghost islands;

(v) improve pedestrian access to bus stops;

(vi) narrow entrances to adjacent roads and remove tapers with kerb build-outs; and

(vii) provide cycleways for access to Blackwater.

Section 6: A30/B3272 roundabout to Blackwater Station

(i) reduce traffic speed from A30/B3272 roundabout to the Blackwater gateway to 30 mph;

(ii) upgrade pedestrian footways and pedestrian crossing facilities at A30/B3272 roundabout to allow access across A30 to Hawley Road;

(iii) investigate the reduction of lane widths, application of central hatching and ghost islands;

(iv) improve pedestrian access to bus stops;

(v) narrow entrances to adjacent roads;

(vi) provide/extend cycleways for access to Blackwater;

(vii) upgrade splitter islands around A30/B3272 roundabout junction to allow use by cyclists; and

(viii) promote the transportation interchange at Blackwater Station.

To reduce the use of the B3272 by through traffic, the RMS also includes adjacent routes, such as the A30 and the A327, which are more appropriate for this function. To promote their use the RMS also includes highway improvement proposals, which are:

Section 7: A30/A327 to A30/B3272

(i) review role of A327/A30/A327 Eversley to Farnborough strategic route;

(ii) check suitability of a cycle crossing facility at the Minley Road roundabout to link cycle routes on Cricket Hill Lane to Minley Road;

(iii) decommission dual section towards Blackwater to discourage use by strategic traffic and reduce traffic speeds beyond the Minley Road roundabout to 40 mph;

(iv) improve the A30/A327 Reading Road junction to reduce accidents; and

(v) close access to the B3016 providing a link between the A30 and the A327.

Section 8: A327 at Eversley to A30/A327 junction

(i) review proposals to reduce the speed limit to 50 mph;

(ii) review position of ghost island for access to Glaston Hill Road; and

(iii) reassess the role of this route for heavy goods vehicles.

Section 9: Cricket Hill to Sandhurst Road corridor

(i) improve and upgrade gateway features into Yateley;

(ii) provide an advisory on-carriageway cycle track from the A30 to Cricket Hill roundabout;

(iii) at Sandhurst Road provide a footway on the west side of the carriageway to link with the footway available on Yateley Road within Wokingham district; and

(iv) improve gateway feature at Weybridge Mead (measures to be reflected at junctions of Plough Road with Reading Road in Yateley).

Section 10: A327/B3272 junction to Eversley (including Eversley bypass)

(i) review proposals for Eversley bypass when Environment Agency Section 105 Report on the Blackwater River is completed;

(ii) investigate alternative methods of improving the environment at Eversley Village with traffic management measures along Eversley Street; and

(iii) review the strategic role of the A327 route.

Public Transport - promote proposals provided within Route 1 Bus Quality Partnership.

3.6 The RMS will need to consider the status and role of the A327 between M3 junction 4a and the county boundary at Eversley as part of the review of the Hampshire County Structure Plan 1996-2011 (Review).

3.7 The study brings together the broad range of issues that are to be addressed by the B3272 RMS. It provides a starting point for agreement by the public before proceeding to develop an effective strategy to address the issues in a coordinated and appropriately phased manner. The next stage of the project will be to draw up more detailed proposals for schemes in each of the sections in consultation with the local community and stakeholders.

4. Conclusion

4.1 The report and draft proposals prepared by the County Council's term consultants, Atkins, provide a sound basis on which to consult the public and other interested parties. Subject to Member approval, it is proposed to consult the public in October/November on the draft proposals set out in paragraphs 3.3 to 3.5.

Recommendation

That this report be noted and the draft proposals be endorsed for public consultation.

7362/LN