Archived decisions

Contact: Caroline Bonner, ext 6592

1. Summary

1.1 The purpose of this report is to provide an update on the traffic calming scheme in Bishops Waltham (see attached location plan).

2. Background

2.1 Bank Street, together with Hoe Road, forms part of the route linking the town centre and Swanmore. Between Shore Lane and Malvern Close, the carriageway width in Bank Street varies between 4.5 and 6.0 metres, and there is a continuous, but narrow, footway only on the north side of the road. Problems for pedestrians and residents are compounded since the properties on the south side without a footway front directly onto the carriageway.

2.2 The Winchester District Local Plan Review, Deposit 2001, published in October 2001, includes a policy (Proposal S.6) to review the local traffic system in the centre of Bishops Waltham to achieve environmental and safety improvements whilst maintaining accessibility. The policy states that priority will be given to improving pedestrian facilities and safety in Bank Street, subject to the availability of funds.

2.3 In November 2000 the Parish Council submitted a request for Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS) funding for works in Bank Street and the High Street, although it recognised that the latter scheme should only be pursued once any changes resulting from the former were evaluated. An allocation of £140,000 was subsequently included in the 2003/04 CHARTS capital programme and approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 25 January 2002.

3. Proposed Scheme

3.1 Since the original consultation exercise traffic management and traffic calming techniques have continued to evolve. It was therefore considered prudent to undertake a further study to consider alternatives to earlier one-way proposals. This study was completed in January 2002 and recommended a footway on the south side of Bank Street which would both reduce the carriageway width to approximately three metres and appear to drivers as a priority build-out (see attached scheme plan). The geometrical design and signing of the scheme would result in outbound traffic towards Swanmore having priority over inbound traffic.

3.2 Due to driver visibility issues it is only possible to provide a footway along the frontages of two out of the three affected properties that meets current highway safety standards. Nevertheless, substantial improvements in facilities for pedestrians will be achieved. To further encourage lower speeds by inbound traffic it is also proposed to change the priority system at the junction of Bank Street with Free Street and Hoe Road. A further incidental benefit is that the scheme would cost substantially less than the currently allocated funds, and could be implemented during the current financial year (2002/03).

3.3 These proposals were discussed with members of the Parish Council in April 2002 and were generally supported. However, a suggestion was made that a trial lasting for several months, using temporary materials, be undertaken to determine both its effectiveness and acceptability. This work, which includes an information leaflet to be delivered by the consultants Atkins to relevant local properties, is currently in hand.

Recommendation

That the progress on the Bishops Waltham traffic calming scheme be noted.

7399/CB