Archived decisions

Contact: Paul Basham, ext 6054

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides Members with an update on the Local Transport Plan (LTP) Capital Programme 2002/03 schemes within the New Forest Transport Strategy (NFTS) area. Members are asked to note the latest position regarding Colbury and Ashurst right-turn and associated works, Fordingbridge High Street, New Forest Strategy document (draft for consultation) and NFTS cycle schemes.

1.2 Progress is also reported on Parish Partnerships and an oral update will be provided on Parking Decriminalisation and Traffic Management. Separate reports on the agenda cover the Strategy for the New Forest and Dibden Bay.

1.3 The revised 2002/03 NFTS Capital Programme was approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 25 January 2002 and is as follows:

Colbury/Ashurst £1,300,000

High Street, Fordingbridge £145,000

Footway Improvements in Sway £35,000

2. Colbury Right Turn and Ashurst Traffic Calming Measures

£1,300,000

2.1 On 6 December 2001 this Panel approved the consultation plan for the right-turn facility at Colbury and associated traffic measures along the A35 through Ashurst, and a route signing strategy.

2.2 The proposed layout for the Colbury right-turn facility provides signal control for traffic from the A326 southbound to the A35 west and replaces the loop road arrangement safeguarded in the New Forest District Local Plan. A slip-road loop facility had previously been investigated but, while land had been allowed for this facility, it was insufficient to provide a layout in accordance with current design standards. Extending the safeguarded land to ensure that the minimum design standards could be achieved would have resulted in greater environmental impact on a Site of Importance for Nature Conservation.

2.3 The need for traffic to do a `U-turn' at Rushington roundabout to gain access to the A35 westbound will cease and reduce traffic flows along this section of the A35. The scheme will also provide a more direct route along the A326 and A35 to Lyndhurst and the New Forest and will help reduce the occurrence of inappropriate traffic through the residential area of Foxhills.

2.4 As an integral part of the phased strategic approach to dealing with traffic conditions in Lyndhurst, the scheme will incorporate traffic management and local access improvements along the A35 through Ashurst. This is an important scheme and the total estimated cost of the Colbury right-turn facility and improvements in Ashurst will be in the region of £1.3 million.

2.5 A valuable relationship had already been established with Ashurst and Colbury Parish Council and the local District Council Member, Councillor Spikins, to develop traffic management options for Ashurst village. The local Member, Councillor Bright, has been closely involved in this process and supports the scheme proposals.

2.6 Public consultation took place over five days between 7 and 16 March 2002 at Ashurst, Church Rooms, Lyndhurst Community Centre and Hounsdown Hall, Hounsdown, Totton.

2.7 The proposed junction layout and traffic measures were exhibited and officers from Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council were on hand to answer questions. The exhibition was advertised in the Ashurst Parish Newsletter, local newspapers and through the distribution of posters and letter drops, with the aim of informing local residents, schools, bus companies and road users over a wide area, in addition to the parish councils of Ashurst and Colbury, Totton, Lyndhurst and others.

2.8 Analysis of the questionnaires and comments gave an indication of public support for elements of the proposed schemes. The results of the consultation exercise were reported on 5 June 2002 to an informal meeting of this Panel, and an oral update was also provided.

2.9 On 11 July 2002, the Executive Member for Policy and Resources approved the Project Appraisal for the Colbury right-turn facility and Ashurst traffic management.

2.10 It is envisaged that the scheme should be out to tender by November 2002. Construction should commence on site in late January 2003 and be completed by late May to early June.

2.11 Landscaping design work has been commenced by New Forest District Council and the preliminary design has met with approval from Ashurst and Colbury parish council. Officers in Hampshire County Council's Landscape Section will now further develop the work. This part of the works will probably be let as a separate contract to make best use of planting times.

3. High Street, Fordingbridge

Year 02/03 £120,000

Developer Contributions £20,000

Environmental Funding £5,000

Total £145,000

3.1 An allocation of £120,000 has been made in the LTP Capital Programme for measures on Fordingbridge High Street. The focus of the design work is in the vicinity of the High Street/Provost Street (Market Place) junction. A working group has been formed, which includes County Council officers and New Forest District Council's Conservation Officer for Fordingbridge, to consider options for the junction. The general framework for the design work, which is in line with the Fordingbridge Environmental Improvements, is to reallocate road space around the junction to benefit pedestrians. The measures, combined with townscape features and careful choice of materials to complement and link with earlier work carried out in the High Street under the Country Towns Initiative, will provide additional space for pedestrians and an improved safer environment for those who use this area of the High Street.

3.2 Preliminary design has now been undertaken and a preferred option prepared. The local Member, Councillor Mrs Heron, was invited to discuss the scheme proposals to gain her views and, in principle, supports the proposed scheme.

3.3 Initial consultations took place during November and December 2001. The original scheme was estimated to cost in the region of £105,000, with £80,000 from the Capital Programme, £20,000 provided from developers' contributions and a further £5,000 from environmental funding.

3.4 Additional minor works at the junction have increased the cost of the scheme to an estimated £120,000. The opportunity may also be taken to implement footway improvements to link with previous works at the eastern end of the High Street. These additional works will cost in the region of £20,000.

3.5 It was proposed at the previous meeting that a period of consultation be undertaken, however this was delayed by a site meeting on 17 July.

3.6 The site visit included Councillors Estlin and Heron and New Forest District Council's Councillor Shand, as well as County Council officers. A number of concerns were raised relating to the scheme, as follows:

(i) routeing;

(ii) over-run areas;

(iii) priority; and

(iv) surfacing.

3.7 The issues raised have now been considered and amendments made. Officers are now in a position to proceed with the consultation for this scheme as planned and this was provisionally scheduled for Friday 1 November and Saturday 2 November.

4. New Forest Transport Strategy Document (Draft for Consultation)

4.1 Officers of Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council and the New Forest Committee are working to resolve more than 300 comments received through the consultation process, as well as issues that evolved as a result.

4.2 Comments were invited from the organisations listed in Appendix 1 and copies also sent to local Members.

4.3 There are a number of issues that are currently unresolved, including the issue relating to the remit of the proposed NFTS area boundary, but officers of Hampshire County Council, New Forest District Council, the New Forest Committee and Dorset and Wiltshire County Councils are discussing the most appropriate way forward.

4.4 It is the intention of officers to report back to the next meeting with a final version of the strategy document which takes account of comments received through the consultation process.

5. Lyndhurst to Ashurst Cycle Route

5.1 The proposed cycle route is an important link in the overall strategic cycle route network for the New Forest and south-west Hampshire area. Potentially it will cater for both utility and recreational cycling.

5.2 The project Plan for the feasibility and preliminary design has been agreed which Atkins are progressing. Tasks have already commenced and it is anticipated that the programme for this study will be completed in spring 2003.

5.3 In July 2002 design work commenced on developing options. The studies include the following, to:

(i) prepare a preliminary engineering design for two options involving the north verge of the A35 between Ashurst and Lyndhurst. These options involve widening the existing footway to two metres to create a shared footway/cycleway, and narrowing the road carriageway in the vicinity of Dunces Arch Inclosure to accommodate a two metre off-road footway/cycleway where the current verge width is less than two metres;

(ii) carry out a feasibility study of the options for taking the above route into the settlements of Lyndhurst and Ashurst; and

(iii) examine the feasibility of using existing Forest Enterprise tracks to the north of the A35 for part or all of the route.

5.4 During July and August the consultants completed a Phase 1 ecological survey on the northern verge of the A35, to update previous surveys and identify key issues. The survey identified an area of high ecological interest/sensitivity at wet grasslands at Dunces Arch Inclosure, (where the verge is less than two metres wide). English Nature indicated that measures to widen the verge at this point would not be supported.

5.5 Meetings have been held with New Forest District Council, Forest Enterprises and English Nature to discuss the results of the ecological survey and preliminary views on option feasibility. It is envisaged that the draft report will be submitted by the end of November and consultations held with relevant organisations and local groups in mid-December.

6. Ringwood Cycles

6.1 The need has been identified by officers of Hampshire County Council and New Forest District Council to prepare cycling and walking plans for the settlements of Brockenhurst, Fordingbridge and Ringwood. These are the remaining larger settlements of the New Forest not covered by cycle plans and will also look at walking, to provide a coherent strategy.

6.2 As a priority initially to address cycling and walking needs, work on a plan for Ringwood commenced in early September 2002, that should be funded by current development proposals for the town, and then determine measures for inclusion in the 2004/2005 funding allocation for Ringwood in the sum of £80,000.

6.3 A working group, consisting of Members and officers of the County Council, New Forest District Council and Ringwood Town Council, will prepare the cycling and walking plan that will involve a series of walkabout meetings, evaluating existing data on usage, accidents and footway maintenance to determine high quality cycle and walking routes, including safer routes to school.

6.4 The group will then be in a position to prepare a draft Ringwood Cycling and Walking Plan for consideration by the Panel prior to public consultation.

7. Footway Improvements in Sway

7.1 Improvements to the existing unmetalled footway between Station Road and Westbeams Road were undertaken in spring 2002 at a cost of under £1,000.

7.2 A feasibility study has been commissioned with Atkins which will investigate other measures in Sway to provide safer routes to school for children. Measures to be investigated are the provision of uncontrolled crossing points on Station Road, south of its junction with Middle Road and immediately south of the railway overbridge on Station Road; the creation of a gateway/school entry zone feature on Church Lane near its junction with Westbeams Road; and additional upgrading of a section of the footway between Station Road and Westbeams Road to create a consistent width of footway of approximately 2.5 metres over its entire length.

7.3 A report on the findings of the feasibility/preliminary study is expected to be completed by the end of November 2002. Any measures that are proposed in the report will be taken forward through the normal procedures of consultation and a project appraisal submitted for approval to the Executive Member for Environment, prior to any works being implemented.

8. Lyndhurst Cycles

8.1 A safety audit (stage 1 feasibility) of the cycle route scheme proposed for Lyndhurst village has been carried out, and identified a number of issues relating to cyclists crossing the A337 at Goose Green towards the southern end of the village.

8.2 Following the safety audit it was announced that the Forestry Commission has considered relocating its campsite, currently sited off Beacham Lane, and that a cycle route from Goose Green southwards along the A337 would not be required. The Forestry Commission has since decided that the campsite should remain in its existing location, and therefore further thought needs to be given to what, if anything, can be provided to ensure the safe movement of cyclists.

8.3 The issue of providing a safe cycle route from the A35 Southampton Road to the A337 Gosport Lane has also been the subject of further investigation. Initially, it was hoped to provide a cycle route through the grounds of Appletree Court (offices of New Forest District Council) between the A35/Beaulieu Road Junction and the exit onto the A337 from Appletree Court. However, concern over security and cyclists' safety was expressed by the Chief Executive of New Forest District Council in respect of this route and an alternative solution has therefore been investigated.

8.4 Following discussions with officers from New Forest District Council responsible for security and health and safety, an alternative route has been identified which would pass around the northern boundary of the grounds of Appletree Court. Initial investigations suggest that some vegetation will need to be cut back and that discussions over the dedication of third party land for highway purposes will also be required. The cycle route could be fenced off to ensure security at the District Council offices.

8.5 Additional preliminary design work will now be undertaken on these two sections of the cycle route network.

8.6 It is therefore anticipated that, upon completion of the additional design work, public consultation on the complete scheme will be undertaken. Consultation with the public, parish council and local Member will be carried out at the beginning of 2003.

9. Parking Decriminalisation and Traffic Management

9.1 County Council and New Forest District Council officers have commenced discussions about the possibility of introducing parking decriminalisation and traffic management proposals. An oral update will be provided at the meeting.

10. Parish Partnerships

10.1 The Parish Partnership Programme has been developed by the County Council in response to legislation enacted in 1997 which permits parish and town councils to fund or contribute towards traffic calming schemes. The County Council has been able to match locally-generated funds from the Minor Works Programme, and in some cases additional funding has been forthcoming from district councils.

10.2 The general concept is that the local community works jointly with the County Council to identify smallscale traffic problems and develop appropriate measures. Consultation is usually managed by the parish or town council and this ensures that a scheme proceeds with the approval of the local community. Local contributions have ranged from £1,000 to £20,000, with £2,000 to £3,000 being fairly typical. In some cases projects may evolve so that supplementary or alternative funds can be employed. Examples have included schemes within the Safer Routes to School Programme, the Casualty Reduction Programme and the Traffic Management Revenue Budget.

10.3 Common concerns are the speed and volume of traffic, with particular emphasis on improving pedestrian security, especially for children. The measures vary depending on the circumstances of each project, but examples include road markings, gateway features, chicanes and road humps.

10.4 For Hampshire as a whole, nearly half the parish and town councils have expressed an interest in the programme. For the NFTS area it is lower, at 6 out of 33. This may be as a result of projects carried out as part of the current Transportation Strategy and the previous Highways Strategy. Nevertheless, projects have been implemented or are being developed in five parishes as seen in Appendix 2.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7506/PB