Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 November 2002

Project Appraisal: High Street, Petersfield - Pedestrian and Environmental Improvements

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

HIGH STREET, PETERSFIELD - PEDESTRIAN AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

APRIL 2003

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 July 02

(at July 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

nil

nil

Construction

255

255

Fees

85

85

340

340

Less developers/

other contributions

340

340

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme 2001/02 - Special Project, Increased Allocation (as confirmed by the Executive Member - Environment 10 September 2002)

200

(b) Previously approved sum residual from proposals in The Square

80

280

2.

From other resources

(a) Maintenance Contribution

60

TOTAL

340

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

To Committee's

Budget

Net current expenditure

2

0.002

Capital charges

24

0.025

TOTAL net expenditure

26

0.027

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Petersfield lies within East Hampshire district and is covered by the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS).

The scheme is identified in the 2000/01 CHARTS programme for Petersfield which was approved by the CHARTS Panel on 6 October 2000, and subsequently endorsed by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 20 November 2000.

The project also integrates with the County Council's approved Country Towns Initiative Programme, which identified Petersfield for 2001/02. This programme delivers environmental enhancement, traffic calming and landscape improvement works to identified rural towns and villages in Hampshire. Through such works the programme aims to add to the environmental character and distinctiveness of these areas and promote them as vibrant local service centres.

The first stage of the improvement works to Petersfield town centre was approved in March 2002. This included work to St Peter's Road between The Square and the police station and was constructed in May and June 2002. The second stage of the improvement works to the town centre was approved in June 2002. This included work to The Square and part of the High Street (between The Square and Chapel Street).

This project appraisal is for the remainder of the proposals to the High Street (from The Square to Dragon Street), and for the proposed 20 miles per hour (mph) zone for the `historic core of the town'. It forms the final stage of the town centre improvements.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The CHARTS area forms one of 10 transport strategy areas included in the Local Transport Plan, which was first published by Hampshire County Council in June 1999.

The strategy sets out a five year programme for the development of key transportation initiatives within the area; the final draft of which was endorsed by the former Planning and Transportation Committee on 4 September 2000.

As part of CHARTS, a transport strategy for Petersfield has been developed and is known as the Petersfield Area Transportation Strategy (PATS). Its aim is to address future transport needs within the policy framework of sustainability, whilst maintaining the character of the town and supporting its economy. The scheme is expected to make a significant contribution to these objectives.

This scheme forms part of a package of transportation initiatives currently being developed under (PATS), which was formally launched on 6 December 2000. The strategy sets out a series of transportation proposals for the Petersfield area over the next 20 years. This has been developed following earlier work by the County Council in partnership with East Hampshire District Council (EHDC) and Petersfield Town Council. The main aim of the strategy was to reflect the ideas provided by a series of community workshops and extensive local consultation. A draft report was produced by Consultants Halcrow Fox, which was consulted on in November 1999. Following consultation the draft strategy was refined and included most of the proposals recommended by the Halcrow Fox report.

This scheme is expected to contribute to the delivery of Proposal 11 within PATS which aims to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in Petersfield. The scheme will form the second stage in the delivery of Proposal 13 of PATS, which aims to provide a 20 mph speed limit zone for the historic core of the town centre. The historic core, identified in PATS, includes the High Street, The Square, part of Chapel Street, St Peter's Road, Sheep Street, Hylton Road and part of The Spain. The extent of this scheme and the future 20 mph zone are shown on the attached location plan.

Both proposals within PATS accord with the aspirations of the County Council's Local Transport Plan through the development of a safer environment that will help promote sustainable transport modes, such as walking and cycling.

Details of scheme and design standards

The scheme has been designed to continue the objectives of improving conditions for pedestrians and cyclists in the High Street, started under the earlier phases of the town centre scheme. The widening of footways and provision of `courtesy' crossing points are expected to bring benefits to pedestrians and also bring improved speed management which is expected to benefit all road user groups. The scheme has been designed using similar materials to those used in the earlier stages of the project and are complementary to the conservation area setting.

The existing High Street has no formal pedestrian crossing provision, a situation which is expected to be improved by the provision of three `courtesy' crossings. The courtesy crossings aim to focus pedestrian road crossing movements to safer locations on the High Street where good visibility between pedestrians and drivers can be achieved. `Build-outs' into the carriageway help to achieve this visibility, formalise the parking bays and reduce the width of road to be crossed. The provision of bollards and coloured surfacing help to make the crossing points more conspicuous. The combination of features is expected to help reduce the dominance of the motor vehicle in the High Street.

Upon completion of the construction phase, the proposed 20 mph speed limit is expected to be introduced across the historic core of Petersfield, however this is subject to the satisfactory progression of the necessary traffic regulation orders. Additional traffic regulation orders are intended to be advertised and processed in order to implement the proposed extension of the existing restricted parking zone from Dragon Street into the High Street, The Square and St Peter's Road. The restricted parking zone will continue to permit on-street parking but only in marked bays. The implementation of the restricted parking zone proposal is subject to the satisfactory progression of a further traffic regulation order, which may be the subject of a separate report, depending on the results of further public consultation.

The primary features of the scheme are:

(i)

widen and repave footways in the High Street;

(ii)

create three `courtesy' crossings across the High Street;

(iii)

improve street lighting;

(iv)

gateway features, incorporating coloured surfacing and traffic signs at the entry points to the 20 mph zone;

(v)

formalise the on-street parking into bays and provide one dedicated taxi waiting space and one `blue badge' parking bay outside Winton House;

(vi)

provide a dedicated area for unloading delivery vehicles outside `Superdrug';

(vii)

resurface the new main carriageway of the High Street and new parking bays; and

(viii)

resurface parts of three alleyways adjacent to the High Street.

Detailed drawing no. 69021-01 will be displayed at the meeting.

The design conforms to the standards of the Department for Transport as well as to Hampshire County Council standards, and has been subjected to the safety audit process.

Environmental impact

Although no environmental study has been undertaken, the scheme is expected to provide an overall improvement to the street scene as well as creating an attractive and safer environment for all road users, in line with the conservation area setting.

The improved street lighting will focus light to the paved surfaces and is expected to reduce overall light pollution levels.

Land requirements

There are no land acquisition requirements that are essential for this scheme to proceed. However works are proposed on areas of publicly accessible land, eg in the alleyways adjacent to the High Street that are in private ownership. Consultation has taken place with the landowners who are supportive of the proposals. Permission to enter the land is currently being confirmed and is expected to be in place before work in these areas is programmed to commence. After completion of contractors maintenance period, liabilities for maintenance will return to the landowners.

Statutory procedures

As the works are taking place within the conservation area of Petersfield town centre East Hampshire District Council, who is a partner in the development of the scheme, has been consulted and is supportive of the proposals.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Orders for the 20 mph zone and revisions to the restricted parking zone brought about by the scheme will be the subject of a separate report once the procedures associated with the Orders have been completed.

Public consultation

The six week public consultation period was launched on 22 May 2001 at the Central Area Community Committee of East Hampshire District Council, where a presentation was made by officers of both the District and County Councils. A public exhibition was held on 24 and 25 May 2001 at which preliminary proposals for the High Street, The Square and the proposed 20 mph zone were displayed. This was held at the Physic Garden Meeting Room and was staffed by officers of the County and District Councils. Visitors were encouraged to complete a questionnaire which sought answers to specific questions on each proposal and also provided an opportunity to give additional written comments. On 27 May 2001 the exhibition was transferred to the Festival Hall in Petersfield where it remained, unmanned, until 2 July 2001. Questionnaires were also available at this location. The public consultation was widely advertised in the press and posters advertising the event were displayed at public buildings.

The proposals for The Square were well supported with 76% of replies agreeing to every item in principle. The proposal for retaining one-way traffic around The Square was given a 90% level of support. The widening of the footways from Rams Walk to Lloyds TSB Bank and also on the Post Office side of The Square received a 76% level of support, whilst improvements to the pedestrian crossing point outside the Post Office (across the road around The Square) was endorsed by 83% of respondents.

Requests made through the comment forms for an additional pedestrian courtesy crossing across the High Street between Lloyds TSB Bank and the Post Office have been investigated and has been incorporated into the proposals.

The improvements to the area outside Lloyds TSB Bank and the upgrading of the bus stop were welcomed by 86% of respondents, and the proposed landscaped sitting area in front of St Peter's Church attracted support from 85% of respondents.

A detailed report on the public consultation exercise was submitted to the CHARTS Panel on 9 November 2001. The Panel approved the proposals for the High Street, The Square and St Peter's Road, together with the proposed 20 mph zone for the historic core of the town, to proceed to detailed design and implementation stage. This decision was endorsed by the Executive Member for Environment on 12 December 2001.

Key stakeholders, such as Petersfield Town Council, Petersfield First (representing Traders), Hampshire Constabulary, Hampshire Fire and Rescue Service, Hampshire Ambulance Service NHS Trust, East Hampshire Cyclists' Forum, The South Downs Association (representing mobility impaired groups) and the Town Centre Manager, have all been consulted and are supportive of the proposals. Discussions with representatives from the District Council, Town Council, Petersfield First and the Town Centre Manager have helped to identify an implementation programme which will minimise disruption to the functions of the town centre.

Newsletters informing local people of the progress of the scheme have been distributed since the public consultation exercise. As a result some comments have been received from local people requesting a controlled pedestrian crossing such as a `pelican' or `zebra' crossing in the High Street. This request has been considered carefully, however at present provision of such a crossing has been discounted for the following reasons:

(i) given the high pedestrian flows and relatively low vehicular flows a pelican crossing would not function correctly leading to the crossing to be disrespected by drivers;

(ii) the existing pedestrian crossing movements are located at random over a significant length of the street - a practice which would be likely to continue, leading to misuse of the crossing and a potential increase in pedestrian/vehicular conflicts; and

(iii) the proposal to provide `courtesy' crossings is an improvement on the existing situation and accordingly follows Government guidance on the incremental provision of pedestrian crossing facilities.

A petition dated 16 October 2002 has been received which contains 680 signatures requesting installation of a Zebra in place of one of the `courtesy' crossings. At this stage the `courtesy' crossings and the 20 mph speed limit are thought appropriate as a first incremental step to improve conditions for pedestrians.

The impact of the proposed street improvements and the new `courtesy' crossings will be monitored for 12 months after implementation when the need for a controlled crossing will be reappraised.

Local Member's Views

Councillor J West supports these improvements.

Facilities for the disabled

The widening of footways, narrowing of carriageways and providing courtesy crossings are expected to benefit people with mobility impairments. Drop kerb crossings and tactile paving will also be provided where appropriate. The scheme is also expected to complement the provision of the Shopmobility scheme which has recently opened in the town (to which the County Council has made a financial contribution).

Maintenance implications

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The promotion of street activities nearby in The Square is expected to have the effect of creating further informal use by residents and visitors to Petersfield, which should discourage anti-social behaviour. The improved street lighting is expected to contribute towards both the removal and fear of crime in the area.

Sustainability

Part of the objective of the scheme is to improve the role of Petersfield town centre as a sustainable local service centre and to encourage sustainable transport modes, such as public transport, walking and cycling.

The materials selected for use in the scheme accord with those used in the earlier Petersfield Demonstration Project that focused on the nearby Dragon Street and College Street. The materials have also been selected for their durability and are in keeping with the conservation area setting.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

The proposal has evolved through a process of public and stakeholder consultation since the Halcrow Fox report was first prepared in 1999. This led to the evolution of the Petersfield Area Transportation Strategy and the development of this proposal. Most of the strategic alternatives, for example pedestrianisation of the High Street and The Square, were considered at that time, providing a clear mandate for this scheme.

Where possible the design process has been responsive to issues raised through the public consultation process.

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

Working Files 10/5/67192, 10/5/67195, 10/5/69021 and 69022

Environment Department

Implementation Section - Room 415