Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 November 2002

Project Appraisal - A31 Safety Fencing

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 9

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A31 SAFETY FENCING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

DECEMBER 2002

COMPLETION DATE:

FEBRUARY 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 Oct 02

(at Oct 02

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

0

0

Construction

160

160

Fees

5

5

Accommodation Works and other low cost safety improvements

35

35

200

200

Less developers/

other contributions

200

200

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

200

(b) Other

200

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

200

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

0.5

0.001

Capital charges

17

0.018

TOTAL net expenditure

17.5

0.019

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Following concerns from the Police about the number of cross-over accidents on the A31 between Winchester and the county boundary with Surrey, a detailed study was undertaken in November 2001 looking at the accidents and their locations.

In the three years to the end of August 2001 there were 98 reported injury accidents on the 24.3 kilometres of dual carriageway on this route. Four sites were identified that constituted 60% of all cross-over accidents on this stretch of road, namely the bend 800 metres east of Avington crossroads, between North Street and Four Marks, east of the Hen and Chicken at Froyle and the bend at the county boundary adjacent to Northbrook Farm.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County network and policies

The scheme supports the County Council's road safety and casualty reduction policies.

Details of scheme and design standards

The site conditions and road layout require various types of fencing to be used in accordance with current design standards. Further high visibility panels will be fixed to the fence at some locations where the number of incidents at night is above the expected normal rate.

An area of central reserve has field maple growth which will have to be removed in order to accommodate the safety fence. Other locations require slight trimming of the field maple. The Northbrook Farm site has three large pine trees and a large oak. Discussions are currently taking place to ascertain whether these need to be removed in order for the fence to comply with design standards.

The Police have requested that as part of the scheme some low cost measures are introduced. These will include reducing the west bound section of dual carriageway, leaving Four Marks, to single lane for approximately 100 metres, with keep left bollards and traffic islands. Northbrook Farm will benefit from measures to highlight their access onto the road.

Environmental impact

The safety fence will be visually more intrusive.

Land requirements

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

Statutory procedures

None.

Public consultation

Discussions are still being undertaken regarding tree removal, though Bentley Parish Council has given its approval. Consultation has been undertaken with the Police. The affected parish councils will be informed of the work prior to commencement.

Local Members' Views

Councillor Sir James Scott supports the scheme and the extra low cost measures to aid safety that affect his electoral division.

The other local Members, Councillors Mrs Glasspool and Filer, support the A31 safety fencing scheme.

Facilities for the disabled

Not applicable.

Maintenance implications

The fence will be required to be maintained. The removal of the field maple would remove the need for this to be maintained.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

Sustainability

There are no sustainability issues to be considered.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No alternative has been considered.

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

None