Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

12 November 2002

Project Appraisal: Town Centre Car Park to Moggs Mead, Petersfield - Proposed Cycle Route

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

TOWN CENTRE CAR PARK TO MOGGS MEAD, PETERSFIELD - CYCLE ROUTE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 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

Nil

Nil

Construction

112

112

Fees

8

8

120

120

Less developers/

other contributions

120

120

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme 2002/03 - CHARTS Programme

115

115

2.

From other resources

(a) East Hampshire District Council

5

TOTAL

120

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

1

0.001

Capital charges

19

0.021

TOTAL net expenditure

20

0.022

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 forms part of the planned Railway Station to Penns Place cycle route and 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 scheme is a section of the planned cycle route proposed between Petersfield railway station and the District Council offices and recreational facilities at Penns Place, Petersfield. This section of the cycle route will connect the Moggs Mead residential area located to the east of Tor Way to the town centre. Provision of the off-road section along Tor Way will also enable cyclists to travel both ways along the one-way street. Crossing Tor Way is achieved using the Toucan crossing at the College Street junction provided at an earlier stage of the development of this route.

Further sections are being developed in order to provide a strategic east-west route across the town.

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 provision for pedestrians and cyclists in Petersfield. The scheme will provide an important link for cyclists travelling between the residential areas to the east of the town centre and the town centre itself. Further extensions of this route are being developed in order to complete the Railway Station to Penns Place cycle route which is expected to improve integration between cycling and public transport modes.

The route meets the aspirations of the District Council's cycle plan which formed an important part of the development of Proposal 11 of PATS. In support of this the District Council has allocated funding to the section of the cycle route that traverses the central car park in Petersfield, which the District Council manages and maintains. The District Council is making a financial contribution to this element of the route.

The 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 cycling.

Details of scheme and design standards

The primary features of the scheme are:

(i)

off road shared use cycleway/footway along the exit road from the central car park area to College Street;

(ii)

segregated off road cycle provision along College Street to the existing controlled cycle (Toucan) crossing facilities at Tor Way;

(iii)

off road shared use cycleway/footway along the south side of Tor Way;

(iv)

conversion of existing footway to cycleway and provision of new footbridge across Tilmore Brook adjacent to Tor Way;

(v)

on-road cycle lanes and uncontrolled crossing facilities on Moggs Mead from Tor Way to Herne Road; and

(vi)

improved street lighting.

Detailed drawings nos. 67208/01 and 67208/02 will be displayed at the meeting. A location plan is attached.

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 involves modifications within an existing urban area and is not expected to have any negative impact on the environment.

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

Land requirements

No land acquisition required. All work is being undertaken within the public highway except the central car park access road which is owned by East Hampshire District Council. The District Council has approved the use of the central car park for the proposed cycle route from the Railway Station to Penns Place. Officers of the District Council have been consulted and are supportive of the proposals in principle. Permission to enter the land is currently being sought and is expected to be in place before the work in these areas is programmed to commence. Upon completion of the contractors maintenance period, the maintenance liability and responsibility for the works on the car park access road will return to the District Council.

Statutory procedures

The conversion of sections of the existing footways to use as shared and segregated areas for pedestrians and cyclists requires a resolution to invoke powers under Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980.

Public consultation

Hampshire Police and the East Hampshire Cyclists Forum have been consulted and are supportive of the proposals. Residents of properties fronting the scheme were consulted and no objections have been raised. East Hampshire District Council, which manages the Festival Hall car park fronting the scheme along Tor Way, has also been consulted and raises no objection to the construction of a small retaining wall along its boundary with Tor Way. Similarly the landlord of the White Hart Public House on College Street has been consulted about the modifications to the frontage to the car park and has raised no objection.

Local Member's View

Councillor J West supports these improvements.

Facilities for the disabled

The needs of those with mobility impairments have been considered in the development of the design. Tactile and corduroy paving have been provided where appropriate and the demarcation between the segregated footway and cycle areas includes a vertical profile.

Maintenance implications

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget. The low retaining wall along the boundary between Tor Way and the District Council's Festival Hall car park will be maintained by the County Council, as it supports the highway.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The improved street lighting is expected to contribute towards both the removal and fear of crime in the area.

Sustainability

The scheme aims to provide a safer facility which will enable cyclists to travel both ways along part of Tor Way, which is a one-way street. Through its provision the scheme is expected to encourage cycling and contribute to a modal shift away from the motor car towards more sustainable modes of transport.

Once further sections of the overall route between the railway station and Penns Place are completed, it is expected that the route will also help to promote integration between cycling and public transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

No alternative routes have been considered during the detailed design of this scheme.

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

Petersfield Projects - File 10/67192 and 67195

Environment Department

Implementation Team - Room 415