Archived decisions

Contact: Brian Millen, tel 01256 764444

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the following issues:

(i) Bridge Works programme 2002/03;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems programme 2002/03;

(iii) North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) schemes; and

(iv) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme.

2. The Bridge Works Programme

2.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for inspection and maintenance, load assessment and strengthening of all existing county highway structures, as well as new structures built as part of road improvements, housing schemes and industrial developments. This includes 1,400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures, such as retaining walls and gantries.

2.2 The majority of bridge maintenance, assessment and strengthening is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance, footbridges and environmental maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

2.3 Bridge maintenance covers regular routine items, such as vegetation and drainage clearance, repairs to accidental damage, major and minor structural maintenance identified from the annual cycle of bridge inspections and environmental maintenance of subways. The latter covers graffiti removal and cleaning under a three year term contract with a firm called Graffiti Solutions. Raynesway Construction Southern Limited carries out the majority of other maintenance, although some specialist or larger jobs go out to tender.

2.4 A programme of load assessment and strengthening was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on British roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete, and strengthening of substandard bridges is ongoing. About 50 bridges remain subject to interim measures, such as weight limits or monitoring, and will be strengthened over the next five or six years, funding permitting.

2.5 Following the 'Selby crash' in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, mainly bridges, are being evaluated and prioritised, with a view to establishing a rolling programme for protective measures.

2.6 There are no major bridge schemes in the Hart area in 2002/03, but a feasibility study for improvements to Malthouse bridge has been started. This Grade II listed brick arch carries 'The Street' over the Basingstoke Canal and is subject to a 7.5 tonne weight limit. Extensive consultations on widening and strengthening are taking place and the current preferred option is to improve pedestrian access, but to retain a single lane carriageway. However, the scheme is not included in the current bridge works programme and timing will depend on the allocation of LTP funding.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems Group Programme

3.1 The Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) Group was formed in January 2000 and manages all aspects of traffic control and information systems throughout Hampshire. It is responsible for policy, research, development, design, implementation and operation of all signals, traffic control and information systems in the county. This includes Pelican, Puffin and Toucan pedestrian and cycle crossings.

3.2 The Group is located in Monument House in Winchester which houses the Urban Traffic Control (UTC) system from where it coordinates and controls traffic signals in Winchester, Eastleigh, Havant, Fareham, Gosport and Basingstoke through a central computer. This system not only controls traffic signals but also car parking information, priority facilities for emergency vehicles, and specific priority for other vehicles, such as buses. Remote monitoring is used to immediately detect faults in signal equipment in any part of the county, facilitating swift response times.

3.3 The ITS Group is also responsible for the operation, management and fault reporting for the traffic control elements of the Area 3 Commission for the Highways Agency. This work extends the area of responsibility for traffic systems management to include high profile sites on the motorway and trunk roads network in the Area 3 Super Agency.

3.4 The Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) at Monument House is directly linked to the original TTIC in Southampton (ROMANSE project) and collects, collates and disseminates information in a variety of ways. A number of individual systems have been developed and are currently in operation:

(i) STOPWATCH real-time bus passenger information system;

(ii) Variable Message Signs (VMS);

(iii) TRIPlanner information terminals for pre-trip planning; and

(iv) closed circuit television (CCTV) for network monitoring.

3.5 Traffic and Travel information is passed to the media, Police and motoring organisations, as well as disseminated through the ROMANSE on-line website (www.romanse.org.uk). Existing systems are being extended and new technologies and systems researched to ensure an efficient sustainable transport system for Hampshire.

3.6 Works identified for Hart within the ITS programmes for 2002/03 are listed in Appendix 1.

4. North East Hampshire Transport Strategy

4.1 The 2002/03 programme of NEHTS schemes included within the LTP is set out in Appendix 2.

5. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas Programme

Town Centre, Yateley

5.1 The emerging B3272 Route Management Strategy (RMS) and the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme have common objectives for the town centre area of Yateley. Improvements in safety for all road users, integration between alternative modes of transport, traffic management to encourage through traffic to use more suitable routes and tackling severance are central to the RMS and the regeneration of Yateley town centre.

5.2 The ROUA programme for 2001-2003 has set aside £25,000 for technical studies to support the regeneration of Yateley town centre. A further £22,000 has been made available by the ROUA programme, match-funded by the district and town councils, for a 'catalyst' project, subject to match-funding coming forward from the town and district councils.

5.3 There is an urgent need to provide a strong planning and design framework for the town centre and its immediate environs so that current initiatives, like the RMS and safety scheme for the B3272, future development and inward investment make a positive contribution to the local environment. The framework will put down a marker for high quality solutions for all development. A Village Design Framework, integrating economic, social, environmental and transport issues, is now being developed with a range of partners. Setting out a long-term vision, owned and shared by the local community, the completed Village Design Framework will be adopted by Hart District Council as Supplementary Planning Guidance.

5.4 The County Council is working in partnership with Hart District Council, Yateley Town Council, the Yateley Town Centre Management Group and the local Civic Society. Further links are being forged with voluntary groups. This inclusive approach will ensure that the developing Village Design Framework is fully informed by local issues, concerns and aspirations, and that the emerging B3272 RMS and ROUA project are fully integrated. The Environment and Chief Executive's Departments, through the Market Towns Initiative, are in discussion to develop a joint public exhibition of proposals in November 2002.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7519/BGM

APPENDIX 1

Intelligent Transport Systems Programme 2002/03 - Hart

· Griffin Way, Hook, pelican crossing;

· A30 Hook, pelican crossing;

· Dorchester Arms, traffic signal junction;

· Waterfront Business Park, traffic signal junctions - externally funded.

The only other outstanding schemes from this year's capital programme is the puffin crossing at Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney. This scheme involves common land and is unlikely to go ahead this year as a result.

Links to Hart CCTV

Discussions have taken place with Hart District Council to establish a link between its control room and the TTIC in Winchester. Capital funding is available in the 2002/03 programme but there is an issue over revenue funding for Hart. A response is currently awaited on the level of revenue likely to be required by the District Council to support its CCTV operation.

APPENDIX 2

NORTH EAST HAMPSHIRE TRANSPORT STRATEGY

CAPITAL PROGRAMME 2002/03 - HART DISTRICT COUNCIL SCHEMES