COUNCIL MEETING, 28 NOVEMBER 2002

REPORT OF THE

EXECUTIVE MEMBER

Environment

Part II

DETRUNKING OF A339 - BLACK DAM TO COUNTY BOUNDARY

1. The Government White Paper entitled `A New Deal for Trunk Roads in England' identified a core network of nationally important routes and announced plans to detrunk the remainder of the trunk road network. As a consequence, the County Council has been asked to comment on a draft Order to be issued by the Secretary of State for Transport in respect of a length of the A339 Trunk Road, from the West Berkshire/Hampshire county boundary north of Headley to south of the A30 Black Dam Roundabout. The effect of the Order would be that this stretch of road would become a principal road and be transferred to the County Council as the local highway authority on 1 April 2003.

2. Over the last 18 months, there has been considerable liaison between the County Council, the Highways Agency and its agent, Mott MacDonald on the detrunking of the A339. In March of this year, the County Council accepted the suggested annual provision of £400,000 from the Department of Transport as a reasonable sum for purely routine maintenance activities on the A339 until such time it could be taken account of in the Local Plan settlement. Negotiations are progressing, however there are a number of concerns that, in the view of the County Council, need to be satisfactorily resolved.

3. A decision was made on 11 October 2002 that no objection would be raised to the proposed detrunking providing the following concerns were addressed:-

(i) the low residual life of the Kingsclere Bypass;

(ii) the condition and longevity of the street lighting stock;

(iii) the upgrading of parapets to a number of railway bridges and footbridges; and

(iv) the Highway Agency's commitment to road safety improvements

In addition, it is very important that where one highway or planning authority supports development which has significant impact on a neighbouring authority, satisfactory evaluation by all the affected authorities takes place. In support of this, a further decision was made to approach the Government Office for the South East and the South East of England Regional Assembly in order to raise awareness of the implications of cross-boundary development and the associated traffic issues.

4. The County Council will be continuing negotiations to ensure that it takes over the A339 in a condition comparable with the rest of its `A' road network which does not prejudice its funding position.

NB. Further to the decision made on 11 October, the draft Order has now been issued
for consultation, with a response due from the County Council by 13 December.

COUNCILLOR KEITH B. ESTLIN

Executive Member for

Environment

8ER301102