Contact: Peter Bayless, ext 6882

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the main programmes of Traffic Management work in the New Forest area. These are the revenue-funded Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and signing schemes and also the capital funded Rural Traffic Calming schemes in partnership with Parish Councils.

2. Traffic Regulation Orders and Signing Schemes

2.1 Traffic management issues are raised in a number of ways, usually by Parish Councils, local District or County Members or the public. Occasionally attention is drawn by the Police to traffic congestion or parking problems. These issues are prioritised and investigated, which may result in schemes being proposed for inclusion in the programme. The current list of potential schemes for the 2002/03 programme in the New Forest area is shown on Appendix 1.

2.2 The programme is provisional at this stage, with scope to include additional schemes that may arise as a high priority. Schemes already in the programme may slip, be modified or deleted as consultations progress and where the advertising procedure for TROs gives rise to objections.

2.3 The list includes the schemes in progress within the former island Agency area of Lymington and New Milton. These have been put forward under the existing arrangements with the District Council.

3. Parish Partnership Programme

3.1 This programme was established in 1999/00 in response to representations from a number of Parish Councils concerned about traffic speed in villages and wishing to see traffic calming schemes implemented. Since these were not a high priority for the County Council's capital programme, and legislation in 1997 had specifically enabled Parish Councils to contribute to such a scheme, a partnership approach was adopted whereby if a Parish Council was prepared to allocate funds to a scheme these would be matched by the County Council. County Council officers would also advise on the technical details and the design as part of the County Council's contribution.

3.2 The programme has generated a great deal of interest and over 70 schemes have so far been included in the programme county-wide. Staff resources have been increased to meet this commitment and the County Council's term consultant, Atkins, is now involved in developing these schemes in consultation with Parish Councils. The schemes currently in progress in the New Forest area are shown on Appendix 2.

Recommendation

That the report be noted.

7615/PDB