Archived decisions

Contact: Richard Chinn, tel: 02380 427000

1. Summary

1.1 This reports covers the following issues:

(i) Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School programmes;

(ii) Street Lighting; and

(iii) Minor Works programme.

2. Casualty Reduction and Safer Routes to School Programmes

2.1 For the last ten years the implementation of an annual programme of low cost casualty reduction schemes has been an important element of the County Council's road safety strategy. Each annual programme of at least 50 such schemes, rising to 70 schemes in recent financial years, has produced encouraging accident reductions and financial rates of return.

2.2 These results have been well received by the Department for Transport (DfT) and this programme has attracted increasing levels of funding over this period in the County Council's capital programme settlements. This has enabled a small number of larger single site schemes to be included, treating particularly problematic locations, usually where previously implemented low cost measures have not given a satisfactory solution.

2.3 The 2002/03 programme totals £1.6 million, which will include some 90 low-cost schemes and three large schemes. These are prioritised strictly on the basis of police injury accident records to give the best value for money in terms of casualties saved. Where there are savings in fatal and serious casualties, this will help meet the road safety target which has been agreed with the Government as part of the County Council's Public Service Agreement. This target is to achieve a reduction in casualties to 780 fatal and seriously injured in 2004 from the average of 1,055 for the 1994-98 period.

2.4 The casualty reduction schemes provisionally included in New Forest at this stage in the 2002/03 programme are shown in Appendix 1.

2.5 An important element of the casualty reduction strategy is the expansion of the use of safety cameras on routes with a serious accident record. Hampshire Constabulary, in partnership with the County Council and the other highway authorities in Portsmouth, Southampton and the Isle of Wight, are expanding their fixed and mobile safety camera operations as part of the national cost recovery system, whereby fine revenue can be used to fund enforcement costs.

2.6 The sites and routes chosen are where there is a history of speed-related accidents and high numbers of drivers exceeding the posted speed limit. New camera enforcement operations are under consideration at the following locations:

(i) B3037 Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh;

(ii) A35 Totton Causeway, New Forest;

(iii) A32 Gosport Road, Fareham;

(iv) Highlands Road, Fareham;

(v) Grange Road, Gosport; and

(vi) A337 Setley, New Forest.

2.7 New route sections for mobile camera operations under detailed investigation are on the A30 at Hook and Blackwater and the A339 at Lasham. The 11 existing routes for mobile camera enforcement will continue. They have shown encouraging results so far, initial monitoring giving significant reductions in total casualties and particularly in speed-related accidents, which have reduced on average by over 30%.

2.8 The Safer Routes to School programme is a related and complementary programme which has been established in recent years, with increasing emphasis being placed on both the safety of children and the need to encourage non-car modes for the journey to school. Some schemes under this heading have been included in Area Strategy programmes and are covered elsewhere on the agenda.

2.9 Schools are being encouraged to participate and to develop School Travel Plans which will generate proposals to be considered for inclusion in the programme. For the first time in 2002/03 an additional county-wide allocation of £0.5 million has been made and the currently proposed schemes in New Forest include:

(i) Copythorne Infants School, Copythorne; and

(ii) St Lukes School, Sway.

2.10 The following schools have prepared Travel Plans which may generate further proposals:

(i) Brockenhurst College, Brockenhurst; and

(ii) Houndsdown School, Totton.

3. Street Lighting

3.1 April 2002 was the start date for two new major contracts associated with the procurement of the street lighting service within Hampshire. The contract for the supply of unmetered electricity for street lighting, signs and traffic lights was awarded to Scottish and Southern Energy. The contract, which reflects a 95% brown/5% green energy mix, began on 1 April 2002. The annual cost of this contract is very close to the price which was paid for 100% brown energy during 2001/02. This contract, which is at a fixed price for two years, represents good value and achieves progress towards the County Council's target of achieving a 90% brown/10% green energy mix by 2010.

3.2 The previous contract for the maintenance of street lighting equipment by David Webster Limited ended in March 2002. A new contract, based on price, quality and added value, has been awarded to Southern Electric Contracting and began on 1 April 2002. The contract will now also include the supply of labour and materials for the column replacement programme. An assessment of the cost of the new contract compared to the previous arrangements has been carried out. This indicates that the cost of the new contract, which is fixed in price for the first year, is lower by 0.8%, in comparison with the cost of the previous contract during 2001/02.

3.3 These contracts are now getting established and the normal percentage of lights `on' is now being maintained at or about the 99% mark. The following paragraphs provide a brief outline of the work.

Maintenance

3.4 There are approximately 17,000 items of illuminated street furniture being maintained in the New Forest area. The percentage of lights on is now over 99.3%. However, the time taken to make repairs is not as good as it needs to be and staff are working with the contractor (Southern Electric Contracting) to improve performance in this area. In addition, there is a high level of waste recycling included within the contract, with an expectation of over 80% being reprocessed.

Column Replacement

3.5 The column replacement programme continues with a budget of some £850,000 for the present year. This will replace and improve lighting to those streets in Hampshire where the greatest need arises. It is hoped that Local Transport Plan (LTP) funding may be made available in future to deal with corroding columns. However, funding will need to increase significantly to provide for the 50 year replacement cycle currently required. The programme for 2002/03 in New Forest includes:

(i) Howards Mead/Efford Way, Lymington - £25,000; and

(ii) Heatherstone Avenue, Hythe - £22,000.

Community Safety Initiative

3.6 For 2002/03 this popular dual-funded local safety related initiative has a total budget of £120,000. This provides local councils with the facility to improve lighting locally by joining with the County Council to improve safety in certain areas. It is initiated by local residents making known specific problems to their respective councils and could include such issues as road safety, personal safety and fear of crime. The programme for New Forest includes:

(i) Southampton Road, Hythe - £4,000;

(ii) Wainsford Road/Howards Mead footpath, Lymington - £3,000;

(iii) Fontwell Close footpaths, Totton - £3,500; and

(iv) Portal Road/Teddar Way footpath, Totton - £3,500.

4. Minor Works Programme

4.1 The Minor Works programme is funded from the capital programme allocation based on the LTP submission to the DfT. The total budget available for the Minor Works programme county-wide is £300,000 and this is divided on a pro-rata mileage basis.

4.2 The programme is compiled from suggestions made by elected Members, the Police, Parish Councils, Residents' Associations, members of the public and Mobility Groups, etc. Whilst Minor Works are defined as those which cost below £10,000 and therefore have only a limited impact on the strategic transport issues, they provide a considerable benefit by improving local highway infrastructure for communities to assist with mobility and safety on the highway.

4.3 The demand for schemes greatly exceeds the funds available and it is therefore necessary to prioritise the schemes put forward for funding. Prioritisation of schemes is based on how they meet:

(i) the five key criteria of integration, safety, economy, environment and accessibility identified in the Government's White Paper `A New Deal for Transport: Better for Everyone'; and

(ii) the aims and objectives identified in Area Transport Strategies.

Further consideration is also given to:

(iii) the level of importance in strategic, county, Area Strategy or Local Plan Terms; and

(iv) whether the scheme has `added value' and is deliverable in the financial year.

A rolling programme of schemes is maintained for future consideration and is attached as Appendix 2.

4.4 The allocation for minor works in New Forest for 2002/03 is £25,000. From the priority assessment the following schemes were identified for the 2002/03 programme:

Bashley Road, Bashley - footway and verge improvements £10,000;

Testbourne Avenue, Totton - new footway £10,000;

and

Crow Hill, Ringwood - new rural footpath £5,000.

4.5 The three schemes are scheduled to start on-site in early 2003 and the programme should be completed by the end of the financial year.

4.6 It is anticipated that, should financial allocations remain similar to previous years, three schemes are likely to be funded in 2003/04. From the rolling programme the following schemes have been assessed as having the highest priority:

(i) B3055, Arnewood Bridge Road, Sway, new footway - £10,000

(ii) C97, Fawley Road, Hythe, new footway - £10,000

(iii) U145, Lime Kiln Lane, Fawley, new footway - £5,000

(iv) Moat Lane, New Milton, new footway - £10,000

(v) Vaggs Lane, Hordle, new footway - £10,000

(vi) B3056 Beaulieu, new footway - £10,000

Total: £55,000

Recommendations

1. That the report be noted.

2. That Members' views be sought with regard to preference of schemes for inclusion in the 2003/04 Minor Works Programme.

7613/RC