Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

10 December 2002

Project Appraisal: Fairfields Road Area, Basingstoke - Traffic Calming

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 8

Contact: Richard Hague, tel 01962 857087

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

(i) That the attached Project Appraisal for the proposed traffic calming scheme in the Fairfields area of Basingstoke at an estimated cost of £220,000 be approved.

(ii) That an Order be made under Sections 82(2), 83(2) and 84(1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to implement the associated 20 miles per hour zone and for the construction of road humps as advertised.

2. Reason

2.1 To provide a self-enforcing low speed regime to improve conditions and maintain safety for all road users, in particular the young and elderly pedestrians who require access to the local schools, shops and community facilities.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Other options such as coloured road surfacing, signing and lining, gateways and small build-outs were investigated, but these measures alone were considered insufficient to maintain consistent control on vehicle speeds.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

(Externally Funded)

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10 DECEMBER 2002

_____________________________________________

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PROJECT:

FAIRFIELDS ROAD AREA, BASINGSTOKE - TRAFFIC CALMING

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COMMENCEMENT DATE:	DECEMBER 2002
COMPLETION DATE:	MARCH 2003

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03

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7.	Scheme
7.1	Introduction In June 2001 Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council's Cabinet considered a report recommending that funding be allocated to two traffic calming schemes in residential areas of Basingstoke. In conjunction with the County Council and the Police, Borough Council officers closely examined residential areas within the town centre. The objective was to determine where local facilities, such as schools, shops, churches and residential homes for the elderly or disabled people, were concentrated and where there would be a high level of pedestrian activity, particularly during the school day. The identified areas were then considered for treatment in order to benefit vulnerable road users in particular. The Fairfields Road area of Basingstoke, encompassing Southern Road, Fairfields Road, Beaconsfield Road, Wallis Road, Castle Road, Jubilee Road, Council Road, Cliddesden Road (north) and Bounty Road, had the greatest concentration of community facilities and also an element of through traffic which interacted with movements around the area by local people. It was agreed with Borough Council and Police officers that this would be a high priority and road humps would need to be introduced to achieve an appropriate speed.

7.2	Details The proposals for the Fairfields Road area comprise a series of road humps (75 millimetres in height), kerb build-outs, shared surface areas and raised tables at junctions (also 75 millimetres in height). Gateway features incorporating enhanced signing/lining and coloured road surfacing are also proposed at the entry points to the zone. It is proposed that since the road hump scheme is designed to achieve speeds in the region of 20 miles per hour (mph) it would be appropriate to reinforce the effect of the scheme by a 20 mph zone. The proposals are shown on the attached location plans.

7.3	Standards The design conforms to the relevant regulations and technical advice of the Department for Transport (DfT) as well as to County Council policies and advice. It has been subjected to the safety audit process.

7.4	Statutory Procedures and Consultation The proposals for the Fairfields Road area were displayed at two public exhibitions held at the Basingstoke Irish Centre in July 2001 and July 2002. Majority support was given to the introduction of the 20 mph zone and for the physical features which were to be employed. Following the second public exhibition, the Borough Council agreed to fund the implementation of the proposals from its Capital Programme. A single letter of objection was received following the formal advertisement of the 20 mph zone and the proposal to construct the road humps and raised junction tables (see attached appendix). This objection related to the principle of using physical measures rather than the implementation of a 20 mph limit. In order to maintain 20 mph within the zone it is required, as a general rule, that traffic calming measures are constructed. The works proposed thus accord with DfT advice. The emergency services have been consulted and do not object to the proposals. There is no bus service within the proposed areas of the 20 mph zone. The public consultation exercises confirm majority support for the proposed 20 mph zone and road hump scheme for the Fairfields Road area. All the issues raised during the public exhibitions and statutory advertisement have been investigated and, where appropriate, the proposals have been amended to overcome them. The results of the public exhibitions were reported to the Borough Council's Cabinet Member in September 2002 who agreed the recommendations to implement the 20 mph zone and road hump scheme for the Fairfields Road area and to fund the works from the Borough's Capital Programme.

7.5	Policy Considerations The proposals are consistent with the aims of the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport. The traffic calming scheme is aimed at maintaining an effective speed reduction to assist with the safety of all road users, particularly the more vulnerable elderly and child pedestrians.

7.6	Environmental Impacts The scheme has been designed to achieve minimal environmental impact. The works will also provide an overall benefit creating a safer environment for all road users. During construction any excessive noise and disturbance will be kept to a minimum.

7.7	Land Requirement No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

7.8	Alternative Arrangements No suitable alternatives.

7.9	Local Members' View Throughout the consultation process Councillor Gurden and the late Councillor Mrs Collins were in agreement with the scheme.

7.10	Crime and Disorder Act 1998 The provisions of this Act have no impact on these proposals.

7.11	Sustainability The scheme will maintain an effective enhanced local environment by sustaining a lower speed regime, thus reducing the effects of severance created by vehicular traffic, allowing more freedom for pedestrian access and crossing movements and promoting safety for all road users.

8.	Financial Arrangements


8.1	Expenditure	£'000	Funds Available	£'000

	Design Fee }		Borough Council Capital Programme	220
	Supervision }	220
	Project Works }
	Land	Nil
		____		____
	Total	220	Total	220
		____		____

8.2	Revenue Implications	£'000	% Variation to Committee's budget

	Net increase in current expenditure	2		0.004
	Capital Charge	Nil		Nil
		____		____
	Total Expenditure
		2		0.004

8.3	Maintenance Implications There will be minimal revenue implications from these proposals and these will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.


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

Traffic Management Liaison File

(Basingstoke and Deane) - Fairfields Area 20 mph Zone

Environment Department

Sheridan House

7627/RH

APPENDIX

	Objections	Officer's Comments
1.	Vehicles move slowly in Castle Road. There is no need for further physical measures.	Parking is already present on Castle Road but the effects upon moving vehicles vary dependent upon the density of parking. To provide additional build-outs to protect the parking also provides permanent features which affect driver behaviour at all times. Raised junction tables are primarily required to calm traffic on Fairfields Road and Wallis Road but will also slow traffic movements into and out of Castle Road. The measures are required to satisfy statutory requirements and Department for Transport directives.

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