Hampshire County Council North East Hampshire Area Transportation Strategy Panel 4 February 2003 Traffic Management in the Cove Road and Bridge Road Area Report of the Head of Highway and Transport Services, Rushmoor Borough Council

Item 8

Contact: Steve Dungay, tel 01252 398398

1. Summary

1.1 This report advises Members of a proposal for environmental and safety improvements around the Cove Road and Bridge Road one-way system, and reports the comments received from residents and local Members following an exhibition.

2. Background

2.1 Possible low cost accident remedial measures were originally investigated for the one-way section of Cove Road. More recently, these have been developed to include the adjacent length of Bridge Road and have taken into consideration environmental as well as safety matters.

2.2 Recent resurfacing work removed many of the original road markings. The opportunity was taken to replace these with a different layout, in anticipation of what could be achieved by the improvement being developed, and these changes have been well received by residents and Members.

2.3 Local Members are being consulted regularly and have been particularly supportive towards the project.

3. Exhibition

3.1 All adjacent residents were invited by letter to an exhibition on 17 September 2002. Posters advertising the exhibition were placed throughout the surrounding area.

3.2 Approximately 70 residents and Members attended the afternoon and evening exhibition at Cove Methodist Church, and other residents have visited the Council Offices since then to see the display.

3.3 The exhibition showed how Bridge Road and Cove Road could be traffic calmed by local narrowing, the provision of an on-carriageway cycle lane and the use of the existing parking layout.

3.4 Most residents were very supportive of the outline proposals shown at the exhibition; 50 comment sheets were returned at or following the exhibition. These are summarised in the attached appendix. Where practical, suggestions made by residents have now been included in a revised layout.

4. Current Proposal

4.1 A new layout has been identified for the Cove Road/Bridge Road one-way system which would improve safety and the environment, with particular assistance to pedestrians, cyclists and bus passengers.

4.2 The proposal is to narrow the existing carriageway way to a single lane using mainly horizontal calming features, including the provision of on-carriageway cycle lanes.

4.3 The owner of number 132 Cove Road is willing to discuss the possible dedication of the small area of land required for the improvement of the adjacent junctions.

4.4 Comments are being sought from the owner of the private car park at numbers 2-14 Bridge Road concerning an improved layout which would assist both customers and users of the adjacent highway.

4.5 A drawing of the area will be displayed at the meeting.

5. Financial Implications

5.1 This scheme, estimated at £75,000, would need to be considered for funding from the Local Transport Plan programme for the North East Hampshire Area Transportation Strategy Panel area. No funding has been agreed at the present time.

Recommendations

1. That the Panel note the support for the proposed improvements in the Cove Road and Bridge Road area.

2. That this scheme be considered for inclusion in the Capital Programme for the next Local Transport Plan submission.

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
Comment forms and other correspondence	Transportation Team Rushmoor Borough Council

7689/sjd

APPENDIX

Traffic Management in the Cove Road/Bridge Road Area

Public Consultation -Exhibition on 17^th September, 2002

Number of Comments received concerning the following issues

A) General Issues

1) Exhibition Proposals

a) Support proposals (19)

b) Possible support (9)

c) Unsure (1)

d) Against proposals(unnecessary) (1)

e) Against proposals (too weak) (1)

2) Cycle provision a) Supports (4)

b) Unsure (1)

c) Removes cyclists from footways (2)

3) Other suggestions

a) Provide humps/cushions (4)

b) Against humps cushions (3)

c) Deal with traffic speed (7)

d) More Police speed enforcement (1)

e) More parking enforcement (5)

f) Deal with footway parking (2)

g) Pedestrian problems (7)

h) Better information for lorry drivers (1)

B) Cove Road Issues

1) Strengthen Calming

a) Humps/cushions (4)

b) More narrowing (2)

c) More calming (not specified) (2)

2) Parking Issues

a) Time limited parking in lay by (1)

b) Loss of parking (1)

c) Alldays (2)

d) Dillons (5)

3) Junction Issues

a) Hazel Avenue (4)

b) Highfield Path/Bridge Road (west) (7)

C) Bridge Road Issues

1) Additional suggestions

a) 20mph speed limit (1)

b) Visiblity of bus stop (2)

c) Signs at Cottage Gardens (2)

d) Sight line near Cove Road(east) (1)

e) Restrictions near No.30 (1)

f) Loading facilities (1)

D) Cove Road/Bridge Road Shops Issues

1) Improve pedestrian facilities (1)

2) Formal crossings (4)

E) Other Issues

1) Cove Road (west of Brook)

a) Widen (2)

b) Pedestrian crossings (1)

2) Cove Road (east of Bridge Road)

a) Roundabout at Tower Hill (1)

3) Highfield Road

a) One way (towards Cove Road)/

through traffic (3)

b) Remove verge (1)

c) Residents` parking (1)

4) Highfield Path

a) Traffic calm (1)

b) Height barrier for car park (1)