Archived decisions

Contact: Lionel Newman, ext 6051

1. Summary

1.1 This report sets out the progress on several studies and schemes being undertaken in the North East Hampshire Transport Strategy (NEHTS) area, as follows:

(i) A287/Redfields Lane junction improvement;

(ii) Blackwater Valley Mass Transit Study;

(iii) Blackwater Valley Bus Service 1 Priority Route;

(iv) North Lane and A323 Ash Road studies, Aldershot;

(v) North Camp, Farnborough;

(vi) Fleet Town Centre Improvements;

(vii) Old Trunk Road (Summit Avenue to Fleet Road);

(viii) Thames Valley Multi-Modal Study; and

(ix) A30/A327 Hartford Bridge Flats junction.

2. A287/Redfields Lane Junction Improvement

2.1 For a number of years, safety at the junction of the A287 and Redfields Lane, Church Crookham has been a cause for concern. In 1999 a feasibility study was carried out to assess various options including roundabout layouts, traffic signals and various priority junction layouts. The study took into account the environmental constraints on the site, including live badger setts and areas of ancient woodland. The recommended scheme involved constructing a new carriageway for eastbound traffic to the north of the existing A287, thereby forming a short section of dual carriageway. At the time, the estimated cost of this option was £1.25 million with an expectation of funding being available from developer contributions.

2.2 Preliminary design on the scheme was progressed through 2002, but it proved impossible to achieve the required visibility improvements without considerable additional expense. This is mainly due to the presence of a crest in the existing road alignment which would need to be removed, incurring significant statutory undertakers' costs. Therefore, it was decided to re-examine the costs of some of the other options. However, it became clear that any significant improvement scheme at the junction would cost in the order of £2 million. Developer contributions of approximately £800,000 are currently held towards an improvement at this junction, but this is significantly below the currently estimated scheme costs.

2.3 A low cost remedial scheme involving improved signs, road markings and anti-skid surfacing was installed in April 2002. The performance of the scheme is being monitored. However, initial indications suggest that personal injury accidents at the site may have been reduced. It is therefore suggested that the further work on the preferred scheme should wait until the low cost remedial scheme monitoring is completed.

3. Blackwater Valley Mass Transit Study

3.1 It was reported to the last meeting of the Panel that this study was nearing completion. The commission was undertaken by consultants, Steer Davies Gleave, appointed by Bracknell Forest Borough Council, Surrey County Council and Hampshire County Council. The study report has now been submitted to the three authorities.

3.2 The intention has been to present the findings of the joint study to a meeting of the Blackwater Valley Network (BVN) Members' Steering Group, to which Members of the NEHTS Panel would be invited. This would enable Panel Members to hear a presentation on the related Blackwater Valley Sub Regional Study which seeks to identify how to optimise future economic growth in the area. The Sub Regional Study is currently being finalised. Potential dates for the presentation to the BVN Steering Group are 21 or 28 March 2003. It may be possible to confirm this date for members at the Panel meeting.

4. Blackwater Valley Bus Services 1 Priority Route

4.1 Construction is now well underway on Phase 1 of this scheme. The Boundary Road-Pinehurst roundabout section is due to be completed by early February 2003. The remaining sections will be constructed during 2003, with the Prospect Avenue to Bradford's roundabout section underway and completion of the overall scheme due in the Autumn.

4.2 Towards the end of 2002 the bus company Stagecoach had to revert from an improved 15 minute frequency to the previous 20 minute frequency on Route 1 due to staff shortages. Stagecoach has given an undertaking to the County Council that the full service will be restored by the time the works on Phase 1 are complete in September 2003, but would seek to possibly achieve this in Spring 2003 alongside service network revisions for the area.

4.3 The County Council has been informed of service revisions proposed by Stagecoach which include changes to Route 1 whereby the section between Camberley and Yateley will be withdrawn and replaced by a 'Route 3'. This route will provide a service between Yateley and Camberley. The significance of this will be that Yateley will lose its direct link (via Route 1) to Farnborough. As a possible replacement for this loss, Stagecoach/South West Trains have been examining ways of funding a direct Rail Link between Farnborough and Yateley. The introduction of these revisions is scheduled for 13 April 2003 to allow time for a decision on the proposed Rail Link.

5. North Lane and A323 Ash Road Studies, Aldershot

5.1 The North Lane study considers options for restricting the flow of HGV's and other vehicles under the railway bridge at North Lane, Aldershot. Concern has been expressed by local residents as to the volume of HGV's which travel along North Lane. Four primary options for the bridge have been identified for consideration: a weight restriction; a height restriction; a one-way option; and full closure.

5.2 Additional traffic surveys for the study were identified and these were undertaken in September 2002. These are currently being processed to understand the existing traffic patterns in the study area. The draft report is due to be completed shortly.

5.3 The County Council and Rushmoor Borough Council undertook a public consultation in 1998 presenting draft proposals for traffic calming measures on A323 Ash Road/High Street, Aldershot. The objective of the current work is to produce an Issues and Recommendations Report. This will review the existing proposals for traffic calming and verify whether they resolve the issues identified. An assessment of transportation issues is complete. Final recommendations for the implementation of the traffic management proposals will be made on conclusion of the North Lane Railway bridge study.

6. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas: North Camp

6.1 The Regeneration of Older Urban Areas (ROUA) programme is being coordinated with the Local Transport Plan (LTP) in developing proposals for North Camp and £200,000 has been allocated within the ROUA 2001/03 programme for improvements in this important local centre. Following the completion of a transport study of the shopping area, funded from the LTP programme, sketch design proposals for traffic calming, 'gateway' features and a village meeting point were prepared for consultation with the local business group in November 2002 and a wider public consultation is planned for early in the Spring. A Project Appraisal for the following work was approved in December:

(i) improvements to Lynchford Road and the adjacent open space, raising the visual quality of the shopping centre and providing 'gateways'/vistas into North camp; and

(ii) improvements to the layout and appearance of pedestrian linkages, taking car parking and traffic calming issues into consideration.

7. Fleet Town Centre improvements

7.1 In a report to the last meeting of the Panel, a summary was given on the consultation undertaken on the town centre proposals. The Panel meeting was followed by a presentation to Hart District Council Members and representatives of the Fleet Town Centre Management Group (FTCMG) on one way options put forward by the Management Group. The FTCMG subsequently accepted that a one way system was not viable, but sought modifications to the Town Centre proposals as published in March 2002.

7.2 The improvement proposals were modified in December 2002 to include:

(i) proposed new accesses to Church Road and Victoria Road car parks;

(ii) an additional pedestrian access to Victoria Road car park;

(iii) revised on street disabled parking provision;

(iv) provision close to the Hart Centre for taxis; and

(v) proposed rear access possibilities in the vicinity of the Victoria Road car park and the new access to Church Road car park.

7.3 Hart District Council are in the process of considering the modified proposals, leading to a decision at full council on 27 February 2003. It is understood that the modified proposals now have the strong support of the FTCMG.

8. Old Trunk Road (Summit Avenue to Fleet Road)

8.1 This scheme, developed by Rushmoor Borough Council, will provide much needed improvement for pedestrians and cyclists on the western side of Farnborough. The scheme has been split into three phases to allow construction to proceed as and when funding becomes available.

8.2 Phase 1 involves construction of a shared pedestrian/cycle path on the northern side of the A327 between Southwood Road and Apollo Rise (West) and will provide a link to the Southwood Business Park. This phase will also include street lighting improvements along the whole length of Summit Avenue and new refuge islands to help pedestrians cross. Additionally, the footpath along Old Trunk Road will be widened and lighting improvements installed. The total cost of this phase is estimated to be £140,000. Developer contributions of £25,000 are available for this work and £100,000 was allocated in the NEHTS 2002/03 programme.

8.3 Phase 2 involves construction of a shared pedestrian/cycle path on the northern side of the A327 between Apollo Rise (west) and Old Trunk Road linking the two parts of Phase 1. The estimated cost of this is approximately £65,000. Developer contributions of £56,000 are available for this work. Phase 3 involves construction of a shared pedestrian/cycle path on the southern side of the A327 between Links Way and Southwood Road. This is estimated to cost approximately £60,000. The additional funding required from the NEHTS Capital Programme will need to be considered as part of the countywide review of Strategy Programmes.

9. Thames Valley Multi-Modal Study (TVMMS)

9.1 The Government Office for the South East (GOSE) commissioned WS Atkins Planning Consultants in July 2001 to carry out the TVMMS. The finalised report was published on 20 January 2002 and will be placed on the website (www.thamesvalleytransport.org.uk). The study considers transport and land use issues in an area covering parts of Berkshire, Surrey and Hampshire including the NEHTS and Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST) areas.

9.2 The study report and findings will be considered by the Planning Committee of the South East of England Regional Assembly (SEERA) and the London Mayor in April 2003. The Assembly will advise the Secretary of State on the preferred way forward in the context of Regional Planning Guidance 9 and the Regional Transport Strategy (RTS). The Secretary of State will then respond to SEERA's recommendations and consider regional or sub regional proposals for inclusion in draft revisions to the RTS.

9.3 Hampshire County Council has been invited to comment on the study's findings and conclusions by 28 February 2003.

10. A30/A327 Hartfordbridge Flats Junction Safety Improvements

10.1 The A30 runs from Salisbury (Wiltshire border) to Blackwater (Surrey border). The A327 runs from Reading to Farnborough. Blackbushes Road runs south from the junction to the B3013 north of Fleet. The A30/A327 junction lies approximately four miles west of Blackwater and approximately one mile north of Hartfordbridge.

10.2 Atkins have been commissioned to undertake a feasibility study for a roundabout at the A30/A327 Hartfordbridge Flats junction. A safety scheme was implemented in June 1998 aimed at reducing the large number of accidents at the junction. The scheme included measures such as antiskid surfacing, lining and signing. These measures reduced the number of accidents from 18 in the three years prior to the scheme to 10 in the three years after, however there has now been an increase to 17 accidents in the current three year period.

10.3 The Feasibility Study looked at three possible roundabout designs and recommended a preferred layout that fits within the existing highway boundary. In addition a signal controlled scheme is being examined.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

7685/LN