Contact: Graham Carter, tel: 01962 857810/Chris Reeves, tel: 01962 857814

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers the main programmes of traffic management work in the Test Valley area in 2002/03 and 2003/04. These are the revenue-funded Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and signing and lining schemes, and also the capital-funded rural traffic calming schemes in partnership with the parish councils.

2. Traffic Regulation Orders and Signing and Lining 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. The police also occasionally raise issues of concern relating to congestion, parking problems or potential safety hazards. Schemes that have been progressed as part of the 2002/03 programme in the Test Valley area are showing in Appendix 1A. Schemes included in the list are, at this stage in the financial year, either operational or expected to be completed, but earlier in the year are often subject to delay, modification or deletion as consultations progress, or where the TRO advertising procedure gives rise to objections. Additional schemes, which arise as a high priority, are also added to the programme as necessary.

2.2 The list includes the schemes in progress within the former island agency area of Andover. These have been put forward under the existing arrangements with Test Valley Borough Council. Members may recall that the offer has been made for the Borough Council to take up the traffic management function throughout the Test Valley area, but a final decision on this by the Borough Council is awaiting the outcome of the review of Highways Development Control functions. Consultations are currently in progress on the recommendation from this review.

2.3 The 2003/04 provisional programme is shown in Appendix 1B and includes schemes being progressed by the County Council as well as Test Valley Borough Council.

3. Parish Partnership Programme

3.1 The origins of the Parish Partnership Programme were explained in some detail in a report to this Panel on 22 July 2002, and further progress has been made on those schemes already identified within the Test Valley Borough area. Appendix 2A includes those schemes expected to be completed in 2002/03 and Appendix 2B those being progressed in 2003/04.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

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