Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

24 June 2003

Project Appraisal: Hylton Road, Petersfield - Traffic Calming Scheme

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 9

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

HYLTON ROAD, PETERSFIELD

PROPOSED TRAFFIC CALMING SCHEME

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

AUGUST 2003

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at April 03

(at April 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

45

45

Fees

30

30

75

75

Less developers/

20

20

other contributions

55

55

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital Programme 2001/02 CHARTS Petersfield Allocation

55

(b) Other

55

2.

From other resources

(a) Developers Contribution

20

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

75

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £ nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1

0.001

Capital charges

7

0.008

TOTAL net expenditure

8

0.009

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Petersfield lies within the East Hampshire District and is covered by the Central Hampshire Rural Transport Strategy (CHARTS).

Hylton Road, together with The Spain, forms a continuous route around the southern side of the town centre and historic core of the town. The route predominantly carries local traffic between arterial routes located to the west, south and east of the town. The route is primarily residential in nature and is a Conservation Area over most of its length. Two schools are located on the route, one being Churchers College Junior School - at the western end of Hylton Road opposite the junction with Sheep Street, the other is Petersfield Infants School - towards the eastern end of Hylton Road.

The Spain and the western half of Hylton Road were provided with traffic calming features as part of an earlier proposal which was implemented in 1997. This scheme included a change of priorities at the junction of The Spain and Borough Road, together with the provision of pinch-points, road narrowings and improvements to the street lighting. Most of the traffic calming features were provided on The Spain and the western half of Hylton Road, which had a generally positive effect on traffic speed reduction. However the scheme did not include any measures on the eastern half of Hylton Road in the vicinity of Petersfield Infants School. Accordingly, vehicle speeds are higher in this area with 85%ile speeds of 30 miles per hour (mph) being recorded for eastbound traffic, and 26 mph recorded for westbound traffic.

Proposal 13 of the Petersfield Area Transport Strategy (PATS) includes the development of a 20 mph zone for the historic core of Petersfield, which includes Hylton Road. The proposal for the 20 mph zone is currently being developed in association with the Petersfield town centre improvements, which are presently under construction. The proposed traffic calming measures are expected to contribute to the reduction of vehicle speeds on Hylton Road, especially in the vicinity of Petersfield Infants School, and will help ensure that the new 20 mph speed limit is self-enforcing.

In 2000 the County Council entered into a Section 106 Agreement with Tesco Stores Limited, the developers of the former Abattoir and The Grange site, located at the south-eastern end of Hylton Road. The Agreement included a financial contribution of £20,000 from the developer towards the cost of implementing the traffic calming works on Hylton Road.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme is consistent with the aspirations of the County Council's Local Transport Plan, CHARTS and, in particular, proposal 13 of PATS.

The scheme also complements the County Council's developing programme of Safer Routes to Schools, through the provision of traffic calming measures and improved conditions for pedestrians outside Petersfield Infants School.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The scheme has been designed to reduce vehicle speeds on Hylton Road in order that the proposed 20 mph speed limit zone will be self-enforcing. This will be achieved through the provision of a combination of physical traffic calming measures which include both horizontal and vertical deflections. The design has a particular focus on providing traffic calming measures at the eastern end of Hylton Road in the vicinity of the pedestrian route between the town centre and the recent foodstore development (Tesco), and in the vicinity of Petersfield Infants school. In addition, and following consultation with the local residents' group, further measures to enhance those provided under the earlier scheme are proposed along the residential section of the road. The measures requested by residents included improvements to the uncontrolled crossing point by Churchers Junior School and the addition of speed cushions along the residential section of road.

The primary features of the scheme are:

(i) footway build-out across proposed parking bay and flat-top speed table outside Petersfield Infant School to aid pedestrians crossing the road to the school. This crossing point is uncontrolled, however it is planned that the school crossing patrol will operate at this location;

(ii) footway build-out and flat-top speed table at the point where the pedestrian route from the town centre to the food store crosses the road;

(iii) speed cushions along the residential section of the road;

(iv) `chicane' feature to reinforce single lane shuttle working past existing parking bay;

(v) extension of footway and improvement to existing uncontrolled crossing point near Churchers College Junior School, including modification of kerb line to adjacent junction with Sheep Street;

(vi) minor modifications to parking arrangements, including the incorporation of an area of redundant `at any time' restriction into extended parking bays;

(vii) provision of flashing amber lights, warning signs, reflective bollards and road markings to raise driver awareness of the school crossing patrol; and

(viii) street lighting upgrade.

Detailed drawings indicating the proposals will be displayed at the meeting.

The design conforms to the standards of the Department for Transport, as well as to those of Hampshire County Council, and has been subject to the safety audit process.

Environmental Impact

The scheme is expected to provide an overall improvement that will enhance conditions for sustainable transport modes, such as walking. Although there will be a small increase in the numbers of traffic signs on the route, these are mainly associated with the school crossing patrol and are therefore being provided in the interests of safety.

The proposed signpost colour has been selected to be sympathetic with the Conservation Area setting. The proposed street lighting units will replace existing units and are of a modern design that will focus light onto the paved surfaces and therefore contribute towards the overall reduction of light pollution levels.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

As the proposal includes vertical traffic calming features, the requirements of the Highways (Road Humps) Regulations 1996 have been met, as the scheme has been developed in consultation with the Police and other emergency services, bus operators and local residents. Public Notices advertising the traffic calming proposals to the wider community will be completed prior to commencement of the work. Should substantial objections be received as part of that process then these will be responded to through delegated powers or through a further report to the Executive Member for Environment, as appropriate.

Public Consultation

A manned public exhibition of the proposals was held on 19 and 20 July 2002 at St Peter's Church Hall in St Peters Road, Petersfield. The residents of those roads directly affected by the proposals, including Hylton Road, The Spain, Sheep Street and part of Borough Road (about 100 properties), were invited by letter to attend the exhibition and comment on the proposals by completing a questionnaire. Approximately 50 visitors attended the exhibition and 29 questionnaires were returned.

Three options for traffic calming were presented for comment, including:

(i) Option 1 - footway widening and pinch-points;

(ii) Option 2 -`priority gateway' layout; and

(iii) Option 3 - vertical traffic calming features.

The results of the exhibition indicated that 93% of respondents supported the principle of traffic calming on Hylton Road, with 7% being neutral to the idea. No objections were recorded.

The result for the three options were:

(i) 18% of respondents supported option 1, with 28% being neutral and 54% not supporting option 1;

(ii) 36% supported option 2, with 25% being neutral and 39% not supporting option 2; and

(iii) 71% supported option 3, with 4% being neutral and 25% not supporting option 3.

After consultation with the Police and local Member, option 3 has been developed to a detailed stage and is the subject of this Project Appraisal.

The addition of speed cushions along the residential section of road had been requested by the local residents' group, who represent the residents of Hylton Road and The Spain. Given the potential for increases in noise and vibration from such features, the questionnaire also sought to determine the wider levels of support for this proposal. The results identified that 75% of those who supported option 3 also supported the idea of adding the speed cushions to the scheme, 5% were neutral and 20% did not support the idea. However, 54% of respondents thought that the combination of the speed tables and 20 mph zone, but without the additional speed cushions, would be sufficient to control traffic speeds along the residential section of the route, 25% were neutral and 21% did not agree. As the consultation exercise has identified positive but limited support for the addition of the speed cushions, they will be included in the scheme, and the effects of their presence reviewed within one year.

100% of respondents supported the inclusion of Hylton Road and The Spain in the proposed 20 mph zone.

71% of respondents supported the proposal to upgrade the street lighting.

Independently of the exhibition for the traffic calming on Hylton Road, there have been calls from some members of the public for a Zebra crossing to be installed where the pedestrian route from the town centre to the new foodstore crosses Hylton Road. Pedestrian and vehicle surveys have been undertaken which indicate that a Zebra crossing is not justified. However, since the surveys were undertaken a parent parking permit scheme has been introduced to enable parents of children attending Petersfield Infants School and Churchers Junior School to park for a limited time in the car park of the foodstore, without charge. This is likely to have increased pedestrian use of the existing crossing point at the beginning and end of the school day. However, these crossing movements would normally be assisted by the presence of the school crossing patrol, a post which is currently vacant. If the traffic calming scheme is to proceed, and the school crossing patrol post is filled and relocated to the new crossing point directly outside the school, most of the pedestrian crossing movements associated with the school will transfer with the crossing patrol to this new location. It is therefore proposed that the two uncontrolled pedestrian crossing locations being provided as part of this scheme proceed as planned, and pedestrian movements be reviewed after completion of the scheme and appointment of the school crossing patrol.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor J West, supports these improvements.

Facilities for the Disabled

The traffic calming scheme is expected to reduce traffic speeds and improve conditions for pedestrians crossing the road, which will benefit all vulnerable users and especially people with mobility impairments. Drop kerb crossings and raised table crossing points, together with tactile paving where appropriate, will also assist these users. The street lighting upgrade is also expected to assist those with visual impairments.

Maintenance Implications

The minimal revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The improved street lighting is expected to contribute towards both reducing anti-social behaviour and removing the fear of crime in the area.

Sustainability

The project has involved consultation with the local community, local Member and the emergency services and has therefore evolved as a result of this process, which aims to ensure a balance of stakeholder needs and policy objectives.

The primary objective is to reduce vehicle speeds and improve conditions for pedestrians. This is expected to contribute towards the encouragement of more sustainable modes of transport such as walking and cycling, not only in the vicinity of the scheme but also in terms of the pedestrian route between the town centre and the foodstore. This will help improve access to local amenities, schools and services for all members of the community. By encouraging such modes of transport the project will offer increased travel choice and may contribute towards the improved health and well-being of users and residents.

The scheme is also expected to reduce the impact of through traffic that currently uses Hylton Road, and may help to deter unnecessary vehicular movements along this route, which in turn could improve the quality of life for residents.

The materials to be used will be sympathetic to existing materials and the Conservation Area. The scheme is unfortunately too small to make road material recycling economic.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Three options were considered during the early stages of the scheme's development and presented to local residents at a public exhibition. The two other options were rejected after the consultation process.

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

File 10/5/68268 - Hylton Road Traffic Calming Scheme

File 4260242

Environment Department

Transport Implementation - Room 415

Atkins Engineering Consultants

Winchester Office