Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

23 July 2003

Project Appraisal: High Street/Market Place, Fordingbridge - junction enhancement scheme

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 7

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

HIGH STREET/MARKET PLACE, FORDINGBRIDGE - JUNCTION ENHANCEMENT SCHEME

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

NOVEMBER 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 July 03

(at July 03

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

124.5

168

Fees

46.0

Consultation

10.0

180.5

168

Less developers/

12.5

other contributions

168

168

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

168.0

(b) Developers contributions

7.5

(c) Environmental budget

5.0

180.5

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

180.5

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1.06

0.001

Capital charges

13.00

0.013

TOTAL net expenditure

14.06

0.014

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

The Fordingbridge junction enhancement scheme will give increased priority to pedestrians. The measures, combined with townscape features and careful choice of materials to complement the earlier work carried out in the High Street under the Country Towns Initiative, will provide additional space for pedestrians and an improved safer environment in this area of the High Street.

The Market Place junction is complex and demand for parking has almost entirely taken over an historic space for vehicle-related functions. This space is surrounded by historic buildings and is one of the focal points of the town, yet the only central feature is a multiple signpost standing on a central splitter island surrounded by a large expanse of road space.

On 6 November 2002 the New Forest Transportation Strategy Members' Panel was informed of progress made with the scheme, and support for the consultation plan was given.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme is within the New Forest Transport Strategy five year programme and accords with the strategy objectives.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The proposed junction layout is the result of a report prepared by Lisney Associates in February 1990, which was commissioned by the County Council to review the strategy and signing of the roads within Fordingbridge.

The proposed improvement scheme is shown on the attached plan. It involves realigning the road junction space, incorporating the following:

(i)

alteration of the existing junction layout, which has a central island, to form a `T' shaped junction;

(ii)

inclusion of a paved pedestrian area adjacent to the butcher's shop and in front of the Town Hall, which not only provides an improved facility for pedestrians but also increases the angle of deflection for vehicles travelling along the High Street into Provost Street, thus reducing vehicle speeds;

(iii)

introduction of coloured surfacing at the `T' junction to help slow traffic by raising driver awareness;

(iv)

provision of formal crossing points for pedestrians with dropped kerbs, tactile paving and coloured surfacing;

(v)

rationalisation of existing signs to reduce clutter and improve clarity for drivers;

(vi)

provision of slow markings on the approach to the junction from Shaftsbury Street to reduce vehicle speed; and

(vii)

provision of cycle parking facilities, improved lighting, a finger post sign and the planting of a tree.

Environmental Impact

The proposed scheme will reduce the amount of carriageway space at the junction, providing additional space for pedestrians, and include seating, cycle storage and a tree. These changes will improve the environment of the Market Place and surrounding area.

There will be the visual impact of coloured surfacing at the junction, however this will enhance driver awareness on approach.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

Statutory procedures have already been completed regarding the removal of five car parking bays and one taxi bay, and amending the existing waiting restrictions to conform to the new junction layout. No objections were received.

Public Consultation

Public consultation was undertaken from 1-7 November 2002. The County Council has worked closely with New Forest District Council, Fordingbridge Town Council and District Councillor Shand.

There has been a great deal of consultation on the scheme with the local community, Fordingbridge Town Council, the Fordingbridge Society and New Forest District Council. As a result of consultation any areas of concern have been addressed. This has greatly assisted the development of an agreed scheme. All are supportive of the scheme.

District Councillor Shand had concerns in relation to deliveries to the butcher's shop, and where these would actually take place. This concern has now been resolved and the butcher is satisfied with the proposed arrangements.

Further information on public consultation is detailed in the attached appendix.

Over 200 people attended the exhibitions over the two day staffed period and 176 questionnaire responses were received by the deadline of 15 November 2002.

The proposals generated considerable debate locally and people were generally pleased that their views had been invited. A private viewing of the exhibition was held two hours before opening to the general public for Councillors and Town Council Members to attend and give their views.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Mrs Heron, fully supports the proposal.

Facilities for the Disabled

The scheme will incorporate dropped kerbs with tactile paving at all crossing points. The choice of flat materials for the pedestrian area is user-friendly for the mobility impaired.

The improvements will help contribute to a more inclusive society where everyone will share the benefits of increased prosperity and greater social inclusion.

Maintenance Implications

New street lighting will be provided at the junction, but the number of lighting columns will be comparable to the existing layout. Blockwork paving will be provided within the increased pedestrian area and there will be an increased maintenance cost with this material.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Under the scheme, the area will be better lit by the provision of new street lighting.

Sustainability

The proposed pedestrian and cycle facilities at the junction will support sustainable modes of transport. The narrowing of the carriageway and provision of dropped kerbs and tactile paving will make crossing easier for those accessing the shops, Town Hall and car parks.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Earlier investigations by officers considered other layouts at the junction. These were a roundabout and change in priority from the existing to Provost Street/High Street. Both were considered unsuitable.

The roundabout would have caused increased queue lengths due to the nature of the flow at the junction. There is also an issue relating to space availability. Pedestrian areas would have been narrow in order to provide sufficient turning space for larger vehicles.

The change in junction priority would have resulted in increased queue lengths on the approaches to the junction due to the nature of vehicle flows. Queues would have occurred as vehicles negotiated a right turn into Shaftesbury Street.

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

None

Scheme proposal

Support proposals

Neutral

Do not support proposals

Do you agree with the scheme proposals?

58%

7%

35%

Widening the pedestrian area and incorporating formal crossing points will improve priority in favour of pedestrians safety.

65%

12%

23%

The proposed scheme will improve priority in favour of pedestrians and cyclists.

48%

28%

24%

The introduction of the scheme will enhance the visual character of the junction.

72%

12%

16%

The proposed scheme would reduce signage clutter at the junction.

67%

15%

18%

Total

62%

15%

23%

COMMENT/ISSUE

NO. OF COMMENTS/ ISSUES

COUNTY COUNCIL RESPONSE

Heavy goods vehicles will find the new junction layout difficult to negotiate.

16

All Heavy Commercial Vehicles (HCVs) that currently negotiate the junction will be able to negotiate the proposed layout without being forced to overrun kerbs or pedestrian areas. During the design process appropriate software has been used to check the vehicle paths of large lorries driving through the junction.

Nothing has been done to reduce problems with goods vehicles parking in the High Street.

8

County Council officers and the New Forest District Council's Conservation Officers have investigated how deliveries can be maintained and how to avoid making congestion worse at the new junction. The main businesses, the three inns and the butcher, have been consulted. Alternative delivery arrangements have been found for the Ship Inn and the butcher. There are unfortunately no alternatives for deliveries to the Crown Inn or the Royal Arms Hotel, however the new junction layout would not make congestion any worse.

The pedestrian area will be subject to misuse, particularly from youths leaving the pub.

14

The seating arrangements have been proposed and it is believed that the majority of people would benefit from this facility. Further advice is being sort from the Police at Lyndhurst New Forest Divisional Headquarters, particularly the issue of promoting the use of the area and therefore increasing natural surveillance.

Proposals will only add to the congestion problems in Fordingbridge.

8

The proposed scheme at the Market Place junction has been designed to shift priority away from the private car in favour of pedestrians and cyclists. The scheme would benefit and improve safety for all users of the junction and not, as suggested, encourage more traffic through the High Street.

No need for proposals as double yellow lines throughout town will do.

5

The proposed pedestrian area will improve safety at the junction for pedestrians and cyclists. This is achieved because vehicles will be deflected and encouraged to slow down. Double yellow lines at the Market Place junction would not achieve this, in fact vehicle speeds could increase due to the lack of deflection.

A controlled crossing is needed at the Market Place junction.

4

A controlled crossing at this junction would cause traffic to queue to unreasonable lengths. Pedestrian movements at this junction would not meet County requirements for controlled crossings.

Has a mini-roundabout been considered?

5

This has been considered as an option, however substantial deflection would need to be provided for which there is very limited space, due to proximity of frontages and lack of carriageway width. There would also be little scope to help pedestrians and cyclists, which is the main aim of the junction enhancements.

Has a by-pass been considered?

4

Traffic surveys conducted by the County Council in Fordingbridge have not shown any significant through movement of traffic. The majority of traffic is locally generated or HCVs passing through to the industrial site located to the west of Fordingbridge. Any proposals for a dual carriageway within the national park boundary would be contentious.