Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

23 July 2003

Project Appraisal: Valley Park to Toynbee School - Cycle Route Phase II

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 11

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

(Externally Funded)

PROJECT:

PROJECT APPRAISAL: VALLEY PARK TO TOYNBEE SCHOOL - CYCLE ROUTE PHASE II

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

NOVEMBER 2003

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

7.

Scheme

7.1

Introduction

The Valley Park to Toynbee School cycle route phase II forms part of the Knightwood Development Funded Programme and is aimed at providing a safer route to school for pupils and staff. This programme was submitted to the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 17 January 2000. The programme has been subsequently amended, with the latest amendment being approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 24 June 2003. The project will also provide a valuable east-west cycle link in Chandler's Ford and is included in Eastleigh Borough Council's proposed cycle network.

The report of 24 June 2003 allocated £190,000 from the Knightwood Development Funded Programme for the provision of Valley Park to Toynbee School cycle route phase II.

The Project Appraisal for the Chandler's Ford Railway Station included phase I works, the construction of the ramp from the shoppers' car park to Bournemouth Road. This work is progressing well, despite having encountered some unforeseeable ground conditions.

7.2

Details

Phase II works will complete the scheme from the station area to Meon Crescent and will include:

(i) conversion of the existing Pelican crossing to a Toucan crossing;

(ii) conversion of the footway on the eastern side of Bournemouth Road (between the Toucan crossing and the Central Precinct car park), including the footpath link to Meon Crescent, to shared use footway/cycleway; and

(iii) widening the footway in front of the Central Precinct, including the relocation of the bus stop and a telephone box.

However, as the above scheme will involve the conversion of footways and paths to shared use this will increase potential cycle/pedestrian conflicts. It is anticipated that these will be eased/eliminated through good design.

7.3

Standards

The proposals have been designed to meet current national and county standards for this type of scheme.

7.4

Statutory Procedures and Consultation

There are no outstanding statutory procedures for this project other than the conversion of the footway on the eastern side of Bournemouth Road (between the Toucan crossing and the Central Precinct car park) and including the footpath link to Meon Crescent to a shared use footway/cycleway under Sections 65/66 of the Highways Act. A consultation on the whole Valley Park to Toynbee School cycle route Phase II was undertaken in May and June 2000 and reported to the former Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 11 September 2000. Eastleigh Borough Council's Chandler's Ford and Hiltingbury Local Area Committee fully support the proposals.

7.5

Policy Considerations

The Valley Park to Toynbee School cycle route forms part of the Knightwood Development Funded Programme and this project is aimed at providing a safer route to school for the pupils and staff. The project will also provide a valuable east-west cycle link in Chandler's Ford and is included in Eastleigh Borough Council's proposed cycle network.

7.6

Environmental Impacts

The project will provide sustainable alternatives to the motor vehicle for pupils and staff of the school, as well as for all residents of the area, as the cycle network in this area is developed. As people switch to using this route it has the potential to improve the air quality and remove some of the peak hour vehicles from Chandler's Ford's congested network. This could also have an impact on accidents in reducing vulnerable user conflicts with motor vehicles.

7.7

Land Requirement

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

7.8

Alternative Arrangements

The consultation on the whole Valley Park to Toynbee School cycle route undertaken in May and June 2000 identified a number of route options. These were reported to the Roads and Development Sub-Committee on 11 September 2000 identifying the current option as the preferred one from the consultation. Alternatives included:

(i) a bridge over the rail line at the station site. This was rejected as the crossing arrangements in Hursley Road and Winchester Road caused difficulties for cyclists; and

(ii) an alternative route for the cycle route along Bodycoats Road. This was rejected in favour of the proposals following the consultation in May/June 2000.

7.9

Local Members' View

The local Members for the area, Councillors Davidovitz and Luffman, fully support the proposals.

7.10

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The whole project has been designed to current standards, which includes elements to reduce crime and disorder. This will be achieved by increasing visibility through lighting and sight lines and design of street furniture.

7.11

Sustainability

The project will provide sustainable alternatives to the motor vehicle for pupils and staff of the school, as well as for all residents of the area, as the cycle network in this area is developed. As people switch to using this route it has the potential to improve the air quality and remove some of the peak hour vehicles from Chandler's Ford's congested network. This could also have an impact on accidents in reducing vulnerable user conflicts with motor vehicles.

8.

Financial Arrangements

The expenditure for the scheme is detailed below. The design fees detailed include for all the design works on both Phases I and II of the scheme. This therefore includes the design fees for the Phase I works on the ramp being constructed as part of the Chandler's Ford Railway Station project. The ramp re-design, as a consequence of the unforeseeable ground conditions, has already been included in the station funding. This work includes the additional construction works as well as fees.

8.1

Expenditure

£'000

Funds Available

£'000

Design Fee

90

Developer Funding

199

Supervision

9

Project Works

100

Land

0

____

____

Total

199

Total

199

____

____

8.2

Revenue Implications

£'000

% Variation to Committee's budget

Net increase in

current expenditure

0

0

Capital Charge

19

0.020

____

____

Total Expenditure

19

0.020

____

____

8.3

Maintenance Implications

There are no significant maintenance implications.

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

Knightwood Developments

Report to Roads and Development Sub-Committee 1 June 1998

Knightwood Development Funded Programme

Report to Roads and Development Sub-Committee 17 January 2000

Knightwood Development Funded Programme: Progress Report

Report to Executive Member

16 July 2002

Knightwood Development Funded Programme: Progress Report

Report to Executive Member

24 June 2003

Knightwood Cycle Schemes, North Baddesley and Eastleigh

Feasibility Study March 2000

Implementation: File 10/17

Working File

Implementation: File 10/17

Environment Department

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