Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

23 July 2003

Traffic Regulation Order - Petersfield Town Centre
(a) Traffic Regulation Order for 20 mph Zone
(b) Road Hump Regulations - Hylton Road

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 14

Contact: Jon Ryder, ext 5162

1. Summary

1.1 The following decisions are sought:

    (i) That an Order be made under Section 84 (1) and (2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to impose a 20 miles per hour speed limit over the lengths of road identified in Appendix 1 of this report.

    (ii) That the construction of the road humps forming the traffic calming scheme in Hylton Road proceed as planned.

2. Reason

2.1 The proposed 20 miles per hour (mph) zone is being introduced to support the completion of the town centre improvement schemes currently under way in the High Street, The Square, St Peter's Road and Hylton Road. These schemes incorporate speed reducing measures where appropriate, and have been designed to support a reduction in the speed limit from 30 mph to 20 mph. The 20 mph speed limit is expected to complement these schemes and help ensure that highway conditions are improved for vulnerable road users, such as pedestrians and cyclists.

2.2 Vertical speed reducing devices, consisting of speed cushions and speed tables, are proposed as part of the traffic calming measures planned for Hylton Road. Following the public advertisement of this scheme, three objections to the proposals have been received which, together with the Officer's Responses, are summarised in Appendix 3 of this report. The objections to the scheme are noted but in view of the low number of objections, and given the Officer's Responses to them, it is proposed that the works proceed to implementation.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Various options for improving the town centre were considered during a series of community workshops undertaken in 1998 and 1999, where the proposal for a 20 mph zone was identified as the preferred option.

3.2 One objection to the proposal for the 20 mph zone has been received since the advertising of the Public Notice for the Orders, and is summarised in Appendix 2.

3.3 Alternative options for the traffic calming features in Hylton Road have been considered and are fully detailed in a report to the Executive Member for Environment dated 24 June 2003.

3.4 In terms of the road humps proposed for Hylton Road, three objections to the proposal have been received since the advertising of the Public Notice and are summarised in Appendix 3.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor K B Estlin

7. Introduction

7.1 The proposal to provide a 20 mph zone originates from Proposal 13 of the Petersfield Area Transport Strategy (PATS). The Strategy was developed following a series of community workshops which were undertaken in 1998 and 1999. The workshops considered a series of improvement options for the town centre, including a one-way system, restricted access, pedestrianisation and two options for a 20 mph zone. A 20 mph zone consistent with the historic core of the town was preferred and developed into Proposal 13 of PATS. The proposal for the 20 mph zone is also complementary to Proposal 11 of PATS, which is aimed at improving conditions for cyclists and pedestrians in the town. The extent of the zone is diagrammatically represented on the attached location plan.

7.2 A number of improvement schemes have been and are under construction in the town centre, and all are consistent with the proposal for the 20 mph zone. These schemes include highway, traffic calming and environmental improvements to St Peter's Road, The Square, High Street and Hylton Road. During the development of these schemes various public exhibitions and consultations have been undertaken, and the proposed 20 mph zone presented in each case. In May 2001 at the public exhibition for the improvements to the High Street, The Square and St Peter's Road, 66% of respondents considered that the zone would help reduce traffic speeds and improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists; 68% of respondents also supported the planned extent of the zone. At the exhibition for the Hylton Road traffic calming proposals, the planned zone received 100% support.

7.3 Within the proposed zone, surveys of traffic speeds have been undertaken and, with the exception of part of Hylton Road, the recorded speeds are appropriate and consistent for a 20 mph speed limit. Speeds measured on the eastern half of Hylton Road were closer to 30 mph, however these are expected to fall with the implementation of traffic calming measures in this location. The proposed traffic calming features for Hylton Road include vertical measures which are expected to bring traffic speeds down to levels consistent with the proposed 20 mph zone.

7.4 The proposed scheme will incorporate `gateway' treatments at the entry points to the zone, which will consist of traffic signs and coloured surface treatments to help raise driver awareness of the speed restriction. The cost of these features has been accounted for in the funding of the town centre improvement schemes.

7.5 The extent of the proposed zone together with the nature of the proposed traffic signing is shown on drawing no. 4260241/020 which will be displayed at the meeting.

7.6 The local Member, Councillor J West, and the Police support the proposal for the 20 mph zone.

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

Working Files; 10/5/69021/A, 10/5/69021/B, 10/5/69022/A, 10/5/69022B, 10/5/68268

Environment Department

Transport Implementation Section - Room 415

8082/JR

APPENDIX 1

PROPOSED 20 MPH ZONE FOR PETERSFIELD TOWN CENTRE

SCHEDULE

Lengths of road at Petersfield in the District of East Hampshire

20 mph Speed Limit

(i) Chapel Street between a point 62 metres north of its junction with the north eastern kerb line of Lavant Street and its junction with Swan Street, an approximate distance of 173 metres.

(ii) Swan Street between its junction with the western kerb line of Chapel Street and a point 16 metres west of that junction, an approximate distance of 16 metres.

(iii) The Square for its entire length, an approximate distance of 234 metres.

(iv) High Street between its junction with Dragon Street and its junction with The Square, an approximate distance of 183 metres.

(v) St Peters Road between its junction with Dragon Street and its junction with The Square, an approximate distance of 205 metres.

(vi) Hylton Road between its junction with Dragon Street and its junction with Sheep Street/The Spain, an approximate distance of 272 metres.

(vii) The Spain between its junction with Hylton Road/Sheep Street and a point contiguous with the south boundary wall of number 25 The Spain, an approximate distance of 168 metres.

(viii) Sheep Street between its junction with The Spain/Hylton Road and its junction with The Square, an approximate distance of 121 metres.

(ix) Lavant Street between its junction with Chapel Street and a point 6 metres north west thereof.

(x) Borough Road between its junction with The Spain and a point 62 metres west thereof.

APPENDIX 2

PROPOSED 20 MPH ZONE FOR PETERSFIELD TOWN CENTRE

OBJECTIONS AND COMMENTS FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICES FOR 20 MPH ZONE

Objector

Objection

Officer's Comment

1

In The Spain the 20 mph zone should be extended northwards by approximately 25 metres to include the point where pedestrians emerge from the hospital and cross The Spain.

This location was considered in the design of the scheme. However, given the constraints of the site, the location proposed provides the best location to accommodate the signage where it is visible to drivers, without detriment to pedestrians, traffic or adjacent properties.

APPENDIX 3

PETERSFIELD TOWN CENTRE - ROAD HUMPS IN HYLTON ROAD

OBJECTIONS AND COMMENTS FOLLOWING ADVERTISEMENT OF PUBLIC NOTICES FOR ROAD HUMPS IN HYLTON ROAD

Objector

Objection

Officer's Comment

1

a)

b)

c)

Objection to speed cushions proposed in Hylton Road, but speed tables would be more appropriate. Objections based on:

Speed cushions are unsightly and not in keeping with the area.

These features cause vehicles to brake and accelerate which generates noise that is likely to be intrusive to local residents.

The existing layout of Hylton Road should make the use of speed cushions unnecessary.

The speed cushions were requested by the local residents group to help keep speeds down along the residential part of the road. The speed cushions were offered as an option at the public exhibition for local residents. Sufficient numbers supported the idea of cushions for them to be incorporated into the design.

The cushions are constructed using normal road materials. They are designed to minimise the generation of noise by enabling the wheels of larger vehicles to straddle the cushions. Smaller vehicles are restrained by the cushions but any increases in noise are expected to be countered by reduction in noise levels from speeding traffic. The effects of the cushions will however be reviewed after one year.

The existing layout helps to restrain vehicle speeds but only with the addition of oncoming traffic.

Flat top speed tables are being provided at locations where pedestrians cross the road.

2

a)

b)

c)

d)

e)

f)

g)

Objection to vertical speed reducing features on Hylton Road, based on:

Hylton Road already slow given current layout.

The features will increase discomfort for car and ambulance passengers.

The features will slow emergency vehicles.

The features will divert traffic to the High Street.

Hylton Road should be a free flowing arterial route across town linking schools, hospitals and the railway station.

Difficult to reach 20 mph anyway.

Waste of money.

The speed reducing features are required to control speeds in the residential section of Hylton Road and outside the Petersfield Infants School. Vehicle speeds are constrained by the current layout but only with the addition of oncoming traffic. Vehicle speeds have been found to increase in the eastern half of Hylton Road where the road has a more open nature. The traffic calming features are required to help ensure low vehicle speeds in the vicinity of the school, the crossing point on the pedestrian route between the new foodstore and the town centre, and the residential section of the route. The speed cushions and speed tables have been designed to minimise discomfort to passengers, as larger vehicles straddle the speed cushions and the speed tables have easy gradients.

The traffic calming may displace extraneous traffic from the route, however alternative east-west routes are available, such as the High Street or Station Road. Traffic can continue to use Hylton Road, albeit at speeds that are consistent with the 20 mph zone.

The scheme aims to improve the perception of safety, particularly in the vicinity of the Petersfield Infants School, and improve the environment for residents.

The scheme also aims to improve conditions for pedestrians and cyclists accessing other local schools and amenities, and accordingly the scheme is consistent with current policy.

3

Objection to placing of speed table near property, given concerns about noise generated by vehicles. Suggest relocate speed table to another location.

The speed table concerned is being provided at the point on Hylton Road where the pedestrian route between the new foodstore and the town centre crosses the road. This is also the point where many schoolchildren cross the road to access the local schools, and accordingly where minimum vehicle speeds are needed to maximise pedestrian safety and comfort. To relocate the speed table would mean that pedestrians would not achieve the full benefits of its presence as it would be away from the pedestrian desire line. The speed reducing features also have an equal spacing to provide consistent control over driver behaviour, and reduce the incidence of acceleration and deceleration between features.

The speed tables have been designed to minimise noise and discomfort by limiting their height to 75 millimetres, and by providing easy gradients.

Given that there is no suitable alternative position for the speed table, it is proposed that it be provided in the position as planned. If, after construction, the concerns about noise are valid, then further measures to mitigate this can be investigated.