Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

16 September 2003

Project Appraisal: Car Park Information System for
Fareham Town Centre

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ROADS

PROJECT APPRAISAL

(Externally Funded)

PROJECT:

CAR PARK INFORMATION SYSTEM FOR FAREHAM TOWN CENTRE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

APRIL 2004

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

7.

Scheme

Car Park Information System for Fareham town centre.

7.1

Introduction

Fareham town centre is undergoing the third phase of comprehensive redevelopment, to be known as Market Quay, due for completion in summer 2004. This stage of redevelopment alone will amount to around 160,000 square feet of new shopping floor space and entertainment and leisure facilities, and thus reinforce the need for improved car parking management, including facilities, signage and information.

7.2

Details

The project appraisal proposes the installation of a car park monitoring information system, including seven car park Variable Message Signs (VMS), in Fareham town centre. The work is to be funded by Fareham Borough Council from developer funding.

Surveys conducted by the County Council show that car park information VMS systems are ranked highly by the public as one of the new intelligent transport systems, of which more should be installed by the County Council. The benefits of this system include less frustration when looking for a space, reduced time spent by vehicles on town centre roads looking for spaces and therefore a reduction in vehicle emissions, which contributes to a healthier environment.

The car park signs will be based on designs deployed successfully by similar projects in Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton, i.e. matrix-type, and will display the number of vacant spaces in the five selected car parks in Fareham. The system will be controlled and monitored from the County Council's Traffic and Travel Information Centre in Winchester.

The information will further be displayed on the ROMANSE website, indicating the number of car parking spaces currently available in each of the selected car parks in Fareham. This will provide drivers with pre-trip information about where to park, thus further reducing congestion.

The proposal is to install car park VMS at the following locations (see attached plan):

(i) A27/Eastern Way southbound approach to Delme Arms roundabout;

(ii) A32/Wallington Way northbound approach to Wallington;

(iii) A32/Wickham Road southbound approach to High Street;

(iv) Osborn Road westbound opposite the library;

(v) A27/The Avenue eastbound approach to Fareham town centre;

(vi) Gosport Road northbound approach to Quay Street roundabout;

(vii) A27/Cams Hill northbound approach to Delme Arms roundabout.

These signs will provide information about the following five car parks:

(i) Market Quay car park on West Street;

(ii) Osborn Road (multi-storey) car park on Osborn Road;

(iii) Lysses (long-stay) car park on Wallington Way;

(iv) Civic Way (multi-storey) car park on Civic Way; and

(v) Bowling Green car park on Osborn Road.

7.3

Standards

The County Council is committed to reducing traffic delays and congestion. VMS can contribute significantly to reducing this problem by ensuring that drivers are presented with accurate information which allows them to make decisions as to where to park when they enter Fareham, avoiding unnecessary trips within the town searching for car park spaces.

7.4

Statutory Procedures and Consultation

Department for Transport authorisation of VMS under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 is required and will be obtained by the County Council. All necessary statutory requirements will be satisfied in the development of this proposal as necessary, including all regulatory electrical safety testing of on-street equipment. VMS are deemed to be street furniture and therefore planning consent is not required as this is permitted development.

7.5

Policy Considerations

The proposals are consistent with the County Council's transportation strategy of using network management tools to utilise the full potential of the existing infrastructure.

7.6

Environmental Impacts

The proposal has negligible consequences for the environment but it should be noted that the signs are designed for visual impact and will be typically 2.9 metres wide x 1.4 metres high and mounted at a height of 2.1 metres to the underside of the sign. The displays will be light-emitting. The project will contribute to a reduction in emissions by guiding drivers to available car parks, thereby avoiding wasted trips searching for spaces.

7.7

Land Requirement

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

7.8

Alternative Arrangements

Not applicable.

7.9

Local Members' View

The Fareham Borough Council Members have approved funding for the scheme and County Council Members for Fareham (Councillors Knight, Bryant, Ellis and Mrs Harrison) have been informed and support the proposals. Fareham Borough Council is to report the project details to its Executive's Committee on 22 September 2003.

7.10

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

7.11

Sustainability

The installation of the system described in this project appraisal supports the County Council's policies to make best use of the existing transport network and ensure a sustainable transport facility for future generations in Hampshire.

8.

Financial Arrangements

8.1

Expenditure

£'000

Funds Available

£'000

Design Fee

20

Developer Funding

280

Supervision

Project Works

260

Land

____

____

Total

280

Total

280

____

____

8.2

Revenue Implications

£'000

% Variation to Committee's budget

Net increase in

current expenditure

1

0.001

Capital Charge

37

0.040

____

____

Total Expenditure

38

0.041

____

____

8.3

Maintenance Implications

There will be revenue implications arising from this proposal which need to be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget. The life expectancy of the system is 10 to 15 years provided that suitable annual maintenance is carried out as recommended by the manufacturer. In addition, the system requires connection to an appropriate telecommunication system, incurring call charges and rental, estimated at £1,100 per annum.

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

VMS

Environment Department

ITS Group - Monument House