Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Spatial Strategy

16 September 2003

Project Appraisal - Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council Safer Routes to School Programme for 2003/04

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SPATIAL STRATEGY

PROJECT APPRAISAL

(Externally Funded)

PROJECT:

BASINGSTOKE AND DEANE BOROUGH COUNCIL SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL PROGRAMME FOR 2003/04

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

OCTOBER 2003

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2004

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

7.

Scheme

Safer Routes/Journeys to Schools schemes at the following schools:

(i) Castle Hill Infant and Junior Schools;

(ii) Kempshott County Infant and Junior Schools;

(iii) Old Basing County Infant School and St Mary's CE Voluntary Aided Junior School; and

(iv) Winklebury County Infant and Junior Schools

7.1

Introduction

A joint five year programme for Safer Routes/Journeys to School was agreed between Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council and Hampshire County Council in 2001 and approved by the Borough Council's Cabinet and the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport (BEST) Members' Panel in November 2001. This identified a total of ten groups of schools (where an infant and junior school are situated on the same site they were considered together) as priorities for implementation in 2003/04. Implementation of the programme has been divided between the two authorities.

The four packages of measures for Castle Hill, Old Basing/St Mary's, Kempshott and Winklebury Schools form part of the Safer Journeys to School programme for 2003/04. The cumulative cost of these measures is £153,000, including fees, to be funded entirely by the Borough Council. The schemes have been identified through travel surveys undertaken with pupils and parents at each of the respective schools.

Each of the schools is currently in the process of developing its School Travel Plan in parallel with the implementation of the package of Safer Routes/Journeys to School measures.

Some of the identified measures constitute minor works under the terms of the Traffic Management agreement between the County Council and Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, and implementation of those works will commence shortly by the Borough Council. However, this project appraisal outlines the cumulative package of Safer Journeys/Routes to School works being undertaken in these four school catchments.

7.2

Details

Plans providing details of the proposed package of measures for each of the schools will be displayed at the meeting. The scheme details for each of the four catchment areas are as follows:

Castle Hill Infant and Junior Schools

(i) Road narrowing features along Winklebury Way and Kenilworth Road to provide safer crossing points;

(ii) high friction skid surfacing on the carriageway where the school crossing patrol officer operates;

(iii) improvements to crossing point on Winklebury Way where school patrol operates;

(iv) tactile paving and reflective bollards at all principal dropped crossing points within the vicinity of the school; and

(v) high visibility warning signs enhanced with accompanying `slow' carriageway markings.

Kempshott County Infant and Junior Schools

(i) Narrowing feature along Homesteads Road to provide a safer crossing point;

(ii) high friction skid-resistant surfacing;

(iii) additional footway along part of Old Down Close;

(iv) improved crossing points at Columbine Road and Heather Way;

(v) tactile paving and reflective bollards at all principal dropped crossing points within the vicinity of the schools; and

(vi) highly visible warning signs enhanced with accompanying `slow' carriageway markings.

Old Basing County Infant School and St Mary's CE Voluntary Aided Junior School

(i) Additional crossing points within the vicinity of the schools;

(ii) shortened kerb radii and double yellow lines at the main junctions off Belle Vue Road to maintain highway safety and assist pedestrian crossing;

(iii) improved school warning signs;

(iv) a signed one-way system through Old Basing County Infant school's car park at The Mead;

(v) new bus stop markings on Crown Lane; and

(vi) improvements to identified locations for school crossing patrols to operate.

Winklebury County Infant and Junior Schools

(i) Additional footpaths on the southern side of the access road to the schools;

(ii) improved crossing points within the vicinity of the schools;

(iii) a shortened kerb radius and pedestrian guard railing at the junction of Warwick Road and Willoughby Way; and

(iv) improved warning signs, buff coloured surfacing and slow carriageway markings with red surfacing on the approaches to the schools.

Each of the above packages of works are outline designs and will need to be refined in the light of further consultation. Based on the positive nature of consultation responses received to date, it is not anticipated that the overall programme of works arising from detailed design will differ substantially from the above proposals. Any unforeseen substantial amendments will be reported back.

Supporting non-capital works are also planned at each of the schools; principally for the introduction of selective Traffic Regulation Orders to control parental parking in sensitive locations

7.3

Standards

The four packages of works will be subject to road safety audits, and measures are designed in accordance with current national (Department for Transport) and County Council standards for highways and signing works.

7.4

Statutory Procedures and Consultation

No statutory procedures are required to implement capital scheme elements. However, non-capital works for the introduction of Traffic Regulation Orders will be pursued separately.

Initial consultation was undertaken with the schools and parents in December 2002, through school travel surveys and classroom activities.

Further consultation was held with parents, pupils and local Borough and County Council Members during May-September 2003.

Subject to approval of the outline designs, the detailed schemes will be the subject of future consultation with the schools, Members and with local residents directly affected by the schemes. The outcomes of all consultations will be reported back to the Borough Council's Portfolio Holder for Environmental Sustainability in October 2003.

7.5

Policy Considerations

The proposals form part of the development of the Safer Routes to Schools programme.

7.6

Environmental Impacts

The scheme will contribute to a safer and improved environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users, in particular schoolchildren.

7.7

Land Requirement

No land acquisition is required. All works are to be confined within existing public highway or education authority limits.

7.8

Alternative Arrangements

To take no action on the proposals from the School Travel Plan.

7.9

Local Members' View

Councillors Heath, Shaw and Chapman are generally supportive of the schemes and have no fundamental objections to any of the scheme elements. All matters of detail raised by Members and other consultees will be considered and, where appropriate, accommodated in finalising the detailed design.

7.10

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

7.11

Sustainability

The scheme will improve the environment for walking and may help reduce dependence on the motor car.

8.

Financial Arrangements

8.1

Expenditure

£'000

Funds Available

£'000

Design Fee

14

Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

152

Supervision

Project Works

138

Land

Nil

____

____

Total

152

Total

152

____

____

8.2

Revenue Implications

£'000

% Variation to Committee's budget

Net increase in

current expenditure

3

0.004

Capital Charge

-

-

____

_____

Total Expenditure

3

0.004

____

_____

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.

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.