PORTCHESTER HOME ZONE

1. In April 2002 the County Council received confirmation that its bid for a Home Zone project for Portchester had been successful, with an allocation of £499,999 from the Home Zone Challenge Fund. The scheme was drawn up in partnership with Fareham Borough Council and was one of 61 successfully selected schemes nationwide. In addition to the £499,000 from the Home Zone Challenge Fund, the County Council has allocated £200,000 from the Capital Programme and £251,000 from the Highway Maintenance budget and Fareham Borough Council has made a contribution of £50,000, making a total of £1 million available for this scheme.

2. On 23 July 2003 a decision was taken to recommend approval of a Project Appraisal for the Portchester Home Zone, comprising Sunningdale Road, Castle Grove and Myrtle Avenue. The aim of the scheme is to ensure that streets are for people, not just traffic. The design of the scheme has been drawn up in consultation with a Residents Working Group together with open workshops and exhibitions in order to address parking, speeding, rat-running and local amenity issues and is intended to create enhanced community spirit and engender community ownership of the project. It is hoped that a Home Zone Association will be established in due course. The scheme will create a safer environment by encouraging walking and cycling as well as reducing vehicle speeds with landscaping and trees enhancing the environmental quality of the area. In addition, the Home Zone will enhance safety and mobility for the disabled and the provision of a single shared surface will assist many. Enhanced street lighting will assist in ensuring higher visibility of all areas of the street. Materials for the project are being chosen with sustainability in mind, with use of recycled and renewable resources where practicable and modern lighting which will be energy efficient and reduce light pollution.

8ER440803