Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Spatial Strategy

15 October 2003

Project Appraisal: Sherborne St John, Traffic Calming

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 3

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SPATIAL STRATEGY

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

SHERBORNE ST JOHN - TRAFFIC CALMING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2004

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

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at June 03 prices)

(at June 03

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

51

51

Fees

6

6

57

57

Less developers/

other contributions

57

57

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committee's own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

(b) Other (Parish Partnership Programme)

7

2.

From other resources

(a) Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council

35

(b) Sherborne St John Parish Council

7

(c) Traffic Management Revenue Budget

8

TOTAL

57

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £ nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

Budget

Net current expenditure

0.5

0.001

Capital charges

5.0

0.006

TOTAL net expenditure

5.5

0.007

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Following concerns raised about traffic speeds in the village by the Parish Council over a number of years, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council was asked to progress a traffic calming scheme for the village. The Borough Council developed schemes which were progressed in consultation with the Parish Council. In addition, the Borough Council considered that the need for speed reduction was of sufficient importance that it volunteered funding which enabled a larger scheme to be developed.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The proposals are consistent with the aims set out in the Hampshire Local Transport Plan 2001-2006 for the Basingstoke Environmental Strategy for Transport, ie to reduce the harmful effects of transport, to improve the safety of all travellers and to reduce dependence on the private car.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The works will improve the safety of all road users, especially pedestrians, and reduce the impact of vehicles passing through the village.

A scheme has now been developed to reduce traffic speeds through the village involving visual traffic calming (entry gateways and coloured surfacing and `dragons teeth' on the Elm Road and Vyne Road approaches), altered priorities at the Sherborne Road and Crane Road junctions and a pedestrian crossing pinch-point on Elm Road to facilitate crossing movements between the village hall car park and the access footway for the school. A location plan is attached.

The design standards adhere to Hampshire County Council's standard and national guidance. The designs will be safety audited.

Environmental Impact

The scheme has been designed to minimise any other visual impact on the environment and should reduce the effects of traffic on the village.

Land Requirements

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

Statutory Procedures

There are no statutory procedures involved.

Public Consultation

Discussions have been held with Sherborne St John Parish Council which supports the proposals. The scheme also reflects the additional measures requested by the public at public meetings.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Mrs McNair Scott, supports the proposals.

Facilities for the Disabled

Less able pedestrians will benefit from improved facilities crossing from the village hall car park and the access route to the school. All pedestrians will benefit from reduced vehicle speeds on Elm Road.

Maintenance Implications

There will be minimal revenue implications from this proposal and they will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

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

Sustainability

This work will enhance the environment for walking.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Alternative layouts were considered for the crossing point over Elm Road near to Kiln Road. These were rejected because of the constraint of aligning the crossing with the footway from the village hall car park, and also local driveways, together with conflicts with the bus stop and the junction of Elm Road with Kiln Lane.

Alternatives for the speed reduction measures on Elm Road and Vyne Road were considered and rejected because they were judged to provide less effective speed reduction than the measures selected The altered junction priorities at the Elm Road/Sherborne Road and Elm Road/Cranes Road junctions were selected as being most likely to prevent drivers from ignoring all other road users as they sweep into the village from the A340. On Vyne Road physical measures such as build-outs were deemed inappropriate in view of the lack of opposing traffic and so visual measures were selected and approved by the Parish Council.

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 have 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

Sherborne St John scheme file

Environment Department

Sheridan House