Contact: Jonathan Crabb, ext 6047 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a progress update on transport and other projects within the Andover and Western Hampshire Transportation Strategy areas. It recommends that scheme progress be noted.

2. Introduction

2.1 A progress and programme update on the following Andover Transport Strategy and Western Hampshire Transport Strategy schemes is provided. It should be noted that funding for the schemes listed is not yet approved.

(i) Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane and Hatherden Road traffic management scheme;

(ii) Andover Cycling Network Priority Schemes;

(iii) London Road/Vigo Road traffic management scheme;

(iv) Stockbridge and Test Valley School;

(v) Clatford, Shipton Bellinger and Hatherden Primary Schools and Test Valley School;

(vi) Andover High Street;

(vii) Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town Bid;

(viii) Test Valley Borough Local Plan;

(ix) Test Valley Borough Council schemes in Andover; and

(x) Test Valley Borough Council schemes in Stockbridge.

3. Charlton Road/Foxcotte Road/Foxcotte Lane and Hatherden Road Traffic Management Scheme

3.1 In March 2003 a number of meetings were held with representatives from local parish councils and the police, hospital and ambulance station. The meetings enabled feasibility plans for the scheme to be agreed and finalised. Detailed design work is currently underway, and will be completed in spring 2004.

3.2 Implementation is currently anticipated to start in the summer of 2004. However prior to implementation a third party land issue will need to be resolved regarding a small area of land adjacent to the hospital.

4. Andover Cycling Network Priority Schemes

4.1 Detailed design work on all six schemes is progressing, with input from Test Valley Borough Council officers. Priority routes will now be subject to available Local Transport Plan and Safer Routes to School funding and will include routes associated with John Hanson School.

5. London Road/Vigo Road Traffic Management Scheme

5.1 Feasibility design for this scheme is now complete and consultation will be sought from local schools, residents and the business community. Funding will be either Safer Routes to Schools or Major Development Area.

5.2 All local schools are being asked to produce a school transport plan with guidance from County Council officers.

6. Stockbridge and Test Valley School

6.1 Following consultation with Stockbridge and Longstock Parish Councils, a pedestrian refuge has been provided in Stockbridge village.

6.2 Test Valley School has secured planning permission for construction of a new sports hall. An outcome on lottery funding is awaited. As a condition of receiving planning consent, the pedestrian refuges and highway improvements in Stockbridge are part of a package of measures, developed to improve highway accessibility and safety on the approach to the school and within the village.

6.3 Initial feasibility design work for the provision of a pedestrian refuge on the A30 at the western end of the High Street, and improved footway between Test Valley School and the village (in conjunction with the proposed new access to the sports hall) is planned for completion by the end of October 2003.

6.4 Test Valley School has also produced a travel plan. The travel plan is a requirement of the planning application identified above and will be amended should any further work at the school or in the vicinity affect it.

7. Clatford, Shipton Bellinger and Hatherden Primary Schools and Test Valley School

7.1 These schemes are now within the county-wide 2003/04 Safer Routes to School Programme. As school travel plans have not yet been produced by any of the three schools, feasibility work for low-cost safety improvements programmed is currently on hold.

7.2 The School Travel Plan Co-ordinator has contacted the schools to offer support with the production of a travel plan and is awaiting action from the schools. The production of travel plans by the schools will ensure that any work undertaken will have the full support of the school, and will help to meet both national and county-wide targets for reducing child casualties and increasing walking and cycling levels to schools.

8. Andover High Street

8.1 The results of the Public Inquiry were announced and have been reviewed. Test Valley Borough Council has allocated £1.16 million to the scheme. A decision on the contribution from the Country Towns Initiative (CTI) programme is necessary to link into the works contract of the borough scheme currently in preparation. The proposed scheme accords with the criteria for the CTI programme and it is proposed that a contribution of £50,000 be made to achieve the works set out above.

8.2 The Traffic Regulation Order process has begun, which was advertised from 19 September. Allowing for the objection period, which closed on 10 October, it is proposed to report to the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy in November.

9. Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town Bid

9.1 An expression of interest has been made to the Department for Transport (DfT) for the Sustainable Travel Demonstration Town project and Andover has been chosen as the County Council's preferred town.

9.2 The DfT has earmarked a total of up to £1.5 million a year (revenue funding) for the five year project, to run from 2004/05 to 2008/09, with the expectation of equivalent match-funding from the successful transport authorities.

9.3 This was submitted to the Executive Member for Environment on 15 October 2003 for approval (copy attached as an appendix) and an update will be provided at the meeting.

10. Test Valley Borough Local Plan

10.1 On 14 October the Borough Council Executive will be considering the comments received in response to the public consultation on the Draft Local Plan. At its meeting on 23 October the Borough Council will also consider the same report with the purpose of agreeing the content of the Revised Draft Local Plan. Subject to these meetings, it is proposed to undertake further public consultation early in 2004.

11. Test Valley Borough Council Schemes in Andover

11.1 The Borough Council contribution to the Andover Transport Strategy was to provide a pedestrian crossing in Winchester Road; to improve crossing facilities at New Street; to link to provide better crossing facilities on the Pilgrims Way to Andover town centre route; and to install part of the town centre cycle route along Eastern Avenue.

11.2 The zebra crossing at Winchester Road was installed in time for the return to school, and it was noted at the post-opening safety audit that it was being well-used.

11.3 The facilities at New Street were improved by the developer contribution flowing from a retail store extension. Consequently, that part of the allocation was moved to other Test Valley Borough Council programmes.

11.4 The cycle route for Eastern Avenue design has been completed by Atkins, and it is intended that the scheme will be implemented in the last quarter of this financial year by the Borough Council, following consultation.

12. Test Valley Borough Council Schemes in Stockbridge

12.1 The planned provision of the `missing link' in the Test Way from Trafalgar Way, Stockbridge alongside the A3057 north of Stockbridge, including a pedestrian/cycle informal crossing of the High Street, has been designed and safety audited.

12.2 The first phase is the new £20,000 crossing in the High Street, to be completed this financial year, and tenders are due to be let shortly. The second phase, to link the two parts of Test Way, has been designed and will be the subject of bids through the Borough Council's capital programme, jointly with the County Council, over two future consecutive financial years.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8237/JC