Contact: Phil Samms Tel: 01256 764444 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines progress with regard to other programmes and initiatives within the Environment Department.

2. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

2.1 The ITS Group of the Environment Department is responsible for the feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control, and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. The majority of the new implementation is funded either through the Capital Programme or external funding and the maintenance of the central systems and facilities on street are revenue funded. During 2002/3 and 2003/4 there has been a significant deployment of ITS throughout Hampshire, including a large number of new traffic signals and pelican crossings, real-time bus passenger information, car park information systems and bus departure information systems etc.

2.2 This is an update on ITS works identified for Hart during 2003/04:

(i) New Puffin pedestrian crossing at Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney included in the current capital programme, but implementation delayed until common land issues are resolved;

(ii) developer-led changes to the existing traffic signals on the A30 at Blackwater. Completion anticipated by end September 2003.

3. Casualty Reduction Programme

3.1 The 2003/04 safety programme consists of 62 schemes throughout the county, totalling approximately £1,100,000. Appendix 1 shows the list of schemes with the current position for the Hart area

Hampshire Safety Camera Partnership

3.2 Installation of fixed speed cameras is progressing well with cameras operational at the following sites:

(i) B3037 Bishopstoke Road, Eastleigh

(ii) Highlands Road, Fareham

(iii) A337 Setley, New Forest

3.3 The sites at A32 Gosport Road, Fareham, and A35 Totton Causeway are currently being installed, while a proposed site on A325 at Holt Pound is still being investigated due to technical difficulties in finding an acceptable location.

3.4 Approval has been received from the Department for Transport for further fixed cameras and, subject to further analysis, these will be installed this financial year:

(i) A3090 Crampmoor, Romsey

(ii) B3333 Marine Parade, Lee on the Solent

(iii) A36(T) West Wellow

(iv) A339 North East of Wootton, Basingstoke

3.5 This year new mobile safety camera routes have been introduced at:

(i) A30 Blackwater

(ii) A30 Hook

(iii) A339 Lasham

Further routes are proposed, subject to final approval by the Partnership, at:

(i) Grange Road Gosport

(ii) B3272 Yateley

(iii) B3272 Hawley Lane Farnborough

(iv) Petersfield Road Havant

(v) New Road Havant

(vi) A272 Privett

(vii) A339 Wolverton

(viii) A339 Kingsclere

3.6 An analysis of accidents on existing Hampshire mobile safety camera routes for the year to the end of March 2003 showed a decrease of 11% in personal injury collisions. Similar reductions in speed related accidents can be expected on the new routes when they are introduced.

4. Safer Routes to School Programme (SRTS)

4.1 Appendix 2 outlines the 2003/04 Safer Routes to School Programme. A number of schemes were carried forward from the 2002/03 programme following the adjustments which were required to the capital programme to keep within the 2002/03 spending limits.

5. Hampshire Country Towns Initiative (HCTI)

5.1 The Country Towns Initiative is a County Council programme which carries out schemes of environmental enhancement in the county's rural centres to reinforce their environmental, social and commercial attractiveness. It focuses on highways and other public areas and works in partnership with local councils and representative organisations. It brings together funding from County Council, District Council and local sources and links highways and environmental objectives and funding.

5.2 The proposed HCTI programme for 2004/5 and 2005/6 includes a phased allocation of £225,000 towards environmental improvements in Odiham. The scheme targets the two medieval footways linking the High Street to The Bury, the historic core of the town, and The Bury Itself. The proposed works have been the subject of consultation with Hart District Council, Odiham Parish Council and other local stakeholders.

5.3 The environmental improvements would link conservation objectives to local strategic aims for developing the heritage, cultural and economic base of the town. They fulfil the HCTI objectives and support Corporate Strategy objectives for improving the quality of life, stewardship of the environment and achieving economic prosperity.

Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme

5.4 The County Council is working in partnership with Hart District Council, Yateley Town Council, the Yateley Town Centre Management Group and a range of local partners, to develop a Village Design Framework for Yateley centre that is fully informed by local issues, concerns and aspirations. The framework will fully integrate the B3272 Route Management Strategy, the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme and the shared objectives including:

(i) improvement of safety for all road users;

(ii) integration between alternative modes of transport;

(iii) traffic management to encourage through traffic to use more suitable routes; and

(iv) tackling severance.

5.5 In partnership with the Local Transport Plan, the ROUA programme is developing proposals for a first phase of improvements that are consistent with the overall framework, road safety considerations and other initiatives. It is planned to carry out consultation on the emerging framework and phase one proposals in November. It is hoped that implementation can commence in summer/autumn 2004.

6. 2003/04 Bridge Works Programme

6.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for inspection and maintenance, load assessment and strengthening of all existing county highway structures, as well as new structures built as part of road improvements, housing scheme sand industrial developments. This includes 1,400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures, such as retaining walls and gantries.

6.2 The majority of bridge maintenance, assessment and strengthening is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance, footbridges and environment maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

6.3 Bridge maintenance includes regular routine items, such as vegetation and drainage clearance; repairs to accident damage; major and minor structural maintenance identified from the annual cycle of bridge inspections and environmental maintenance of subways. The latter covers graffiti removal and cleaning under a three year term contract with a firm called Graffiti Solutions. Raynesway Construction Southern Limited (RCS) carries out the majority of other maintenance, although some specialist or larger jobs are awarded by tender.

6.4 A programme of load assessment and strengthening was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on British roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of substandard bridges is ongoing. About 30 bridges remain subject to interim measures, such as weight limits or monitoring, and will be strengthened over the next five or six years, funding permitting.

6.5 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, the majority of which are bridges, have been evaluated and prioritised and a rolling programme for protective measures has been started. This will continue over several yeas, as funding is made available.

2003/04 Schemes in Hart

6.6 Malthouse Bridge, Church Crookham - This Grade II listed brick arch carries `The Street' over the Basingstoke Canal and is subject to a 7.5 tonne weight limit. Extensive consultations on widening and strengthening options have taken place and the favoured solution is to build a new footbridge adjacent to the road bridge to improve pedestrian access, whilst retaining the existing carriageway. Alternative designs are being detailed at present and further consultation about these will take place shortly. It is intended to build the new footbridge later in the 2003/04 financial year.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8292/PS

APPENDIX 2

Safer Routes to School programme 2003/04

Schemes in Hart District