Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council Executive Member-Spatial Strategy 13 January 2004 Project Appraisal - Highway Improvements, West Aldershot Report of the Director of Environment |
Item 1 |
Contact: Matt Grantham, ext 5563 email: [email protected]
1. Summary
1.1 The following decision is sought:
That the attached Project Appraisal for the implementation of highway improvements to Upper Union Street and Queens Road area in West Aldershot, at an estimated cost of £200,000, be approved.
2. Reasons
2.1 This decision supports Aims 2 and 3 of the Corporate Strategy (`Stewardship of the environment' and Achieving economic prosperity') by improving travel choices for all through the provision of a range of reliable, attractive and accessible alternatives to the car and helping existing businesses to thrive.
2.2 To enable works to be implemented which create enhanced facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and introduces a residents' parking scheme. The links between Upper Union Street and the town centre will be improved.
3. Other Options Considered and Rejected
3.1 Upper Union Street - Two alternatives were considered but were not supported by visitors to the public exhibition.
3.2 Various options were considered for Queens Road, Alexandra Road and Grosvenor Road which were found to be inappropriate.
4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or a Member or Officer consulted - None.
5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - Not applicable.
6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - Not applicable.
Approved by: Date:
Councillor J K Glen
HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEMBER-SPATIAL STRATEGY |
PROJECT APPRAISAL (Externally Funded) |
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13 JANUARY 2004
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PROJECT: |
HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS, WEST ALDERSHOT |
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COMMENCEMENT DATE: |
MARCH 2004 |
COMPLETION DATE: |
MAY 2004 |
PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04 |
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7. |
Scheme Highway improvements in West Aldershot. |
7.1 |
Introduction On 21 August 2003 an exhibition was held to display proposals to improve the streetscape of Upper Union Street, and provision of additional parking, pedestrian and cycling facilities in the Queens Road area. Approximately 200 people visited the exhibition and over 110 comments were received. Upper Union Street is a one-way street on the edge of the main shopping centre in Aldershot. The street is used to serve shops on the south side and as a short cut through to the Queens Road area and beyond. Upper Union Street has become detached from the main shopping core and the aim is to re-link it to these facilities. Barrack Road, Alexandra Road and Grosvenor Road have available unused road space, which has the potential to be utilised to provide extra parking for the Town Centre. Residents in Queens Road have requested a residents' parking scheme and the exhibition showed how this could be achieved. The existing pedestrian crossing in Grosvenor Road is in an inconvenient position and does not match pedestrian desire lines in and out of the town centre. As a planning condition of the recent Tesco extension, a cyclepath/footpath link is required to be constructed to link existing facilities in Wellington Avenue to the town centre. Rushmoor Borough Council also holds funds which are allocated to improvements in the area. |
7.2 |
Details Upper Union Street Streetscape Proposals Four proposals were taken to the exhibition: Option A restricted vehicular access completely - fully pedestrianised, while Options B and C kept the road open but restricted the entrance and exits to make the road less desirable to casual traffic. Option D was to do nothing at all. 70% of the public who visited the exhibition (local residents and shoppers) voted for Option A - to create a pedestrianised area. This was also the preferred choice of the retailers along Upper Union Street. A plan of Option A is attached. It shows the repaving of the existing carriageway with an extension of the design across Grosvenor Road, to link Union Street and Upper Union Street more effectively. This is achieved by an imprinted pattern on the carriageway of Grosvenor Road. Parking, Pedestrian and Cycling Improvements - Queens Road Area Queens Road residents' parking zone proposals would provide on-street parking for residents of Queens Road from numbers 2 through to 70. Traffic calming is proposed to slow traffic in this area, which would consist of five groups of three traffic cushions situated at regular intervals along Queens Road, with two raised tables at the junction of Barrack Road. A total of 91% of the visitors who completed feedback forms were in favour of the residents' parking zone and 69% were in favour of the associated traffic control measures. On-street 20 minute parking and the introduction of a shared use cyclepath/footpath between Barrack Road and Wellington Avenue were proposed for Alexandra Road. A total of 93% were in favour of the cyclepath/footpath and 88% in favour of the on-street parking facilities. Twenty minute parking was also proposed in Barrack Road and Grosvenor Road. A total of 86% were in favour of the bays in Barrack Road and 84% were in favour of them in Grosvenor Road. In addition to the 20 minute parking bays in Grosvenor Road, it was also suggested that the existing controlled pedestrian crossing be relocated. It is planned to move the crossing, currently outside number 10 Grosvenor Road, to the junction of Upper Union Street and Union Street. This follows the natural design line between the town centre and the Warburg Car Park. A total of 93% were in favour of this suggestion. The installation of a raised crossing point in the Tesco access Road is also suggested. |
7.3 |
Standards The proposals have been designed to meet current national and county standards for this type of scheme, and will conform to all recommendations from the Safety Audit. |
7.4 |
Statutory Procedures and Consultation Rushmoor Borough Council will advertise and implement all changes to Traffic Regulation Orders required by the proposals. Full public and Member consultation has been completed, as identified earlier in this report. The proposals were approved by Rushmoor Borough Council's Cabinet on 14 October 2003. |
7.5 |
Policy Considerations The proposals are consistent with the transport policies of the Rushmoor Borough Local Plan, the North East Hampshire Area Transport Strategy and the County Council's Local Transport Plan. They also meet the objectives of the encouragement of alternative forms of transport to the private car and Safer Routes to School. |
7.6 |
Environmental Impacts The scheme will contribute to a safer and improved environment for pedestrians and other road users. There are no adverse environmental impacts. |
7.7 |
Land Requirement No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits. |
7.8 |
Alternative Arrangements Alternatives were explored, but discounted following consultation as outlined previously in the report. |
7.9 |
Local Member's View The local Member, Councillor Kimber, supports these proposals. |
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 cycling, along with improved street parking facilities for local residents. |
8. |
Financial Arrangements |
8.1 |
Expenditure |
£'000 |
Funds Available |
£'000 | |
Design Fee |
15 |
Developer Funding |
140 | ||
Supervision |
5 |
RBC Funding |
60 | ||
Project Works |
180 |
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Land |
Nil |
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____ |
____ | ||||
Total |
200 |
Total |
200 | ||
____ |
____ | ||||
8.2 |
Revenue Implications |
£'000 |
% Variation to Committee's budget | ||
Net increase in current expenditure |
6 |
0.007% | |||
Capital Charge |
29 |
0.031% | |||
____ |
______ | ||||
Total Expenditure |
35 |
0.038% | |||
____ |
______ | ||||
8.3 |
Maintenance Implications Special surfaces will need maintenance. |
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 |
Highway Improvements West Aldershot Public and Member Consultation results Rushmoor Borough Council Project Appraisal Rushmoor Borough Council Cabinet Report |
Environment Department Room 415 |
8455/MG