Archived decisions

Contact: Jonathan Ryder, ext: 5162 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides a progress update on transport schemes within the 2003/04 and 2004/05 Capital Programme that have been approved for implementation in the Fareham area. These are set out in Appendix.

1.2 Schemes in the Capital Programme are financed from the Local Transport Plan (LTP), which consists of Central Government basic credit approvals and/or external funding (EF) received from developers or other contributors.

2. Transport Capital Schemes 2002/03

Fareham Town Centre Signing - £150,000

2.1 This scheme is to provide a comprehensive system of new direction signing in and around Fareham town centre to provide drivers, including heavy commercial vehicles (HCVs), with clear directional information to local destinations by the most appropriate routes. The work has been substantially completed, however additional signing work identified in and around the town centre has been added to the contract. Completion of this project is now expected in March 2004.

3. Transport Capital Schemes 2003/04

Hill Road/Station Road, Porchester - £55,000 EF

3.1 This traffic management scheme was implemented to reduce vehicle speeds and assist with the safety of all road users. Traffic calming measures have been implemented on Hill Road and these were completed in July 2003.

3.2 As part of the scheme, a priority system is being trialled at the Porchester Station railway bridge in order to provide a widened footway link under the railway bridge. The consequence of this was a narrowing of the carriageway to one lane with priority being given to traffic travelling north away from the A27.

3.3 Due to concerns about visibility through the bridge for approaching traffic, amendments were made to the original layout which involved the installation of temporary monoblock kerbing under the bridge and additional carriageway markings on the approaches to the priority system. Monitoring of the scheme will continue until March 2004, however a feasibility study has been initiated which is aimed at establishing whether a traffic signals scheme would be viable for improving traffic control. If appropriate, such a scheme would need to be assessed for priority against other competing demands by the Solent Transport Panel.

Portchester Home Zone - £200,000 LTP, £499,000 DfT, £50,000 Fareham Borough Council, £251,000 Highways Maintenance

3.4 Following completion of the design and consultation stages of this project contract documents have been produced and competitively tendered. Caroway Construction has been appointed as the successful contractor with an anticipated start on site on 15 March 2004.

3.5 The main civil engineering works will be progressed in sections in order to minimise the disruption to the residents. In general, works commence at the Sunningdale Road end and progress towards White Hart Lane. Work is expected to be ongoing in two sections consecutively with an overall contract period of 30 weeks. These construction works will require Temporary Road Closures.

3.6 Following the successful trial of a sample street light the main contract to erect all street lighting within the Home Zone commenced on 5 January and is now substantially complete. These works have generally been welcomed and praised by the residents.

3.7 All legal processes with regard to the Traffic Regulation Orders are substantially complete. This extends the 20 mph zone from the existing in West Street along Jubilee Road, including Queen Mary Road, and throughout the Home Zone. The Home Zone Designation Order and the
20 mph Speed Limit Order will be considered by the Executive Member for Environment at his decision day on 9 March 2004. The recommendation is to proceed as advertised.

3.8 The project remains on budget and programme, with completion anticipated in early 2005. Consultation is still ongoing through the Residents Working Group and to all residents through Newsletters. The local schools are continuing to be consulted.

Car Park Information System for Fareham Town Centre - £280,000 EF

3.9 This scheme is funded through developer contributions received by Fareham Borough Council and is being implemented on its behalf by the County Council. Accordingly the scheme forms a late addition to the County Council's Capital Programme 2003/04.

3.10 Fareham Town Centre is undergoing the third phase of comprehensive redevelopment, to be known as Market Quay. This stage of the development will provide approximately 160,000 square feet of new shopping floor space with entertainment and leisure facilities. The development reinforces the need for improved car parking management including facilities, signage and information.

3.11 Eight variable message signs (VMS) are to be located at various locations and will provide information about the following car parks. This includes an additional sign which is to be added at Osborn Road.

(i) Market Quay car park on West Street;

(ii) Osborn Road (multi-storey) car park on Osborn Road;

(iii) Lysses (long stay) car park on Wallington Way;

(iv) Civic Way (multi-storey) car park on Civic Way; and

(v) Bowling Green car park on Osborn Road.

3.12 The system will benefit drivers as the signs will display car park availability and will reduce time spent travelling around the town when looking for spaces. The car park signs are of a matrix type which is based on designs deployed successfully by similar projects in Basingstoke, Winchester and Southampton. The system will be controlled and monitored from the County Council's Traffic and Travel Information Centre in Winchester.

3.13 The information will also be displayed on the ROMANSE website, indicating the number of car spaces currently available in each of the selected car parks. This will provide drivers with pre-trip information about where to park, thus assisting to reduce congestion.

3.14 A General Packet Radio Service survey has taken place at the sign locations and all are suitable to receive good signal strength. The manufacture of the signs is under way and the car park monitoring system is currently being installed. The scheme is expected to be completed in April 2004.

4. Transport Capital Programme - 2004/05

St Margarets Lane, Titchfield - Traffic Management - £60,000

4.1 A feasibility study is under way to assess issues associated with traffic which diverts off the A27 along St Margarets Lane and then through Titchfield, rather than staying on the A27. Various traffic surveys are to be undertaken prior to the development of appropriate measures.

Newgate Lane/Tukes Avenue Cycleway - £101,000

4.2 This scheme will provide a formalised pedestrian and cycle link between Newgate Lane and Tukes Avenue, and improve safety for pedestrians and cyclists. Detailed design has been completed and a Project Appraisal was been approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 10 February 2004, which will enable the scheme to proceed to the implementation stage. The scheme proposals are to widen the existing footpath along the route to accommodate cycle and footpath use. This includes the provision of a
2 metre wide cycleway along side the footpath which will be segregated by a 150 millimetre wide road marking. It is also proposed to upgrade the existing street lighting, and the provision of pedestrian guard railing and staggered barriers. Preliminary site work started during February 2004.

Gosport Road to Stubbington Green Cycleway - £50,000 EF

4.3 The proposal is to extend the existing cycle route along Gosport Road from Marks Road into Stubbington village with a possible link towards the existing cycle facilities on Burnt House Lane. A feasibility study is currently being carried out by consultants Atkins to determine the most appropriate route, particularly as there is likely to be benefits for children attending Crofton School.

Westbury Road, Fareham - £8,000 EF

4.4 This proposal aims to convert an existing footpath into a shared cycle/pedestrian route linking Osborn Road and the town centre shops in West Street. Preliminary design by Fareham Borough Council has been completed and the scheme is progressing to the detailed design stage.

4.5 This scheme is linked with a project in Park Lane.

Park Lane, Fareham - Traffic Management - £30,000

4.6 The proposed scheme provides on-road cycle lanes at Park Lane between Miller Drive and Prices Lodge and signed cycle routes from Park Lane to the town centre, and the existing Cams cycle route. Traffic management measures are included within the scheme and consist of localised anti skid surfacing at the junctions along Park Lane and at the bends on Serpentine Road. Also included is the provision of a traffic island at the junction of Gordon Road and new give-way markings at the Park Lane junction with Trinity Street. Fareham Borough Council has completed public consultations and the scheme has proceeded to detail design, with implementation anticipated during the summer.

A27 Corridor, Fareham - £400,000

4.7 A supplementary bid to Government for additional LTP funding was successful. The objectives associated with the bid relate to:

(i) reducing the severance effect of the A27 particularly for pedestrians and cyclists by improving road crossing opportunities;

(ii) improving links to Swanwick Station; and

(iii) improving the reliability of local bus services.

4.8 A detailed programme of work is being investigated and proposals will be submitted to the Executive Member for Environment later this year.

Broom Way, Fareham - Cycleway - £250,000 EF

4.9 This scheme aims to provide an off-road cycle track on the western side of the carriageway with street lighting. A feasibility study has been completed and detailed design is under way. Land and drainage issues will need to be resolved as part of the development of this scheme, which also includes a proposal to provide street lighting along the route.

Salterns Lane Traffic Calming - £32,000 EF

4.10 The proposals and consultation with local Members is at a preliminary stage and aims to reinstate traffic calming measures on Salterns Lane.

A27 Southampton Road Toucan - £125,000 LTP, £100,000 EF

4.11 Preliminary design work is being carried out for the proposal to install a Toucan crossing on the A27 Southampton Road near Titchfield Park Road and to consider the possibility of providing a cycle link in the vicinity. This proposal aims to assist with linking the communities on the eastern and western sides of the road whilst providing access to the Segensworth employment areas from Locks Heath/Warsash.

Fareham Western Distributor (Schooner Way - Warsash Road) -
£1.25 million LTP, £375,000 EF

4.12 This is the last section of the local distributor road to be constructed and land negotiations are continuing that are essential to enable the scheme to be developed.

Rookery Avenue, Whiteley - £500,000 EF

4.13 A proposal is being considered to open Rookery Avenue to Botley Road as an all vehicle link. Although an allocation has been made in this year's programme there are a number of obstacles to overcome before this scheme can be constructed. These include Policy T9 of the Fareham Borough Local Plan Review (June 2000), which restricts its opening until the proposed Whiteley Way is complete. In addition there are three landowners whose land is required to enable the road to be constructed.

A27 Segensworth Roundabout and Witherbed Lane Link -
£1.8 million EF

4.14 The proposal is to provide a gyratory system to incorporate a two lane, one-way entry into Segensworth East from the A27 Segensworth Roundabout, along part of Barnes Wallis Road together with the reopening and improvement of Witherbed Lane to provide a one-way link with cycle facilities, between Barnes Wallis Road and Segensworth Road. The proposals also include:

(i) the provision of traffic signals at the junction of Witherbed Lane/Segensworth Road and modifications to Segensworth Road to enable a two lane exit onto the A27 Segensworth Roundabout; and

(ii) localised widening of the Segensworth Roundabout and the approach to the roundabout from the M27 Link Road to improve left turn capacity into Segensworth East.

4.15 Preliminary design, including land survey, statutory undertakers and geotechnical investigations have been undertaken to determine the appropriate junction layouts.

4.16 The project will be reviewed at the end of the preliminary design stage in March to verify costs and benefits. Progression of this scheme to implementation is dependent on the satisfactory resolution of developer contributions.

Barnes Wallis Road, Segensworth - Footway and Cycleway -
£120,000 EF

4.17 This proposal is to provide a shared footway and cycle facility on the north side of Barnes Wallis Road between Drummond Close and a point near Whiteley Lane. Detailed design is complete, however scheme delivery is dependent on a review of developer contributions (which is under way) in the Segensworth area.

Yew Tree Drive Bus Link, Whiteley - £250,000 LTP and £250,000 EF

4.18 A bus only connection between Yew Tree Drive and Botley Road including a new roundabout is included in a package of measures being offered by the developers, Persimmon Homes. An outline planning application has been approved by the Secretary of State and a detailed application is anticipated later this year. Progression of the scheme is however dependent on the developers construction programme, which will trigger implementation upon occupation of the 50^th house.

Telford Way, Southampton Road - £150,000 EF

4.19 Scheme parameters are being considered and a feasibility report will be commissioned shortly for this pedestrian and cycle scheme. Progression of this scheme to implementation is however dependent on a review of developer contributions (which is underway) in the Segensworth area.

Fareham - Gosport Bus Quality Partnership £250,000 LTP,
£50,000 EF

4.20 The measures currently proposed as part of this programme include a bus departure information system at Gosport bus station and additional bus infrastructure improvements along the bus corridor. A detailed programme of works is currently being developed in conjunction with bus operators.

Recommendation

That Members note the progress made on schemes in the Transport Capital Programme and support the schemes approved for inclusion in the Capital Programme for 2004/05.

8540/JR

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