Contact: Simon Found, ext 6593 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report provides an update on Capital Transport Schemes that have been approved in the New Forest area for 2003/2004 and information on the schemes programmed for 2004/2005.

1.2 The funding of the schemes in the Capital Programme is from the Local Transport Plan (LTP) which comprises basic credit approvals (BCA) and/or external funding (EF) which is received from a developer or other contributors.

2. Capital Schemes 2003/2004

Old Milton Road/Gore Road/Whitefield Road Junction Improvement - £168,000

2.1 This scheme will improve the operation of traffic at these junctions which are located within a short distance of each other as well as improving facilities for pedestrians and cyclists. Construction of the scheme has commenced and is programmed to be completed by the end of March 2004.

Colbury Junction/Ashurst Traffic Management - £1,450,000

2.2 A contract for this scheme has been let to Mildren Construction and construction of the works commenced in March 2004. Completion of the scheme is expected by the end of June 2004.

2.3 The scheme when completed will provide a right turn facility at the Colbury Junction for traffic travelling to Lyndhurst and destinations further west by the installation of a new slip road combined with traffic signals where the slip road joins the A35.

2.4 In order to accommodate the additional traffic that will travel along the A35 through Ashurst, a series of traffic management measures are being constructed in the village which will provide improved crossing points for pedestrians and right turn lane facilities for traffic accessing/egressing the residential areas of Ashurst.

High Street, Fordingbridge - £180,500

2.5 This scheme when complete will result in the enhancement of the High Street/Provost Street/Shaftesbury Street junction which will improve its operation for vehicular traffic as well as improve the environment for pedestrians and other users. The street lighting at the junction will also be improved as part of the works.

2.6 The construction of the scheme has commenced and completion is expected in mid-March 2004.

Sway Footways Safer Routes to School - £40,000

2.7 Phase I of the scheme to improve pedestrian facilities, especially for school children attending St Lukes School and using the section of Station Road between the railway bridge and the junction with Middle Road, together with surface treatment and signing at the Church Lane/West Beams Road junction has been completed. The existing flashing amber light `children crossing' system and associated signing has been replaced and upgraded as part of the scheme. The new system is in keeping with the County Council's sustainability policy in that the lights and controller are powered by solar energy.

2.8 Design work on Phase II of the scheme is progressing, which includes the construction of a new section of footway in Middle Road, an improved footway alongside the top of the railway embankment between Station Road and a proposed new rear entrance to the school east of Westbeams Road. Discussions with Network Rail are ongoing but the length between Station Road and Westbeams Road has already been completed.

Jacobs Gutter Lane Improvements - £1,052,000

2.9 Improvements have been made to Jacobs Gutter Lane which have strengthened the carriageway as well as widening sections of the road to provide a minimum running carriageway width of 6.75 metres.

2.10 As part of the development of the Hampshire Energy from Waste incinerator site a large gas main is proposed to be laid to the site which will cross under the existing Jacobs Gutter Lane. To avoid abortive work and conflict with the laying of the gas main the highway improvement scheme was planned to be undertaken in two phases. As reported, Phase I has been completed which has resulted in improvements between the old A326 Marchwood Bypass and Bury Copse. Phase II was programmed to be carried out in August 2004 but the gas company has now decided not to proceed with its works in the foreseeable future. Consideration is therefore being given to proceeding with Phase II in August 2004.

Hamptun Gardens, Totton

2.11 Works on the installation of new, development-funded traffic signals have been completed.

New Forest Control Centre

2.12 Closed circuit television links from the New Forest Control Centre to the County Council's Intelligent Transport Systems Group's Traffic and Travel Information Centre, 20 views in all, are due for completion in March 2004.

3. Capital Schemes 2004/2005

North Street, Pennington - £50,000

3.1 This scheme consists of a number of traffic calming features (cushions) along the length of North Street with a regular spacing of approximately 80 metres. A new section of footway on the northern side of the road between the recreation centre/access and the North Street/A337 Milford Avenue junction will also be constructed.

3.2 Public consultation has taken place which was successful and subject to approval of the scheme's Project Appraisal, construction is programmed for August 2004.

Station Road Puffin Crossing, New Milton - £80,000

3.3 It is proposed to construct a pelican crossing on Station Road near the Health Centre and local shops. The scheme will require the loss of a lay-by which in turn will result in the loss of some on-street parking spaces. In an effort to minimise the loss of parking spaces outside the shops an alternative option is being investigated which involves extending another lay-by nearby.

3.4 However, the land required to extend the lay-by is not highway but third party land and therefore negotiations will have to take place with the current owner of the shops which includes the area of land in front of the shops.

3.5 The land owner will be contacted shortly in an effort to resolve this matter. This will happen once the layout plans have been finalised. If the matter cannot be resolved the original scheme will be taken forward for implementation as agreed with the local Members.

A337 Pennington Cross to Belmore Road Cycleway - £125,000

3.6 The feasibility study for this scheme has been completed. The study has recommended that a shared use/cycleway/footway be provided alongside the existing roundabout with the splitter islands on the approaches to the junction being widened to provide adequate uncontrolled crossing points for pedestrians and cyclists.

3.7 Along the A337 Milford Road it is proposed to incorporate the cycleway into the existing footway, thereby creating an off-road cycle route which will reduce the risk of cycle/vehicular conflict.

3.8 A controlled Toucan crossing is proposed to enable cyclists to cross Milford Road safely. Finally, the cycle route will be directed along Belmore Road towards Lymington town centre. An on-road cycle route is proposed along this road, which is relatively lightly trafficked and with low vehicle speeds. As a result cycle symbol markings are needed on this part of the route.

Ashurst to Lyndhurst Cycleway - £400,000

3.9 Studies have been undertaken to investigate the available options that will create a cycle route between Ashurst and Lyndhurst alongside the existing A35 Southampton Road.

3.10 The ecological value of land adjacent to the carriageway has restricted the number of options available.

3.11 The study has concluded that the footway on the northern side of the carriageway can be widened between Ashurst and the entrance to the golf club at Dunces Arch.

3.12 Between Dunces Arch and Lyndhurst there were two options under consideration - continue the cycleway on the northern side of the A35 or provide a cycleway on the southern side. If the cycleway was provided on the southern side cyclists would have to cross the busy A35 at grade or make use of the existing cattle creep under the road.

3.13 Following further investigations on this matter and meeting with the relevant Parish Councils, it has been agreed that the cycle route should be provided solely along the northern side of the road.

3.14 It is now proposed to undertake a limited public consultation exercise with the residents whose properties either front onto the A35 or gain access to the road via a side road prior to detailed design work commencing.

Rookes Lane/Ridgeway Lane - Traffic and Environmental Improvements, Lymington - £150,000

3.15 This scheme will provide a new footway on the northern side of the carriageway along Rookes Lane and Ridgeway Lane as well as traffic calming measures.

3.16 Due to the restricted width of the existing highway small parcels of land will need to be acquired from the residential properties that front on to the road.

3.17 Public consultation has taken place which showed that there is an overall support for the scheme.

3.18 Initial discussions have also taken place with the landowners who have indicated that they are prepared to dedicate the necessary land as they fully support the scheme proposals and its benefits to them and other local residents.

3.19 New Forest District Council is continuing with the detailed design of the scheme and it is currently proposed to submit a project appraisal report to the Executive Member for Spatial Strategy for approval in May 2004. Subject to approval by the Executive Member the scheme is programmed to be implemented in July 2004.

Twiggs Lane, Marchwood

3.20 The installation of a new traffic signal junction as part of the Solent Transport Strategy (formerly South West Hampshire Transport Strategy). The timing of works on the ground is not yet known.

High Street, Lymington

3.21 The conversion of an existing Pelican crossing to a Puffin. Similarly, works timing is unknown at this stage.

Bus Departure Information System, Lymington

3.22 The installation of a bus departure information system (BDIS) in the bus station at Lymington, which will include five display screens and the control system. This is part of the BDIS phase II county-wide scheme and is being financially supported by the bus operators. Again, this scheme is not yet programmed.

4. Capital Programme

4.1 The list of New Forest Transport Strategy Area Schemes in the Capital Programme is shown in the attached appendix.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

8622RC/SF

APPENDIX