Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Spatial Strategy

11 May 2004

Project Appraisal: Country Towns Initiative - Church Place, Romsey

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 5

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - SPATIAL STRATEGY

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

COUNTRY TOWNS INITIATIVE - CHURCH PLACE, ROMSEY

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JUNE 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2004

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2002/03, 2003/04 AND 2004/05

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2004

(at 2004

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Construction

324

324

Fees

90

90

414

414

Less developers/

other contributions

414

414

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

379

(b) Other - highways

25

404

2.

From other resources

(a) Test Valley Borough Council

10

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

414

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2.8

0.003

Capital charges

40.0

0.043

TOTAL net expenditure

42.8

0.046

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

Romsey is one of the county's key, historic market towns, servicing a substantial local and rural population but subject to considerable competition particularly from Southampton.

The Test Valley Borough Local Plan 1996 identifies the opportunity for creating pedestrian priority zones in the historic core as part of its policy for improving the service attraction of the town and reinforcing its role as a tourist destination. It refers specifically to opportunities linked to the Country Towns Initiative (CTI).

The scheme comprises Church Place, the principal approach to the Abbey, itself the town's main historic monument and tourist focus. The area includes the forecourt to the previous magistrates court, now the Council's Social services offices. It is a poor quality space used mainly for parking, characterised by tarmac and concrete surfaces in need of repair and improvement and unattractive and underused as a civic space.

The area sits on the town's historic trail linking the Abbey to the main car parks, the tourist information shop and the King John's House museum. It is also the rather run-down venue for occasional civic events, including the annual Beggars Fair. There is a clear need and opportunity to improve this key pedestrian axis and the scheme would, therefore, not only achieve conservation objectives but also create a better space for civic events and by so doing help reinforce Romsey's tourism potential.

3.

IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

The scheme meets the policy aims of the CTI programme approved on 14 May 2002, 24 June 2003 and 15 October 2003. It also meets the objectives of the Test Valley Borough Local Plan 1996, and the more recent Draft Deposit Plan 2002. The proposal forms a part of recent studies by the Borough Council into the future improvement of the Abbey area.

The scheme ties in with the County Council's Romsey Movement and Access Strategy, previously part of the former South West Hampshire Transport Strategy - now the Solent Transport Strategy - developed by the County and Borough Councils to identify transportation, safety and environmental measures in the town. Specifically it links to the County Council's future proposals for highways and environmental improvement works in Church Street which have already been approved, subject to funding.

The proposed enhancements will reinforce the efforts of the Borough Council and local businesses through the local Quality Retail and Marketing Initiative which aims to attract shoppers and visitors to the town following the CTI enhancement works carried out in the Cornmarket in 1995.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

The scheme involves remodelling of Church Place and part of Church Road to include the following:

(i) widening the carriageway, resurfacing and removing upstand kerbs in Church Place to create a shared, pedestrian/vehicular space to accommodate public parking and local events. This would include a circular road surface feature in natural stone to form the entrance to the Abbey approach;

(ii) widening the footway near to the Abbey and resurfacing the remaining footways in natural stone;

(iii) improving seating, street lighting and cycle parking;

(iv) repositioning car parking spaces in Church Place with two additional spaces provided in Church Road plus space for coaches to pick up and set down close to the Abbey. Dedicated parking for disabled drivers would be increased;

(v) reshaping the landscape planting beds in Church Place and provision of new trees on the south side;

(vi) using high quality materials and street furniture. Natural stone is to be used in the pavements and, where possible, in the carriageway. In order to secure supplies at advantageous prices to suit the proposed works programme, stone materials and specialised street furniture have been purchased in advance;

(vii) creating opportunities for works of public art. The County Council is working closely with the Town Council and Romsey and District Society to identify a possible position in the scheme for a commemorative statue to be supplied by the local community;

(viii) providing informal crossing points for pedestrians in Church Street;

(ix) revising traffic and parking regulation orders; and

(x) providing power supplies for future market stalls or public events.

A location plan is attached and detailed plans of the works will be displayed at the meeting. All specifications within the design will be to current Government requirements, Hampshire County Council standards and Advice Notes, including County Council policy documents and British Standards.

Works to improve the Social Services forecourt in Church Street were included in the scheme originally presented for public consultation. This included proposals to open up to view the Fishlake stream which runs beneath the forecourt.

Since the public consultation ideas for the form of the opening have been discussed with the Romsey and District Society. Such works would be both technically complex and, depending on the detailed form of the opening, could be both costly and disruptive. In view of financial and possible technical constraints, this element of the scheme has been reviewed in consultation with the steering group of local representatives advising the project.

There is a clear preference for giving priority to the Church Place area. It is proposed, therefore, that works to the Church Street forecourt be deferred and be considered as a possible future phase, subject to financial and technical matters being resolved. Meanwhile, it is proposed that technical discussions and investigations concerning the stream would continue.

Works funding comprises £379,000 from the CTI capital programme and £25,000 from highways budgets. Test Valley Borough Council has contributed £10,000 to consultants' fees for preliminary design. The CTI funding is as follows:

Year £000

2002/03 100

2003/04 203

2004/05 76

Total 379

The CTI programme aims to improve the commercial and social attractiveness of small, rural towns by carrying out environmental enhancements, improving highway safety and making their centres more economically and socially active. The scheme has been designed in accordance with the programme's criteria for selection, good design, appropriateness and quality.

Environmental Impact

The combined effect of these works, the use of environmentally sensitive materials, planting, street lighting and improved street furniture would greatly improve the setting of the conservation area and the approach to the Abbey in particular. The attention to surface materials and reduction of upstand kerbs would further enhance the area for pedestrians.

Land Requirements

No land acquisition or transfer is required. The works will almost entirely either be within the public highway or within the ownership of Hampshire County Council as owner of the Social Services building. A small area of privately-owned footway adjacent to the Fish and Chips shop in Church Street would be repaved with the consent of the owner.

Statutory Procedures

Revised traffic and parking regulation orders are required to implement the proposed access and parking arrangements. The proposals have the support of the Police and have been advertised for public comment. The results of this statutory consultation will be reported at the meeting.

Any possible works to the Fishlake stream in the future would require the consent of the Environment Agency which has so far shown support for the preliminary proposals.

Public Consultation

The scheme has been advised by an informal steering group comprising the local Member plus representatives of the Borough Council, Romsey Town Council, the Abbey church authority and the Romsey and District Society. It has also benefited from a full programme of public consultation and information, including a public exhibition at King John's House museum in May 2003, followed by a display in Test Valley Borough Council offices.

Almost 600 residents visited the exhibition or display and 161 questionnaires were returned. The general principle of improving the area received 82% approval, with a strong balance of approval for almost all aspects of the scheme. Detailed concerns have been addressed and a number of changes made to the scheme as a result. Copies of the results of survey have been published and made available free to the public.

Romsey Town Council has expressed gratitude to both Councils for their response to matters raised in the consultation process and supports the project.

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Mrs Barron, supports the scheme.

Facilities for the Disabled

The scheme has been designed in consultation with the Romsey Disability Forum in accordance with current best practice and current guidelines. Parking for the disabled has been resited to better locations and increased from two dedicated spaces to three. The removal of many kerb upstands will assist wheelchair users.

Maintenance Implications

Arrangements to rationalise the maintenance of the Social Services building forecourts in relation to the maintenance of the adjoining highways are currently in hand. The Town Council has agreed to take responsibility for maintaining the new seats and specified street furniture.

The management and maintenance of the power supplies to the area for public events are being discussed with Test Valley Borough Council and the Town Council.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

Improved street lighting and increased day-to-day social activity in the area would have the likely effect of deterring anti-social behaviour. Street furniture and features would be designed to be robust and incorporate features to mitigate certain risks, eg from skateboarders.

Sustainability

The improvements would provide an improved setting for the town's most cherished historic resource, the Abbey. It would improve the conservation area setting and encourage interest in the historic fabric of the town centre.

The products used, and the emphasis on natural materials, conform to sustainability best practice.

The scheme will provide the setting for increased use by the community, including outdoor events, and make a more socially and economically useful contribution to the life of the town. It will also improve facilities for pedestrians and cyclists and help encourage interest in these sustainable modes of travel.

4.

IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

Alternative designs for street furniture and surface finishes were considered and amended in accordance with public consultations to create the best balance between cost, robustness and local distinctiveness. Alternative traffic regulation arrangements have been considered but the proposed scheme represents the most effective and enforceable arrangement.

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

(to be completed)