Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member - Environment

15 June 2004

Project Appraisal: Hedge End Area Transport Strategy - Maunsell Way Traffic Calming

Report of the Director of Environment

Item 6

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

PROJECT APPRAISAL

(Externally Funded)

PROJECT:

HEDGE END AREA TRANSPORT STRATEGY - MAUNSELL WAY TRAFFIC CALMING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2004

COMPLETION DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2004

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2003/04

7.

Scheme

7.1

Introduction

In August 2000 WSP Consultants was appointed by the County Council to undertake a study into the transport needs for the Hedge End area. The final report was submitted to the County Council in March 2001.

A meeting in July 2001 with Members of the County Council, Eastleigh Borough Council and Hedge End, West End and Botley (HEWEB) Local Area Committee approved a preferred list of projects from the WSP report. This list was recommended for approval by the former Southampton Area Transport Strategy Panel in November 2001.

In October 2001, Atkins was commissioned to review the reports prepared by WSP in order to assess the likely costs and timescales. A number of short-term `quick win' schemes were identified and agreed with the HEWEB group at its meeting on 13 February 2002. The longer term schemes which would require more preliminary work, of which Maunsell Way is one, were agreed and prioritised at a meeting of the HEWEB group (including County Members) on 7 April 2002.

Maunsell Way is a local distributor road running through The Grange housing development in Hedge End (see attached location plan). The road connects with Tollbar Way at its western end and with Locke Road to the east. Numerous side roads serving individual housing developments lead off from Maunsell Way along its length. Maunsell Way has a speed limit of 30 miles per hour (mph), however due to its current nature vehicles often break this and the 85%ile at a recent check was found to be 40 mph. It is felt that this scheme will cause traffic to drive at the regulation speed and make the route much more attractive to pedestrians and cyclists, particularly for the journey to school.

7.2

Details

The measures are aimed at improving speed management on Maunsell Way and are targeted towards bettering conditions for pedestrians and cyclists. A school safety zone is proposed outside Berrywood Primary School which includes signed gateways, road narrowing and formalised crossing areas. Missing sections of footway will be constructed to provide a continuous pedestrian/cycle shared use facility along Maunsell Way. The existing priority junctions at Locke Road, Drummond Road and Stroudley Way will be converted to mini-roundabouts. In addition the existing informal pedestrian crossing points along Maunsell Way will be rationalised by either removing, upgrading or installing additional crossing facilities.

7.3

Standards

Design standards adhere to the Environment Department's standards. Safety audits have been undertaken at appropriate stages, and all concerns have been satisfactorily resolved.

7.4

Statutory Procedures and Consultation

Consultation with local residents was undertaken in October 2003 in the form of staffed and unstaffed public exhibitions. Residents were informed of the exhibition by a letter drop which targeted some 3,000 households. In addition Berrywood Primary School has been very supportive of the scheme and has also produced a School Travel Plan. A Traffic Regulation Order was necessary for the `no waiting' restrictions outside the school. This has now undergone its period of advertising and no objections were received.

In addition, the following key consultees were sent copies of the scheme plans and invited to comment:

(i) County and District Members;

(ii) Eastleigh Borough Council;

(iii) Emergency Services;

(iv) Disability Consultation Group and Association for the Blind;

(v) School Crossing Patrol Co-ordinator; and

(vi) Utility Companies.

Community Cooperation - careful consideration has been given to ensuring the local residents affected by the construction are fully aware of the proposals.

7.5

Policy Considerations

The proposals are consistent with those of the Solent Transport Strategy.

7.6

Environmental Impacts

The scheme is to be constructed within the existing highway boundary, thus minimising the need for a full environmental impact assessment. This scheme has o adverse impacts on the landscape.

7.7

Land Requirement

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

7.8

Alternative Arrangements

Road humps were briefly considered, however these were not considered suitable as Maunsell Way serves a bus route.

7.9

Local Member's View

The local Member, Councillor Brown, supports the proposals.

7.10

Equalities

These proposals aim to reduce traffic speeds and so will benefit all road users, particularly pedestrians and cyclists. The improved crossing points with their tactile paving will be of assistance to the mobility impaired.

7.10

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

The provisions of this Act have no impact on the proposal.

7.11

Sustainability

These proposals are designed to make the route a safer and more attractive environment for pedestrians and cyclists and it is envisaged there will be some modal shift away from the use of the private car, particularly for the journey to school.

8.

Financial Arrangements

8.1

Expenditure

£'000

Funds Available

£'000

Design Fee

68

Developer Funding

350

Supervision

25

Project Works

257

Land

nil

____

____

Total

350

Total

350

____

____

8.2

Revenue Implications

£'000

% Variation to Committee's budget

Net increase in

current expenditure

5.5

0.005

Capital Charge

34.0

0.037

____

____

Total Expenditure

39.5

0.042

____

____

8.3

Maintenance Implications

The additional street furniture and specialist surfacings will have an impact on maintenance. However, this will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

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.

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