Archived decisions

Contact: Simon Cramp, ext 6723 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the attached Project Appraisal to carry out environmental improvements at Shore Road, Warsash, as part of the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme, at an estimated cost of £359,100, be approved, subject to planning permission for the rebuilding of stone walls to the boundary of the River Hamble Harbour Master's office.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by developing the distinctiveness and quality of the Warsash Conservation Area.

2.2 The County Council's Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme is managed to implement landmark projects to raise the quality of life for all who live, work and visit urban areas. All projects are designed to demonstrate the benefits of making the best use of land and property; high quality design; long life solutions and materials; and appropriateness to the local sense of place.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Alternative design approaches have been considered. The current scheme is considered to enhance the character of the area, and represents the most appropriate technical solution and the most sensitive to conservation of the cultural asset.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member 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

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13 JULY 2004

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8806/SC

APPENDIX

SHORE ROAD, WARSASH - REGENERATION OF OLDER URBAN AREAS PROGRAMME

REPORT OF PUBLIC CONSULTATION

1. Consultation

1.1 A public exhibition of the proposals was held at the Harbour Master's Office, Warsash between 10:00 am and 9:00 pm on 23 April 2004. The exhibition was manned for the duration. The exhibition was also available for viewing between 9:00 am and 12:00 noon on 24 April 2004. The exhibition was promoted through public notices, Fareham Borough Council's community notice boards, advertisements in the Southern Echo and Portsmouth News and the Warsash Residents Association. Formal questionnaires were available during the consultation and comments on the proposals were requested by 10 May 2004.

1.2 A visitor's book was kept open during the exhibition and 111 names were recorded. However, it is estimated that around 150 people viewed the proposals at the exhibition and, given the relatively limited number of properties directly affected by the proposals, this is considered to represent a good level of attendance. The population of Warsash village is approximately 6,740 (Office of National Statistics).

2. Results of Consultation

2.1 Following the consultation exercise Hampshire County Council received 70 written responses containing a large number of detailed comments.

2.2 The main objections related to:

(i) traffic management - reinstatement of the previous clockwise direction one-way system;

(ii) pedestrian safety - provision of safe crossing and footway facilities in Lower Shore Road and at its junction with Passage Lane;

(iii) excessive vibration on Listed Buildings - vehicles passing too close to properties;

(iv) inappropriate and unnecessary use of granite setts in the carriageway; and

(v) proposed access changes to Shore Road Car Park.

2.3 Fareham Borough Council has been part of the discussions on the development of the scheme throughout the process. The Borough Council was fully involved in the planning and implementation of the previous phase of improvements, including the reversal of the one-way system. Following receipt of a 177 person petition in January 2004 objecting to the one-way, the Borough Council's Executive has written to the County Council formally requesting that the reversal of the one-way system be reconsidered. With this exception, the Borough Council supports the current proposals. The County Councillor is fully supportive of the proposals.

2.4 The following table summarises the comments received to the questions at the exhibition:

2.5 It should be noted that those comments that indicate a `no' for question 1 do so for different reasons. Of the 39 responses, 15 object to the scheme outright and 24 record a range of reasons. Of the 15, 9 cite the reversal of the one-way system as the principal reason for their objection. Of the remaining 24 `no' responses, where there is no outright objection to the scheme, 14 do so because of the reversal of the one-way system and 7 due to a range of minor issues.

2.6 It should be noted that 12 of those comments that indicate a `yes' for question 1 are qualified by the identification of the need for minor changes to the proposals and 1 for the reversal of the one-way system. The not completed and `undecided' responses to question 1 also include a total of 3 commenting on the need for reversal of the one-way system.

2.7 It is notable that overall a significant number of responses expressed no comment either in favour or against the proposals.

2.8 The main points raised for and against the proposals are outlined in the table below.

2.9 The proposal to retain the anti-clockwise one-way system within the scheme attracted the most individual comments.

Objection to the One-Way System

2.10 Concerns were raised about the effectiveness and safety of the `new' one-way system implemented in 2003. A Traffic Regulation Order introduced the previous one-way system for Lower Shore Road and Passage Lane on 28 May 1975. Before that date Lower Shore Road and Passage Lane were each subject to two-way traffic - an arrangement that appears to have been continuous until 1975.

2.11 In September 2001 Fareham Borough Council approved proposals to reverse that 'clockwise' one-way system around Shore Road and to revoke the one-way system at Passage Lane, between Thornton Avenue and the Passage Lane car park. On 7 March 2002 the Borough Council approved that Traffic Regulation Order being made permanent. The existing one-way system was implemented in January 2003.

2.12 The objectives of the reversal of the one-way system are:

(i) to enable drivers to gain direct access to the Passage Lane car park, thereby reducing traffic in Lower Shore Road; and

(ii) to give higher priority to pedestrians in the vicinity of The Hard, improving the safety and the environment of the water frontage.

2.13 The one-way system is therefore an integral feature of the long-term programme of improvements to the Warsash Conservation Area.

2.14 As part of the scheme design, safety audit inspections were undertaken at preliminary and detailed stages. A third audit inspection was carried out in March 2004 to review the scheme as implemented to date. This audit involved representatives of Fareham Borough Council, Hampshire County Council and Hampshire Constabulary. This inspection concluded that some changes were required to the local signs and road markings together with provision of some anti-skid surfacing to a section of Shore Road. The recommendations of the post scheme completion safety audit into the reversal of the one-way system were implemented before the consultation.

2.15 The features of the new and previous one-way systems have been reviewed as follows:

2.16 It is considered that the objectives of the reversal of the one-way system are now being achieved. It is also considered that:

(i) the final stage of improvements in Shore Road and Passage Lane (below Thornton Avenue), including extensive resurfacing in an appropriate natural colour stone; and

(ii) the implementation of a 20 mph zone in Lower Shore Road and Passage Lane, supported by 27 respondents to question 2 at the public exhibition on 23 April 2004;

will further enhance both the safety features of the scheme and add to the environmental enhancements already achieved. However, it is recommended that the arrangements be monitored and effects measured, and, if considered appropriate, changes could be put in place.

Pedestrian Safety

2.17 With regard to comments on the safety of pedestrians crossing Passage Lane at the junction with Lower Shore Road, and the provision of footway facilities along the length of the latter, this has been reconsidered and is reflected in the proposals contained in the project appraisal. In view of the comments expressed about the loss of character, the above facilities have been designed to reflect the distinctive village qualities of Warsash.

Vibration Concerns

2.18 The concern about the impact of vibration from vehicles passing too closely to the Listed Buildings in Lower Shore Road is recognised. The proposals have been adjusted to remove the potential for excessive vibration and to ensure consistency with the objective to provide a safe footway in Lower Shore Road. Steps are also being taken to ensure that the implementation programme, and specification of works, effectively minimises these risks. A meeting with the residents immediately affected by this issue is being planned.

Use of Stone Setts

2.19 The use of stone setts in the carriageway and paved areas is a clear concern. The use of this material in all of the three previous phases of work at the waterfront Warsash has established a palette of materials that responds to the local character and nature of the place, provides a robust and effective surface finish for the long term, and raises the environmental quality of the area. The need to provide safe and comfortable surfaces for all users is recognised and has informed the specification and selection of material. The use of stone setts is not considered to be excessive, inappropriate or unsafe. However, the proposals have been reviewed. The area of setts has been reduced and the extent of smooth surfaced setts has been clarified.

Access to Shore Road Car Park

2.20 With regard to comments on access to Shore Road car park, the proposal to combine an in and out arrangement at the northern end, and closure of the southern exit in favour of a pedestrian only area, has been reconsidered. In light of concerns about the conflict of pedestrians and vehicles, traffic turning in front of vehicles emerging from the car park, the scale of the combined entrance, and the use of the area in front of the Rising Sun, the proposals have been redesigned to retain the current access arrangements.

Loss of Character and Alterations Unnecessary

2.21 The current proposals represent the fourth and final phase of environmental improvements funded by the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme in the Warsash Conservation Area. Each of the previous phases has met with some concern about the effects of the proposed changes. However, the proposals result from initial extensive consultation into the issues and widespread agreement about the need for change in this area. Significant research has also taken place into the history and character of the area and the project development has been informed by Fareham Borough Council's policy and guidance for this Conservation Area. The previous phases are considered to be appropriate and of high quality, and are generally recognised by the local community, businesses and visitors as successful. The final phase of work has been designed to further add to these benefits.

Use of Roads by Heavy Vehicles

2.22 It is agreed that the use of Passage Lane and Lower Shore Road by heavy vehicles delivering to the village centre is inappropriate and undesirable. The concerns have been noted and alternatives for managing this traffic will be considered. However, this is beyond the remit of this project.

General Comments

2.23 Several comments made related to the inclusion of other areas outside the scope of the enhancement area. The resources available have been secured to meet particular objectives of the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme and to improve the environment of the Conservation Area. The other areas suggested can be kept under review and the impact of the proposed changes be monitored, with a view to looking at possible changes if required in the future.

2.24 Other comments were received about the design of the corner of the Rising Sun, the potential conflict of pedestrians and vehicles, and the need for large vehicles to negotiate the bend. These aspects have been taken into account during the project development and the proposals are considered satisfactory in this regard.

3. Conclusion

3.1 The overall view from members of the public is that the proposals for Shore Road, Warsash represent an appropriate improvement to the Conservation Area and waterfront, but there are concerns about a range of details and a significant number of objections to the retention of the anti-clockwise one-way system.

3.2 The proposal to retain the anti-clockwise one-way system raised the largest number of objections. Concerns about this were known to the County Council before the consultation exercise and a range of measures have been taken, within and without the current scheme, to address these. The completion of the overall scheme is considered to be a fundamental part of the strategy of ensuring the success of the one-system, and it is difficult to measure the effectiveness of this until these improvements are in place. It is considered that the benefits of the current proposals, and previous phases, would be reduced by the reversion of the one-way system to clockwise working.

3.3 Many of the concerns raised, such as the issues of access to the car park and improving facilities for pedestrians, have been looked at in more detail to help overcome these objections. Other issues have also been reviewed and the proposals have been revised as a result.

3.4 Taking account of all the comments received, and in light of the success of previous phases, it is considered that the overall benefit to the area will be a positive one and the revised proposals presented in the project appraisal should be progressed in their entirety.