Contact: Ruth Olczyk, tel: 01962 857823 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the attached Project Appraisal for the installation of various traffic calming, pedestrian facilities and traffic management measures on Hambledon Road, Forest Road, Furzeley Road, Bunkers Hill, and Southwick Road, Denmead, at an estimated cost of £230,000, be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 This decision supports Aim 2 of the Corporate Strategy (Stewardship of the Environment) by making the area safer for pedestrians and promoting accessibility within the village. It also supports Aim 4 (Building Strong and Safe Communities) by promoting a safer village environment with more pedestrian facilities and lower traffic speeds.

2.2 The installation of pedestrian refuges will assist pedestrians to cross a major road in the village as well as slowing the traffic to create a safer environment. The package of measures will support corporate and local policy objectives in terms of assisting people to access the local community facilities and schools on foot.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Various other options have been considered for traffic calming and to provide cycle facilities , but are not appropriate:

(i) cycle lanes have been considered but there is insufficient width to allow a dedicated lane (average road width approximately 7.3 metres);

(ii) cycle by-pass lanes to allow cyclists through on the nearside approach to the refuges have been considered, but cannot be accommodated due to the boundary limits of the public highway;

(iii) shared use cycle tracks have been considered, but footway widths cannot be increased to provide such a facility due to the limits of the highway boundary;

(iv) vertical forms of traffic calming (road humps, raised platforms) have been considered but are not suitable in these particular circumstances, given the use by buses, the overall traffic flows and proximity of residential development. Additionally, this type of measure would not cater for pedestrians;

(v) horizontal traffic calming measures have been considered (chicanes, priority working, build-outs) but are not suitable due to the location of driveways and junctions. Additionally, these would not provide effective pedestrian facilities; and

(vi) a formal pedestrian crossing facility has been considered for Hambledon Road (Zebra or Puffin), but detailed pedestrian and vehicle surveys have shown that people cross at different locations along Hambledon Road and would not be channelled sufficiently to one point to justify this type of crossing.

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 K B Estlin