APPENDIX 2

A3 Bus Priority Corridor - Section 3 Waterlooville Town Centre

TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER PROPOSALS

LONDON ROAD, ST GEORGE'S WALK AND STAKES HILL ROAD JUNCTION SPEED LIMIT, ACCESS, STREET PARKING AND LOADING/UNLOADING RESTRICTIONS

RESULTS OF PUBLIC ADVERTISEMENT JULY / AUGUST 2004

Proposals for the A3 Bus Priority Corridor include the extension of the Waterlooville pedestrian zone into London Road south, St George's Walk and Stakes Hill Road. Initially this had anticipated the removal of all through traffic but access for buses is to be retained since the alternative route through Swiss Road is no feasible. The proposed Traffic Regulation Orders required to establish the town centre improvements and bus priority measures are shown on drawing numbers 17/A3/77/3/150 - 154.

Considerable consultation has been undertaken with the local Members, District Members, Town Centre Manager, Havant Borough Council officers, the Police, bus operators, local businesses and residents about the associated exclusions, restrictions, access, parking and loading restrictions. While bus access has been retained through the new pedestrian zone the amount of space affected has been kept to a minimum and the layout designed so that it can be easily altered if buses can be rerouted in the future. The retailers understandably have strong views on what might affect their livelihood but in general the proposals have been accepted, with some concerns raised about how they will be constructed. The consultation has been on-going for more than 18 months and to reflect this some of the objections raised before the statutory advertisement are included in this summary below:

1. Kwik Fit Centre, 6,Stakes Hill Road, Waterlooville

Kwik Fit are concerned about the effective change from through road to cul-de-sac of the length of Stakes Hill Road between London Road south and the Rockville Drive junction where their premises is located. This will make it less easy for customers to get to the garage from the north, south and west or to find the new route there.

To help mitigate this potential problem it will be investigated to see if additional signing can be provided for Dukes Walk Service Road where the loading bay is situated. These signs would be located on Maurepas Way, Forest End Roundabout and Rockville Drive traffic signal junction if acceptable and provided as part of the project.

2. Andicars Limited, 242a London Road, Waterlooville

Andicars have raised an objection based on the following concerns:

a) The loss of a pick up and drop off place in London Road outside their office in London Road south

b) They would like access to Victoria Road as a through route to London Road south

c) With 10 Hackney carriage taxis they object to the removal of the taxi rank in London Road south

d) They claim taxi use is 14 times that of buses in Waterlooville and so taxis should be able to use the bus lanes in the town centre

e) No provision has been made for taxis dropping off passengers in Waterlooville

In general the proposals would mean that the taxi office operations would change and the following points have been made in response to the objections:

a) Taxis could continue to use London Road south outside the taxi office as a drop off and pick up point outside peak hours (6pm to 8am) but an alternative location would have to be found during the day. If the proposed service road is completed as accommodation works to the rear of 242 and Victoria Road then this area or the Rockville car park could be used.

b) There are no records for the ownership of the unsurfaced and unmaintained Victoria Road. It is too narrow to become a formal road so under the proposals it will be stopped up, with an new surface for pedestrians and the mouth of the junction forming a turning head for off-peak vehicles that have entered London Road south.

c) The District Council Members have explained that the existing taxi rank is little if ever used and they do not see a need to reinstate it within either this scheme or the full pedestrian zone extension. If this remains a concern it can be discussed further with Havant Borough Council.

d) It is the County Council's policy to restrict bus lanes to buses and cycles unless a case can be justified and agreement reached for additional exemptions. This is supported by the Police who enforce bus lane use. There is also a need for continuity to avoid driver confusion about bus lane use and, in the case of Waterlooville town centre, the need for vehicle capacity through the single lane area. Hackney Carriage use of bus lanes can be considered in the future but only as part of an area study and not for individual sections of road..

e) As a bus priority project emphasis has been given to providing bus access and bus stop facilities in Waterlooville. To provide exclusive taxi drop offs would impede this so other existing informal locations must be used such as St George's Walk, the surrounding car parks or their access roads.

3. The Parish Church of St. George the Martyr, St. George's Walk, Waterlooville

Whilst offering overall support for the proposals the Parish Priest has expressed concerns about the layout and restrictions in front of the church. Specifically these are about the removal of the existing lay-by which is of benefit for church ceremonies, cars dropping off disabled visitors, deliveries to the church and Sunday parking. There is also a query about how large limousines can turn around to leave St George's Walk.

While the lay-by may be altered slightly it will basically be retained. If parking restrictions are used an exemption can be made from church service vehicles and suitable signing provided. With the Police's agreement parking restrictions can be

removed for Sunday but shoppers will also be able to use the lay-by. Long vehicles such as limousines will have room to U-turn on St. George's Walk at the Swiss Road junction.

4. Portsmouth Water, PO Box 8, West Street, Havant

The utility company has requested vehicle access through the single lane width bus only area for the inspection and maintenance of valves and plant. It is proposed that this can be provided with an exemption for such vehicle access along the "tram line" section of the pedestrian zone immediately next to the bus lane, avoiding any possible conflict with buses. This can be accessed via Stakes Hill Road and market traders will have to keep the area clear on market days.

5. SSE Power Distribution, PO Box 93, Portsmouth

The utility company raises the same point as Portsmouth Water, which can be overcome in the same manner as proposed in 4.

6. Freight Transport Association

The FTA have raised an objection while they seek clarification of the following points:

a) The restricted loading times seem excessive and allow only a limited delivery `window'. They also coincide with the peak rush hours.

b) There is an unrestricted loading bay in Stakes Hill which is still effectively restricted by the access times on London Road south.

c) Do any of the businesses affected have rear or off-road delivery access instead of the usual kerbside access to the frontage?

d) The distance from the limited loading bays will cause problems for bullion deliveries to banks and food deliveries to other shops.

A response has been made to these issues which is summarised as follows:

a) The loading time restrictions have been proposed to complement the pedestrian zone character of the area and keep it as vehicle-free as possible during the main shopping hours. With the extent of rear or off-road delivery capacity and managed loading areas those few vehicles still using the area should not be a problem for peak hour bus movements.

b) The loading bay in Stakes Hill Road / Dukes Walk Service Road is planned to be accessed and exited from Stakes Hill Road and Rockville Drive. Access is not provided to or from London Road south (except for buses, emergency vehicles and market traders) so the loading time restrictions will not restrict access to this bay. Additional signing mentioned in 1. will be considered to make delivery drivers aware.

c) All of the shops and businesses in the town centre have been consulted to determine their access for delivery. While a lot use the kerbside at present most do have the facility of rear or off-road servicing. Where possible negotiations are underway to provide a new rear service road to assist properties that do not have rear access. For the remaining few the best possible on-road loading bays have been provided that compliment the new layout.

d) Bullion deliveries have an exemption to use the area and the "tramline" section next to the bus-only lane, which is wide enough for such short term deliveries and collections close to the banks without impeding the bus lane.

Recommendation

The removal of through traffic and extension of the pedestrian zone is a major improvement for the town centre which is proposed in the Havant Local Plan. The access for buses maintains the existing public transport right to the centre of the shopping area and the low number of objections compared to the high density of shops demonstrates a large majority acceptance of the associated access, parking and loading restrictions. Some isolated disbenefit is unfortunately inevitable for such a big change and while efforts have been made to mitigate the objections it is not possible to meet all the requests. However in light of the many other benefits achieved it is recommended that the proposals are adopted and the Traffic Regulation Orders are made under delegated powers.

8852Appdx2/GT