Contact: Chris Lait, tel 01329 824485 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(iii) Bridgeworks; and

(iv) Development Related Works.

2. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas

Town Centre, Havant

2.1 The Borough Council has set up a `task force' to regenerate the Town Centre and create a vibrant and commercially successful place where people can work, shop, visit, live and learn in a safe and attractive environment, which has a clear sense of identity.

2.2 One of the early objectives is to prepare an Urban Design Framework to guide the long-term planning of the town and to initiate proactive intervention to improve the town's attractiveness and viability. The framework will be prepared during the next six months.

2.3 In the short-term the Borough Council's capital programme will include schemes formulated as a result of the successful Liveability bid. The Borough Council was awarded £400,000 revenue funding to effect transformation of services relating to the management of open space and £3,325,000 capital monies to be expended in 2004/05 and 2005/06 to fund schemes that deliver improvements in respect of:

(i) Gateways and corridors.

(ii) Streetscape.

(iii) Urban Space.

(iv) Open Space.

2.4 In addition, the Regeneration of Older Urban Areas 2003/2005 programme includes a budget allocation of £50,000 for technical studies in Havant town centre.

2.5 An Open Spaces Design Framework is being developed to guide the formulation of the capital schemes. Six Community Boards, chaired initially by a Borough Councillor and comprising a range of local community stakeholders, have been established throughout the Borough. One of their early tasks will be to propose local schemes that meet the Liveability criteria. The Havant and Bedhampton Board will be considering potential schemes, some of which are expected to bring improvements to Havant Town Centre and its gateways.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

3.1 The ITS Group of the Environment Department is responsible for feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. Most new implementation is funded through the capital programme or external funding, whilst the maintenance of the central systems and facilities on street are funded through the revenue budget.

3.2 During 2004/5 the deployment of ITS continues to be significant and includes a large number of new traffic signals, pelican crossings, cycle crossings, real-time bus passenger information systems, car park information systems, variable message signs and bus departure information systems, etc. This has resulted in a significant increase in the scope and geographic coverage of ITS facilities in Hampshire. This increase in the deployment of ITS will mean increased traffic control facilities, and an enhanced traffic and travel information service can be provided and disseminated through the media and internet. This aspect of traffic and travel information will be further enhanced and integrated locally on a sub- regional basis through close working with the City Councils on the Solent Transport Initiative.

3.3 An important role of the ITS Group is the maintenance and operation of the traffic control and other associated on-street ITS equipment. The majority of traffic signals and pelican crossings report faults automatically through to the traffic and travel information centre in Winchester and all sites are visited regularly to inspect the condition of the equipment. Any faults are then reported to the appropriate maintenance contractor for remedial action and repairs. Sites are refurbished or replaced through the revenue budget to ensure that equipment is operating in a safe and effective manner and complies with the current standards and regulations.

3.4 It is likely that the provisions contained in the secondary powers of Traffic Management Act will place greater emphasis on the role of the ITS Group, as the requirements for monitoring and improving the operation of the highway network will place greater responsibilities on the County Council.

Capital Programme 2004/2005

3.5 The following schemes are proposed for implementation during 2004/5 within Havant:

(i) On-going from the 2003/04 Capital Programme, a new Puffin crossing is scheduled for Stakes Road, Purbrook. The Project Appraisal was approved by the Executive Member for Environment in October and works should be complete by the end of the financial year.

(ii) As part of the A3 Bus Quality Partnership Programme :

(a) new Puffin crossing at Petersfield Road, Havant is now installed and working;

(b) Pelican crossing at London Road, Purbrook has been converted to a Puffin crossing;

(c) new Puffin crossing has been installed at Mill Lane, Havant; and

(d) new traffic signals at Purbrook Bus Gate are being installed, with anticipated completion in November.

(iii) Maintenance works have been carried out at the junction of Emsworth Road and Pook Lane in Havant. The stop line at the traffic signals has been moved back on the Emsworth Road westbound and the yellow box zone extended. Work to alter the traffic control system is currently ongoing but there are no on-street works associated with this.

4. Bridgeworks

4.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for inspection maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening of all existing county highway structures, together with new structures built as part of road improvements, housing schemes and industrial developments. This includes 1,400 road bridges, 300 footbridges and numerous ancillary structures, such as retaining walls and gantries.

4.2 The majority of bridge maintenance, replacement, assessment and strengthening is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance, footbridges and environmental maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

4.3 This programme was instigated by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on UK roads from 1 January 1999. Assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is ongoing. Approximately 25 bridges remain subject to interim measures, such as weight limits or monitoring, that will be strengthened over the next five or six years, funding permitting.

Road/Rail Interfaces

4.4 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, the majority of which are bridges, have been evaluated and prioritised, and a rolling programme for protective measures has commenced. With 148 bridges county-wide, this will continue over several years, as funding is made available.

Aluminium Parapets

4.5 The Highways Agency has identified that aluminium vehicle parapets made by BACO, installed before 1994, are not to current standards. All such parapets on county bridges have been prioritised and a contract for their replacement or strengthening has just been awarded. The timing and extent of work has not yet been finalised. Further information on individual bridges affected is given below.

2004/05 Schemes in Havant

4.6 The current programme for protective measures at road/rail interfaces does not affect any bridges in Havant.

Havant Station Footbridge

4.7 This footbridge, owned by Network Rail (NR) and Hampshire County Council, links housing and residential areas to the shopping centre and station. It is not in good condition and discussions are taking place on options for repair or replacement with NR, Havant Borough Council, Councillors and David Willetts, MP. Some short-term repairs will be carried out this financial year and a bid will be made for a new footbridge in the LTP submission in July 2005. The new footbridge will be designed to meet the requirements of the Disability Discrimination Act.

Havant North Street Bridge

4.8 This bridge, of varying construction, runs for about 260 metres under Prince George's Street, North Street and Elm Lane in Havant town centre. Some areas were in poor condition and in July 2004, a contract was awarded for the replacement of these areas to Dyer and Butler. The work was completed on programme in August 2004, avoiding a clash with the bus diversions needed for the refurbishment of Havant Bus Station.

Park House Farm Way Bridge

4.9 This bridge carries Park House Farm Way over the Hermitage Stream near two schools and was sub-standard for load carrying. A contract for its replacement was awarded to Dyer and Butler, who started on site in August. The work is being carried out with single lane traffic controlled by signals, and is due to finish in November 2004.

Farringdon Road Bridge

4.10 This bridge carries Farringdon Road over the River Lavant near the Marsh Plant depot and was sub-standard for load carrying. Raynesway Construction Southern Ltd (RCS) carried out the works and a replacement bridge was built between April and June 2004, with the road closed during the works.

Aluminium Parapets

4.11 The parapets on the following two bridges will be replaced:

(i) Hermitage East bridge which carries the B2149, West Street over the Hermitage Stream - by RCS, planned for February 2005.

(ii) Hambledon Road subway under the A3 near Waterlooville town centre - by Dyer and Butler as part of the A3 Bus Priority scheme, date to be confirmed.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Works within Havant currently being carried out under Section 38 or Section 278 Agreements are detailed in the attached Appendix.

5.2 External funding is currently still held by Havant Borough Council. Schemes include:

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

9028/CL