Contact: Colin Taylor, tel 01730 266411 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Hampshire Villages Initiative;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(iii) Bridgeworks;

(iv) Development Related Works;

(v) Recreational Cycling; and

(vi) Street Lighting.

2. Hampshire Villages Initiative

2.1 The following schemes are in the 2004/05 programme:

(i) Rowlands Castle

Joint contribution between the Parish Council and the County Council to erect Heritage style fittings around The Green. Scheme partially completed, remaining works expected to be complete by end of financial year.

(ii) Headley

New village signs. Design and siting of the signs currently under consideration - anticipated completion by end of financial year.

2.2 The following scheme is proposed for the 2005/06 programme, but is subject to the approval of the Executive Member for Environment:

(i) West Liss

Consultations are ongoing with respect to improving the Plestor.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems Group (ITS)

3.1 The ITS Group of the Environment Department manages the feasibility, design, implementation, operation and maintenance of traffic control and traffic and travel information systems throughout Hampshire. In 2004/05 ITS deployment reached significant levels, increasing the amount of on-street ITS equipment operated and maintained by the Group. The Traffic Management Act has placed further responsibility on the Group for the monitoring of and improvement to the operation of the highway network.

3.2 Progress on schemes during 2004/05 within East Hampshire is as follows:

(i) A3 Portsmouth Road, Catherington Lane, Hazleton Way, "Dell Piece", Catherington. Signal control to replace the roundabout is being investigated as part of the A3 scheme.

3.3 There are no new schemes currently proposed for implementation during 2005/06 in East Hampshire

4. Bridgeworks Programme 2004/05 and 2005/06

General

4.1 The Bridges Section of the Environment Department is responsible for all existing county highway structures, together with new structures built as part of roadworks, housing and industrial schemes. This covers inspection, maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening.

4.2 Raynesway Construction Southern (RCS) carries out most maintenance through a term contract. Some specialist works, such as graffiti removal, and larger schemes, such as bridge replacements, are awarded by tender.

Funding

4.3 Most work on bridges is capital funded via the Local Transport Plan (LTP), but inspections, routine maintenance and environmental maintenance of subways are revenue funded.

Load Assessment and Strengthening

4.4 This programme was brought about by EU legislation that allowed 40 tonne lorries on British roads from 1 January 1999. The assessments are now complete and strengthening of sub-standard bridges is ongoing.

Road/Rail Interfaces

4.5 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, most of which are bridges, have been prioritised. A rolling programme for protective measures has been started and this will continue over several years, as funding is made available.

Aluminium Parapets

4.6 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 has been awarded to RCS. Work on-site started in September 2004 and is due for completion in March 2005. Details for individual bridges are given below.

Structural Painting

4.7 A contract for structural painting in 2005/06 is being prepared and details on bridges affected will follow as they are finalised.

East Hampshire Programme 2004/05

Aluminium Parapets

4.8 RCS will be replacing the parapets on Coldrey Lodge bridge on the A31 at the west end of Bentley Bypass and on Sleaford bridge on the B3004 over the River Slea, near its junction with the A325.

4.9 Work on Coldrey Lodge bridge includes strengthening of the edge beams and will need a road closure, with signed diversion. This is planned for 21 February to 24 March 2005.

4.10 Work on Sleaford bridge will need lane closures controlled by temporary traffic lights and is planned for 15 to 21 March 2005.

East Hampshire Programme 2005/06

Liphook Station Footbridge, Liphook

4.11 This footbridge carries the east footpath of Midhurst Road over the railway line near Liphook Station. The decking of the bridge is deteriorating and it is planned to replace this in 2005/06. Further details of timing and traffic management will follow when discussions with Network Rail are finalised.

Deadwater Bridge, Bordon

4.12 This bridge carries Mill Chase Road over the Deadwater stream in Bordon and is sub-standard for load carrying capacity. The bridge deck will be replaced, with work planned for the end of July to September 2005, taking as much advantage as possible of the school holidays. Details of traffic management will follow once they are finalised, but some lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals will be needed.

Buriton Rail Bridge, Buriton

4.13 This bridge carries the B2070, The Causeway, over the Portsmouth-London railway line, south of Petersfield. It is planned to install protective measures, probably safety fences, on the approaches to the bridge parapets. Further details of timing and traffic management will follow when discussions with Network Rail are finalised.

5. Development Related Works

5.1 Section 38 Development work currently being undertaken by Hampshire Highways within East Hampshire area is detailed in Appendix 1.

5.2 External funding and schemes relevant to that funding, and controlled by the County Council's Development Control section are detailed in Appendix 2.

6. Recreational Cycling

2004/05 Schemes in East Hampshire Area

National Cycle Network Route 23 - Basingstoke to Alton and New Alresford

6.1 This project proposes to extend the existing National Cycle Network (NCN) south from Basingstoke to Alton and New Alresford. This will provide opportunities for an increase in cycling in this area, leading to increased cycle trips to school and work, and for leisure.

6.2 The overall project comprises three separate schemes, all of which are budgeted for in the 2004/05 recreational cycling budget. These are as follows:

(i) Chawton Park Wood, improvements to bridleway - estimated cost £40,000;

(ii) Hatch Warren Lane/Woods Lane link scheme, Basingstoke - estimated cost £16,000; and

(iii) scheme signing - estimated cost £12,000.

6.3 These proposals have been developed in partnership with Winchester City Council, East Hampshire District Council, Forest Enterprise, Sustrans and local cycle user groups, including Hampshire Cycling and the East Hampshire Cyclists Forum. Anticipated completion of the schemes is the end of the financial year.

7. Street Lighting

Maintenance

7.1 The maintenance contract continues to provide over 99% of all street lights on at any one time, with performance levels improving since the change to `working days'. The maintenance contract was originally measured in calendar days and this has been changed to Monday to Friday, or `working days'. Further improvements are anticipated when the `Working Closer Together' Project commences in early March 2005. This Project will see the present street lighting team being split into two new sections: Corporate and Contract Delivery. The Contract Delivery team will be situated with the Contractor, Southern Electric Contracting, at its offices in Cosham and Basingstoke.

Column Replacement

7.2 Generally, the column replacement programme for the current year will be completed by the end of February 2005. A £1.7 million programme for 2005/06 is scheduled to commence in April. There were, however, no proposals for column replacement during the 2004/05 programme nor are there any planned for the 2005/06 programme.

Community Safety Initiative (CSI)

7.3 The CSI programme for 2004/05 is nearing completion but has been affected by a number of late withdrawals. The current status of the 2004/05 programme for the East Hampshire area is as set out below:

(i) Alma Road, Whitehill - to be site checked in January. Orders to be placed once new computer system operational.

(ii) Chalet Hill, Whitehill - orders to be placed once new computer system operational.

(iii) River Walk, Petersfield - works underway and due for completion 28 January 2005.

(iv) Station Road, Liphook - awaiting approval from Parish Council.

(v) Southdown Road, Horndean - awaiting confirmation by Parish Council.

7.4 The draft 2005/06 programme can be seen below and the final programme is due to be approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 22 March 2005.

(i) Gold Hill, Kingsley - subject to approval by Executive Member for Environment; and

(ii) Hogmoor Road, Whitehill - subject to approval by Executive Member for Environment.

Energy

7.5 Following the start of the new supply contract in April 2004, consumption has tended to rise at a higher rate than expected. The reason for the unexpected rise in the early part of the year has been investigated but no clear explanation has arisen. However, this trend has now reduced and energy is expected to be contained within the readjusted budget.

New Computer System

7.6 The new street lighting computer management system Deadsure took over the responsibility of monitoring the street lighting maintenance contract on 8 February 2004. The new system was required as the previous system, SLIMs, was mainframe-based and the mainframe is due to be switched off at the end of March 2005.

7.7 There are still a number of problems to solve but the inclusion of the street lighting GIS database and the expectation of the web browser and mobile field-based operational returns make this an exciting prospect for the future.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

9180/CT