Archived decisions

Contact: Graham Carter, tel 857810 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The financial allocation from the Capital Programme in 2005/06 for pedestrian crossings was agreed at £200,000. The schemes proposed for inclusion in this programme are either new facilities or upgrades to existing crossings. They are the schemes which are both justified and feasible under the normal assessment criteria, provide a safety and convenience benefit to local communities but do not necessarily form part of a more major scheme and are therefore not eligible to be funded from the Area Strategies.

1.2 At this stage the potential value of the schemes in the programme exceeds the financial resources available. However, this has been done to overcome any under spend caused by schemes that are unavoidably delayed and to allow for any additional funding that may become available as the year progresses. In addition a second list of potential schemes is included, which require further investigation and, if appropriate, could form the basis of a future programme.

2. Proposed 2005/06 Programme

2.1 Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney: Puffin Crossing - originally included as part of the 2002/03 programme but delayed by common land issues. Legal aspects are now well on the way to completion which will allow installation during 2005/06. Estimated cost, including resolution of the land issues, is £90,000.

2.2 Hackwood Road, Basingstoke: Toucan Crossing - linked to a developing cycle network being pursued by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council but also providing a local pedestrian facility. Carried forward from 2004/05 programme due to land issues relating to the Borough Council's cycle scheme. Estimated cost is £85,000.

2.3 A340 Mulfords Hill, Tadley: Pelican Crossing Upgrade - related to increased pedestrian usage due to supermarket development and layout constraints which force abnormal loads to use alternative, less suitable routes. Estimated cost to this programme is £25,000 with an additional externally funded contribution of £12,000.

2.4 Church Road, Hayling Island: Puffin Crossing - proposed new crossing outside The Hayling School. The normal numerical criteria based on pedestrian and vehicle numbers are met by general levels of activity throughout the day and enhanced by access to and from the school. Estimated cost is £60,000.

2.5 Horton Heath Traffic Signals Pedestrian Stage - justification based on pedestrian crossing difficulties throughout the day but particularly in connection with school journeys. A pedestrian stage at the signals would form an important element of a Safer Routes to School project. Estimated cost to this programme is £70,000 with an additional externally funded contribution of £30,000.

2.6 Programme of Upgrades to Existing Crossings to support Disabled Access and Usage - the likely amendments to BV165, the Best Value Performance Indicator for facilities at pedestrian crossing provided for disabled users, will require both tactile and audible indicators to be provided at the crossings installed since April 2002 in anticipation of the new BV165 criteria, as well as changes to six crossings which did not have tactile paving. Currently, a further 21 crossings do not meet the standard for BV165 in respect of tactile paving. A number of these are likely to be exempt from the standard as providing tactile paving may not be practicable. An assessment of this will be undertaken during 2005/06 as part of a review of the implications of the likely amendments to BV165. The remaining sites could be brought up to standard by providing tactile paving. In 2005/06 a sum of £20,000 is estimated as being required to improve four of the remaining 21 crossings.

3. Proposed Feasibility Programme

3.1 Potential schemes that have been proposed for this programme but which require further investigation, both technically and with regard to their justification, are as follows:

(i) Gosport Road, Fareham - possible Toucan crossing that could link with a Gosport Road cycle route and is likely to be identified as part of the Crofton/Baycroft Schools Travel Plan.

(ii) Mengham, Havant: Zebra crossing - possible conversion of the Elm Grove Zebra crossing to a Puffin crossing. This scheme would have implications for current on-street parking arrangements outside local business premises, which has been controversial in the past, and therefore would require further detailed technical investigation and discussion.

(iii) Purbrook Way near Hulbert Road, Havant - a Puffin crossing is justified on the basis of pedestrian and vehicle counts but a detailed technical feasibility study is required due to the location and overall road width.

(iv) Tempest Avenue, Waterlooville - this site may not meet the basic numerical criteria but could be investigated for alternative measures, such as refuge islands.

(v) A326 Dibden Purlieu - following a fatal accident involving a pedestrian near Dibden Purlieu a study is required of the justification and feasibility of the provision of crossing facilities to assist vulnerable road users.

(vi) Botley Road, Romsey - additional refuge islands to assist pedestrian crossing movements. Currently subject to feasibility study. Estimated order of cost is £25,000.

(vii) A27 Swaythling Road, West End - system of refuge islands currently subject to feasibility study. Estimated order of cost is £30,000 with an additional externally funded contribution of £27,000.

(viii) Alma Road at Romsey Station - pedestrian stage at existing traffic signals. Feasible proposal but detailed technical study needs to be undertaken. Estimated order of cost is £40,000.

4. Discussion and Conclusion

4.1 If included in the 2005/06 Programme, each of the schemes outlined in Section 2 will be subject to individual project appraisal reports and, depending on the estimated cost, presented either to the Executive Members for Environment/Spatial Strategy or to the Director of Environment for approval during the new financial year. The potential schemes in Section 3 will be considered and, if justified and feasible, recommendations will be made in future Capital Programme reports as to which part of the programme they are most appropriate to.

Recommendations

1. That the proposed programme of pedestrian crossing facilities, as set out in section 2 of the report, at a total estimated cost of £350,000 be approved, with expenditure controlled to £200,000 in 2005/06.

2. That the proposed feasibility programme, set out in section 3 of the report, be approved.

3. The budget is provisionally allocated to projects pending consideration of alternatives to achieve 2.5% efficiency savings on all projects and programmes, work with the local community and more detailed design work.

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