Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

ITEM 3

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

NORTH POPLEY TO TOWN CENTRE, BASINGSTOKE - ACCESS IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 2006

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2005/06

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2005

(at 2005

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

nil

nil

Construction

92

92

Fees

93

93

185

185

Less developers/

160

160

other contributions

25

25

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

25

(b) Other

25

2.

From other resources

(a) Developer contribution

160

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

185

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

5

0.005

Capital charges

19

0.016

TOTAL net expenditure

24

0.021

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

Background

At the request of the County Council, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council has produced a comprehensive feasibility study which identifies proposals for a number of cycle and pedestrian improvements to encourage greater use of these modes in the north-west urban area of Basingstoke¹. The associated costs from the Borough study amount to £40,000 and have been included in the finance (fees) of this project appraisal. The Borough Cycle Network route plan will be displayed at the meeting.

In total this feasibility report identified approximately £750,000 of potential new routes and associated cycle and pedestrian improvements in this area of the town. The County Council commissioned Atkins consultants to prioritise the schemes presented in the feasibility study in terms of their value for money and strategic importance to the overall network, and to develop the proposals through to detailed design. This has resulted in a significantly reduced programme of schemes.

This scheme aims to contribute to LTP2 targets for increasing cycling by completing missing cycle links in this area.

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

2.11

2.12

Access Improvements

Currently a small number of cycle routes have been implemented in this area, however a number of key links are missing on certain routes, or in certain areas, which are particularly noticeable. In order to see an increase in cycle numbers in Basingstoke it is important that safe, direct, well-signed and coherent cycle networks are developed.

The residential area of Oakridge, between Popley and the town centre, currently has a number of quiet, traffic-calmed roads used by cyclists. Furthermore, some limited sections of off-road cycle route have been implemented in the nearby commercial/industrial area of Houndsmills.

The objective of the North Popley to Town Centre Access Improvements is to complete all the missing links between the existing off-road cycle routes and quiet traffic-calmed roads in these areas. The result will be that a more complete cycle network is provided for the area. It will then become possible for cyclists to undertake whole journeys from these areas to Basingstoke Rail Station and beyond to the town centre.

Consultation with the Basingstoke Bicycle User Group has recognised the need for and value of the cycle links being proposed in this scheme to establish a complete and direct network of routes.

Access to Schools

Cycle access to six local schools in the Oakridge and Popley areas of Basingstoke² will also be significantly improved as a result of this scheme. The provision of a safe, well-signed and complete cycle and pedestrian network in this area will form a useful foundation for encouraging safer walking and cycling amongst local school pupils.

Access to the Town Centre

Local residents in these areas will be presented with improved access (by non-car modes) to Basingstoke Rail Station and the town centre. The new shared-use routes from this scheme will actively promote walking and cycling as viable modes for undertaking short journeys to local shops, services and employment areas nearby. This will reduce unnecessary reliance on travelling by private car as the preferred option for short journeys.

Local Development - Future Travel Demand

Approved local development to the north of Popley, amounting to around 3,600 residential dwellings over the LTP2 period, will create an increase in travel demand from residents in this area wishing to access local shops and services, leisure and employment areas in Basingstoke town centre.

It is important that from the first occupation of this new development, a range of different transport options are made available to new residents. This will allow sustainable travel patterns to develop from the outset of the development. The road network into Basingstoke will be busy by the time this development takes place and is known to be a significant push factor in encouraging residents to make the choice of walking, cycling or using the bus. Research by Transport for London found that the biggest impact on people's decision to cycle was the ability to beat congestion. Transport improvements, secured in line with this development, will provide enhancements to the surrounding area for car and public transport users.

As the Popley area is located just over 1.5 kilometres from Basingstoke town centre, opportunities to access these key destinations by non-car modes should be actively encouraged and catered for. If the routes are available when the new developments are inhabited there is the most chance of them choosing non-car travel and this becoming a travel choice through habit.

2.13

2.14

2.15

2.16

2.17

2.18

2.19

Targets and Outcomes

The LTP2 seeks to halt the decline in cycling by 2010 from a 2005-06 base. This is a mandatory cycle target for the county, for which a robust cycle monitoring programme has been put in place county-wide.

In the wards near to the scheme, around 3.4% of all journeys to work are made by bicycle (Census 2001). This results in over 200 regular cyclists within these wards, of which it is reasonable to assume a significant majority will be travelling to the town centre to work. This does not include other cycle journeys to school, or for leisure and shopping that will not show up in the census. Based on a similar mode share, as seen already in the north of Basingstoke, and with the level of development occurring in north Popley, it can be expected that the scheme would offer a route into the town centre for an additional 300 cycle journeys per day, of which a significant proportion will seek to access the town centre.

There is potential for the mode share to increase for a number of reasons, including:

(i) the road network will become busier with the development taking place and alternative modes will become more attractive;

(ii) the scheme would be promoted using leaflets and other travel marketing initiatives particularly targeting new residents to the area; and

(iii) the fact that this scheme will complete a link into the town centre and remove barriers to cycling which may be preventing existing and future residents from cycling.

Based on existing travel patterns, continuing the scheme would offer a safer route into the town centre for a potential minimum of 500 cycle journeys per day to and from work and an unquantified number of recreational, school or shopping trips. The scheme could be expected to have at least a 10-year maintenance life span.

Monitoring along the route of the scheme is already in place, with permanent cycle counters continuously monitoring cycle levels on a daily basis. These automatic counters will therefore serve to provide detailed "after monitoring" on cycle levels after the implementation of the works proposed by this scheme. These after monitoring figures can be used to establish the impact of implementing this scheme which will become a useful benchmark for establishing evidence on the outcomes of implementing coherent and complete cycle links. Such evidence is necessary for developing effective value for money tests for scheme development and in the decision making process.

Furthermore, supplementary targets in relation to town centre access, and the perception of non-car modes, are also being developed for inclusion within LTP2. This scheme will positively influence progress towards such targets at a local level.

The development of a complete cycle network, coupled with substantial future travel demand arising from local development and effective travel marketing, can be expected to contribute to LTP targets for cycling and improved public perceptions about accessibility to town centres.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This scheme meets the objectives of the North Hampshire Transport Strategy to improve transport choice and promote alternatives to the car. The proposals contribute to the targets in the Annual Progress Report which supports the policies in the Local Transport Plan.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The scheme complies with Department for Transport and Hampshire County Council's standards and has been safety audited at the appropriate stages in the design process. A location plan is attached and a detailed plan of the scheme (Drawing No HD5031563/001 RevA) will be displayed at the meeting.

3.3

The proposed route is to utilise both on-road and off-road facilities and will connect into the existing east-west cycle routes of Maple Crescent and Kingsclere Road. The area served will include Merton County Junior School from Popley Way to the north, Oakridge County Infant School along Sherborne Road, and Basingstoke Railway Station along Vyne Road to the south.

3.4

3.5

The off-road sections of the cycle route will share 1.5 kilometres of existing footways. This, together with the advisory on-road cycle route sections, will have signs and white lines, etc to highway standards to help establish driver awareness of cycle traffic.

The footway adjacent to Merton Junior School is to be resurfaced with bituminous material to replace the loose and irregular paving slabs which are unsuitable for cycle traffic. The shopping precinct at the eastern end of Abbey Road is to have four stands for cycle parking. The crossroad junction of Sherborne Road/Darlington Road and Merton Road is to be improved with lining and signing to assist safe cycle passage. The existing signal crossing over the busy Kingsclere Road is to be upgraded to a Toucan crossing which will help both cyclists and pedestrians.

3.6

Environmental Impact

The proposed route will make use of existing footways and roads with associated surfacing improvements. There will be no adverse environmental impact.

Land Requirements

3.7

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory Procedures

3.8

The conversion of the footways to shared cycle/pedestrian use will be carried out under Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980.

Public Consultation

3.9

A public consultation on this scheme has been undertaken by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council, the results of which showed that of 225 returned consultation leaflets 92% supported the scheme. The Basingstoke Bicycle User Group has also given its support to these proposals. A plan of the scheme has been placed on display at the reception of the Borough Council during August 2005. There have been no adverse comments received.

Local Member's View

3.10

The local Member, Councillor Jane Frankum, supports the proposal.

Impact Assessment

3.11

Tactile surfaces are to be provided at pedestrian crossing areas to assist people with visual impairment. The cycle routes can also be used by disabled people with mobility wheelchairs. The cycle routes will assist cyclists of all age groups. Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this scheme, which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race and gender but to improve access for all.

Maintenance Implications

3.12

Maintenance implications will be taken into account at the setting of the annual budget.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.13

The provision of this Act will have no impact on this proposal.

3.14

Sustainability

The scheme will improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists and will help to promote these sustainable methods of transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

4.2

The option to do nothing was rejected as being unresponsive to the needs of pedestrians and cyclists in this area.

The addition of a mini-roundabout was considered at the junction of Sherborne Road/Darlington Road and Merton Road. This was rejected as not being attractive to the needs of cyclists as roundabouts can present difficulties for cyclists and vehicles to negotiate together.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

North Popley to Town Centre Pedestrian and Cycle Routes, Basingstoke - File PT/10/BAS

Environment Department

Room 415