Archived decisions

Contact: Hannah Baker, ext 6594 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This paper outlines current levels of Heavy Goods Vehicle (HGV) traffic that have been observed using the B3078, B3079 and B3080 in the north of the New Forest, and proposes a step towards a potential management tool.

2. Background

2.1 Wiltshire County Council has for some time been concerned about the large volume of HGV traffic that is reported to use the route through the village of Downton, on the B3080. Similarly, the Hampshire parishes of Godshill, (B3078), Hale (B3080) and Brook (B3079) have also been concerned about high volumes of HGV traffic over a number of years. There does not appear to be high levels of general traffic in the area, but due to the unfenced roads, there is a high level of animal accidents along the B3078/79, although there is no particular link to the level of HGV traffic.

2.2 Hampshire County Council follows a `working' guideline that states that formal restriction measures should be investigated when 20 or more HGVs per day are recorded `through-routeing' on a particular link. `Through-routeing' refers to vehicles that are not stopping within the restricted area for access or delivery.

2.3 In order to seek a way forward in quantifying and addressing this problem, both authorities have established a joint officer working group to review this issue and to identify possible interventions.

2.4 To date, only anecdotal evidence has existed which, although indicating a relatively high level of HGV traffic, does not show what proportion of the vehicles are delivering locally and how many are `through-routeing'. Whilst no recent traffic surveys have been undertaken by Hampshire County Council some surveys have been carried out in Downton by Wiltshire County Council, although their scope is limited.

2.5 Hampshire County Council promoted the view within the group that any restriction could only be designed and introduced if it were based on sound data through a survey of HGV movements. A survey was therefore commissioned and carried out across all of the affected routes on behalf of the group in May 2005.

2.6 The survey involved creating a cordon and then recording the registration number and time of HGVs entering and leaving the area. A series of time bands were set, according the length of time a vehicle spent in the survey area. This allows an assessment to be made on whether vehicles were making legitimate deliveries or `through-routeing'. There is a landfill waste site (tip) at Pound Bottom (B3080) which generates a relatively large amount of traffic on these routes. The results of the survey are summarised below and shown geographically in the attached appendix. For presentation purposes, most but not all trips are shown on the diagram in the appendix. Minor flows (less than 10 per day) have been excluded from the diagram to avoid confusion.

3. Survey Results

3.1 The survey was undertaken on 19 May 2005 covering the period 0700-1900 hours. All vehicles over 7.5 tonnes entering or leaving the cordon zone were recorded, noting the time and registration. Operator details were also noted where possible. The accuracy of the survey has been reviewed and it is considered to give a robust outcome for a survey of this nature. It provides sound findings in terms of HGV traffic levels and routeings in the area - plan attached showing main roads around the survey area.

3.2 The survey revealed:

(i) 278 matched HGV trips within the survey area (bounded by the A31, A338, A36);

(ii) 125 trips were registered passing through the zone, entering and leaving at different points. These could be either `through- routeing' or making deliveries within the zone while passing through;

(iii) 153 trips entered the zone and left at the same point; these are all assumed to be making deliveries within the zone;

(iv) the majority of the through trips, 70, pass between Cadnam and Fordingbridge (points B-F/F-B in appendix). This accounts for 25% of all matched trips/56% of through trips;

(v) 39 through trips (less than 15% of total matched trips) pass through Downton;

(vi) another 29 (10.4%) entered the zone at Downton and left at the same point (delivering within the zone); and

(vii) 9 trips run from Redlynch to Landford, which is a `C' class road (points D-G/G-D in appendix). (Note that these trips are included in the figure of 39 through trips identified in (v) above.)

3.3 For through trips, `time' bands of less than 20 minutes, 20-40 minutes and over 40 minutes were established to ascertain what proportion of HGVs were likely to be delivering in the zone and the number that were passing straight through - ie `through-routeing'. This was based on timed runs of the main journey points which show that a trip along the main routes takes approximately 20 minutes to pass through the zone for all key routes. It is considered that the first category, those passing through in under 20 minutes, are those that can only be `through-routeing' and would, therefore, definitely be affected by a 7.5 tonne weight restriction. Some of those taking 20-40 minutes may also be affected by a restriction depending on whether they are making a quick stop or simply taking a longer journey time.

(i) 49 out of the 125 through journeys (39%) are passing through the zone in less than 20 minutes - these are all assumed to be direct `through-routeing' HGVs;

(ii) a further 25 HGVs, 20% of the total of through journeys, are taking between 20 and 40 minutes to enter and exit the zone, these are either directly `through-routeing' or making very short deliveries within the area; and

(iii) 51 out of 125 through trips, (41%) over one-third, are almost certainly delivering within the zone, taking more than 40 minutes from entry to exit.

3.4 Tip deliveries:

(i) 64 HGV trips within the area were to the landfill waste site (tip) at Pound Bottom;

(ii) 44 of the tip's deliveries (69%) entered and left the zone at Cadnam (point B);

(iii) only 9 tip delivery trips pass through Downton; and

(iv) tip deliveries account for 23% of all matched HGV trips in the survey area.

3.3 Deliveries within this zone would include trips to the tip at Pound Bottom, and also deliveries to public houses, small businesses, farms, private homes as well as local service vehicles such as refuse collection vehicles.

3.4 To summarise the results, a relatively significant number of HGVs, up to 27%, are potentially directly `through-routeing' and therefore justifies a proactive approach towards managing the number of such vehicles, given the sensitive nature of the environment. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would result in an 18-27% reduction in HGV traffic across to whole zone. It would also achieve a particularly noticeable difference in HGV movements for residents of Godshill and Brook. If there is full compliance, Godshill could benefit from a reduction of between 34 and 47 HGVs per day and Brook between 44-65, which is approximately 65% and 60% less HGV traffic respectively.

4. Informal Consultation

4.1 Before the formal procedure of a TRO is begun, the joint working group recommend undertaking `informal' consultation with local stakeholders, including the New Forest National Park Authority, County and District members, Parish Councils, Residents Groups, the Police, hauliers and commercial businesses. The purposes of this are to gauge the local opinion about a weight restriction and to help establish the zone's boundary. This will help ensure that any scheme carried forward is generally acceptable and will not generate significant objections when any formal TROs are advertised.

4.2 A joint consultation letter is currently being prepared by the working group which will outline the problems that HGV traffic causes for Hampshire and Wiltshire residents and the environment. As part of the consultation, the proposed boundary of the restriction will be presented on a map and details of the alternative routes (ie M27, A31, A338, A36) will be indicated.

4.2 The consultation period will be open for a period of six weeks which, subject to approval, is likely to begin in mid-September 2005 and finish at the end of October 2005. The working group will reconvene in November 2005 to collate the comments. The results from the consultation will be reported back to the Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy and a decision sought as to whether a formal weight restriction (TRO) is required and, if so, how the scheme would operate.

4.3 Under the normal procedure for making a TRO, all consultees will have to make formal comments and/or objections within the statutory period of the notice. This will be made clear within the text for the informal consultation.

5. Proposal

5.1 The scheme, if introduced, would form a 7.5 tonne weight restriction covering all roads within the cordon bounded by the A338, A31, M27 and A36, these would begin at appropriate points north of Downton, south of Fordingbridge and north-east of Ringwood. The main roads affected would be the B3078, B3079 and B3080 across the north of the New Forest.

It would mean that all HGVs would be prohibited from entering the zone unless they were stopping for legitimate delivery or access. The weight restriction would be made legal made through a TRO. The vehicles displaced from the area by the scheme would be expected to use the A31, the A36 and the A338. Relevant routes are shown in the appendix.

6. Enforcement

6.1 A representative from both Hampshire and Wiltshire Constabularies has been involved in the working group. Hampshire Police have stated that until a formal Traffic Regulation Order is ready for consultation they cannot comment on the proposal because the boundary has not been established. They have indicated that they will not object to a formal weight limit but are likely to have issues in terms of resources for enforcement. Enforcement for schemes that are not safety related is likely to be a low priority.

6.2 Similar concerns were also expressed by the Police when the southern New Forest 7.5 tonne weight limit was introduced in 1998. To date, there has been a relatively good level of compliance.

7. Costs

7.1 A formal TRO, including legal and advertising costs, is usually in the region of £3,000. The level of supporting signing in Hampshire would depend on the exact boundary chosen, and would need to be funded by the County Council at a likely cost of between £50,000-£100,000 depending on the level of sign lighting required. Enforcement would usually be carried out by the Police. An informal consultation is likely to cost between £3,000 and £5,000. There is currently no specific budgetary provision to cover these costs.

8. Impact Assessments

8.1 It is considered that the progression of this scheme does not have any detrimental impacts on equalities or race discrimination. The recommendation for an informal consultation will encourage participation, and therefore discourage discrimination of selected groups.

9. Conclusion

9.1 The purpose of the informal consultation is to help draft the TRO that meets the needs of the community and local businesses as far as possible.

Recommendation

That, in partnership with Wiltshire County Council, a joint informal consultation be undertaken with key stakeholders on a potential scheme to introduce an area-wide 7.5 tonne weight limit on the B3078, B3079 and B3080 in the financial year 2006/07.

464Rpt/HB

APPENDIX

SURVEY OF LORRY MOVEMENTS - MAPS SHOWING AREA AFFECTED AND SUMMARISING SURVEY RESULTS