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

1. Summary

1.1 This report details the programmes for:

(i) Street Lighting;

(ii) Country Towns Initiative;

(iii) Bridgeworks;

(iv) Intelligent Transport Systems; and

(v) Development Related Works.

2. Street Lighting

Maintenance Contract 2002/07

2.1 The maintenance contract continues to provide over 99% of all street lights on at any one time with performance levels improving since the change from `calendar' to `working days'. It is not possible to be more precise at present due to the commissioning time for the new computer system.

2.2 The partnership arrangement has now been in place for six months and there have been some changes to the assessment of the contractor's performance, such as changing the method of time measurement from calendar to working days. The new arrangements have split the original Street Lighting Team into two new groups with the Contract Delivery Team located mainly at Cosham working alongside the contractor and the Corporate Management Team at Winchester dealing with public interface, probity and audit, as well as the management of the Community Safety Initiative, new works and the Column Replacement Programme.

Column Replacement Programme 2005/06

2.3 A £1.8 million programme of work is planned for 2005/06 and commenced in late March 2005. There were no programmed schemes for the East Hampshire area for 2005/06.

Community Safety Initiative 2005/06

2.4 The programme for 2005/06 is as follows:

Gold Hill, Kingsley - Currently on site; and

Hogmoor Road, Whitehill - programmed for early 2006.

Energy

2.5 Following the start of the new supply contract in April 2004, consumption has tended to rise at a slightly higher rate than expected but still within budget. The main problem facing the County Council is, however, the prospective increase of 70% plus in energy costs in April 2006 when a new supply contract will be required.

New Computer System

2.6 The new street lighting computer management system, Deadsure, designed to monitor the street lighting maintenance contract, became operational on 10 February 2005. The new system was required as the previous system SLIMs was mainframe-based and the mainframe was switched off at the end of March 2005. There are still a number of problems to resolve, particularly as regards data and reports, 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 innovative system for the future.

3. Country Towns Initiative 2005/06

The Plestor, West Liss

3.1 A small environmental improvement scheme is currently being developed adjacent to the Green. Programmed for site start in March 2006.

4. Bridgeworks

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 road works, housing and industrial schemes. This covers inspection, maintenance, replacement, load assessment and strengthening.

4.2 Raynesway Construction Southern (RCS) carry 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 UK 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 that 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 and installed before 1994 are not to current standards. All such parapets on county bridges were prioritised and RCS completed a contract for their replacement between September 2004 and April 2005. Three bridges in East Hampshire, Eastleigh and Rushmoor were omitted from this contract for operational reasons and were carried over to 2005/06. Details for individual bridges are given below.

Liphook Station Footbridge, Liphook

4.7 This footbridge carries the east footpath of Midhurst Road over the railway line near Liphook Station. The decking of the bridge is deteriorating, replacement is planned in 2005/06. Further details of timing and traffic management will follow when they are agreed with Network Rail.

Deadwater Bridge, Bordon

4.8 This bridge, near the schools, 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 January to April 2006. Details of traffic management will follow once they are finalised, but some lane closures controlled by temporary traffic signals will be needed.

Aluminium Parapets Replacement Programme 2005/06

4.9 RCS replaced the parapets on Sleaford Bridge on the B3004 over the River Slea in March 2005. The replacement of the parapets on Coldrey Lodge Bridge on the A31 at the west end of Bentley Bypass commenced in October 2005. This includes strengthening of the edge beams. The work will need a closure of the road under the A31 and further details, including diversion routes, will follow as they are finalised.

5. Intelligent Transport Systems Group (ITS)

5.1 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. Further responsibility now sits with the ITS group, for the monitoring of and improvement to the operation of the highway network, as a result of the Traffic Management Act.

5.2 The former Executive Member for Environment approved expenditure of £200,000, in the 2005/06 Transport Capital Programme, for extending the implementation of Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS) in Hampshire. Buses operating in the Eastleigh area will be fitted with Automatic Vehicle Location technology so that they can be tracked and incorporated into the county-wide Real-Time Passenger Information system (STOPWATCH). The funding will also allow Hampshire and Portsmouth Real-Time Information (RTI) systems to be integrated, allowing bus data and information exchange and the provision of real-time information on services in the Havant, Gosport and Fareham areas. This information will be provided on electronic displays at bus stops and via the internet and mobile phones.

5.3 The continuing development of the Hampshire Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) in Winchester has enabled a number of systems to be deployed and operated in Hampshire. Collectively these applications help provide improved traffic and travel information and contribute to the delivery of the County Council's transport policies. The provision of timely and accurate information can help reduce congestion, manage incidents and improve accessibility. The funding will allow further improvement to the central systems in the TTIC, enhancing information collection and outputs. The work will also provide the basis for developing tailored and personalised journey planning and travel information.

5.4 Details of ITS work is contained elsewhere on the agenda within the Update on Schemes in the Capital Programme.

6. Development Related Works

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

7. External Funding

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

8. Impact Assessments

8.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

597/CT

APPENDIX 1

Section 38 Development work currently being undertaken by Hampshire Highways within East Hampshire