Archived decisions

Contact: Steve Willoughby, ext 5092 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 In 2002 Test Valley Borough Council constructed a new off-carriageway cycle route alongside the A3057 Stockbridge Road between Stoney Marsh car park and the junction with Staff Road in Michelmersh. The Borough Council has now put forward a proposal to extend this cycle route southwards along the east side of the A3057 between Staff Road and the entrance to the Hunts Farm Sports Ground in Timsbury. The Borough Council is funding the scheme from its capital budget at an estimated cost of £133,000. Approval is sought to allow shared use of the footway on this length of road.

2. Background

2.1 In 2002 Test Valley Borough Council completed construction of a new shared use footway/cycleway alongside the A3057 Stockbridge Road between Stoney Marsh car park and the Bear and Ragged Staff Public House at the junction with Staff Road. This scheme formed the first phase of a proposed continuous off-road cycle route linking Romsey to Timsbury, Michelmersh and Mottisfont, as identified in the Test Valley Cycle Strategy published by the Borough Council in May 2000 and updated in July 2003.

2.2 To the north of this existing scheme cyclists can ride to Stockbridge using the Test Way off-road cycle trail promoted by the County Council's Recreation and Heritage Department. It is proposed that this route will form part of the National Cycle Network (NCN) Route 23 between Southampton and Salisbury.

2.3 Under a Section 278 Agreement, the Borough Council has put forward a proposal to extend the existing cycle route southwards on the east side of the A3057 between Staff Road and the entrance to the Hunts Farm Sports Ground in Timsbury. The scheme is being funded entirely by the Borough Council at an estimated cost of £133,000.

3. Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.1 The scheme will provide a continuous off-carriageway cycle route alongside the A3057 Stockbridge Road between Staff Road and the entrance to Hunts Farm Sports Ground. The proposals comprise:

(i) widening the existing footway on the east side of the A3057 Stockbridge Road between Staff Road and the entrance to Hunts Farm Sports Ground to provide a 2.25 metre wide shared use footway/cycleway. A 1.0 metre grass separation strip will be maintained between the footway/cycleway and the edge of carriageway;

(ii) realigning the kerb line on the south-east side of the Hill View Road/Stockbridge Road junction to improve visibility to the right for northbound cyclists crossing Hill View Road;

(iii) narrowing the bus layby on the east side of the A3057 south of New Road to achieve a 2.25 metre footway/cycleway in front of the bus shelter; and

(iv) providing a short section of new footway/cycleway across the verge on the south-east side of the New Road/Stockbridge Road junction to maintain a continuous cycle facility.

3.2 A location plan is attached and a detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.

3.3 The scheme has been designed by Test Valley Borough Council; the details have been checked and are considered satisfactory. The scheme has been safety audited at the appropriate stages in the design process.

4. Statutory Procedures

4.1 In order for the conversion to take place the local highway authority needs to show it has exercised its powers through a resolution, as set out in the Decision Sheet. A Traffic Regulation Order is not required.

5. Consultation

5.1 Consultation for this scheme has been carried out by Test Valley Borough Council. The comments received together with officer comments are set out in the attached appendix (confidential).

6. Local Member's View

6.1 The local Member, Councillor Woodhall, supports the scheme.

7. Sustainability

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

8. Impact Assessment

8.1 Widening of the existing narrow footways will allow them to be used by disabled people with mobility impairment, particularly by wheelchair users. Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act had 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.

9. Crime and Disorder

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

10. Land Requirements

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

Recommendation

That approval be given under Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980 for the sections of footway on the east side of the A3057 between Staff Road and the entrance to Hunts Farm Sports Ground, Timsbury to be converted to permit use by pedestrians and cyclists.

703Rpt/SW