Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

ITEM 4

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

LEIGH ROAD CORRIDOR, EASTLEIGH - ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

AUGUST 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

220

220

Fees

30

30

250

250

Less developers/

other contributions

250

250

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

200

(b)

(c)

200

2.

From other resources

(a) Developers Contribution

50

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

250

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

11

0.012

Capital charges

26

0.021

TOTAL net expenditure

37

0.033

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

Leigh Road provides a link between Eastleigh town centre, the recreational grounds and the urban area beyond. This area is a convenient pedestrian and cycle route from the residential and business properties in Leigh Road to the shopping centre, bus station and railway station. It also borders the only public green space situated in the town centre.

The Leigh Road Improvements Strategy identifies this section of Leigh Road as the area to most benefit from material improvement and the creation of a potential `pedestrian-friendly' area. The `pedestrian-friendly' area will feature widened footways and a narrowed carriageway which will deter vehicular traffic, reduce speeds and improve the environment for pedestrians.

Promoted by Eastleigh Borough Council as an environmental improvement scheme, it is also aligned with the Corporate Strategy Aims of Building Safe and Strong Communities and Stewardship of the Environment.

It represents a good opportunity for the County Council to participate in a scheme valued at £617,000 for a contribution of £250,000. The contribution is focused on highway improvements and on improving the signalised junction with Romsey Road as part of reducing severance in communities for vulnerable road users and for improving the share of sustainable journeys to school by walking.

Adding a pedestrian phase to the signalised junction with Romsey Road is considered to be justified and will increase connectivity to the town centre and encourage modal shift to take place. Surveys on 14 October 2004 showed that between 0800-0900 73 children and 132 adults crossed at the junction, while between 1500-1600 87 children and 105 adults were recorded.

Junction alterations are justified because they would improve efficiency by making the main ahead movements run together. This would contribute to an anticipated reduction in standing traffic leading to potential benefits in air quality. (Note: PV² is only used to justify standalone facilities and cannot be used here as there is no additional delay to traffic as the pedestrians cross in a parallel stage with traffic.

Targets and Outcomes

Implementation of the scheme is aimed at achieving the following outcomes:

(i) an environment that encourages cycling and walking;

(ii) better social inclusion through improved accessibility to the town centre for vulnerable road user groups; and

(iii) improving the public realm so discouraging crime and disorder.

The LTP outcomes that the scheme contributes to are:

Air Quality Management Area

Leigh Road and Southampton Road form an Air Quality Management Area for Eastleigh. Installing a pedestrian phase at the signalised junction with Leigh Road and Romsey Road presents an opportunity to increase the efficiency of the signals. This can be achieved even with the addition of a pedestrian phase by using the latest technology to more accurately monitor inter-green times and for pedestrian sensors to only activate the phase when needed.

Increasing the sustainable modal share of journeys to school

The signalised junction of Leigh Road and Romsey Road is identified in the travel plans of surrounding schools as being on the journey to school route. Inclusion of a pedestrian phase will assist with increasing walking and cycling by removing the barrier to crossing the junction.

Footway condition improvement

A total area of 1,500 square metres of footway is improved.

Town Centre Access

Changes to traffic circulation and the road layout will help reduce severance and may improve the modal share of pedestrian journeys to the town centre. On 13 September 2002 a manual count of cyclists using Leigh Road over a 12-hour period recorded 103 eastbound and 88 westbound.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

The proposal is to improve the environment within Leigh Road and provide an attractive, convenient and safe route to the town centre for pedestrians and cyclists through the provision of enhanced and widened footways with limited low speed vehicular access for residents and businesses. The improved footways will also aid accessibility for the mobility impaired and other user groups. The proposal is therefore consistent with current policy by:

(i) encouraging walking and cycling;

(ii) contributing towards the health and well-being of local people; and

(iii) reducing dependency on the private motor car.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

The scheme has been designed to meet the objectives of improving the street environment; improving accessibility and safety for pedestrians, cyclists and the mobility impaired; reducing traffic speeds and deterring unnecessary through traffic; and providing an attractive link to Eastleigh town centre.

The carriageway and footways within this area of Leigh Road will be at the same level to enable easier access by wheelchair and pushchair users. The delineation between carriageway and footway will be achieved via the use of coloured surfacing with a band between the two areas forming a transition zone. New street furniture, such as decorative bollards, benches and litter bins will be incorporated, as will landscape planting to provide an avenue effect to the street scene.

The carriageway will be reduced to a minimum width of 5.25 metres with an overrun strip of 0.5 metres width on either side to allow larger vehicles to pass. The road layout includes a chicane and a transition to the one-way carriageway alongside the echelon parking.

The existing characteristics of the carriageway and parking will not be changed with two-way traffic up to Desborough Road and the continuation of a one-way route past the echelon parking spaces. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) will enforce a restricted zone to avoid the need for double yellow lines while maintaining no parking along the carriageway. Removal of the road markings is a crucial aspect of the scheme design as it further reduces the familiarity of the carriageway to car users.

The scheme will be constructed using enhanced materials. All the footway will use `Perfecta' style paving slabs and a `Conservation' style unit. The overrun area between the carriageway and kerb line will use a larger `Conservation' style block. The carriageway surface will be a pigmented `Tegula' style block, laid on a 30 millimetre sand bed in accordance with BS 7533-3 1997, and utilising the existing concrete carriage way as the sub-base. The crossing point outside Holy Cross Church and the parking locations will be constructed in Tegula style blocks in contrasting reddish colour.

A modest art project will form part of the proposal. It will include a lighting scheme to illuminate the two key buildings in this area: The Point and Holy Cross Church. An artist will be selected to provide a design for the new railings for the relocated church car park wall.

The design has been subject to the safety audit process and all issues raised have been addressed in the design.

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

Environmental Impact

3.10

The scheme will provide an overall improvement to the street scene as well as creating a safer and more attractive environment for all user groups. There is no known negative environmental impact.

Land Requirements

3.11

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

Statutory Procedures

3.12

The revised parking arrangements have been the subject of a TRO which was advertised in the local press and by site notices from 3-25 August 2005 by Eastleigh Borough Council under its Traffic Management Agency Arrangement. The TRO for Leigh Road entailed a small reduction in parking spaces in order to accommodate the new delineated and environmentally enhanced link between the park and Holy Cross Church. There were no objections to the changes to parking in Leigh Road except for the introduction of Pay and Display charges.

On 1 November 2005 these objections were reported to Eastleigh Borough Cabinet and to the Eastleigh Local Area Committee. The report supporting the introduction of charges under a TRO was approved by the Cabinet and Local Area Committee. They will be implemented on 6 March 2006. The County Council's Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management approved a report on On-Street Parking Charges in Eastleigh at his decision day on 8 November 2005. The TRO specific to this project deals with the small reduction in parking space. There is no change to the existing restriction to parking that it imposes.

Public Consultation

3.13

3.14

3.15

In December 2003 a preliminary survey was carried out involving a letter and questionnaire to all residents and businesses in Leigh Road between Brookwood Avenue and High Street. This was followed by a public exhibition of proposals attended by 60 people along with 20 face-to-face interviews with local businesses on Leigh Road. At the second exhibition held on 22 July 2004, and during the following week at the Civic Offices, verbal responses to the proposals were generally very positive and attendees were invited to complete a questionnaire. Analysis of the 16 returned questionnaires demonstrated that a majority (69%) felt the proposals would improve Leigh Road. There were no significant objections to the scheme.

Further consultation has also taken place as part of the design process with representatives of other users of the road including the Holy Cross Church and The Comrades Club. They have agreed in principle to the design considerations specific to their area (informal agreement has been secured with Holy Cross Church and the Comrades Club. Formal licence agreements are being processed for these areas and adjoining shop forecourts).

At the meeting of the Eastleigh Local Area Committee held on 30 November 2004 the scheme received unanimous support.

Local Members' View

3.16

The local Members, Councillors Broadhurst and Davis-Dear, support the proposals.

Impact Assessments

3.17

This scheme is intended to improve road crossing opportunities for all user groups, in particular the elderly and those with mobility impairment. 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

3.18

The use of high quality materials has a corresponding effect in terms of increased maintenance costs. This has been taken into account in the financial summary. The impact of using decorative bollards and tree planting has also been taken into account in the financial summary.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.19

CCTV cameras are already installed and operational in Leigh Road. Enhancement of the street scene will discourage anti-social behaviour.

Sustainability

3.20

3.21

3.22

3.23

3.24

The scheme will improve the environment for pedestrians and cyclists and may contribute to a reduction in dependence on the motor car.

The design minimises the amount of excavation of the existing carriageway construction and the resultant disposal of surplus material to landfill. The existing concrete slabs will be retained and the new carriageway surface will be laid on top. Yeoman's foam mix, which uses recycled materials or an acceptable alternative, will be used at the binder course level.

The footway levels will not be altered from the existing levels to minimise the excavation of materials.

The removed concrete slabs will be crushed and re-used as a fill material to bring up the level of the footway adjacent to the recreational ground.

It is proposed that the `Conservation' kerb and overrun block will be from the Charcon Eco range or suitable alternative.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

In the original design the frontages along Leigh Road were to have been surfaced and car parking prohibited. However, due to future plans for the development of these specific locations this has been omitted as an unnecessary expense.

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

Scheme file

Environment Department

Room 415