Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: SOUTH HAMPSHIRE AND RESOURCE MANAGEMENT

ITEM 5

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

COUNTRY TOWNS INITIATIVE - ODIHAM

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JUNE 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

OCTOBER 2006

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2006/07

1.

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

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2006

(at 2006

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

199

199

Fees

55

55

254

254

Less

60

60

other contributions

194

194

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme - Country Towns Initiative

184

(b) Other - Special Maintenance

10

194

2.

From other resources

(a) Hart District Council

40

(b) Odiham Parish Council

20

(c)

TOTAL

254

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2.5

0.002

Capital charges

21.0

0.017

TOTAL net expenditure

23.5

0.019

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

The scheme targets The Bury, reputedly the original site of Odiham, and Terry's Alley and Stoney Alley, medieval paths which link The Bury to the High Street. Improvements are needed to link conservation objectives to local strategic aims for developing the heritage, cultural and economic base of the town. To this end the Parish Council approached the County Council to enter into a partnership under the CTI programme.

The Bury is a space of great antiquity and historic importance in the town's conservation area. It forms the setting of the historic town stocks, which are displayed in a timber structure, and the nearby medieval All Saints Church churchyard. The Bury has long been recognised by the Parish and District Councils as an under-used resource, lacking quality and activity and requiring improvement.

2.3

The Bury is surfaced in tarmac, has a bleak and unattractive appearance and is used mainly for access and parking. The stocks are obscured by parked cars which also form an unattractive foreground to the Church and the surrounding listed buildings. A town map board is poorly located and street furniture is also of poor quality.

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

2.11

2.12

The two alleys are important but uninviting links between The Bury, the Church and High Street shops. They are important links to the County Library and Police Station which are located in The Bridewell on the western side of The Bury. They also serve as one of the main pedestrian routes to the Mayhill County Junior School which adjoins The Bury. They are poorly surfaced (Terry's Alley is potholed), dark and uninviting in places and personal safety is a concern. Overhanging planting from adjoining properties occasionally obstructs pedestrian access.

The Bury and alleys have a potential role in the development of the town's tourism and commerce. They are part of a future heritage trail being developed by the Parish Council and the subject of a proposed Heritage Lottery bid. The future of The Bridewell as a possible heritage centre is also under review. The alleys are both definitive, public rights of way and links which need to be improved to this potential area of opportunity.

The Bury has historically hosted outdoor events but this is not now often the case. It makes only a limited contribution to the social, cultural and economic life of the town. The Parish Council and Town Centre Group are keen to see social and commercial events reintroduced, including occasional markets, charity events, street performance, etc. The area in front of The Bell public house in The Bury accommodates outside tables, but in very cramped conditions.

Although traffic volumes through The Bury are generally low, some `rat running' between the High Street and King Street occurs, with occasional evidence of speeding. Large vehicles deliver to the Co-operative in the High Street and also to The Bell. The former approach the rear of the shop via Terry's Alley and there is a history of un-neighbourly conflicts, including noise and damage to buildings.

Car parking is uncontrolled and The Bury often suffers from overcrowding of parked cars. Reorganisation is required and the County and District Councils are currently promoting a wider town centre scheme for highway and parking management, including the introduction of a parking control zone and residents' parking scheme. Retention of broadly the current number of parking spaces in The Bury is a key local objective.

Children are brought by bus to The Bury. During term-time this can conflict with commercial delivery movements. Encouraging walking to school via the two alleys would form an important contribution to the school's proposed future Travel Plan.

There are no footways in The Bury and pedestrian movement along the north and south sides is hampered by parked vehicles.

The Bury and the alleys are poorly signed. Street lighting is generally poor with a mixture of column and lantern styles.

All Saints Church Parochial Church Council is engaged in a Reordering of the church to give it a wider pastoral role. Improvements to The Bury and the church setting would be an important contribution to that process.

Targets and Outcomes

2.13

2.14

2.15

The scheme will make significant improvements and set a standard for future works in the area.

The main targets are to:

(i) improve the appearance of the area and promote The Bury as a cultural resource of the town;

(ii) increase the commercial contribution of the area to the life of the town and promote it as a visitor destination;

(iii) influence driver behaviour to improve pedestrian and highways safety and encourage pedestrians to access the area by foot; and

(iv) achieve an acceptable number of parking spaces and delivery arrangements which balance the needs of the local community with the commercial needs of the businesses concerned.

The expected outcomes which relate to these targets are to:

(i) create an attractive and distinctive street scene, consistent with its conservation area status, with existing eyesores removed;

(ii) increase commercial and social street activity, including outside seating space, the holding of approximately two or three street events per year, more use by tourists and better links from the area to the High Street shops;

(iii) improve driver behaviour, with possible vehicle speed reduction and increased use of the alleys for journeys by foot to the school, library and church; and

(iv) include 20 parking spaces in The Bury in such a way as to allow large vehicles to access Terry's Alley for deliveries.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

The scheme meets the policy aims of the CTI programme approved on 15 October 2003. It also addresses the following Local Transport Plan objectives:

(i) Increasing Accessibility;

(ii) Promoting Safety; and

(iii) Supporting Quality of Life Objectives.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The scheme involves the following:

(i) resurfacing The Bury and the two alleys with distinctive surfacing to reinforce a strong sense of local identity and alert drivers to reduce speed;

(ii) improving street lighting in The Bury and both alleys;

(iii) improving surface water drainage;

(iv) removing unsightly street clutter and road markings and inclusion of street name plates and direction signs. Improved signage from the High Street would highlight The Bury and Church as local historic features;

(v) creating an attractive setting for the town stocks and improving the prospect to the Church by removing general parking adjacent to the stocks and replacing it with landscape planting, purpose-designed seating, a new town trail display panel and cycle parking. The town stocks and trees fronting All Saints Church would be lit to reinforce the visual importance of the stocks as an important local landmark;

(vi) creating a pedestrian area to allow safe pedestrian movement along the northern side of The Bury and to accommodate outside seating;

(vii) providing power supplies for street events in The Bury;

(viii) redesigning the parking layout to include 20 spaces, including an additional disabled parking space on the southern side of The Bury;

(ix) continuing deliveries of necessity via Terry's Alley to the Co-operative shop (the layout of parking has been designed to allow this). To reduce possible conflict during term-time between delivery vehicles and the school bus, the Co-operative has agreed to use its best endeavours to deliver outside school drop-off and pick-up times. The scheme has been designed to accommodate the range of delivery vehicles currently used; and

(x) encouraging local property owners to improve historic brick walls abutting The Bury and alleys and cut back overhanging vegetation.

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

Environmental Impact

3.3

The scheme will reinforce and expand the site of The Bury as a safe and attractive environment. Improvements to the alleys, the creation of pedestrian space in The Bury and influencing driver behaviour will all assist pedestrians. The use of distinctive, long-life materials will reinforce the sense of local identity.

Land Requirements

3.4

No land acquisition is required. Although incorporating a public right of way and the section forming the passageway to the High Street being an adopted highway, Terry's Alley is entirely privately owned by the Co-operative and the company's consent is required to carry out any works there. For commercial reasons the company requires that current delivery arrangements remain and this has influenced the design of the scheme and the layout of parking spaces in The Bury. An agreement has yet to be reached but should be forthcoming. Consents from property owners will also be required for the fixing of street lights and name plates to buildings and for minor accommodation works.

Statutory Procedures

3.5

3.6

3.7

Statutory consultations, with a period for public objections, will be required in respect of the power supplies for future events.

A new parking control zone order and residents' parking permit scheme, which includes The Bury, form part of a statutory consultation by the County Council for the wider town centre. This was completed on 13 January 2006 and the introduction of controlled parking will depend on the outcome of that consultation.

Listed building consents will be required where new lights and name plates are to be affixed to listed buildings.

Public Consultation

3.8

3.9

3.10

The scheme is steered strategically by local Members of the County Council, Hart District Council and Odiham Parish Council, with key stakeholders to ensure strong local representation. The draft proposals have been the subject of extensive public consultations, including an exhibition in June 2005, followed by a display in The Bridewell. A preview event was hosted by the Parish Council for residents directly affected by the scheme. The consultation included a questionnaire survey which, together with the scheme, was put on the Odiham Parish Council web-site.

A total of 103 persons attended the exhibition and 82 questionnaires were returned. Whilst there was a high level of support for the overall objectives of the scheme (70% in favour, 17% against) significant amendments were made to reflect local comments. These included a petition from residents representing 16 properties in The Bury, indicating a mixture of approval and concerns.

The project team has met with representatives of the petitioners to clarify issues. The County Council subsequently published the results of the consultation and the revised proposals. Odiham Parish Council supports the scheme.

Local Member's View

3.11

The local Member, Councillor Glen, supports the scheme and expresses his thanks for the efforts of all involved.

Impact Assessments

3.12

Equalities of access and opportunities have been taken into account in the scheme in accordance with current best practice and guidelines. The creation of footway space and surface improvements will assist wheelchair users, people with pushchairs and vulnerable highways users, in particular children. A new parking bay for disabled users has also been created.

Maintenance Implications

3.13

The selection of materials has been made with fitness of purpose and ease of maintenance in mind. Hard surfacing in The Bury and Stoney Alley will be maintained by the County Council as Highway Authority. Light maintenance of the stocks and normal maintenance of the planting, lighting and seating in the area adjoining the stocks will be carried out by the Parish Council. Maintenance within Terry's Alley and in other private areas will be carried out by private owners.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.14

All seating has been designed to be in full public view with maximum informal supervision. By improving street lighting and creating a public footway on the northern side of The Bury the sense of personal security for pedestrians will be enhanced.

Sustainability

3.15

3.16

3.17

3.18

The scheme will improve the conservation area and enhance the setting of All Saints Church, the historic stocks and the listed buildings surrounding The Bury.

The products used, and the use where possible of natural materials, conform to sustainability best practice.

The scheme will create a more recognisable and useful public space and help contribute towards the economic and social life of Odiham. It will improve facilities for pedestrians and help reduce dependence on the motor car by encouraging walking to school.

Efficiencies

Budget savings of £60,000 have been achieved by contributions from Hart District Council and Odiham Parish Council. Further savings would be achieved in Terry's Alley where the Co-operative is expected to agree to provide lighting as well as taking on responsibilities for future maintenance of the alley which would otherwise fall in part to the Council under its duties relating to the existing public right of way in the alley and the section adopted as highway.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

Alternative approaches were considered but options for enhancement were selected which focus on achieving the CTI and highway objectives, as well as responding to the aspirations of the community.

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

Executive Member for Environment

15 October 2003

Country Towns Initiative - Future Programme

Environment Department

Room 418