Archived decisions

Contact: Andy Viccars, tel 01329 824591 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report reviews the traffic management programme for 2005/06 undertaken by Fareham Borough Council.

2. Introduction

2.1 Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and Traffic Investigation Programmes are approved by the Fareham Borough Council Executive after consultation with County Council officers. The programme for 2006/07 will be approved by the Executive in April and the agreed programme will be presented Members in due course.

2.2 Appendices 1 and 2 attached show the approved programmes and progress to date. In addition to the sites for TROs shown in Appendix 1, the Executive agreed to the implementation of Phase 6 of the `No Parking on Grass Verges' programme, which came into force in September 2005.

3. Traffic Regulation Orders

3.1 The funding allocation for 2005/06 was £14,000 for routine TROs. A further £14,000 was allocated specifically for the implementation of Phase 6 of the `No Parking on Grass Verges' programme.

3.2 Additional TROs have been required as part of other schemes or have been funded by developers. These sites are shown separately in Appendix 1. The cost of the implementation of the TROs in 2005/06 year will match the allocation of funds and additional funding has not been necessary. All schemes in this years programmed have been progressed.

3.3 The additional Traffic Regulation Order required as a result of investigations carried out by the Casualty Reduction Partnership in West Street, Portchester, has been placed `on hold' pending the outcome of further investigations by the County Council's Safety Engineering Team. This Order, a change to the speed limit, was to be brought into force in November 2005, however, due to the incidence of another serious accident in West Street it was decided that further accident investigations should be undertaken to ensure that the amended speed limit be placed in the correct position. Therefore, this proposal will need to be carried over into the 2006/07 programme.

3.4 Additional TROs are included in some capital schemes currently being progressed by Fareham, as shown in Appendix 1. These have been processed in accordance with the scheme programme and have been funded from the budget allocated to the scheme.

3.5 Temporary road closures and diversions for road works, including works carried out by the public utility companies, are processed by the Borough Council. The temporary closures are processed on request and include closures requiring an Order, those that can be dealt with by site notices and emergency closures. A total of 22 temporary traffic Orders have been progressed in the 2005/06 year (to date).

4. Traffic Investigations

4.1 The Market Quay Development is complete and officially open to the public. Involvement in the completion and handing over of the car park, cycleway, footway and taxi rank has resulted in minor delays to the traffic investigations programme.

4.2 Funding is released by the County Council for specific schemes through the Hampshire Local Transport Plan (LTP) and from developer contributions. District Councils have been asked to continue providing assistance to deliver schemes from the LTP programme. In particular this financial year Fareham will assist in delivering off-site highway improvements associated with the `Safer Routes to School' programme. These schemes have therefore been included in Fareham's programme in addition to the normal programme of traffic investigations.

4.3 The 2005/06 traffic investigation programme includes ongoing schemes and is set out in Appendix 2.

5. Decriminalisation of Parking Enforcement

5.1 A draft Agency agreement and draft Permitted Parking Area/Special Parking Area application to Central Government have been prepared for agreement by both Councils and the required consultation process has commenced. Discussions with Havant Borough Council on partnership working are well advanced and it is anticipated that Fareham Borough Council will be deciding the preferred option shortly. In view of these discussions, the implementation date is currently being reviewed.

5.2 The review of TROs, lines and signs has been carried out and a schedule of defects produced. The Orders have been entered onto a mapping system, and are being compared with the legal Orders to ensure the two are in agreement and to then amend or consolidate them under the 1991 Road Traffic Act as appropriate.

5.3 Regulations have recently been made which enable authorities already operating DPE to introduce camera enforcement of bus lanes under the Transport Act 2000. These will be superseded in due course by regulations under the Traffic Management Act when the provisions for civil enforcement outside London come into effect, although this is not expected to be until at least 2007. They will include not only parking and bus lane enforcement, but also some other moving traffic offences such as banned turns, no entry and yellow box markings. Hampshire County Council will keep these changes under review and consideration will be given to the need to take up further powers and consequent delegation to Fareham Borough Council at the appropriate time as felt necessary.

6. Environmental Improvements 2005/06

6.1 A number of environmental improvement schemes have been undertaken during 2005/06. The details are as follows:

Highlands Road Shopping Centre, Fareham

6.2 Work on this scheme is now complete with the exception of the Addastone resin bonded aggregate surfacing. This will be carried out as soon as weather conditions permit.

Crofton Lane Shopping Centre, Hill Head

6.3 Work on this scheme is now complete with the exception of the Addastone resin bonded aggregate surfacing. This will be carried out as soon as weather conditions permit.

The Hard, Warsash

6.4 The Regeneration of Older Urban Areas programme has now substantially completed its programme of environmental improvements in the Warsash Conservation Area. The final phase of work in Shore Road is substantially complete. The scheme includes new stone kerb and sett paving along the waterfront and links all previously completed projects in the area. Final surfacing of upper Shore Road will take place in the spring.

Town Quay: Upper Wharf

6.5 During the public consultation interested members of the public and local residents were asked to prioritise options for improvement in the Conservation Area as a whole. The main priority identified for improvement was the short street known as Upper Wharf, which leads to the entrance to Bath Lane Recreation Ground. A small scheme to improve Upper Wharf, avoiding highway land, has since been agreed with adjacent landowners and Hampshire County Council and should be implemented in the next few months.

7. Environmental Improvements 2006/07

7.1 Subject to support from Fareham Borough Council P&T Review Panel, and Fareham Borough Council Executive approval, and other approvals where noted, the 2006/07 schemes are listed below.

Harper Way

7.2 Further improvements to paving, surfacing and street furniture are programmed in the area around the new trees. The pedestrian crossovers in Harper Way will also be improved in due course.

The Square, Titchfield

7.3 During 2005 Fareham Borough Council was invited to submit an appropriate scheme and seek partnership funding from the Hampshire County Council Country Towns Initiative. A scheme to improve footpath surfacing in The Square, Titchfield, using natural stone, was submitted to Hampshire County Council. A report was also made to the Fareham Borough Council Executive on 5 December 2005 with a request for Match Funding. It was resolved:

"That this partnership initiative with Hampshire County Council be supported and that the provision of £50,000 from the Match Funding Budget be approved, subject to confirmation of funding from Hampshire County Council."

7.4 The outcome of the bid to Hampshire County Council Country Towns Initiative for partnership funding is awaited.

West Street, Fareham

7.5 Fareham Borough Council (FBC) has adopted a vision for West Street. This is a strategy for raising the profile and planning future development of the west end of West Street Fareham. There is an aspiration to undertake environmental improvements in West Street to improve the street and FBC officers are considering the first stage of those improvements which could be between Westbury Road and Hartlands Road although this has yet to be approved. A transportation study is needed before improvements can be considered beyond Hartlands Road. The County Council has been asked to undertake this study in partnership with the FBC and a sum has been set aside by FBC to assist with funding.

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.

9337/AV

APPENDIX 1

LIST OF TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS 2005/06

APPENDIX 2

PROGRAMME OF SCHEMES AND TRAFFIC INVESTIGATIONS 2005/06

(COMPLETED AND PROGRESSING)