Contact: Kevin Fuller, tel 023 8066 3388 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report covers a wide range of activities undertaken by specialist teams within the Environment Department and gives details on programmes for:

(i) Regeneration of Older Urban Areas;

(ii) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(iii) Bridgeworks;

(iv) Hampshire Country Towns Initiative;

(v) Development Related Works; and

(vi) Street Lighting.

2. Regeneration of Older Urban Areas

Rumbridge Street Totton

2.1 In partnership with New Forest District Council and Totton and Eling Town Council, the County Council has prepared long term planning, design and management guidance for the regeneration of Totton town centre. Phase One of the project comprises streetscene and traffic management improvements in Rumbridge Street, utilising joint funding of approximately £1.3 million.

2.2 A section of work related to Phase One at the western entrance to Rumbridge Street is nearing completion.

2.3 The next stage of work, on Winsor Road will, when completed, enable implementation of new traffic arrangements for the whole scheme. Timing of this element is dependent upon the completion of utility work in the area and a successful Traffic Regulation Order process. Further stages of the shopping area are being prepared and programmed to complete Phase One of the project.

3. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

3.1 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.

Progress on 2005/06 schemes within the New Forest

3.2 A feasibility study is underway examining the scope for altering the traffic management in Lyndhurst, including the possible introduction of new traffic signals at the A35, Bournemouth Road and A337 Shrubs Hill Road junction where they join the High Street.

3.3 In addition to the improvements to traffic control measures within Lyndhurst, the feasibility of using the existing motorway enhanced message signs (EMS) on the M27, to implement a signing strategy in the busy summer months, is to be investigated. The intention is to determine the effects of a strategy advising motorists, bound for Lyndhurst and the New Forest, to leave the M27 Motorway at junction 2, using the A326 and A35 rather than the A337 through Cadnam. Benefits of this EMS strategy may be to reduce queuing at the High Street/Romsey Road traffic signals, thereby contributing to an improvement in local air quality. Lyndhurst High Street has been declared an Air Quality Management Area due to high levels of air pollutants produced through vehicle exhaust emissions.

4. Bridgeworks

4.1 This section summarises:

(i) schemes started in 2005/06, but carrying over in to 2005/06; and

(ii) schemes due to start in 2006/07.

4.2 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.

4.3 Raynesway Construction Southern Limited (RCS) carries 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

4.4 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

4.5 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.

Aluminium Parapets

4.6 The Highways Agency has identified that aluminium vehicle parapets made by BACO, 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.

Works in the New Forest Area

Redbridge Rail bridge, Totton

4.7 This bridge carries the A35, Totton Bypass, over the Bournemouth-Waterloo railway line. Its east parapet was damaged in a road traffic accident and temporary concrete barriers protect the site at present. As well as the permanent repairs, high containment protective measures have been designed for the bridge over the railway and the bridge over the slip-road into Totton, resulting in delay to our original programme.

4.8 The design is now complete and the scheme will be going out to tender shortly. It is hoped to start on site in July 2006, but further details of timing and traffic management will follow as they are finalised.

Avon Causeway bridge on Hampshire/Dorset border

4.9 Dorset County Council is replacing the bridge that carries the Avon Causeway over the River Avon, under a "design and build" contract. The scheme gained Planning Permission at a Dorset Planning Committee meeting in July 2005, and work on site is due to start in July 2006. Discussions on traffic management are still ongoing, particularly concerning closure of the Avon Causeway during the works. Further details will be made available by Dorset County Council as they are finalised.

Gorley No. 1 footbridge, South Gorley

4.10 This footbridge carries the footpath over Huckles Brook, just east of the ford on the C159, Lawrence Lane. The existing deck is in poor condition and its replacement is planned during 2006/07. Further details of timing and traffic management will follow as they are finalised.

Hurst New Bridge, A338 near Ringwood

4.11 There is a major road maintenance scheme on the A338 just north of Ringwood. As part of this work, it is hoped to waterproof the deck of Hurst New Bridge, which carries the A338 over Lin Brook, near the "Ringwood Town & Country Experience".

4.12 The work is due to go out to tender in May, with start on-site planned for September 2006. There will be lane closures and some overnight complete closures of the A338, and these will be publicised as part of the major maintenance scheme.

Road/Rail interfaces

4.13 As part of the rolling programme, protective measures are being investigated at five road over rail bridges in the New Forest area, all of which carry loads over the main Bournemouth-Waterloo railway line:

(i) Hinton Road bridge on the C49, Hinton Wood Avenue at Hinton Admiral Station;

(ii) Southampton Road bridge on the A35 on the Hampshire/Dorset border;

(iii) Lyndhurst Road bridge on the A35 at Ashurst;

(iv) Sway Road bridge on the C75, Mead End Road at Sway Station; and

(v) Junction bridge on the B3055, Sway Road , near Brokenhurst Golf Club.

4.14 Consultation, particularly with Network Rail regarding railway issues, has just started, but no dates for work on-site are yet agreed. Although all five schemes are planned for 2006/07, depending on availability of railway possessions, some may carry over into 2007/08.

Rockbourne School bridge, Rockbourne

4.15 This bridge carries a Public Footpath and is also the only vehicular access for Western Downland School, two private properties and a chapel.

4.16 The bridge consists of steel beams supporting a deck of timber sleepers; there was a localised failure of one sleeper in June 2005. This was temporarily plated and then repaired by local contractor C J Lee and Sons, and 7.5 tonne weight limit signs were installed.

4.17 This is only a short term measure, as the school needs access for vehicle heavier than 7.5 tonnes in the longer term, and therefore strengthening of the bridge is being investigated.

4.18 Discussions with the school are ongoing and it is hoped to carry out the work in the school summer holidays in 2006.

5. Hampshire Country Towns Initiative (CTI)

Hythe Promenade

5.1 This project is an environmental improvement scheme with an estimated cost of £771,000. Construction work is expected to be substantially completed in March with the possibility of temperature dependant surfacing work being completed soon after. This is a partnership scheme with New Forest District Council utilising highway contributions and is being project managed on site by the District Council which awarded the contract.

New Milton

5.2 The details of this project are covered in the Update on Highway and Minor Works report, Item 6 on the agenda.

5.3 Bids are being considered for inclusion in the 2006/07 CTI and highways capital programmes for works to complete the current scheme in Station Road North. The overall scheme is a recipient of a South East England Development Agency (SEEDA) grant under the Market Towns programme and is working within the framework of urban design principles commissioned from consultants Atkins.

6. Street Lighting

Maintenance Contract 2002/07

6.1 The maintenance contract continues to provide over 99% of all street lights on at any one time with performance levels remaining much the same since the change to `working' days. The maintenance contract was originally measured in calendar days and this has been changed to Monday to Friday, or `working days'. Satisfaction levels as regards the delivery of street lighting following a recent telephone survey suggest a varied response across the county. However, whilst there are specific instances of failure to repair within set time scales, the performance indicators within the contract are generally being met.

Extension of the Maintenance Contract

6.2 Discussions are currently in progress with the current maintenance contractor, Southern Electric Contracting, regarding the extension of the existing contract. Any possible extension will be dependant upon past performance and the contract continuing to give value for money.

Column Replacement Programme 2005/06

6.3 The £1.8 million programme of work for 2005/06 commenced in late March, 2005. The programme for the New Forest area is as follows:

Leelands, Lymington - works programmed to start 16/01/06

Calmore Drive, Totton - Works currently underway

Column Replacement Programme 2006/07

6.4 A programme estimated at £2.2m is expected to commence in April 2006. Details of the final programme will be made available once all the necessary quotes have been received but the provisional programme is as follows:

Whitefield Road, Fawley

Studley Avenue, Fawley

Dukes Wood Drive, Hythe

Southampton Road, Lymington

Gilbert Close, Lymington

Ashley Road, New Milton

A31 Footpaths and Footbridge to Queens Way, Ringwood

Blackwater Drive, Totton

Shraveshill footpaths, Totton

Community Safety Initiative 2005/06

6.5 The programme for 2005/06 is as follows:

Watermans Lane, Hythe - works completed 25/11/05

Mountfield to Southampton Road footpath, Hythe - works completed 25/11/05

Curlew Close, Hythe - works cancelled following complaints from residents

Curlew Drive, Hythe - works completed 28/10/05

Tern Close, Hythe - works completed 28/10/05

Somerville, Gorley Road and Whitehart Field, Ringwood - works completed 04/11/05

Calmore Road, Totton - works completed 10/11/05

Cooks Lane, Totton - works completed 22/10/05

Community Safety Initiative 2006/07

6.6 A report will be considered by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management on 21 March 2006. A bids has, so far, been received for North Poulner Road, Ringwood.

Energy

6.7 A new contract for the supply of energy has been awarded to E.ON UK (the owners of Powergen). The contract will supply 100% green energy for 2 years starting on 1 April 2006 and will be exempt from the Climate Change Levy. This was the cheapest option available and also allows the County Council to continue its strategic aim of promoting the use of renewable energy sources.

The Deadsure Computer System

6.8 The 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 few problems to resolve 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.

Private Finance Initiative (PFI)

6.9 A report was considered by Cabinet on 23 January 2006 regarding the submission of an Expression of Interest to the DfT in relation to a PFI for street lighting maintenance and Column Replacement. Work has progressed between officers and the consultants, Price Waterhouse Cooper, investigating the viability of such a bid. Should such a bid be successful it is anticipated the new contract would commence in mid to late 2008.

6.10 With a larger than average ageing stock of street lighting columns the question of ability to fund the whole replacement in a reasonable period of time has become the main issue irrespective of the condition of the columns at present.

6.11 Government funding has not been forthcoming through LTP nor is the County Council minded to provide the necessary funds through Prudential borrowing or increasing the revenue budget. The only option is, therefore, to make a bid for funding under the Government PFI funding regime.

6.12 The County Council have, therefore, submitted an expression of interest to the DfT and await an answer hopefully to move to the next stage in May/June 2006.

7. Development Related Works

7.1 Section 38 works currently being undertaken by Hampshire Highways within the New Forest area is detailed in Appendix 1.

8. External Funding

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

9. Impact Assessments

9.1 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.

774/KF

COUNTY COUNCIL HELD DEVELOPER FUNDING

Current Programme

£

Total Held to fund the above Capital Programme Schemes ............................................. 318,441

Possible Future Schemes

Total funding allocated to future schemes above ....................................................................... 828,650

Funding for Schemes to be Developed .......................................................................... 1,128,674

Total Held: ................... 2,275,765

No New Contributions Received since last HTAP

Possible Future Funding

Note: The above will only produce contributions IF the development proceeds.