Contact: Tim Lawton, tel 02380 427000 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report outlines:

(i) progress with the 2005/06 highways maintenance programme;

(ii) details of the 2006/07 highways maintenance budget;

(iii) details of the 2006/07 highways maintenance programme; and

(iv) progress on 2005/06 minor capital works and proposals for 2006/07 programme.

2. Background

2.1 Members will be aware from previous Panel meetings that the highway maintenance programme is funded from both revenue and capital allocations.

2.2 The revenue maintenance programme funds minor works such as pothole repairs, routine drainage work including gully cleansing, signs and road markings, environmental maintenance of grass verges, trees and shrubs, weed control and highway emergencies. Minor bridge works and winter maintenance are also funded from revenue.

2.3 The capital maintenance programme funds planned maintenance including special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing and also provides for essential repairs to the structure of the highway.

2.4 Members of the public can contact the highways offices on 0845 8504422. The Hampshire Highways website http://www.hants.gov.uk/highways/ contains a wide range of information relating to highway works, including highway policies, fact sheets on various highway activities and also online forms for reporting defects and requesting services, such as dropped crossings for driveways.

3. Progress with the 2005/06 Highways Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

3.1 The total allocation for New Forest for 2005/06 was £1,076,000. Progress throughout the year has generally been in line with the spend profile. At the end of February 98% of the budget had been committed and the full allocation is expected to be used by the end of the year. A budget statement is included as Appendix 1.

Capital Maintenance Programme

3.2 The total allocation for New Forest for 2005/06 was £2,035,000. Good progress has been made with the programme and it is expected that it will be delivered as planned within time and budget constraints. Whilst it is anticipated that all remaining schemes in the current year's programme will start before the end of the financial year, a small number may run over into 2006/07 and be completed in April.

3.3 Phase one of the major footway re-slabbing scheme in Station Road, New Milton is now substantially complete with installation of new trees and street furniture ongoing with final completion expected soon. Throughout the Station Road project the County Council has worked very closely with local elected Members, the Town Council, the Town Centre Partnership and other interested parties to ensure that the implementation of the much needed footway improvements could begin as quickly as possible. However, it was always intended that the refurbishment of the footways in Station Road would be undertaken on a long term phased basis with the northern end being treated first given its poorer condition.

3.4 The southern end is in a slightly better condition structurally and it is considered it will remain serviceable for a few more years to both allow the funding streams (including additional funding from SEEDA) to be finalised and to give the engineers more time to look at wider transportation issues in the town, which could be undertaken as part of a second larger phase. Consulting engineers, Atkins, have been commissioned to undertake an urban design study for the town which will look beyond simply replacing old slabs with new slabs for the southern section. The results of the study are expected soon and will be discussed by the scheme's project group over the coming months. At this stage it is very likely that it will be 2007/08 at the earliest before the southern section can be addressed but this will depend on whether sufficient maintenance funding is made available. Naturally, Station Road will continue to be regularly inspected in the interim period to ensure that the surface remains in a safe and serviceable condition.

3.5 For the next financial year, 2006/07, it is intended to concentrate solely on the Mallard Buildings courtyard area in Station Road north and hopefully turn it into a focal point for visitors which could include new seating, information boards and street art. Highway engineers are working very closely with County and District landscape planners in this regard.

3.6 A budget statement is included in Appendix 1 and a status report detailing progress of all special maintenance, resurfacing and surface dressing schemes is attached as Appendix 2.

4. 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Budget

4.1 This year Hampshire County Council has received a £15m Central Government grant through the Local Transport Plan (LTP) process. This is comparable to the £14.6m LTP funding received for 2005/06.

4.2 The overall highway maintenance budget for 2006/07 approved by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management is £48.506m, comprising £24.132m Revenue funding and £24.374m funding from the capital programme provision. For the fourth year in succession the allocation of an additional £2.989m of capital funding for highway maintenance works in the areas of greatest need (ie minor rural road carriageways and footways) has been approved. The total allocations for New Forest are included in Appendix 3.

5. 2006/07 Highway Maintenance Programme

Revenue Maintenance Programme

5.1 As described above, the revenue maintenance programme funds three main areas of highway maintenance:

(i) reactive minor repair works on the road and footway network;

(ii) minor traffic management improvements of signs and road markings; and

(iii) environmental aspects of highway maintenance including grass cutting, weed treatment and tree and shrub maintenance.

5.2 The total allocation for New Forest in 2006/07 is £1,080,000. A detailed breakdown of the budget allocations is set out in Appendix 3.

5.3 Additional revenue budgets are held centrally for the performance elements of the County Council's term maintenance contract. The performance based work contained in the contract includes:

(i) gully emptying;

(ii) visibility splay grass cutting;

(iii) winter maintenance; and

(iv) ordinary bridge maintenance.

Capital Maintenance Programme

5.4 The funding allocation for the capital maintenance programme is based on the HAMP rating system which identifies locations having the greatest maintenance need. This system comprises an independent assessment of the condition of roads that have been identified as potential candidates for substantial maintenance work, such as resurfacing.

5.5 Planned structural maintenance repairs undertaken through the capital maintenance programme includes surface dressing, special maintenance and resurfacing schemes. The total allocation for New Forest is £2,271,400 and a budget breakdown is given in Appendix 3. A provisional list of schemes for 2006/07 is also attached in Appendix 4.

5.6 In addition to the locally delivered planned structural maintenance schemes listed in Appendix 4 a £1.1m major maintenance scheme is planned for the A338 between the A31 roundabout and Snails Lane. The scheme is currently programmed to start in September 2006 and will address structural deterioration of the concrete substructure and provide a smoother running surface.

6. Minor Capital Works

6.1 This section of the report outlines:

(i) progress with the 2005/06 minor capital works programme; and

(ii) proposals for the 2006/07 minor capital works programme.

6.2 The minor capital works programme is funded from the capital allocation based on the LTP submission to the Department for Transport. In the 2005/06 programme £200,000 was allocated county-wide, of which £25,000 was allocated to New Forest.

Schemes in the 2005/06 Programme

The Bickerley, Ringwood - Provision of New Footway

6.3 This scheme has been deferred since 2004/05 but it is still intended to pursue implementation during 2006/07. There are still legal issues surrounding the construction of the new path on the common. Whilst the town council, as landowners, are in full support of the scheme it is likely that a formal land exchange will be required which will require a full and formal consultation process. Estates Practice and Legal Practice are currently investigating options to take this scheme forward.

A337 Balmer Lawn - Provision of New Rural Footpath

6.4 In 1999 a pedestrian fell over whilst walking on the verge adjacent to the highway boundary fence. A claim was subsequently brought against the Highway Authority which was successfully defended in the Court of Appeal in 2004. Whilst the claim was rejected, it is considered that the provision of a formal footpath in this location would be beneficial to pedestrians and provide a safer walking route from the Hollands Wood campsite to Brockenhurst village. This scheme has the support of the Forestry Commission and the Parish Council.

6.5 English Nature has recently given its consent to the works and construction is due to start later this month.

A337 Romsey Road, Lyndhurst - Provision of New Pedestrian Refuge

6.6 English Nature approval is required which, to date, has not been forthcoming. However, negotiations are ongoing. The design is complete and once English Nature consent has been received it is anticipated that implementation can take place immediately.

Proposals for the 2006/07 Programme

6.7 The capital minor works rolling programme is compiled from suggestions made by elected Members, the Police, Parish Councils, Residents Associations, members of the public and mobility groups, etc. A schedule of schemes under consideration for New Forest area is given in Appendix 5. In the 2006/07 programme £148,000 has again been allocated county-wide, of which £18,500 has been allocated to New Forest. It is proposed that, in addition to the deferred 2004/05 scheme at The Bickerley and the ongoing 2005/06 schemes on the A337, the following schemes be considered for implementation in 2006/07:

(i) Lower Buckland Road, Lymington - Provision of new footway

6.8 Following the redevelopment of the former post office site in Lower Buckland Road, pedestrians are now forced to walk into the road near a blind bend. Inconsiderate parking has also hindered pedestrian movement. This £10,000 scheme will provide approximately 70 metres of new footway and verge and allow pedestrians to walk in safety. The scheme is supported by local Members.

(ii) Burgate School, Fordingbridge - footway realignment and new lighting.

6.9 A crime and disorder issue has highlighted the need for an improvement to realign a footpath and provide new lighting to give security to pedestrians and in particular school children who regularly use this path. The adjacent school has agreed in principle to provide some land which will facilitate easier implementation. The scheme is valued at £8,500.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 This report provides a position statement only, therefore an impact assessment in terms of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has not been undertaken.

Recommendations

1. That the Highway Maintenance sections of this report be noted.

2. That the Panel be invited to comment on the proposed 2006/07 capital minor works programme and the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management be advised accordingly.

773/TL