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) Intelligent Transport Systems;

(ii) Pedestrian Crossing Programme;

(iii) Bridgeworks;

(iv) Hampshire Country Towns Initiative;

(v) Street Lighting; and

(vi) Development Related Works.

2. Intelligent Transport Systems (ITS)

2.1 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 result of the Traffic Management Act.

2.2 The former Executive Member for Environment approved expenditure of £200,000 in the 2005/06 Transport Capital Programme for extending the implementation of ITS in Hampshire. Buses operating in the Eastleigh area will be fitted with automatic vehicle location technology so that they can be tracked and incorporated into the county-wide real-time passenger information system (STOPWATCH). The funding will also allow Hampshire and Portsmouth Real-Time Information (RTI) systems to be integrated, allowing bus data and information exchange and the provision of real-time information on services in the Havant, Gosport and Fareham areas. This information will be provided on electronic displays at bus stops and via the internet and mobile phones.

2.3 The continuing development of the Hampshire Traffic and Travel Information Centre (TTIC) in Winchester has enabled a number of systems to be deployed and operated in Hampshire. Collectively these applications help provide improved traffic and travel information and contribute to the delivery of the County Council's transport policies. The provision of timely and accurate information can help reduce congestion, manage incidents and improve accessibility. The funding will allow further improvement to the central systems in the TTIC, enhancing information collection and outputs. The work will also provide the basis for developing tailored and personalised journey planning and travel information.

2.4 Progress on schemes during 2005/06 within Test Valley is as follows:

The Bus Departure Information System (BDIS) summary display is manufactured and awaiting the final wayleave agreement from Test Valley Borough Council before proceeding with the installation of the sign. The Romsey Bus Station BDIS is installed and fully commissioned.

3. Pedestrian Crossing Programme 2006/07

3.1 A report will be considered by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management on 21 March 2006 for the following schemes in the Test Valley area:

Botley Road, Romsey - Pedestrian Refuge £20,000 LTP

3.2 Information on this scheme to be given at the meeting.

Romsey Station/Alma Road, Pedestrian Phase £40,000 EF

3.3 A preliminary traffic signal design has been prepared for installing push button demanded crossings on Alma Road, Station Approach and Station Road east arms. These proposed crossings would complement the existing crossing on Malmesbury Road and improve pedestrian linkages between the town centre and railway station. This will leave Station Road west as the only arm without a pedestrian crossing, which cannot be provided within the available highway land.

Winchester Road, Andover Zebra Refurbishment £5,000 LTP

3.4 Proposed improvements to enhance awareness of this crossing, including new coloured surfacing and lighting.

4. Bridgeworks

4.1 This programme summarises:

(i) schemes started in 2005/06, but carrying over into 2006/07; 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 (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 original assessment programme is now complete, but re-assessments, as part of principal inspections, and strengthenings are ongoing.

Road/Rail Interfaces

4.6 Following the Selby crash in February 2001, parapets and safety fences at road/rail interfaces, most of which are bridges, have been prioritised. A rolling programme for protective measures has been started that will continue over several years, as funding is made available.

Aluminium Parapets

4.7 The Highways Agency has identified that aluminium vehicle parapets made by BACO and installed before 1994, are not to current standards. All such parapets on county bridges were prioritised and the majority were replaced during 2004 and April 2005. Two bridges, in Eastleigh and Rushmoor, were deferred to 2006/07 for operational reasons. Details for these two bridges are given in their respective areas.

Kim New Bridge, Kimbridge, near Romsey

4.8 This bridge carries the C17, Kimbridge Lane, over a branch of the River Test, just west of the fish farm at Kimbridge. A diver inspection found scour immediately downstream of the bridge and interested parties, such as the Environment Agency, are currently being consulted about repairs.

4.9 Because of the environmental importance of the River Test, timing of the work is very crucial and the agreed provisional start date is August 2006. It is hoped to carry out the scheme without closing the road, but it is likely that single lane traffic controlled by temporary signals will be needed. Further details will follow as they are finalised.

Lane, New Inn and Redenham Bridges, Redenham

4.10 These three small bridges on the U62, Biddesden Lane, Redenham are sub-standard for load carrying and are being monitored at present. The replacement bridges are being designed and it is hoped to start work on-site in August 2006. Further details of traffic management and timing will follow as they are finalised.

Ash Tree, Gate and Waterfall Bridges, Longparish

4.11 These three small bridges on the U54, between Nuns Walk and Longparish Road, Longparish, are sub-standard for load carrying and have a 3 tonne weight limit at present. Design of the replacement bridges is underway, with construction planned to start in July 2006. Because of its narrow width, the road will be closed during the works, but full details of traffic management and timing will follow as they are finalised.

Old School Footbridge, Nether Wallop

4.12 This footbridge carries the footpath over the Wallop Brook, from Heathman Street to Church Lane in Nether Wallop.

4.13 It is in poor condition and it is planned to replace it in 2006. Discussions have just been started with the Environment Agency and further details will follow as they are agreed.

Waterloo Bridge, Amport

4.14 This bridge carries the C17, Wiremead Lane over the Pilhill Brook at Amport. There is erosion of the north-west river bank and settlement of the gabions adjacent to the bridge, and it is planned to repair this in the summer of 2006. Consultations with the Environment Agency are ongoing, and because of the narrow width of the road it is possible that a road closure will be needed during the work. Full details of traffic management and timing will follow as they are finalised.

Redpost Bridge, Monxton

4.15 This bridge, owned by Network Rail (NR), carries the C65, Red Post Lane over the Andover/Ludgershall railway line at Monxton and is sub-standard for load carrying capacity. A temporary 7.5 tonne weight limit has been imposed on the bridge, pending strengthening by NR, programmed for late 2007. Discussions are ongoing concerning an environmental weight limit in the area.

5. Street Lighting

Maintenance Contract 2002/07

5.1 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 timescales, the performance indicators within the contract are generally being met.

Extension of the Maintenance Contract

5.2 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

5.3 The £1.8 million programme of work for 2005/06 commenced in late March, 2005. The programme for the Test Valley area is as follows:

· Icknield Way, Andover - works completed 26 July 2005;

· Picton Road, Andover - works completed 26 July 2005;

· Woodley Estate footpaths, Romsey - works completed 2 November 2005;

· Richmond Lane, Romsey - works completed 25 October 2005;

· Pheasant Close, Barton Stacey - works completed 10 June 2005; and

· The Green, Barton Stacey - works completed 10 June 2005.

Column Replacement Programme 2006/07

5.4 A programme estimated at £2.2 million 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:

Floral Way, Andover

Millway Road, Andover

Charlton Road, Andover

London Road, Andover

Walworth Road, Andover

Smannell Road, Andover

Upper Drove, Andover

Harrow Way, Andover

The Drove, Andover

Eardley Avenue, Andover

Junction Road, Andover

Bishops Way, Andover

Gallaghers Mead, Andover

The Crescent, Andover

Roberts Road, Barton Stacey

Roman Road, Barton Stacey

East Road, Barton Stacey

West Road, Barton Stacey.

Community Safety Initiative 2005/06

5.5 No bids were received for this year from the Test Valley area.

Community Safety Initiative 2006/07

5.6 A report will be considered by the Executive Member for Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management on 21 March 2006. Bids have, so far, been received for the following sites in the Test Valley Area:

Wynards Gaps, North Baddesley

Spring Gardens, North Baddesley

Six Oaks Road, North Baddesley

Flexford Bridge, Chandlers Ford.

Energy

5.7 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 two years starting on 1 April 2006 and will be exempt from the Climate Change Levy. Street Lighting energy costs have increased by £1 million county-wide. 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

5.8 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)

5.9 A report was considered by Cabinet on 23 January 2006 regarding the submission of an Expression of Interest to the Department for Transport (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.

5.10 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.

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

5.12 The County Council has therefore submitted an expression of interest to the DfT and awaits an answer enabling a move to the next stage in May/June 2006.

6. Development Related Works

6.1 Section 38 Development work currently being undertaken by Hampshire Highways within the Test Valley area is detailed in Appendix 1.

External Funding

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

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.

Recommendation

That this report be noted.

776/KF

APPENDIX 1

APPENDIX 2

COUNTY COUNCIL HELD DEVELOPER FUNDING

Current Programme

Total Held to fund the above Capital Programme Schemes ........................................... £192,969

Possible Future Schemes

Total funding allocated to future schemes .............................................................................. £248,618

Funding for Schemes to be Developed....................................................................... £831,281

Total Held: ........................... £1,272,868

Contributions Received since last HTAP included in above *

Possible Future Funding

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