Archived decisions

Hampshire County Council

Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage

18 May 2006

Executive Member - Environment: South Hampshire and Resource Management

30 May 2006

Capital Programme 2006/07 - Proposed sub-programmes for Casualty Reduction and Access to Countryside

Report of the Director of Environment and Director of

Recreation and Heritage

Item 3

Contact: John Buckett, ext 6599 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report puts forward the proposed sub-programmes for casualty reduction and access to the countryside within the 2006/07 capital programme. The overall allocations are £2,500,000 for casualty reduction and £200,000 for access to the countryside.

1.2 The proposed programme for casualty reduction is set out in Table 1 and the proposed programme for access to the countryside is set out in Table 2.

2. Casualty Reduction Programme

2.1 The long established casualty reduction programme has played a major part in improving the safety record on Hampshire's roads. The County Council has been successful in achieving good performance towards the national casualty reduction target of a 40% reduction in killed or serious injuries by 2010 from their typical levels in the mid 1990s, together with exceeding the more stretching target associated with first round of the Local Public Service Agreement (LPSA1) for 2004.

2.2 Success in this area has been based for some years on a core programme of low-cost safety measures at higher risk accident sites (identified through police collated personal injury accident statistics) which has been supplemented in recent years with important new targeted programmes. These have dealt with route carriageway surface improvements, refurbishment of previously treated accident remedial sites and Casualty Reduction Partnership investigations with Hampshire Constabulary in the vicinity of the most serious crashes on the Hampshire road network.

3. Proposed Programme

3.1 The proposed breakdown of the programme is as follows:

Table 1

Low cost sites

£650,000

Refurbishment and betterment programme

£200,000

Casualty Reduction Partnership

£350,000

Surface Treatment Programme

£1,300,000

Total

£2,500,000

4. Countryside Access

4.1 This new programme of £200,000 has been introduced following the inclusion of Rights of Way Improvement Plans within the Local Transport Plan (LTP) remit. It absorbs elements of the former Recreational Cycling programme.

4.2 The objectives of the programme are to improve access to the countryside meeting the accessibility aim of the LTP with additional benefits for health and the rural economy.

    Priorities for Investment

4.3 The priorities for investment are:

      (i) links between communities/strategic links, eg disused railway lines;

      (ii) safe (off-road) routes in and around towns;

      (iii) links to services and recreational facilities;

      (iv) short circular routes;

      (v) safe links to fill gaps in the network;

      (vi) safe crossing facilities especially for riders and cyclists; and

      (vii) improved access to allow use by more users - families, elderly people and people with disabilities.

4.4 For the first year programme priority has been given to schemes which meet LTP aspirations, Countryside Access Plans priority and which have strong local support and are able to delivered relatively quickly. There is an emphasis on smaller schemes which produce a big impact.

5. Detailed Programme

5.1 The proposed detailed programme is set out in Table 2 in the attached appendix. The programme has been prepared to produce impacts across the county.

6. Monitoring and Reporting

6.1 All schemes over £10,000 will be submitted to the Director of Environment for delegated project approval. All schemes will be subject to before and after monitoring which will include usage of new and improved facilities and the views of local stakeholders.

7. Impact Assessments

7.1 The casualty reduction programme will improve road conditions for all users but will involve some additional road signs in some cases, where necessary, to increase awareness of hazards. It will mean some increases in maintenance liabilities are a substantial element of the programme, eg the surface treatment works will reduce short term maintenance requirements.

7.2 The countryside access programme will improve access for all countryside users with many schemes being of particular benefit to people with a mobility impairment.

7.3 The programme as a whole will improve the quality of the assets associated with countryside access but some schemes will increase future maintenance liability.

Recommendation

That the proposed sub-programmes for casualty reduction and countryside access be approved.

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

None.

916Rpt/JWB/AS

APPENDIX

COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS

LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2 PROPOSED PROJECTS 2006/07

By Theme

REF

AREA

ROUTE

PROPOSAL

COSTS to LTP

Urban - links to services or recreation

2

S

Albany Drive to Siskin Close. Bishops Waltham

Works required to tarmac this link from new development to the town centre of Bishops Waltham. Tarmac and install lighting to improve path to adoptable standard.

19,500

13

W

Whitsbury Footpath 5 (Church Path)

Improve surface of path within rural village. Important priority for the Parish Council and HCC local member. Path links to the church and shop.

5,000

17

E

Havant FP55, Wade Court Langstone

Improved surface to urban fringe path. Path is a popular route which forms part of HCC promoted Health Walk where there is currently a safety issue. The path is not currently suitable for the potential type and level of use.

5,000

Urban - links to countryside

3

E

Link to/from Staunton Country Park to the wider Forest of Bere

Improve path surface to link into wider countryside by undertaking path surface improvements, signage, and improved drainage. A key recreational link to the wider countryside for the residents of Leigh Parks and Havant.

( Stage 1) 9,000

14

N

Bridleway 2 Silchester (Pamber Heath)

Surface Improvements to link path into wider network from the residential area of Pamber Heath. This is in area where currently there are insufficient routes for the numbers of cyclists and riders living in the nearby area. This route has potential as a safe off-road route to Silchester village.

14,000

15

N

Bridleway 2 Silchester (Pamber Heath)

New Bridge with ramped access and handrails required to help improve access for wheelchair users, pushchairs, cyclists and riders on this route.

6,000

18

S

Gull Coppice Whiteley

Create circular path close to residential areas and school - links in with wider network. Will help provide network of short walks appropriate for promotion as health walks.

2,500

Improving Access for More Users

5

N

Hawley Meadows - linking FP504/505

New Footbridge with ramped access. This will increase significantly the length of the Blackwater Valley Path that can be accessed by wheelchair users. Alternative route for walkers and cyclists would be approximately 3 miles longer and include use of dual carriageway

18,310 (total 98,310, majority funded by Surrey Heath District Council)

RESERVE BIDS (NOT INCLUDED IN £200K 2006/7)

20

E

Bentworth BOAT 25

Improve to all-weather route for use by pushchairs, wheelchairs and people with limited mobility to create an `all-weather' facility which links into wider network.

[24,000]

21

E

Horndean BOAT 47 and 48

Improve surface of important intersection in accordance with Forest of Bere Action Plan priorities. The path's location and gentle gradient make it potentially a popular route for all users.

[11,200]

Completing Important Strategic Links

6

W

Lymington to Keyhaven

Upgrade route to form part of the New Forest Strategic Cycle Route to provide a significant link between Lymington and Keyhaven and creates a safe easy access route suitable for all.

10,000

9

S

NCN Woolston to Netley

Provide new path through Abbey Hill Park to form part of coastal National Cycle Network (NCN). A traffic-free route which will link centres of population in this area. This is a joint project with Eastleigh BC and Southampton CC.

15,000 (45,000 total)

11

W

Access to NCN at Hythe

Re-surfacing of route from Hardley and Hythe to link to NCN and form part of the New Forest Strategic Cycle Network. Intended for use for commuters to work as well as for recreation.

(Stage 1) 25,000

10

E/W

Junction of A31 B3047 New Alresford

Improve on-road facilities for cyclists at road junction. Route to form part of the National Byway and extending the National Cycle Network from Alresford to Winchester. Part funded by South Downs AONB and Sustrans.

10,000 (total 50,000)

Responding to Lack of Facilities for Riders and Cyclists

7

S

Bridleways joining Morestead Road

Improve access for all users by raising level of the bridleway where it meets the road and mounting blocks. Helps provide safe off-road routes for cyclists from Winchester. Forms a part of the `Whole Network Approach' pilot joint project between Highways and Countryside Service.

5,000

8

E

Queen Elizabeth Country Park, Horndean

Improve surface of cycle track (part of off-road pack). A priority identified in South Downs Countryside Access Plan.

5,000

12

Hants

Development of off-road cycle packs

Expand no. of trails and re-surfacing of some existing and additional routes. Respond to need for easier, family orientated routes.

5,000

16

S

Fair Oak bridleway 23/24

Bridleway improvements in accordance with CAP - important off-road link which has been identified as a priority in the Forest of Bere Countryside Access Plan and by the FoB Equestrian Forum.

12,000

19

N

Ashford Hill

Surface improvements to bridleway in an area with stables and few good bridleway/ cycle paths. A priority improvement identified by the Parish Council. There is a lack of safe, off-road routes in this area.

12,000

Providing Important Arterial Routes

1

S

Meon Valley Railway

Surface Improvements to link Botley with Bishops Waltham. Clearly identified as a priority in the Forest of Bere Countryside Access Plan which shows value of route to a range of users.

14,000

4

E

Hayling Billy Coast Path, Hayling Island

Upgrade surface of the path to create easy access, all-weather surface. An important off-road link on Hayling Island which links with the bridge across to the `mainland'. Funding also anticipated from Environment Coastal Budget.

5,000 (total £10,000)

Total [Excluding 2 `Reserve' Schemes] = £197,300