Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

ITEM 3

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A323 FLEET ROAD, HARTLEY WINTNEY - PUFFIN CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

JANUARY 2007

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2006/07

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2006

(at 2006

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

53

53

Fees

67

67

120

120

Less developers/

other contributions

120

120

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

120

(b) Other

120

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

120

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

3

0.002

Capital charges

9

0.007

TOTAL net expenditure

12

0.009

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

Following concerns raised over a number of years by four local schools, members of the public, the Parish Council, Hart District Council, the previous and current local Member and Rt Hon Sir James Arbuthnot, MP a Puffin crossing is proposed to improve the safety for pedestrians, especially parents and children who access to and from local schools, across the A323 Fleet Road, Hartley Wintney. The concerns have centred on the need at peak periods for pedestrians to cross at the uncontrolled crossing point through one queueing lane of traffic while the opposite lane is free flowing, adjacent to a "T" junction. Three personal injury accidents have occurred in the vicinity of the crossing in the three year period ending March 2006, one of which led to a fatality of an elderly pedestrian during the morning peak school crossing period. For four months in 2005 a crossing warden operated at the site but otherwise it operates without a warden.

Aside from school pedestrian flows, the crossing is used by a large number of pedestrians, many of whom are elderly, throughout the day. Traffic speeds are in the 35-40 miles per hour (mph) range and flows are relatively high, the A323 being used by some 8,500 vehicles per day. The formal crossing is justified in terms of the normal numerical criteria, recording a PV² value of 0.75 x 10⁸ averaged over the four busiest hours of the day.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

The proposal is consistent with the aims set out in the Local Transport Plan. This crossing will be of very great benefit to pedestrians, especially the mobility impaired and elderly.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The scheme will comprise:

(i) a Puffin crossing across A323 Fleet Road, mid-way between Green Lane and Cricket Green Lane, Hartley Wintney;

(ii) access footways on the west side of Fleet Road will connect with the footway on the south side of Green Lane, which is on the present pedestrian desire line, especially for access to the Infants School. A footway link will also be provided from the crossing south to the lay-by outside the local church, as requested by parents from the Primary School, to avoid the need for walking in Fleet Road;

(iii) on the east side of Fleet Road a new, replacement track on the Common to connect with the main footpath across it, so diverting pedestrians away from the existing informal crossing within the junction of Fleet Road with Green Lane; and

(iv) a widened footway along the east side of Fleet Road to provide a queueing area for the crossing.

3.3

A location plan is attached and a detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.

Environmental Impact

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

Visually the crossing will be a slight intrusion into the environment of the area. Residents and community representatives believe this is outweighed by the benefits of the crossing.

At present pedestrians cross the road through one lane of moving traffic and one lane of queueing traffic as northbound vehicles queue to the A30 junction with Fleet Road during the peak hours. With the short term presence of a school crossing patrol warden during 2005, traffic queued for the patrol and then caught up with the queue ahead once released. The crossing is expected to function in the same manner. More formally, with the crossing in place, delays are expected to be in the order of three seconds per vehicle (which in the peak direction are expected to catch up with the preceding vehicles, once released) with a maximum delay of 16 seconds. Queues of two vehicles are indicated for the morning peak hour and four vehicles in the evening peak hour on Fleet Road.

In the presence of the crossing, traffic speeds are likely to reduce to be more in keeping with the existing 30 mph speed limit. This will improve safety overall and reduce the environmental intrusion of traffic speed and noise into the ambience of the Common.

Approval has been received from the Environment Agency, Hart District Council and Hartley Wintney Parish Council for piping the ditch immediately west of the road and proposed footway, to prevent pedestrians from falling into it.

In agreement with the Department for Environment, Food and Rural Affairs (Defra), measures have been agreed to minimise any impact on trees on the Common from the construction works involved with the footways, including relocating an existing support-post for the electricity supply which has been compromising a nearby tree.

Land Requirements

3.9

3.10

3.11

3.12

3.13

Two parcels of land are required, making up some 130 square metres of Common land, to provide the access footway to the crossing. On the west side of Fleet Road 74 square metres of land are required for the footway between Green Lane and the layby, providing access as requested by parents. On the east side 56 square metres are required to ensure that Highway rights extend over the existing footway alongside Fleet Road and the relocated track which diverts pedestrians away from the existing crossing.

Processes for the Compulsory Purchase Order (CPO) of Common land have been under way for several years with the Government Office for the North East (GONE) and Defra, which administer such applications on behalf of the Secretary of State for Transport. Two major obstacles to the CPO have been overcome; Defra has confirmed that exchange land for that to be taken under highway rights, will not be required, and GONE has recently given "confirmation" of the CPO. At present advertisement of the confirmation is under public consultation as required by the legislation, any objections to be considered by the High Court.

Hart District Council, the land owner, is supportive of the scheme and the CPO, and therefore land costs will be minimal. Hartley Wintney Parish Council is supportive of the crossing.

Final approval for the CPO is expected during August 2006.

Approval is sought for the project, subject to receipt of the final approval for the compulsory purchase of the land. Due to the length of time that legal complexities have taken to near resolution it is appropriate that the County Council resolves any internal formalities, such that once CPO procedures have been completed no further delays are incurred.

Statutory Procedures

3.14

3.15

Compulsory Purchase Order processes are being followed as described above and are nearing conclusion.

Additionally County Council procedures for advertising the intention to construct a crossing have been undertaken. No objections have been received.

Public Consultation

3.16

3.17

3.18

Extensive consultation has taken place over several years with the public, the schools, the Parish Council and Hart District Council with unanimous support for the crossing, and most recently with GONE and Defra without producing risks to the scheme. Advertisement of the outcomes of the statutory consultations with GONE and Defra have been notified to the public as required by the appropriate legislation and guidance. No objections have been received.

The final consultation with the public is underway at present.

Advertisement during 2003 and 2005 of the proposal to construct the crossing resulted only in letters of support being received.

Local Member's View

3.19

The local Member, Councillor Simpson, supports the proposal.

Impact Assessments

3.20

The proposed crossing incorporates tactile paving and audible warnings which are beneficial for all user groups, in particular the mobility impaired (young and elderly) and people with wheelchairs. Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of the scheme which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race, creed or gender, but to further improve access for all.

Maintenance Implications

3.21

3.22

3.23

The revenue implication of this proposal will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget.

The installation of traffic signals at this location will result in additional revenue expenditure, both in respect of maintenance works and its operation. Maintenance works include repairing equipment related faults, carrying out a biannual lamp change and undertaking an annual electrical inspection. Operating costs are incurred in respect of electrical power and telecommunications.

The traffic signal equipment is anticipated to operate satisfactorily for between 10 and 15 years. After this time it will need to be replaced. The anti-skid surfacing may need to be renewed at more regular intervals to ensure adequate performance.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.24

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

3.25

The scheme will aid pedestrian movement within the local community, providing a safe road crossing to link residential areas with nearby schools, shops and church facilities. Additionally, the scheme resolves a long standing difficulty faced by elderly pedestrians who at present cross the road through traffic.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

Not providing a crossing was considered but excluded because of the difficulty experienced by pedestrians crossing the road at present; a pedestrian fatality occurred in 2003. Five alternative locations were assessed along Fleet Road but rejected because they were not sufficiently on the pedestrian desire line and were less safe than the preferred location.

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

Hartley Wintney

A323 Pedestrian Crossing

Traffic Access across the Common

Environment Department

Sheridan House