Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 7

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

EMSWORTH ACCESSIBILITY

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

DECEMBER 2006

COMPLETION DATE:

MARCH 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

135.0

135.0

Fees

68.0

68.0

203.0

203.0

Less developers/

2.4

2.4

other contributions

200.6

200.6

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

200.6

(b) Other

200.6

2.

From other resources

(a) Developers Contributions

2.4

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

203.0

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

7.8

0.008

Capital charges

18.6

0.014

TOTAL net expenditure

26.4

0.022

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

The lack of consistent pedestrian routes and continuous cycle track acts as a barrier to accessing the town centre of Emsworth. This proposal will improve safety and increase accessibility for pedestrians and cyclists.

The Local Transport Plan (LTP2) includes the following objectives:

(i) To increase accessibility.

(ii) To promote safety.

(iii) To support wider quality of life objectives.

A small section of cycle track is needed to complete a missing link between Havant town centre and Emsworth centre. The missing link runs along the A259 Havant Road from Highland Road, down West Street and then High Street, ending at St Peter's Square in the centre of Emsworth. This route also links to Safer Routes to School projects in the area.

In addition, walking routes into the town centre are inconsistent and of mixed quality with missing dropped kerb crossings and tactile paving at many locations. The A259 causes severance between the town centre and the residential area to the north. Local stakeholders (notably the Havant Access Group) have been involved in identifying where improvements are most needed.

Targets and Outcomes

This will contribute towards the following LTP targets:

(i) town centre access (public satisfaction);

(ii) town centre access (modal split of trips to town centre);

(iii) town centre access (severance);

(iv) accessibility (targets to be set);

(v) footway condition; and

(vi) percentage of people feeling safe outside the home at night.

The improved pedestrian facilities cover a wide area therefore it is difficult to obtain `before' and `after' data that is suitable for statistical analysis. However post scheme monitoring will be undertaken where possible, especially where base data has been collected.

Survey Data

A spot check survey of parked bicycles in Emsworth town centre during June 2006 showed that 13 cycles were parked, despite there being only six stands (each of which could hold two cycles). This suggests current cycle stands are well used.

A survey of cyclists using the A259 Havant Road in Emsworth was undertaken during June 2006. This recorded a total of 498 cyclists in a 12-hour period, including 49 child cyclists. This compares favourably with other well used cycle routes in the county.

Seven accidents involving cyclists were recorded in the three years prior to the feasibility study in the vicinity of the scheme. Four of these accidents were at the junction of North Street and Havant Road, a junction which is bypassed as part of this scheme.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This project will:

(i) provide more of the infrastructure that makes the town accessible;

(ii) allow better access for the local community to the town centre; and

(iii) improve pedestrian and cycle safety for the local community and encouraging greater accessibility to, and use of, the local town centre services.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

3.3

The work involves:

(i) installing dropped kerb crossing points and tactile paving along key routes to the town centre in A259 Havant Road, High Street, Bridge Road and North Street;

(ii) narrowing of the bell-mouth of West Street junction with High Street to assist pedestrians crossing, with new cycle parking; and

(iii) providing a new eastbound on-road advisory cycle lane along A259 Havant Road from Highland Road to Bridge Road, with coloured road surfacing across the side road junctions on the westbound side to raise awareness of on-road cyclists. Also conversion of footway to shared use at Havant Road/Bridge Road to facilitate cyclists using the upgraded Toucan crossing, together with conversion of footway to shared use on the westbound side of the A259 between Warblington Road and West Street.

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

Environmental Impact

3.4

All works are minor alterations to the existing roads and footways, therefore there is negligible impact to the natural environment. The alterations are also minor in relation to the changes to the character of either the town centre or the local community, with no significant impact.

Land Requirements

3.5

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory Procedures

3.6

Conversion of footway to cycle track for shared use by cyclists and pedestrians, using the powers contained in Sections 65 and 66 of the Highways Act 1980, requires a formal decision by the Highway Authority as specified in the second recommendation of this report.

Public Consultation

3.7

The feasibility study for this scheme involved consultation with County and Borough officers, Borough ward Members, local Police and local cycling groups. Further consultation took place in January 2006 which included representatives of the Havant Borough Council Accessibility Group. This included a walking audit which helped to identify and prioritise the desired measures.

Local Member's View

3.8

The local Member, Councillor Gillett, supports the scheme.

Impact Assessments

3.9

Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this project which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race or gender, but to improve accessibility for all pedestrians and cyclists.

Maintenance Implications

3.10

The maintenance implications of this scheme are limited since it involves only minor modifications to the existing highway infrastructure. Analysis of the proposals has been undertaken to determine the financial implications for maintenance, which has been included in the financial summary to inform future maintenance budgets.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.11

There are no direct crime and disorder benefits as a result of this scheme, but there may be indirect benefits from increased confidence to use public areas when the accessibility to them has been improved.

Sustainability

3.12

Where possible the construction materials used will contain recycled constituents. Improving accessibility will increase the walking and cycling and if this combines with a reduction in car travel locally then it will help to reduce car travel related carbon emissions.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

A walking audit was undertaken with Havant Accessibility Group that identified a large number of potential improvements for pedestrians and cyclists either using the town centre or travelling to or from it. These have been prioritised to focus on key routes into the town centre, with lower priority measures kept as a reserve should other funding become available.

LINK(S) TO CORPORATE STRATEGY

Yes

No

Hampshire safer and more secure for all

√

Maximising well-being

Enhancing our quality of place

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

Scheme File

Environment Department

Room 427