Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 8

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

A326 DIBDEN PURLIEU - PEGASUS CROSSING

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

NOVEMBER 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

77

77

Fees

31

31

108

108

Less developers/

other contributions

108

108

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

108

108

(b) Other

108

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

108

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2.6

0.003

Capital charges

11.0

0.009

TOTAL net expenditure

13.6

0.012

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

The installation of this Pegasus crossing is expected to provide a safe crossing point to assist pedestrians and equestrians to cross the busy A326. This facility will also provide local residents with a safe alternative means of accessing the Forest as pedestrians rather then travelling by car to the nearest car park located at Dibden Inclosure

The crossing proposal has been developed following local representations which were made to the County Council after a fatal accident in January 2005 involving an elderly pedestrian from Dibden Purlieu crossing the A326 to reach the Forest. In view of the equestrian demand a Pegasus crossing is proposed.

Residents of Dibden Purlieu rely heavily on access to the open space of the New Forest for recreation, dog walking and horse riding, with access to these activities being intersected by the A326. Concerns about the severance caused by the A326 and road safety have been long standing in the local community.

A comprehensive study was undertaken to establish pedestrian travel patterns and frequency along the A326 between Applemore roundabout and Hardley roundabout. Surveys recording the number of equestrians crossing the road were also undertaken. The numerical criteria PV² has been established to assess the need for a formal crossing, where P is the number of pedestrians per hour and V the number of vehicles per hour. The chosen location of the proposed Pegasus recorded a weekday PV² value 0.5 x 10⁸ and a weekend PV² value of 0.84 x 10⁸. The average 12-hour daily traffic flow was 20,077 vehicles. The average daily number of pedestrians crossing the A326 in the vicinity of the proposed crossing point was 88 on a weekday and 197 at weekends. The daily number of equestrians crossing the A326 to gain access to the Forest was observed to be one horse crossing and returning during the week and three horses crossing and returning at weekends.

The Pegasus crossing proposed for construction immediately north of the Heath roundabout should help address the issues of severance and safety along the A326 corridor. It will provide a focal point for pedestrians and equestrians from the local community to access the Forest safely.

The A326 separates the residential area of Dibden Purlieu from the open Forest and local people cross the road at this location for recreational purposes, such as dog walking, running and horse riding.

2.7

2.8

2.9

2.10

Targets and Outcomes

The aim of the proposed crossing is to provide a safe facility for both pedestrians and equestrians to cross the A326 to gain access to the Forest. It is hoped that pedestrians crossing the A326 elsewhere along the route will also make use of the proposed facility. The crossing may encourage local residents to make fewer car trips to the Forest which supports the County Council's Sustainable Development Strategy by helping to reduce the environmental impact of travel.

It is County Council policy to introduce crossings where the PV² result exceeds 1.0, where funding is available and a crossing can be safely installed. Where the PV² is between 0.5 and 1.0 the County Council may, in certain circumstances, proceed with the installation of a crossing.

In this case the current value is between 0.5 and 1.0 which is in the discretionary area for agreement but is being recommended as the A326, being difficult to cross, probably suppresses current use by pedestrians.

Pedestrian flows will be monitored following implementation of the scheme.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

The proposal is consistent with County Council policies and the New Forest Transport Strategy to reduce accident potential, improve facilities for pedestrians and equestrians by providing a focal point for local residents to gain access to the New Forest by alternative means other than the car. This issue has also been raised within the draft Countryside Access Plan for the New Forest and South West Hampshire required under the Countryside and Rights of Way Act 2000.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

The scheme has evolved during an investigation of pedestrian needs for crossing the A326 at a number of crossing points along the road between the Applemore and Hardley roundabouts. The needs of equestrians have also been taken into account.

The site of the proposed crossing is considered to be the most suitable location available. It has been located in close proximity to the Heath Roundabout because traffic speeds are generally lower both approaching and exiting the roundabout rather than on the straight sections of road where traffic speeds are greater.

Paths on the residential side of the road across the wide verge between the A326 and Roman Road will provide routes for pedestrians and equestrians leading to the proposed crossing.

Vegetation on the northbound approach will be trimmed back to increase the visibility of the crossing to drivers. The carriageway surface on each approach to the crossing point will be treated with a skid resistant surfacing. A keep clear marking will be provided on the circulatory carriageway of the Heath Hotel roundabout to maintain the flow of vehicles entering the roundabout from the B3054 Beaulieu Road should northbound traffic queue back from the crossing in peak periods during its operation.

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

The crossing design complies with the Department for Transport and Hampshire County Council standards, and has been safety audited at the appropriate stages in the design process. The provision of a crossing at this location is justified in accordance with the normal criteria.

Environmental Impact

3.8

The provision of a crossing is likely to increase short-term congestion as vehicles will be required to stop and wait whilst the crossing is in operation. Using modelling results from the traffic and pedestrian flows recorded in the surveys, the average maximum queue that forms and the average delay on vehicle journey times, based on peak period counts, will be as follows:

Weekday Morning Peak 0800-0900

Direction

Average maximum queue length (no. of vehicles)

Average delay to all vehicles (seconds)

Southbound

7

5

Northbound

24

10

Weekday Evening Peak 1800-1900

Direction

Average maximum queue length (no. of vehicles)

Average delay to all vehicles (seconds)

Southbound

12

3

Northbound

12

3

Weekend (Sunday) Morning Peak 1000-1100

Direction

Average maximum queue length (no. of vehicles)

Average delay to all vehicles (seconds)

Southbound

12

5

Northbound

7

4

Weekend (Sunday) Evening Peak 1600-1700

Direction

Average maximum queue length (no. of vehicles)

Average delay to all vehicles (seconds)

Southbound

11

6

Northbound

10

5

3.9

All these results are based on the assumption that pedestrians arrive at an average uniform rate.

Land Requirements

3.10

No land acquisition required. Alterations to Forest access arrangements are proposed which requires the installation of new fences and this work will be undertaken on Forest land as agreed with the Forestry Commission.

Statutory Procedures

3.11

The Police are aware of the proposed crossing and have raised no objections at this stage. Formal consultation with the Police will be undertaken and the Secretary of State will be notified before the crossing is established.

Public Consultation

3.12

Public notices have been posted on site for 28 days providing details of the proposal. No objections have been received.

Local Member's View

3.13

The local Member, Councillor Thornber, supports the proposal. The adjacent Member, Councillor Dash, is also supportive.

Impact Assessments

3.14

3.15

The proposal incorporates tactile paving for the visually impaired, with flush kerbs at the crossing for wheelchairs, prams and the less mobile. A holding area will be provided for horse riders and the push buttons mounted to enable horse riders to press it without dismounting.

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

3.16

3.17

3.18

3.19

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, responding to reported 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 signals 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.

If the maintenance costs of new traffic signal installations and equipment are not taken into account at the setting of the annual base budget, and the budget does not match the rate of growth for equipment, then there will be increasing pressure to reduce maintenance standards and on the ability to replace ageing and obsolete equipment.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.20

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

Sustainability

3.21

The Pegasus crossing supports walking and horse riding which are both sustainable forms of transport.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

4.2

To assist crossing movements between residential areas and the open Forest, several measures have been investigated, including pedestrian refuges, a Puffin crossing, a subway and footway over-bridge as requested by local residents. These were found to be inappropriate in the circumstances and it is therefore considered that the proposed Pegasus crossing is the only suitable option.

Consideration has also been given to a Puffin crossing which would not specifically meet the needs of local equestrians. The additional cost to upgrade the facility from a Puffin to a Pegasus crossing is considered to be justified in view of the mixed demand from both pedestrians and equestrians at this particular location.

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

Project File (A326 Hythe By-pass)

Environment Department

Traffic Management Group

Sheridan House

Jewry Street, Winchester