Contact: Tim Cheesebrough, ext 7114 email: [email protected]

Debbi Smith, ext 6394 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The following decision is sought:

That the attached initial programme for the assessment of highway environment, including street furniture and sign `de-cluttering' pilot studies, be approved.

2. Reason

2.1 This programme is a response to recent Government and national best practice guidance concerning the urban and rural highway environment. The Campaign to Protect Rural England has chosen Hampshire County Council as its partner in its national `anti sign-clutter' campaign, with the shared proposal for a pilot study of the southern A32 in Hampshire. Through some pilot projects, as proposed in the second Hampshire Local Transport Plan, the County Council will be able to develop a new policy approach to better protect the Hampshire highway environment from some adverse effects arising from highway design, maintenance and management functions. These pilot schemes are considered to represent a good selection of locations where stakeholders currently have issues.

3. Other Options Considered and Rejected

3.1 Not to review the County Council's highway management and design and environmental conservation activities would not help the development of informed policy changes.

4. Conflicts of Interest Declared by the Decision Maker or Other Executive Member Consulted - None.

5. Dispensation granted by the Standards Committee - None.

6. Reason(s) for the Matter being dealt with if Urgent - None.

Approved by: Date:

Councillor M J Kendal

Executive Member for Environment

975Decn/TLC

APPENDIX

PROPOSED HIGHWAY ENVIRONMENT PILOTS PROGRAMME

Contact: Tim Cheesebrough, ext 7114 email: [email protected]

Debbi Smith, ext 6394 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 There is a growing recognition nationally of the adverse impacts on the character of countryside, villages and indeed the historic core of towns and cities through some highway changes which may be considered to be unsympathetic to their surroundings. It is believed that the distinctive qualities of different parts of Hampshire and their unique `sense of place' could be eroded over time through inappropriate traffic and highway management measures.

1.2 The recent publication of important advisory documents by English Heritage in partnership with the Department for Transport and by the Countryside Agency with the Institution of Civil Engineers (ICE), dealing with both urban `streetscape' and the rural highway environment, underlines the need for a review of current practices nationally. These issues are relevant to Hampshire. A report prepared for the Environment Policy Review Committee in July 2006 outlined how the County Council, through its highway management and environmental conservation responsibilities and activities, could provide a positive response to the problems highlighted by these advisory documents. This is also a matter of concern both nationally and locally to the Council for Protection of Rural England (CPRE) and some local communities.

1.3 The second Hampshire Local Transport Plan (2006-2011) (LTP2) sets out the requirement for the reduction of highway `sign-clutter' in both rural and urban areas. The issue of `sign-clutter' is, however, only part of a broader issue of assessing the impact of highway markings, street `furniture', highway surfacings and other modern engineering features in the context of the overall highway landscape and environment.

1.4 In urban areas, for example, the sometimes inappropriate location of street furniture and signage on the footway can have particular implications for pedestrian accessibility. Therefore the LTP2 `sign-clutter' pilots have been redefined in the attached initial programme of both studies and proposed works, as `Highway Environment' pilot projects. This approach will help ensure that these broader issues are properly addressed. Furthermore, it is considered that the lessons learnt from the LTP2 pilot projects should be incorporated where appropriate into new policies on this matter and associated working guidance, for all involved in the design, maintenance and management of Hampshire's highways.

1.5 This report therefore provides an initial programme of both study and work programme actions arising from the July 2006 Environment Policy Review Committee report, which itself set out the various strands of the County Council's proposed approach to this complex matter.

2. The Highway Environment Pilots

2.1 The LTP2 proposes that in order to develop a wider understanding of the issues surrounding the highway environment, a number of pilot projects be undertaken so that the range of relevant issues can be identified to inform future policy. There is £150,000 allocated within the LTP Capital Programme for 2006/07 for pilot projects to be commenced. A number of pilot schemes in both the rural and urban highway environments across Hampshire have now been identified and are outlined in the attached appendix, together with the current position concerning study work or the potential to implement changes.

Rural Highway Route Pilot - Southern A32, Meon Valley

2.2 A highway environment review pilot project for the southern half of the rural A32 between West Meon Hut and Wickham is the largest of the LTP2 pilot projects identified to date. This has in turn been the subject of early discussions with the Hampshire branch of the CPRE, which is leading on the CPRE's national campaign addressing these issues. Furthermore, the CPRE is proposing to use this scheme as its national pilot project for informing best practice guidance on such matters. This length of A32 is of special landscape character, being located in the South Downs Area of Outstanding Natural Beauty and the proposed South Downs National Park. Therefore the conservation of the appearance of this route is of prime importance.

2.3 Mott Gifford, as the County Council's professional services consultancy, has undertaken an initial scoping study into the level of signage on the route and the effects this may be having on the highway environment. The initial conclusion is that there is potential to remove a number of signs, rationalise and replace others and, as a consequence, better clarify the environment for drivers and other users of the route. Such changes would meet the joint aims of improving road safety and the visual environment.

2.4 However, it is recognised that best practice guidance for the future management of such routes, in terms of the total highway landscape, requires a considerably more comprehensive approach than a detailed examination of traffic signing alone. Therefore the project, subsequent to consultation with Winchester City Council, locally affected Members and local parish councils, will aim to produce as an output a future highway landscape management plan for the route, which in turn might inform approaches to similar routes elsewhere in Hampshire. Within the proposed National Park area there will be consultation with the other South Downs Highway Authorities to try to develop a common approach. A detailed Project Appraisal concerning the proposed package of measures and study work for A32 South will be presented early in 2007.

Other Rural and Urban Highway Pilot Projects

2.5 In parallel with the study of A32, a number of other smaller pilot projects are being identified for a range of locations around the county. This will ensure that future practice guidelines are based on a sound appreciation of the wide ranging issues that affect roads and their surrounding environment in both rural and urban areas. The proposed list of schemes and their current status of investigation are shown in the attached appendix.

2.6 It is envisaged that all the pilots will commence study in 2006/07 with a view to implementation either late in the 2006/07 financial year or during 2007/08. The precise timetable and final costs for each pilot project will depend in large part on the outcome of detailed consultations for each of the schemes. This is especially important for measures proposed within the New Forest National Park, where consultations with the National Park Authority have commenced.

2.7 Lessons learnt from all the proposed pilots outlined in the attached appendix will therefore inform the proposed Highway Environment Guidelines in Hampshire, as previously considered by the Environment Policy Review Committee. In turn these matters will inform the programme of awareness raising that it is proposed to be rolled out to County Council Environment Department staff, District Councils, Parish Councils and Members commencing in 2007.

3. Impact Assessments

3.1 It is considered that the actions proposed in this report should not have any detrimental impact on equalities or race discrimination. Appropriate and environmentally sensitive highway design is of benefit to all sections of the community.

Recommendation

That the attached initial programme for the assessment of highway environment, including street furniture and sign `de-cluttering' pilot studies, be approved.

975Rpt/TLC

APPENDIX

PROPOSED HIGHWAY ENVIRONMENT PILOTS PROGRAMME