Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 7

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

VILLAGE INITIATIVE, KINGSCLERE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2007

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

52

52

Fees

34

34

86

86

Less developers/

other contributions

30

30

56

56

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

56

(b) Other

56

2.

From other resources

(a) developer contribution

30

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

86

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

0.9

0.001

Capital charges

6.5

0.005

TOTAL net expenditure

7.4

0.006

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

The proposed scheme will reduce the risk to pedestrians in crossing at several locations in the village, together with providing a footway and reducing vehicle speeds in Swan Street.

The Parish Council has identified a number of locations within the village which pose difficulties for pedestrians, particularly in crossing roads and, in one case, where the footway is incomplete. In addition, traffic speed has been identified as a particular problem on Swan Street, especially at the Bear Hill junction, at the Fox's Lane approach to the George's Street junction and the approach to the 30 miles per hour (mph) terminal signs on Fox's Lane. Attention has also been called to the need to slow vehicles entering Swan Lane from George's Street and clarify the use of the bus stop at this junction. This proposal directly addresses these difficulties.

The scheme will meet the Local Transport Plan (LTP2) objectives of:

(i) increasing accessibility to services by better enabling non car-borne travel; and

(ii) promoting safety by improving facilities for pedestrians and residents.

The six elements of the proposal include:

(i) George's Street/Basingstoke Road junction

Pedestrians have long complained about the difficulty of crossing the wide George's Street at this location, which is used by many pedestrians at the eastern end of the village, including parents and children en-route to and from school. It is also directly outside the Parish Hall.

(ii) Newbury Road/Fox's Lane junction

Existing poor pedestrian sight lines, combined with inappropriately high vehicle speeds, on this tortuous section of road make pedestrian crossing hazardous.

(iii) Swan Street/Bear Hill junction

This narrow section of road forms the entrance to the narrow and more densely populated section of Swan Street, at the point at which drivers should be reducing their speed. No footway is available. Several vehicles have collided with properties at this location and pedestrians feel intimidated when opposing vehicles meet.

(iv) George Street/Swan Street Junction

Traffic speed has been identified as being very intimidating for pedestrians from George's Street east into Swan Street. This compromises pedestrians in the northern end of Swan Street by the village shop and poses risk to parking manoeuvres near the shop. In dealing with these problems, it is also necessary to deal with the deep bus lay-by on George's Street.

(v) Fox's Lane/Bear Hill junction

Traffic speed at the southern approach to the Fox's Lane/Bear Hill junction leads to a safety risk for vehicles exiting from Bear Hill northbound into Fox's Lane and for pedestrians on the road, in the absence of a footway.

The proposed scheme will complement other works in the wider Kingsclere area.

At the A339/Newbury Road junction:

(i) road marking improvements have recently been undertaken on the A339 as part of the Casualty Reduction programme;

(ii) a refuge has been installed on Newbury Road by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council on behalf of the County Council; and

(iii) an improved 30 mph gateway treatment has been installed on Newbury Road immediately south of the A339 junction.

Numerous improvements have been implemented over recent years at the A339/B3051 junction to reduce the injury accident rate. This work is part of the programme of ongoing improvements on the A339 undertaken by the County Council since de-trunking of the road by the Highways Agency.

Additionally, on- and off-street parking in Kingsclere is severely restricted because of the ancient form of the settlement with its narrow roads, the low number of suitable off-street public parking spaces and lack of residential off-street parking. Under the Traffic Management Agency Agreement, Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council officers are working with the Parish Council to adapt on-street parking availability and restrictions to improve conditions, especially in Swan Street. The proposed speed reduction works and the changes to parking will both assist in dealing with speed and driver behaviour in Swan Street.

2.9

2.10

Targets and Outcomes

The proposal will contribute to the following LTP2 targets:

(i) village centre access (public satisfaction);

(ii) village centre access (modal split to village centre);

(ii) village centre access (severance);

(iv) accessibility (targets to be set); and

(v) footway condition.

The improvements cover a wide area and therefore meaningful `before and after' data is difficult to obtain. However, the experience of residents is useful information to gauge the extent of the problems to date, and the success of the scheme in reducing the risk and intimidation to which residents are exposed.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This project will:

(i) provide infrastructure which will improve accessibility within the village; and

(ii) improve pedestrian safety for the local community and encourage greater accessibility to, and use of, the local village centre services.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The works involve the following elements:

3.3

(i) George's Street/Basingstoke Road junction

Installing a pedestrian refuge accompanied by dropped kerbs in George's Street. This has required detailed trial of the location of the refuge with the Fire and Rescue Service.

(ii) Newbury Road/Fox's Lane junction

Narrowing and realignment of the exit from Fox's Lane onto Newbury Road, together with dropped kerbs to guide pedestrians to the preferred crossing points.

(iii) Swan Street/Bear Hill junction

Construction of a footway which will form part of a road narrowing which in turn becomes a shuttle working traffic calming feature. This will require traffic inbound to the village to give way to outbound vehicles. A trial of the proposed works is being undertaken during winter 2006/07 to demonstrate the concept of the proposal to residents and to finalise the exact form of the design.

(iv) George Street/Swan Street Junction

Amendment to the junction to encourage drivers to slow on their entrance to Swan Street. This has also required reducing the depth of the bus stop lay-by.

(v) Fox's Lane/Bear Hill junction.

Provision of an over-runnable surface on the north-east corner of the junction to encourage drivers to slow down on their exit from, and entrance into, Swan Lane to provide some protection for pedestrians in the road. Relocation of the 30 mph speed limit terminal signs away from the village, to provide better visibility of the speed limit to drivers approaching the village, together with enhancement of the gateway.

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

Environmental Impact

3.4

All works are minor alterations to the existing roads and footways and 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 village 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

A Traffic Regulation Order is due to be advertised in early January 2007 to extend the 30 mph speed limit on Fox's Lane. Support for the proposal has been received from the Police.

Public Consultation

3.7

The proposals have been under discussion with the Parish Council for a number of years, the preliminary idea being incorporated in the Village Design Statement and culminating in a public meeting in February 2006. A petition was received in February 2006 expressing concern at the risk to pedestrians crossing in this area. A further meeting was held on 19 October 2006 to discuss matters of detail with residents of Swan Street.

Local Member's View

3.8

The local Member, Councillor Chapman, 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.

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 improve the attractiveness of walking and if this combines with a reduction in car travel locally then it will help to reduce car related carbon emissions.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

The scheme has evolved in consultation with the Parish Council and modified in consultation with residents. No other options are considered to be appropriate.

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

Kingsclere: Traffic Issues - working file

Environment Department

Traffic Management Group