Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 9

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

LEE-ON-THE-SOLENT SUSTAINABLE SUBURBS

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JANUARY 2007

COMPLETION DATE:

APRIL 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

Construction

99

99

Fees

51

51

150

150

Less developers/

other contributions

150

150

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme2006/07

150

Total

150

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

150

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

1

0.001

Capital charges

14

0.011

TOTAL net expenditure

15

0.012

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

2.7

2.8

2.9

The proposed scheme will provide pedestrian crossing points and junction modifications to improve road safety and ease movement for pedestrians and the mobility impaired.

In 2001 the County Council commissioned the Civic Trust to undertake a study of Lee-on-the-Solent, involving the local community, to identify opportunities to revitalise and improve the area. The study identified a number of priority actions in respect of local transport and access, including the need for improved pedestrian facilities in the shopping area. Measures which aimed to improve road safety and ease movement for pedestrians were also identified.

Further consultations were undertaken by Gosport Borough Council with local Members, the public and local businesses. Various measures to improve access, pedestrian facilities and traffic management, in particular at junctions and in the High Street, were identified and progressed.

The centre of Lee-on-the-Solent forms the confluence of the B3333 and the B3385 and currently provides transportation links between western Gosport, Lee-on-the-Solent, Stubbington and Fareham. This creates a busy mix of traffic, pedestrians and shoppers and there is a one-way system operation around the town.

High volumes of traffic travel along the B3333 Marine Parade and B3385 to access Fareham and Gosport. Lee-on-the-Solent town centre is situated on this route. The route around the area is one-way and local traffic as well as holiday traffic use it to access the town centre shopping area. A 12-hour vehicle count identified over 16,000 vehicles travelling along the B3333.

The scheme is centred on the High Street, Milvil Road and Pier Street and will provide improvements to assist pedestrians and the mobility impaired and provide easier access around the High Street shopping area. It will also provide improvements to enhance safety at the Marine Parade/Pier Street, Marine Parade/Milvil Road, Marine Parade/Beach Road and the High Street/Manor Way junctions. A 12-hour pedestrian survey undertaken to determine how many pedestrians crossed the road at these junctions identified over 2,500 pedestrian movements.

Traffic accesses the B3333 Marine Parade from the High Street via either Marine Parade/Pier Street junction or the Marine Parade/Beach Road junction. Due to high traffic volumes on Marine Parade and problems with visibility at the junctions, traffic has difficulty exiting from these priority controlled junctions. This is due to one vehicle masking visibility to another, as well as traffic parking and manoeuvring in the lay-by on Marine Parade which obscures visibility to traffic exiting from Pier Street.

The accident record for the last three years has shown one serious and five slight injury accidents at the junction of High Street/Pier Street, and three slight injury accidents at the junction of Pier Street and Marine Parade East. Pedestrian improvements which incorporate the narrowing of the junctions on Pier Street/Marine Parade and High Street/Pier Street, together with pedestrian crossing points along the High Street, will improve safety and access for pedestrians.

The High Street is one-way and fairly wide, at 6.4 metres. There is limited parking provision on the south side and vehicles are often seen parking on the north side by the edge of the carriageway and on part of the footpath in front of the local bus stop, causing congestion. Provision of uncontrolled pedestrian crossing points and double yellow lines will help to deter this illegal parking and improve inter-visibility between pedestrians and drivers, and also reduce the distance to cross the High Street. On Pier Street vehicles are parking on the footway to unload as there is limited access at the back of the retail units on the High Street. Provision of a suitable loading area on Pier Street will help to improve traffic management and provide a formal place to unload.

2.10

2.11

2.12

Targets and Outcomes

The scheme aims to support the Local Transport Plan (LTP) objectives by improving safety, accessibility and support wider quality of life objectives.

The targets are to:

(i) provide pedestrian crossings points to improve accessibility - a public satisfaction survey will be carried out after completion;

(ii) improve traffic management and contribute towards improving road safety for all user groups; and

(iii) contribute to supporting the economic viability of the local shopping facilities.

The expected outcomes are:

(i) improved pedestrian accessibility to promote walking, enhance the local environment and improve the perception of safety, particularly for vulnerable users; and

(ii) included in the three year injury accident record from 1 August 2003 to 31 July 2006 were four involving pedestrians that occurred in the vicinity of the High Street/Manor Way and Pier Street/Marine Parade junctions. The scheme is expected to contribute to the reduction in road casualty numbers. The County Council's LTP target is to reduce slight accidents by 10% from the 2000/04 average by 2010.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This scheme supports the County Council's LTP by:

(i) providing more of the infrastructure that improves town accessibility; and

(ii) improving pedestrian safety for the local community and encouraging greater access.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

3.3

3.4

3.5

3.6

3.7

3.8

3.9

3.10

3.11

3.12

3.13

Pier Street

At the junction with the High Street the footways are to be widened into the carriageway and uncontrolled crossing points introduced, with associated tactile paving and buff-coloured surfacing, to highlight the crossing.

An unloading bay, approximately 12 metres in length, is to be provided south-west of the service road junction with Pier Street.

The junction of Marine Parade and Pier Street is to be reduced in width to achieve a 3 metre wide carriageway for a length of approximately 22 metres. The access onto Marine Parade will be reduced from two lanes to one.

At the junction of Marine Parade and Pier Street an uncontrolled crossing point is to be introduced with associated dropped kerbs, tactile paving and bollards. Coloured surfacing will be laid to highlight the crossing.

Marine Parade

The existing lay-by north-west of the Pier Street junction is to be removed and new kerbing and footway provided.

At the junction with Milvil Road the right turn lane is to be extended and the road markings and the existing imprint material laid to the carriageway adjusted accordingly.

The footway and kerb line to the south-east corner of the junction is to be extended, with a new crossing point and landscape area provided. The existing "welcome" sign is to be relocated on Marine Parade West, a few metres west of its current position.

Milvil Road

Adjacent to No. 1 Milvil Road a new uncontrolled crossing point is to be installed with associated dropped kerbs and tactile paving.

High Street

Adjacent to Nos. 159, 128 and 111 three new build-outs will be constructed to provide pedestrian crossing points which will reduce the carriageway to approximately 3 metres. Dropped kerbs, buff-coloured tactile paving and red-coloured surfacing will be incorporated within the crossing points.

There will be provision of bus stop marking bays and raised kerbs on the north side of the High Street at the existing bus stop.

Existing disabled bay markings will be reinforced.

There will be provision of a dropped kerb pedestrian crossing at the north-east end of the High Street near the junction of Beach Road

Beach Road

3.14

3.15

3.16

3.17

At its junction with Marine Parade, Beach Road is to be narrowed for approximately 20 metres by the introduction of road markings, providing a traffic lane width of 3 metres. The existing tactile paving and dropped kerbs to the junction will be renewed.

General Details

It is proposed to introduce sympathetic landscaping to areas of the scheme, along with bollards at the crossing points and any vulnerable pedestrian areas. All new paving will match as closely as possible to the existing.

The design conforms to current national and County Council standards and the proposals will be subject to a safety audit.

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

Environmental Impact

3.18

The scheme will improve road conditions for pedestrians and other road users and will be constructed on the existing highway. No adverse environmental impact is expected from this proposal.

Land Requirements

3.19

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

Statutory Procedures

3.20

To improve safety and control parking Traffic Regulation Order amendments are required for Marine Parade and Milvil Road. These are being progressed by Gosport Borough Council.

Public Consultation

3.21

3.22

3.23

3.24

3.25

Gosport Borough Council carried out a public consultation with local residents and the business community of Lee-on-the-Solent to determine the type of improvements required.

A questionnaire and plans outlining a number of proposals were sent out to residents and businesses in the High Street, the Lee-on-the-Solent Residents' Association and Borough Council Members. The plans were displayed in the local library, Gosport Town Hall reception and Lee-on-the-Solent Community Centre.

Following these consultations and those with stakeholders, measures to improve pedestrian facilities and road conditions in the area have been incorporated in this scheme.

Gosport Borough Councillors Carter and Taylor attended a site meeting and both support the proposals.

Members of the public generally supported the proposals but were concerned that the proposed reduction from two lanes to one to exit Pier Street and Beach Road would cause congestion in the High Street and increase journey time. Trials were carried out using traffic cones which confirmed there would be no adverse effect on the High Street or journey times. To reduce the traffic lanes to one would improve visibility and safety for drivers by preventing one vehicle masking the other at the junction.

Local Member's View

3.26

The local Member, Councillor Mrs Snaith, has been consulted.

Impact Assessments

3.27

Assessment of the Race Relations (Amendment) Act has been considered in the development of this scheme, which is not expected to compromise equalities in terms of race and gender. The creation of pedestrian crossing points and dropped kerbs will assist wheelchair users and those with mobility impairments.

Maintenance Implications

3.28

The materials used will, where possible, match those already in and around the town.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.29

Improvements for parking and loading areas will discourage illegal parking on the footpaths.

Sustainability

3.30

The scheme will improve conditions for pedestrians and other road users in and around the town centre and promote walking. There is a high proportion of elderly people living in this area, therefore the improvements will particularly help those with mobility impairments and improve their quality of life.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

4.1

4.2

4.3

To maintain a two lane access from Pier Street onto Marine Parade East was considered but rejected as this would not address the accident problem at the junction of Pier Street caused in part by lack of visibility.

To maintain the existing lay-by on Marine Parade East and allow only loading and unloading was considered but rejected as this would not address the accident problem at the junction of Pier Street caused in part by lack of visibility.

The option to do nothing was considered but rejected due to the lack of pedestrian facilities 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

Lee-on-the-Solent Sustainable Suburbs

Environmental Department

Room 415