HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 6 PROJECT APPRAISAL

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16 JANUARY 2007

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PROJECT:

NEW FOREST NORTH HEAVY GOODS VEHICLE RESTRICTIONS

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COMMENCEMENT DATE:	MARCH 2007
COMPLETION DATE:	MARCH 2007

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2006/07

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1.	FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

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			Current		Capital
			Estimate		Programme
			(at 2006		(at 2006
			Prices		Prices)
Capital Expenditure			£'000		£'000
Land to be purchased			nil		nil
Construction			60		60
Fees			40		40
			100		100
Less developers/
other contributions
			100		100
Financial provision for total scheme					Total Cost
1.	From Committee's own resources
	(a) Capital programme (as above)		1		100
	(b) Other
					100
2.	From other resources
	(a)
	(b)
	(c)
			TOTAL		100
Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £
Variations from capital programme
Revenue implications			£'000		% variation
					to Committee's
					budget
Net current expenditure			nil		nil
Capital charges			11		0.009
TOTAL net expenditure			11		0.009

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2.	STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT (Client Department)

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2.1 2.2 2.3 2.4 2.5 2.6 2.7 2.8

The scheme will reduce the number of heavy commercial vehicles on the northern part of the New Forest National Park, with a subsequent reduction of associated noise and pollution giving positive benefits for the well-being of communities situated on the B3078, B3079 and B3080, and for the recreational users of this area of the Forest. Residents of villages in the northern part of the New Forest have expressed concern about the numbers of heavy goods vehicles (HGVs) travelling through their villages, namely Godshill (B3078), Hale (B3080) and Brook (B3079). Similarly, residents of Downton (on the B3080) within Wiltshire have expressed the same concerns. In response to this a joint officers' working group was established to identify measures to address these concerns. Surveys were carried out to identify the number of HGVs using the three `B' roads through the northern part of the New Forest and details of the results were reported to the former Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy on 13 September 2005. To summarise the results, up to 27% of HGVs are potentially directly through-routeing and therefore a proactive approach is required towards managing the number of such vehicles, given the sensitive nature of the environment. A Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) would result in an 18-27% reduction in HGV traffic across the whole zone. It would also achieve a particularly noticeable difference in HGV movements for residents of Godshill and Brook. If there is full compliance, Godshill could benefit from a reduction of between 34 and 47 HGVs per day and Brook between 44 and 65, which is approximately 65% and 60% less HGV traffic respectively. The recommendation in the report for an informal consultation to be carried out jointly with Wiltshire County Council was approved and the results of the consultation were given in a further report to the former Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy on 18 January 2006. The `informal' consultation sought to engage key local stakeholders, including town and parish councils, the National Park Authority (NPA), a sample of local hauliers and businesses, as well as County and District members. Of the 53 organisations/individuals written to, 22 responses were received; a 42% response rate. The majority of responses, nine, were from parish or town councils. All such respondents supported the proposal, either wholly or, in a few cases, qualified by suggested minor amendments to the scheme. The National Park Authority supported the proposal. New Forest District Council also supported the scheme, subject to detailed comments on the boundary, and urged early implementation. Response from local businesses was low, with only one reply from a freight operator located in Downton. That operator supports restrictions on the B3080 and B3079, but not on the B3078. In view of the survey results, and the strong support from the community and organisations closely related to the New Forest, the introduction of a 7.5 tonne weight restriction can be justified. It is also likely to result in a reduction in cross Forest HGV movements with a resultant improvement for villages and the environment within this area of the National Park. The response from the statutory consultation has confirmed this.

2.9 2.10

Targets and Outcomes The objective of the restrictions is to reduce the number and impact of HGVs on villages in the northern part of the New Forest, situated on the B3078, B3079 and B3080. A joint working group has been established with Wiltshire County Council and surveys have been carried out to establish the overall level of HGV movements on this part of the New Forest together with the numbers identified as `through-trips'. Further surveys, after the introduction of the restrictions, will indicate the level of reduction in HGV movement and compliance with the restriction.

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3.	ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

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	National/County Network and Policies
3.1	The decision will remove excess heavy traffic from the north of the New Forest National Park and from local communities where heavy traffic is disruptive to the community. The displaced traffic will be required to use the major road network around the perimeter of the zone, ie A338, A31, M27 and the A36.
	Details of Scheme and Design Standards
3.2 3.3 3.4	To reduce the visual impact of signing within the National Park, and the `open' forest landscape, the scheme has been designed as a zone which is delineated by boundary roads, principally the A36, A338 and A31 (as illustrated on the attached plan). This approach means the regulatory signs required to make the Traffic Order enforceable are situated around the perimeter of the zone on the main road network, wherever possible, to reduce the visual impact on the open Forest. New signs will be required at all the entry points to the zone within both Hampshire and Wiltshire. However the majority of these already have existing `New Forest' speed limit signing or 6' 6'' width restriction signs. Wherever possible, the existing signs will be replaced with new sign assemblies which will incorporate all the necessary regulatory signs on a single unified sign face. Although this will entail an extensive sign replacement programme it will help to contain the number of new sign assemblies needed to define the restriction and will follow the pattern used for the existing lorry restriction to the south of the A31. Entry points into the zone from the A31 and A36 Trunk Roads will also require additional advance signing and this will need to meet the requirements of the Highways Agency. Overall the number of signs will be kept to a minimum but with regard to ensuring the restrictions are clear to drivers on those roads for which the County Council is responsible and on those roads that are the responsibility of the Highways Agency.
	Environmental Impact
3.5	The restrictions should result in a positive improvement to the environment in the area of the zone in the New Forest National Park by the reduction in the number of heavy lorry movements, and the consequent reduction in exhaust emissions, noise and visual intrusion on the open Forest and the villages on the routes across the Forest.
	Land Requirements
3.6	No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.
3.7 3.8	Statutory Procedures A report was presented and approved by the former Executive Member for Environment: North Hampshire and Spatial Strategy in January 2006 which gave details of the informal consultations carried out between October and December 2005. The recommendation was for notices to be published, in partnership with Wiltshire County Council, the effect of which would be to introduce a restriction on vehicles exceeding 7.5 tonnes on the roads in the area bounded by the A31, A338 and A36. As a result a public notice was issued jointly by Hampshire and Wiltshire County Councils and advertised, together with details of the proposed restriction on HGVs in October 2006.
	Public Consultation
3.9 3.10 3.11 3.12 3.13	Details of the informal consultation are given in paragraphs 2.6 and 2.7. The response received gave strong support for proceeding with a full statutory consultation on the formal Traffic Regulation Order, under the normal procedure. The Order was duly advertised in October 2006, with a closing date for public comments of 2 November 2006. Fifteen letters were received concerning the proposals of which 11 were in support. Two more also supported the proposal but raised other issues such as enforcement and access. There were two letters of objection. The first on the grounds that a residential area to the north of Ringwood had not been included in the zone, and the second on the grounds of commercial vehicles accessing a village garage within the National Park. Further details of the objections and comments are given in Appendix 2. In the informal consultation exercise referred to above the New Forest NPA expressed strong, in principle, support for the proposal. It urged the two authorities (Hampshire and Wiltshire County Councils) to pursue the proposed Order at the earliest opportunity and noted that it wished to be involved in further detailed consultation. The NPA has been kept fully informed of the progress of the scheme. Details of the proposed draft Order were supplied to the NPA in December and the detailed signing schedule is the subject of current discussions with the NPA's `Boundary Markers and Signage Advisory Group'. The outcome of the public consultation will also be reported, by officers of Wiltshire County Council, to its Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Economic Development - Councillor Miss Fleur de Rhe-Philipe.
	Local Members' View
3.14	The local Members, Councillors Mrs Heron and Clarke, support the scheme.
	Impact Assessments
3.15 3.16	The scheme will reduce the number of HGVs on the northern part of the New Forest National Park, with subsequent reduction of associated noise and pollution giving positive benefits to the communities situated on the B3078, B3079 and B3080, as well as the recreational users of this area of the Forest. 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, creed or gender, but to improve the environment for all.
	Maintenance Implications
3.17 3.18	A high proportion of the new signs required will be incorporated into existing sign assemblies and use existing posts wherever possible. The revenue implications of the new signs will be taken into account in the setting of the annual base budget. By reducing a proportion of the heaviest vehicles using the `B' class roads across the northern part of the New Forest, road wear and verge damage should be reduced which will help to offset any additional sign maintenance costs.

	Crime and Disorder Act 1998
3.19	The provisions of the Act have no impact on this proposal.
	Sustainability
3.20	The scheme seeks to improve the environment and the quality of life for the local communities, and for recreational users of the northern part of the New Forest National Park.

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4.	ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED (Client Department)

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4.1 4.2 4.3

Do nothing. This option was rejected as a survey identified a significant volume of heavy goods vehicle traffic using the 'B' roads across the north of the New Forest, between Cadnam and Downton, and between Cadnam and Fordingbridge. The outcome of both the informal consultation and the statutory consultation has shown a high level of support from local parish and town councils for the proposal to restrict HGVs. Furthermore, the `do nothing' option would have been unacceptable in the event that Wiltshire County Council could, in the absence of an agreed cross-boundary scheme, introduce a weight restriction unilaterally on the section of the B3080 within Wiltshire. Had this happened significantly more heavy vehicles would have diverted onto the B3078 in Hampshire, which would have included all the traffic accessing Pound Bottom Tip from the west. This would have resulted in a significant increase of HGV movements, particularly through Godshill. Other types of restrictions on HGV movements were considered, such as night-time only and an 18 tonne restriction. Both options were eventually rejected due to the fact that peak movements of heavy lorries, and the noise they create, are generally a daytime problem and only a small proportion of the traffic using these routes are over 18 tonnes. Such restrictions would have had little noticeable effect on either noise or intrusive traffic movements by HGVs.

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Recommendations

1. That an Order be made under Sections 1(1), 2(4) and 3(2) of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which will be to prohibit heavy commercial vehicles (ie goods vehicles having a maximum gross weight exceeding 7.5 tonnes) from proceeding in any road within the zone described in Appendix 1, except for loading/unloading purposes.

2. That this Project Appraisal for the installation of the 7.5 tonne restriction in the northern part of the New Forest, at an estimated cost of £100,000, be approved.

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 (New Forest North HGV Restriction	Environment Department Traffic Management Group Sheridan House Jewry Street, Winchester

1074Rpt/CR

APPENDIX 1

TRAFFIC ORDER PROPOSALS - PROHIBITION OF HEAVY

COMMERCIAL VEHICLES SOUTH-EAST OF SALISBURY AND

IN THE NEW FOREST NORTH AREA

The zone comprises that area of the District of New Forest and the Borough of Test Valley in the County of Hampshire bounded by and exclusive of (except where indicated otherwise):

(a) A338 Salisbury Road between the county boundary south of Downton and its junction with Salisbury Road, Ringwood;

(b) Salisbury Road, Ringwood between its junction with A338 Salisbury Road and its junction with U120 Northfield Road, Ringwood;

(c) Northfield Road, Ringwood between its junction with Salisbury Road and its junction with North Poulner Road;

(d) North Poulner Road between its junction with Northfield Road and its junction with Gorley Road;

(e) U20 Cowpitts Lane, North Poulner between its junction with Gorley Road and its junction with U120 Linford Road (at Hangersley Crossroads);

(f) U120 Linford Road, Hangersley, Linford and Shobley between its junction with U20 Cowpitts Lane (at Hangersley Crossroads) and its junction with A31(T) at Poulner Hill;

(g) A31(T) between its junction with the U120 Linford Road, at Poulner and the point where it bridges the U106 Bolderwood Road;

(h) U106 Bolderwood Road between the point where it is bridged by the A31(T) and its junction with U145 Bolderwood Ornamental Drive (INCLUDED within the Zone);

(i) U145 Bolderwood Ornamental Drive between its junction with U106 Bolderwood Road and its junction with A35 Bournemouth Road (INCLUDED within the Zone);

(j) A35 Bournemouth Road between its junction with U145 Bolderwood Ornamental Drive and its junction with the C17 at Swan Green;

(k) C17 Emery Down road between its junction with A35 Bournemouth Road at Swan Green and its junction with the A31(T) at Stoney Cross (INCLUDED within the Zone);

(l) A31(T) between its junction with the C17 at Stoney Cross and its slip-road junction with the B3079/A31 at Cadnam Interchange;

(m) A31 Romsey Road between its junction with the slip-roads of A31(T) at Cadnam Interchange and its junction with the A36 Romsey Road/Salisbury Road;

(n) A36 Romsey Road between its junction with A31 Romsey Road and its roundabout junction with A36(T) Salisbury Road at Ower;

(o) A36(T) Salisbury Road between its junction with A36 Romsey Road at Ower Roundabout and the county boundary at Plaitford:

EXCEPT that the following roads and lengths of road are EXCLUDED from the Zone:

(a) B3078 between the A338 Salisbury Road over-bridge and the east side of its junction with A338 link road on the east side of the A338 at Horseport;

(b) A338 Salisbury Road link road on the east side of the A338 at the B3078 interchange at Horseport;

(c) U120 Headlands Business Park at Ringwood;

(d) U120 Hurst Road at Ringwood;

(e) U120 Waterside Close at Ringwood;

(f) U120 Linbrook Drive at North Poulner;

(g) A31 slip roads and link roads on the north-west side of the A31 at Picket Post;

(h) Old Romsey Road at Ower;

(i) U138 Old Salisbury Road at Ower;

(j) U66 Canada Road at West Wellow;

(k) U66 Canada Common Road at West Wellow;

(l) U66 Plantation Road at West Wellow;

(m) U66 Purley Way at Plaitford.

APPENDIX 2

TRAFFIC ORDER PROPOSALS - PROHIBITION OF HEAVY COMMERCIAL VEHICLES SOUTH-EAST OF SALISBURY AND IN

THE NEW FOREST NORTH AREA

Summary of responses received to advertisement of proposals in both Hampshire and Wiltshire

Letters of support:

1. New Forest Association

2. Test Valley Borough Council

3. Resident of Alderbury, Wiltshire

4. Godshill Parish Council

5. Ellingham, Harbridge & Ibsley Parish Council

6. Breamore Parish Council

7. Resident of Southampton Road, Fordingbridge

8. Resident of Emery Down, near Lyndhurst

9. New Forest District Council

10. Employee of a business in Downton, Wiltshire

11. Resident of Emery Down, Lyndhurst

Letters of support with further comments:

Recipient	Comment		Officer's Comments
Salisbury Joint Transportation Team (Comprised officers from Salisbury District Council and Wiltshire County Council)	a) b) c)	Supports the proposals but expresses concern about enforcement and would support the introduction of Automatic Vehicle Number Plate Recognition (AVNPR) although it is recognised that obtaining funding for such technology is likely to prove very difficult. Hampshire and Wiltshire County Councils should enter into dialogue with the Police to ensure that necessary enforcement resources are provided. Other issues relating to lorry movements and pedestrian facilities in Downton in Wiltshire.	a) b) c)	There are no proposals to introduce AVNPR for enforcement of these restrictions. Apart from the cost implications this type of system is not suitable as it would not be able to differentiate between those vehicles legitimately entering the zone for delivery and those passing through the zone in contravention of the restriction. Representatives from both Hampshire and Wiltshire Constabularies have been involved in the working group and have been consulted formally as part of the statutory procedure. Levels of enforcement will be a matter for the Police who have to manage their resources with many conflicting demands. These matters are outside the scope of this current scheme but a pedestrian crossing on The Borough in Downton is currently being investigated by Wiltshire County Council.

Recipient		Comments		Officer's Comments
Resident of Sway Road, Tiptoe	a)	Supports the proposal but concerned about enforcement and raises the issue of recommendations regarding the use of physical measures to aid compliance with traffic orders. NB These recommendations were made by another organisation and have since been withdrawn.	a)	Physical measures can be effective in encouraging compliance with some types of traffic restrictions such as speed limits but in the case of restrictions on HGVs which require an exemption for access, this is not a practical or effective option. Other restrictions of this type, where signing only has been used, within the New Forest have proved to be effective.

Letters of support in principle with objections to specific local issues

Recipient	Comment		Officer's Comments
Resident of Mockbeggar Lane, Ibsley	a) b)	Supports the proposal in principle but would like "the proposed ban to include the car transporters going to and from Ibsley garage on that part of Gorley Road and Mockbeggar Lane". Raises issues regarding highway maintenance which include : i) Removal of overhanging branches. ii) Strengthening the road surface. iii) Banning the parking of cars on the Mockbeggar Lane road and verge. iv) Reduction of speed limit to 20 mph v) Banning of parking and loading of recovery vehicles and car transporters on Gorley Road outside of Ibsley garage.	a) b)	Exemptions must be included to allow access for loading and unloading also to allow for vehicles to proceed to and from any premises within the zone at which the vehicle is to be garaged, serviced or repaired. Therefore the activities at Ibsley Garage, which is an appointed Police recovery garage, cannot be curtailed as requested and are allowed by the general exemptions which are required to be included in the traffic order. These matters are outside the scope of this order. Those issues on highway maintenance will be referred to the appropriate Area Director's office for attention and those on parking will be referred to New Forest District Council which has the County Council's traffic management agency for this area.

Recipient	Comments		Officer's Comments
	c)	Trusts that prohibition will stop traffic from using narrow lanes for diversions in future at times of accidents and roadworks.	c)	Traffic on the A338 would not normally be diverted onto minor Forest roads such as this but in an emergency the Police have to take whatever action they deem to be necessary in the prevailing circumstances.