Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT

ITEM 8

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

SELBORNE VILLAGE INITIATIVE

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

FEBRUARY 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

nil

nil

Construction

150

150

Fees

10

10

160

160

Less developers/

other contributions

160

160

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme - Integrated Transport and Maintenance

160

160

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

160

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Nil

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

Budget

Net current expenditure

nil

nil

Capital charges

16

0.011

TOTAL net expenditure

16

0.011

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

The scheme will improve security for local residents and enhance the highway environment in an environmentally sensitive area.

Selborne lies on the B3006 between Liss and Alton. The carriageway varies in width through the village, but is commonly less than 5.5 metres wide and narrows to less than 5.0 metres on some sections. There is a footway but this is generally much narrower than current design standards, and over one section is reduced to between 0.7 and 0.9 metres wide. A width of between 1.0 and 1.2 metres is commonplace. As a consequence vehicles pass very close to pedestrians and there have been alleged incidents of them being struck by wing mirrors.

The objective of the scheme is to promote a change in driver behaviour and thereby improve security for pedestrians. This is to be achieved by changing the visual aspects of the carriageway through the village for a length of approximately one kilometre as described in Section 3. The techniques proposed are extrapolations of other schemes in Hampshire.

2.4

The problems of pedestrian security are exacerbated by Gilbert White's House and the Oates Museum housed within The Wakes towards the north end of the village. This attracts visitors from all over the world as well as students for the associated field study centre. The only car and coach park is to the rear of the Selborne Arms in the centre of the village, which means that visitors have to walk between the two. In 2005 it attracted 30,026 visitors, with June being the most popular month at 4,918 visitors.

2.5

Selborne CE Primary School, with about 90 pupils, is located on the northern outskirts of the village, off an access road on the west side of the B3006. There is only a single footway on the east side of the B3006 at this point. An improved pedestrian crossing facility was implemented in spring 2005 as part of the Safer Routes to School (SRTS) Programme. Nevertheless, parents who walk with their children to and from school have to cross the B3006 a second time since the footway on the western side of the B3006 terminates at Gracious Street.

2.6

A traffic survey taken early in September 2006 in the centre of the village showed a 12 hour (7 am to 7 pm) average weekday two-way flow of 7,840 vehicles. There is a permanent count site on the B3006 south of the village and this shows that there can be a variation from month to month. In 2005 the lowest weekday average 12 hour volume was 5,797 in December and the highest was 7,231 in October. Traffic speeds were also assessed during the September 2006 survey and showed that the road environment does influence driver behaviour. Over similar 12 hour average weekday periods the 85%ile speeds were as follows:

Adjacent to access road to school 35.8 miles per hour (mph)

Near The Wakes 25.6 mph

Near Village Shop/Post Office 30.4 mph

North of junction with Galley Hill 37.7 mph

The existing speed limit through the village is 30 mph, and the above figures are in line with the current policy on the setting of speed limits.

2.7

In the three year period 1 October 2003 to 30 September 2006 there were three recorded injury accidents within the village, resulting in three slight injuries. One was a pedestrian crossing the B3006 south of the junction with Honey Lane being struck by a car, the second was when a car and a van collided head on at a narrow section of the carriageway near to the junction with Honey Lane and the third was to the driver of a car who had to take avoiding action because two refuse vehicles had not obeyed the priority system associated with the build-out near to Goslings Croft on the northern outskirts of the village.

2.8

On weekdays there are five bus services in each direction linking Selborne with Alton and Petersfield. Two of these are supported by the County Council. When Alton College is open, there is an additional service. All five services on Saturday are supported by the County Council. There are no bus services on Sunday.

2.9

Targets and Outcomes

Because of the predominantly visual nature of the works, the effect of the measures cannot be predicted with accuracy, but speed checks and attitude surveys via the Parish Council will enable any lessons learnt to be applied on future schemes of a similar nature.

2.10

Generally similar schemes have had a beneficial effect. On the A3090 through Hursley a visual road narrowing scheme, but with the centre line retained, enabled the speed limit to be reduced from 40 mph to 30 mph. Another road marking scheme on the B3047 through Bishops Sutton reduced injury accidents from eight in the three years before to none in the three years after, although there was no reduction in traffic speeds.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

The Local Transport Plan for 2006 to 2011 includes seven primary objectives. Of these the proposed works will contribute to the following:

(i) to promote safety

(ii) to widen travel choice

(iii) to support wider quality of life objectives; and

(iv) to encourage value for money and efficient asset management.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The basis of the scheme is to visually reduce the width of the running carriageway to a constant width of 4.5 metres, which at physical pinch-points has been shown to be sufficient for two cars to pass in reasonable comfort. This is to be achieved by applying buff coloured surfacing along the channels, which will vary in width depending on the overall width of the carriageway. The centre line road marking is also to be removed. Similar techniques, but only employing road markings to visually narrow the carriageway, have been employed at other locations in Hampshire, particularly in the New Forest.

3.3

Observations at roundabouts with coloured overrun areas around a relatively small central island, in order to accommodate manoeuvres by large vehicles, show that car drivers will commonly still only use the traditional black-top material. Also, based upon experience with road marking schemes, it is hoped that during low flow periods, when there is no on-coming traffic, that vehicles will travel further away from the footways, and thus pedestrians, than is currently the case. In periods of higher traffic volumes, the lack of a centre line will lead to a modest level of uncertainty by approaching drivers, and it is anticipated that they will act with more circumspection.

3.4

At the present time in-bound drivers are faced by priority half-carriageway width build-outs approximately 100 metres after entering the 30 mph speed limit. These were installed in 1995 to address the problems associated with excessive speeds in the outskirts of the village, and are to remain, subject to a review of the associated traffic signs as described below.

3.5

For south-bound traffic entering the village from Alton, following the priority build-out, drivers negotiate a symmetrical pinch-point where the carriageway is narrowed to 5 metres over a short length. This was installed as part of the 2005 SRTS scheme and is to become the start of the visual road narrowing system described in paragraph 3.2 above. For reasons of symmetry, a similar pinch-point incorporating pedestrian dropped crossings is to be installed at the south of the village, north of the junction with Galley Hill.

3.6

The immediate approaches to the SRTS crossing point have newly laid buff anti-skid on the approaching traffic lanes. These are to remain, thus differentiating this vulnerable area for pedestrians from the rest of the village highway.

3.7

The condition of the carriageway through Selborne is relatively poor and this could jeopardise the durability of a coloured overlay material. Using maintenance funds the carriageway surfacing is to be renewed, thereby also allowing the colour to be incorporated into the new surfacing material.

3.8

The bitmac footways are also in poor condition over considerable lengths, and these are also to be renewed as part of the project. Relatively short sections of footway have previously been block-paved, and these are to remain undisturbed. Detailed investigations during the development of the scheme showed that at various locations the effective width of the footways is restricted by overgrown hedges. Although Highways Act powers to address these issues exist, the Parish Council has undertaken to contact relevant householders.

3.9

The Sign Clutter Pilot Programme approved by the Executive Member for Environment on 12 December 2006 included £10,000 for Selborne. Indications are that over 30 signs on the approaches and through the village can be removed with others being reduced in size. Only two new signs are required, to warn of oncoming vehicles in the middle of the road prior to the commencement of the visual road narrowing. In the centre of the village only the minimum number of speed limit repeater signs will remain.

3.10

3.11

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

There are no design standards for the proposed works. Engineering judgement based upon previous experience has been employed. An independent Safety Audit has been undertaken, and this will be repeated once the works are completed.

Environmental Impact

3.12

There has been extensive discussion between landscape and maintenance professionals over an appropriate carriageway surfacing product to meet disparate objectives of effectiveness, durability and aesthetics in an environmentally sensitive area. Any lessons learnt will prove valuable for the design of generally similar schemes in future programmes.

3.13

Removal of a considerable number of traffic signs will visually improve the setting of the village, much of which lies within a conservation area.

3.14

No environmental assessment is required for the proposals.

Land Requirements

3.15

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

Statutory Procedures

3.16

In order to undertake the carriageway resurfacing the B3006 will have to be closed to through traffic for a limited period. This will be managed by the Highways and Transport Area Director and will include liaison with the local community and the bus operator, together with the signing of diversion routes.

Public Consultation

3.17

The scheme has been developed in close cooperation with Selborne Parish Council's Traffic Sub Group, which includes co-opted members representing various local interest groups. Initially these concentrated on agreement to a realistic objective for the scheme, and only then were the current proposals developed over time.

3.18

It is common practice to hold a public exhibition prior to the presentation of a Project Appraisal. However, given the need of the local economy that works be completed prior to the busy visitor season to Gilbert White's House, and that the Traffic Sub Group unanimously supports the proposals, it is proposed that an information exhibition be held prior to commencement of the works. This would also include details of the manner in which they would be carried out, including the consequences of the temporary road closure.

Local Member's View

3.19

The local Member, Councillor Kemp-Gee, has been involved in the development of the scheme, including attending several meetings of the Traffic Sub Group, and supports the proposals.

Equalities

3.20

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.

Maintenance Implications

3.21

The scheme includes both improvement and maintenance work which will ensure the maximum durability of the visual road narrowing. Statutory undertakers have been served notices under the New Roads and Streetworks Act to ensure that the need for future road openings is minimised and the carriageway surfacing will be registered so that any that are required employ the same product. Where necessary new service covers are being supplied so that the ride quality for vehicles and pedestrian convenience are maximised. The reduction in the number of highway signs will also reduce future maintenance commitments.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.22

The provisions of the Act have no impact on the proposals.

Sustainability

3.23

The works will be undertaken to maximise opportunities for recycling.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

The narrow overall width of the highway (carriageway plus footways) through the centre of the village means there is no realistic alternative to the proposed measures designed to address the priority issue agreed with Selborne Parish Council's Traffic Sub Group.

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

Selborne Village Initiative

Environment Department

Area East Transport Team, Bar End