Archived decisions
Hampshire County Council Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage 17 May 2007 Local Transport Plan Capital Programme 2007/08 - Proposed sub-programmes for [Casualty Reduction and] Access to Countryside Report of the Director of Director of Recreation and Heritage |
Item 1 |
Contact: Andrew Smith ext 6003 email: [email protected]
1. Summary
1.1 This report puts forward the proposed sub-programme for access to the countryside within the 2007/08 capital programme for the Local Transport Plan. The overall allocation is £200,000 for access to the countryside.
1.2 The proposed programme is set out in Table 1.
2. Recommendation
That the proposed sub-programmes for countryside access be approved.
3. Countryside Access
3.1 This is the second of five years of funding for countryside access from the Local Transport Plan following the inclusion of Rights of Way Improvement Plans within the Local Transport Plan (LTP) remit. In January 2006 the Executive Member for Environment (South Hampshire and Resource Management) agreed the five year allocation of £900,000 to the countryside access sub-programme from the overall Local Transport Plan capital. The allocation includes elements of the former Recreational Cycling programme. Of this, £200,00 has been allocated for the year 2007/8. Whilst the overall allocation of the LTP capital programme is with the Executive Member for the Environment, the Executive Member for Recreation and Heritage has been asked to consider the allocation of the capital for the Countryside Access sub-programme which will be managed by the Countryside Service.
3.2 The objectives of the programme are to improve access to the countryside to meet the accessibility aim of the LTP with additional benefits for health and the rural economy.
Priorities for Investment
3.3 The priorities for investment are in accordance with the objectives of the Local Transport Plan and are set out below:
(i) links between communities/strategic links, eg disused railway lines;
(ii) safe (off-road) routes in and around towns;
(iii) links to services and recreational facilities;
(iv) short circular routes;
(v) safe links to fill gaps in the network;
(vi) safe crossing facilities especially for riders and cyclists; and
(vii) improved access to allow use by more users - families, elderly people and people with disabilities.
3.4 Following on from the principles set in the first year of the programme priority has been given to schemes which meet LTP aspirations together with Countryside Access Plans priorities. They are also known to have strong local support and can be delivered relatively quickly. A further year's work has now been completed on the Countryside Access Plans which means it is possible to take a more informed view with regard to where the priorities are and where the benefit would be greatest. There is an emphasis on smaller schemes which produce a significant impact.
4. Detailed Programme
4.1 The proposed detailed programme is set out in Table 1 in the attached appendix. The programme has been prepared to ensure a spread of schemes across the county. It was considered by the Hampshire Countryside Access Forum at their meeting on 30 November 2006. (The Forum is the statutory body to advise the County Council and others on matters relating to access to the countryside).
5. Monitoring and Reporting
5.1 All schemes will be subject to before and after monitoring which will include usage of new and improved facilities and the views of local stakeholders.
5.2 The first year's programme of works was agreed by the Executive Member in May 2006 and the works have now been completed. The programme for 2006/7 included a range of schemes across the county which have resulted in significant improvements in the access network in accordance with the above priorities. The scheme managers have reported monthly to the LTP Programme Manager within the Environment Department and have ensured that the schemes are completed on time and within the agreed budget. The same procedure is proposed for this year's programme.
6. Impact Assessments
6.1 The countryside access programme will improve access for all countryside users with many schemes being of particular benefit to people with a mobility impairment.
6.2 The programme as a whole will improve the quality of the assets associated with countryside access but some schemes will increase future maintenance liability.
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 |
None. |
Appendix : TABLE 1
COUNTRYSIDE ACCESS
LOCAL TRANSPORT PLAN 2 PROPOSED PROJECTS 2007/08
By Theme
REF |
COUNTRYSIDE AREA AND DISTRICT |
ROUTE |
PROPOSAL |
COSTS to LTP |
Urban - links to services or recreation
1 |
W (New Forest) |
Milford on Sea Footpath 50 surfacing |
Improvements to this important path. The path is heavily used and close to population centre. |
£4,985 |
2 |
W (New Forest) |
Link from Hardley to Hythe |
Improve surface of Restricted Byway Link from Hardley to Hythe for cyclists to link with New Forest strategic cycle network. Potential to be a much used route. |
£25,000 |
Urban - links to countryside
3 |
E (East Hampshire) |
Horndean Byways No.s 47, 48 |
Restoration of key interchange between Tagdell, Oldhill and Crouch Lanes enabling access between Waterlooville and Catherington Down. Matches several Forest of Bere CAP priorities. |
£11,800 |
4 |
Central (Winchester City) |
Itchen Valley Footpath No.31 |
Improvements to approximately 100 metres of path. Important off-road link between villages. |
£5,500 |
Improving Access for More Users
5 |
E (Havant) |
Upgrade Hayling Billy Path |
To continue upgrading a further section of the bridle path. This will provide a well maintained off road multi-user route. |
£5,000 |
6 |
W (New Forest) |
Lymington-Keyhaven Nature Reserve. Improve ramps to seawall |
To regrade and resurface two ramps on and off the seawall at Keyhaven. This will remove the last obstacle to a short easily accessible route suitable for regular exercise. |
£12,000 |
7 |
W (New Forest) |
Moses Dock, Lymington, surfacing. |
To improve the surface and accessibility along a section of the Solent Way adjacent to the dock. The current path is narrow and unsafe. This project will provide access for some people with mobility difficulties. |
£10,000 |
8 |
S (Winchester City) |
Claylands Local Nature Reserve. Path and access for people with mobility difficulties. |
Completion of the path and access ramps around the Reserve and improvements to the drainage. Routes would be suitable for use as short circuits for exercise and access to the area for people with mobility difficulties. |
£5,000 |
Completing Important Strategic Links
9 |
S (Winchester City) |
Disused Meon Valley Railway near Wickham |
Major recreational route in the Forest of Bere. Land is low lying and the works will improve drainage and accessibility for walkers, cyclists and riders. |
£22,000 |
10 |
E (Winchester City) |
A31/B3047 junction Alresford |
To help provide shared use route for cyclists between Winchester & Alresford as a part of National Cycling Network. An additional £60,000 will be provided by Sustrans and the South Downs Joint Committee AONB. |
£30,000 |
Responding to Lack of Facilities for Riders and Cyclists
11 |
NW (Basingstoke & Deane) |
Ashmansworth Byway No.18 - the Wayfarers Walk |
Improvements to two sections of this Byway totalling 2.5km. Improvements to the surface which currently unsuitable for easy access by those on foot, cycle or horseback. Important recreational route for cyclists and walkers which avoids use of rural roads and links in the wider access network. (Total cost of 2.5km section £120,000. 2007/8 proposed allocation £25,000) |
£25,000. |
12 |
W (New Forest) |
Polecat Lane, Sway, surfacing |
Improvements to the surface of the route. Once complete this route is proposed as an off-road promoted cycle rout. |
£4,988 |
13 |
S (Eastleigh) |
Westwood Woodland Park, Netley. Cycle & walking routes |
Improve the surfacing to paths. Ideal routes for walking and cycling on the edge of the large urban area. |
£9,250 |
14 |
Countywide |
Off road cycle packs route improvements |
Small practical works to improve routes on a number of promoted trails across the county |
£9,500 |
Providing Important Arterial Routes
15 |
NE (Rushmoor) |
Blackwater Valley Path, NE Hants |
Further surface improvements to allow access for cyclists and for people with disabilities. |
£9,500 |
TOTAL £189,523