Archived decisions
EXECUTIVE MEMBER FOR ENVIRONMENT
PART II
PROJECT APPRAISAL: A326 TWIGGS LANE, MARCHWOOD - PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
1. The Executive Member has approved a project appraisal for the installation and construction of a Puffin pedestrian crossing at the A326 junction with Twiggs Lane, Marchwood, and associated street lighting extending to the junction with A326 and Staplewood Lane, Marchwood. The purpose of the project appraisal was to increase public safety and access for local residents living in the areas to the north-west and south-east of the A326 junctions with Twiggs Lane and Staplewood Lane, Marchwood, and also respond to the two Personal Injury Accidents that have occurred involving pedestrians.
2. The A326 is a very busy road connecting the Waterside with other main routes. Safety issues have recently identified the need for improvements at the Twiggs Lane junction. The speed limit along this section of the A326 and the Twiggs Lane junction was until recently 60 miles per hour (mph), making crossing the road difficult. New temporary speed limits of 50 and 40 mph sections were introduced in March 2009 whilst the necessary emergency safety improvements were being introduced on this road.
3. Meetings organised by MAG (Motorcycle Action Group) at Marchwood in November 2008 set out concerns about road safety in the vicinity of Twiggs Lane. Regular monitoring of the route led to investigations and feasibility work to identify what improvements could be introduced to improve the safety of motorists and pedestrians on this busy section of road. A package of safety measures was identified, some of which were urgently introduced in March 2009 including new signs and lines, coloured road surfaces and temporary speed limits of 40 mph and 50 mph respectively and the closure of informal lay-bys.
4. The new street lighting will commence 60 metres north of the Staplewood Lane/A326 junction to 60 metres south of the Twiggs Lane/A326 junction. The new lighting will improve night-time driving safety on this busy main road through this particular dark section. The introduction of a controlled crossing requires street lighting to be installed. As both the Twiggs Lane and Staplewood Lane junctions were identified as areas of the road that could be improved by the provision of street lighting, a continuous section of lighting will be provided between the two junctions as they are relatively close together.
5. During the public consultation an exhibition was held in Marchwood Parish from 2-4 April 2009 and plans for the proposals were on display. Letters to stakeholders, local residents and schools were distributed to those within the vicinity of the proposed scheme including Marchwood Parish Council, Marchwood Infants School, the National Park Authority (NPA), the Forestry Commission and New Forest Verderers. The NPA responded by letter in July broadly supporting the proposals except for the extent of the proposed street lighting. Whilst acknowledging that the Highway Authority has a statutory responsibility to light the proposed signal controlled crossing to a distance of 60 metres either side, the NPA questioned the need for any additional lighting above this statutory requirement on the basis of creating significant light pollution which would impact on the tranquillity of the National Park. In considering the report, the Executive Member decided to provide street lighting for the full length between the junctions on safety grounds, to prevent vehicles moving through lit and darkened areas frequently over a short distance, but decided that lights must be dimmable so that in addition to the benefits of modern lighting which minimises light pollution, lighting could be reduced to the lowest level consistent with safety.
6. This report arises from consideration of the report by the Executive Member on 28 July 2009, which is on Hantsweb at: /decisions/decisions-docs/090728-execmb-R0721103200
MEL KENDAL
Executive Member for Environment