PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE A3 HINDHEAD SCHEME BY THE HIGHWAY AGENCY : Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee on 28/06/2004

Waverley Borough Council Committee System - Committee Document

Meeting of the Environment and Leisure Overview and Scrutiny Committee held on 28/06/2004
PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE A3 HINDHEAD SCHEME BY THE HIGHWAY AGENCY

Summary & Purpose

This report sets out the proposed amendments to the A3 Hindhead highway scheme following public consultation.

Quality of Life Implications

Natural Resource Use	Pollution Prevention and Control	Biodiversity and Nature	Local Environment	Social Inclusion	Safe, Healthy and Active Communities	Local Economy
Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive

APPENDIX B

WAVERLEY BOROUGH COUNCIL

ENVIRONMENT AND LEISURE OVERVIEW AND SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 28TH JUNE 2004

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Title:

PROPOSED AMENDMENTS TO THE A3 HINDHEAD SCHEME BY THE HIGHWAY AGENCY

[Wards Affected: All Haslemere Wards]

_________________________________________________________________________
Summary and purpose:

This report sets out the proposed amendments to the A3 Hindhead highway scheme following public consultation.
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Quality of life implications – social, environmental & economic (sustainable development):


Natural Resource Use	Pollution Prevention and Control	Biodiversity and Nature	Local Environment	Social Inclusion	Safe, Healthy and Active Communities	Local Economy
Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive	Positive

The proposed amendments appear to meet the contentions of the public affected by the Hazel Grove and Boundless Road junctions without jeopardising the overall design of the scheme. The amendments will benefit the community and in the case of Boundless Road will be an improvement for the environment. The proposals also meet the comments of the Borough Council, expressed in December 2003.

E-Government, Resource and Legal Implications

There are no implications.
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The Proposed Changes to the Scheme

1. The Highway Agency has published new draft Orders because of amendments they propose to make to the scheme. The Orders are:

THE A 3 HINDHEAD
THE A3 TRUNK ROAD (HINDHEAD) SIDE ROADS NO 3 ORDER

THE A3 TRUNK ROAD (HINDHEAD)(PROHIBITION OF CERTAIN CLASSES OF TRAFFIC AND PEDESTRIANS) NO2 ORDER 200

2. The Highway Agency has provided a comprehensive description of the proposed changes to the design of the roads in response to public comment. This is included in full at Annexe 1. The accompanying plan shows the difference between the October 2003 proposal for Boundless Road junction and the revised layout dated May 2004.

The Issues regarding the scheme for Waverley Borough

3. The issues for Waverley Borough Council in December 2003, at the consultation stage, were:-

i. the need for traffic management and road safety measures surrounding the slip roads and the side roads, especially around Boundless Road and Hazel Grove junctions;

ii. concern about the needs of cyclists and other non vehicular users;

· alternative proposals were sought that might be satisfactory to these users e.g. upgrading the surface of all or part of BOAT 500 (but downgrading it to a bridleway);

· as a last resort consideration by the Highway Agency of a narrow strip of all or part of the existing A3 being retained as a cycleway.

Officer Comment

4. The amendments by the Highway Agency to the scheme appear to meet the first issue to a large extent, because there are proposals for traffic management around Hazel Grove and the Boundless Road junction is to be deleted.

5. The issue of the cycle way has been resolved because there is a new proposal to have a cycleway along the existing A3.

How the Changes meet Public Comment

6. There were 22 alternatives or amendments submitted to the Secretary of State, and of these a number have been resolved, as outlined below:

1. Knockhundred Lane (East Hants)

2. Hazel Grove and School Accesses

The traffic management proposals appear to meet the concerns of the residents and school users.

3. Access for people living to the east of the A3

The proposed arrangements to provide an access to Thursley for properties east of the A3 using the Greensand Way Underpass, meet the requests of the local people.

4. Boundless Road

This is a major change to the scheme, deleting the junction completely. The National Trust and the Boundless Road Improvement Group had questioned the need for the junction. It was proposed instead to take Boundless Road underneath the new A3 and then for it to run along the west side to the new Thursley junction. The Highway Agency has agreed to this amendment. It will reduce the environmental impact of the new A3 on Boundless Valley, and safeguard the local roads from rat running.

5. Access to the Punchbowl

Amendments are proposed for the designations of BOAT 500 and 501. The most important features are that BOAT 500 would be downgraded to a bridleway between the National Trust car park and where it crosses the existing A3, and that a new cycleway would be provided between the permissive track connecting BOAT 500 to the A3 to the new access to the YHA, running along the existing A3. Overall, the arrangements would provide better gradients for cyclists.

Conclusion

7. The concerns of the Borough Council, as expressed at the consultation stage, have been considered and have been met by the Highway Agency, and a number of public comments have been dealt with.

Recommendation

That the amendments to the A3 Hindhead scheme proposed by the Highway Agency be supported, specifically:

1. the traffic management scheme for the Hazel Grove area;

2. the deletion of the Boundless Road junction and replacement with a design for Boundless Road to pass under the new A3; and

3. a new cycleway along the existing A3.

Background Papers (DoPD)

There are no background papers (as defined by Section 100D(5) of the Local Government Act 1972) relating to this report.
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CONTACT OFFICER:

Name: Geraldine Molony Telephone: 01483 523296

E-mail: gmolony@waverley.gov.uk

Comms/o&s3/2004-05/006