Highways Agency

• Executive summary
• 1 introduction
• 2 route description
• 3 policy objectives
• 4 route functions
• 5 land use & development control statement
• 6 route issues and performance
• 7 route outcomes
• 8 strategy impact statement

Executive summary

Executive Summary

E1 Introduction

E.1.1 Halcrow Group Limited has been commissioned by the Highways Agency to undertake a Route Management Strategy (RMS) for the A49. The objective of the study is to develop a plan for the management and development of the A49 between the A40 at Ross-on-Wye and the A5 at Shrewsbury, until the end of 2014.

E.1.2 The study has involved various stages, including consultation, a review of relevantnational, local and regional plans and policies, an assessment of data including traffic flow data and personal injury collision data, and the identification of route functions and outcomes. The identified route outcomes will enable a detailed Route Management Plan to be developed by the Highways Agency.

E.1.3 The study commenced in November 2000 based on the then current January 2000 RMS Guidance, and the Draft Strategy Document was substantially completed under that Guidance. In May 2003 and November 2003 the RMS Guidance was revised and the Highways Agency asked for the Draft Strategy Document to be updated to reflect the new Guidance without undertaking a full review. The most significant change is the inclusion of a full Land Use Development ControlStatement.

E.2 Consultation

E.2.1 Consultation was conducted with the public between 10 June 2002 and 2September 2002 and comprised, briefly:

• Mobile exhibitions, using the Highways Agency’s bendy bus, held at 13 locations between Ross-on-Wye and Shrewsbury between the 10 June and 21 June 2002. Display boards introduced the RMS process, and set out the proposed Route Management Strategy for the A49 as well as Strategy Actions proposed for each section of the route. A total of 1436 members of the public attended these exhibitions.
• A static exhibition held at the Green Dragon Hotel, Hereford on 12 June 2002, using the same material as the mobile exhibitions plus extra boards showing specific Hereford proposals. The static format was chosen because of the importance of the central Hereford location. 56 members of the public attended this exhibition.
• Consultation leaflets and posters were distributed to public buildings and other venues such as libraries, schools, shops, garages, village and parish halls, etc. in a total of approximately 120 villages along and nearby to the route. A full list of locations is included in the Public Consultation report.
• Questionnaires distributed at the mobile and static exhibitions and with the Consultation leaflets at venues along the route. 343 completed questionnaires were received of which details, and analysis are given in the Public Consultation report.
• Consultation was also undertaken with various stakeholders and interested groups and organisations, both in a seminar held on 19 July 2001 at the Feathers Hotel, Ludlow, and in separate individual discussions when necessary.

The overall aim of the consultation process was to highlight the current functionsof the A49, route issues, and to develop a strategy to maintain and enhance thefunction of the A49. Full details of the consultation process and results arepresented in the A49 RMS Public Consultation Report.

E.2.2 Key issues identified for the route by stakeholders and confirmed following theconsultation exercise can be summarised as;

• The need to improve safety for drivers along the route, particularly at
• junctions;
• Pedestrian safety concerns, and the need for improved pedestrian crossing
• provision in settlements to reduce severance;
• Limited overtaking opportunities along the route;
• Vehicle speeds through settlements;
• The need for consistent signing along the route;
• Limited public transport provision along the route; and
• Limited cycle provision along the route.

E.3 A49 RMS Objectives

E.3.1 Relevant national, regional and local policies and plans have been reviewed to aidthe development of policy objectives for the A49 RMS. The overall high level objective for the route is to ‘manage and maintain the A49, compatible with its strategic, regional and local functions whilst addressing the Government’s five investment criteria. The purpose objective is to ‘maintain the current low strategic – high local function balance’. Objectives for this RMS have then been developed based on the five key criteria of environment; safety; economy; accessibility and integration. These policies include retaining and protecting the landscape, reducing the number and severity of personal injury collisions, community safety through the management of traffic speeds, contributing to economic activity, improving access along and across the route for non-motorised users and encouraging the useof alternative modes of transport to the private car.

E.4 A49 Route Functions

E.4.1 The functions of the A49 have been derived following an analysis of the types of journey undertaken on the A49, the relationship between the A49 and other parts of the national and local road network, and regional land use development. The functions of the A49 have been identified as;

• F1 – A strategic link between South Wales and the Midlands via the English Trunk Road Network;
• F2 – To provide a regional spine; providing for north/south movements and connections to other routes within the region;
• F3 – To contribute to and facilitate economic activity, including farming and tourism, and regeneration aspirations;
• F4 – To provide a public transport route and opportunities for modal interchange;
• F5 – To act as a local road; providing access for local communities along and near the route to everyday facilities;
• F6 – To provide access to shopping, education, work, leisure and health facilities for motorised and non-motorised users of the route; and
• F7 – To provide access for local commercial, tourism and farming activities.

E.4.2 These functions have been assessed against factors that may affect route performance such as personal injury collisions, congestion and limited safe overtaking opportunities to help identify the key issues along the route.

E.5 Land Use Issues

E.5.1 Relevant planning policy documents have been reviewed to determine future planning aspirations for the A49. Most of the future development allocations along the route are centred on the Market Towns (for which Advantage West Midlands has a specific Market Towns Initiative), and Shrewsbury and Hereford. Developments within Hereford may lead to increased congestion on the A49. Within Shropshire, Craven Arms is identified as a Strategic Growth Centre, and there are also future development allocations in Leominster and Ludlow. Theseallocations may result in increased trips along the A49, particularly to Shrewsbury.

E.5.2 These developments and others not currently allocated should be monitored to ensure the impact, both individually and combined does not compromise the route functions and objectives.

E.6 Route Issues

E.6.1 Route issues have been derived through liaison with stakeholders, the public and relevant organisations, and a review of relevant data. Safety is highlighted as the key issue along the route. Some junctions, limited overtaking opportunities and a need for a rationalisation of signing result in safety concerns.

E.6.2 Congestion within Hereford is seen as a primary constraint to the efficient functioning of the route. Below standard lay-bys and insufficient lay-by provision compared to HA Advice Note TA69/96 may also affect the economic function of the route. Limited overtaking opportunities coupled with HGV flows result in unreliable journey times.

E.6.3 Community severance, and limited pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities in settlements result in accessibility constraints. These accessibility constraints through settlements result in vulnerable user safety issues and reduced accessibility to community facilities. There is also limited integration between transport modes.

E.6.4 The A49 passes through areas of environmental significance including several Areas of Outstanding Natural Beauty, Areas of Great Landscape Value, predominantly on sections of the route between Ross-on-Wye and Hereford, and Onibury to All Stretton. The A49 is considered to have a visual impact on the environment at the Ludlow bypass and Berrington Hall.

E.7 Route Outcomes

Route outcomes (RO) have been determined by reviewing the identified route functions, objectives and issues. The route outcomes that have been developed for the A49 RMS are;

E.7.2 The route outcomes will be used to develop a Route Management Plan for the A49.