(161) 8. Transport options

This chapter provides further detail on transport options for the Hockley Area Action Plan.These options can sit independently of the wider spatial options for the centre to improve the modular nature of the options and respond more effectively to local wishes.The key areas of focus for the transport proposals are:

• Options to address congestion at Spa roundabout;
• Options to improve accessibility and drop-off points at Hockley train station; and
• Parking provision within the centre.

Detail on each of these points is provided over the following pages, along with illustrative plans.

Addressing congestion at Spa roundabout

One of the local community’s principle concerns is congestion in the village centre, particularly at the busy Spa Road roundabout and along Spa Road itself.

Spa Road and the B1013 Main Road / Southend Road serve as key routes for commuters from the area travelling to and from Southend, Chelmsford and Basildon, as well as forming a strategic route between Rochford and Rayleigh. It also forms the entrance to Spa Road and links to employment uses north of Hockley.

The option of removing the roundabout and replacing with a signal-controlled junction was originally raised, but it was felt that while this may provide improved pedestrian crossing facilities and allow for greater dynamic control of traffic flows, this could also lead to greater vehicle queueing. An overly formalised junction was also not considered to be in keeping with this important location at the heart of Hockley.

The updated options for the AAP seek to address congestion at the junction in a number of ways which would not require such significant intervention at the roundabout. These include:

• Providing an additional slip lane at the roundabout, to support greater flow around the roundabout
• Providing a full shared surface at the roundabout, to naturally regulate traffic

Detail on these options is set out over the following pages.

The options are supported by wider measures within the AAP spatial options which can help to address congestion at the roundabout.These include:

• Improving access and use levels at car parks within the centre which can be accessed before reaching the roundabout, such as the Southend Road car park, and Potters car park, with a western entrance
• Encouraging a modal shift in the Hockley by providing better cycling facilities and improving the pedestrian environment
• Naturally regulating the flow of traffic on Spa Road with a greater level of short-term on street parking.

Increasing capacity at the roundabout

An appropriate option for improving traffic flow may be to increase the capacity of the junction by incorporating two-lane approaches on the three principal arms of the roundabout.This would allow for left turning traffi c (or straight ahead traffic in the case of the Southend Road approach) to more easily bypass vehicles waiting to turn right.

The sketch layout shows how this could be achieved with minimal changes to existing kerb lines or impact on existing pedestrian crossing facilities. Key changes include a widening of the carriageway to the south of Southend Road and build-out on the southwest corner of the roundabout to allow for the give-way line on the Main Road arm to be brought forward, along with relocation of the central island.

Additional minor improvements could include the construction of a raised entry treatment on the Woodlands Road arm, which accommodates lower traffic flows, and a slight build-out of the north side of Southend Road to allow for improved footway paving around the Spa Pub.

It should be noted that this alternate option is an initial sketch proposal and would require a level of more detailed design including traffic surveys, junction modelling, tracking of vehicle swept paths and a formal safety audit before being implemented.

Option setting out additional lane on Spa roundabout approach

Providing a shared surface at the roundabout

A more radical approach to the Spa roundabout may be the replacement of the traditional roundabout with a shared space square with equal pedestrian / vehicle priority.

This approach has been used successfully in Ashford, Kent and in Poundbury in Dorset and is also planned for Museum Street in Kensington. This approach would improve the pedestrian environment significantly and would also help to naturally regulate traffic in the area.This does prevent an additional slip stream from being added, but would lower the impact of the pedestrian crossings on congestion at the roundabout, by distributing pedestrian crossing points.

The plan below sets out how this may be achieved.

Shared surface option at Spa roundabout

Improving on-street parking provision

The spatial options for the Hockley AAP include increased provision of on-street parking along Spa Road in order to ease pressure on existing car parks and improve the physical environment. In option 2, this is included as parallel parking and in option 3, this is included as echelon parking.

The diagram below provides greater detail on how the echelon parking - the more space hungry of the two options - could be accommodated. The parking has been accommodated in a staggered fashion, to provide natural traffic calming.This technique has been used successfully on London Road in Southampton and is able to accommodate traffic seeking parking from either direction.

The diagram below also includes an indicative section for removing the retaining wall in front of Barclays on Spa Road, which currently acts as a barrier to pedestrian movement in the centre. The level difference at this section on Spa Road could instead be overcome with a set of shallow stairs or double kerbs and the disabled bays can be reprovided in on-street bays nearby.

Parking options on Spa Road

Improving drop-off provision at the station

The spatial options have considered methods of improving the provision for drop-off and pick-up at the train station, whilst also improving the public realm at the station, Here, further detail is provided on how this could be accommodated.

The diagram below identifies potential to remove the roundabout in front of the train station and replace this with a straightforward junction.A turning circle can then be provided close to the train station, with access to the left to the additional car park which has been created as part of the options.This would prevent cars from having to park on the roundabout and ease congestion in to the housing developments and Foundry Business Park here.