The Community Design and Regeneration team acts as agent for the Highway Authority (Hampshire County Council) for traffic management issues as well as providing a design and implementation service, which predominantly focuses on projects forming the council's Capital Works Programme; however it also extends to outside bodies such as Hampshire County Council and Parish/Town Council's.
The work of the team falls into four distinct areas:
- The design and implementation of engineering landscaping and environmental renewal projetcs.
- Traffic management functions.
- Land drainage functions.
- Project management of corporate regeneration initiatives
The Design and Implementation of Engineering and Landscaping Projects
Projects within this area of work tend to be of either a 'Highway improvements' or 'neighbourhood improvements' nature, for example:
- Footway improvements
- Cycleway provision
- Additional street lighting
- Subway improvements
- Car park improvements
- Environmental Renewal Schemes
- Regeneration projects
Typically, the value of projects undertaken ranges from zero to £150,000; and during any one year work approaching £1million is implemented by the team.
Traffic Management Functions
As agents to the Highway Authority (Hampshire County Council), the team, in conjunction with the Police investigates complaints received relating to traffic matters, such as:
- Traffic congestion
- Parking (on-street)
- Speeding vehicles
Officers are responsible for finding suitable solutions, which may include road signage, road markings, speed reducing measures, on-street parking controls (yellow lines) and lower speed limits.
The team also processes all applications for road closures and temporary traffic orders (such as a temporary reduction in speed limit) required to allow roadworks or events on the Highway to be undertaken.
Land Drainage functions
Land Drainage deals with natural flows such as rivers, streams, ditches, and also includes watercourses that have been piped or culverted. Individual landowners are responsible for maintaining any land drainage that crosses their land and for accepting and dealing with the natural flows from any adjoining land.
Under the provisions of the Land Drainage Act 1991, the Borough Council has permissive powers to oversee ordinary watercourses. Ordinary watercourses covers ditches and streams. The Council can require landowners to clear ordinary watercourses that have become obstructed. The Environment Agency has similar permissive powers in respect of main rivers.
For advice or further information regarding ordinary watercourses please telephone 01256 844844 or email communityservices@basingstoke.gov.uk
For advice or further information regarding main rivers please contact the Environment Agency on 08708 506506 or visit their web site at www.environment-agency.gov.uk
Project Management of Corporate Regeneration Initiatives
The team also plays a key role managing Corporate Regeneration Initiatives, which involves working closely with partners such as Hampshire County Council, Housing Associations, Housing Groups, Care Trusts, Hampshire Police and Parish/Town Councils.
The aim of such initiatives is to engage the community at an early stage and to work together in order to not only regenerate the built environment but to tackle other issues such as anti-social behaviour.
Aspects of such initiatives can include:
- Refurbishing or redeveloping the housing provision
- The upgrading or provision of community facilities such as village halls and play areas
For more information about this type of work, please follow the link below to the Urban Design section of the council's website:
Urban Design
