Planning Statement

Phase 2 Douglas Promenade Environmental & Highway Improvement Works

-Planning Statement Of Case -

Network Planning Department of Infrastructure Sea Terminal Building Douglas Isle of Man IM1 2RF

Department of Infrastructure Phase 2 Douglas Promenade Highway & Environmental Improvements

December 2013 Planning Statement of Case

Contents

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Section	Page No.
Chapter 1 - Introduction
1.1 Purpose	5
1.2 History, background and existing highway condition	5
Chapter 2 – Why an Improvement is Needed
2.1 General	6
2.2 Junctions	6
2.3 Horse trams	6
2.4 Accidents	6
Chapter 3 – Consultation and Options Considered
3.1 Consultation	6
3.2 Options Considered	7
3.3 Recommended Option	7
Chapter 4 – Development of the Recommended Option
4.1 General	7
4.2 Phase 1	7
4.3 Phase 2	8
4.4 Indicative Future Phasing	8
Chapter 5 – Summary	8
Appendix A - Photographs
Appendix B - Drawings

Location Plan

Chapter 1 – Introduction

1.1 Purpose

The prime objective of the project is to reconstruct the Promenade to fulfil its role as a main arterial route, thus maintaining the Island's infrastructure requirements. The project also aims to:-

• improve the efficiency and flow of traffic along the promenade, and at major junctions
• improve pedestrian crossing facilities and create wider footways
• maintain on-street parking (where practicable) at current levels, including taxi ranks and bus stops
• provide a safe corridor for the horse tram operations
• raise the profile of the area, and improve the environment by using natural stone based materials in the pedestrianised areas.

1.2 History, background and existing highway condition

Douglas Promenade is situated in a Conservation Area consisting of Loch Promenade, Harris Promenade, Central Promenade, Queen's Promenade and King Edward Road. It runs from the Sea Terminal to Strathallan Crescent (Derby Castle), a distance of 2.5km (1.5 miles).

Douglas Promenade is a very busy primary distributor within Department's road hierarchy. It is a main arterial route into Douglas from the south and north of the Island. It provides access to the town centre, main shopping area, commercial areas, off-street parking facilities and leisure and local amenity venues. It is particularly busy during road closures for the TT and MGP.

Parts of the Promenade were constructed in the late part of the nineteenth century. The most recent major construction was during the 1930s. It has served the capital well for over 70 years without any major maintenance or refurbishment. The road construction has now reached the end of its useful life and it is uneven, patched and badly cracked. The storm water drainage system is only partly functional and causes significant local flooding during storms.

The Promenade is often a visitor's first impression of the Island when they disembark from the ferries or cruise liners. It presents a drab, shabby, tired and downtrodden image and its appearance has detracted from the quality of the street scene. The section from Peveril Square to Broadway is the widest part of the Promenade and is regarded by many as the gateway to the Island for visitors and arguably sets the tone for the capital and the whole Island.

The horse trams have been an integral part of the Promenade's attractions since the 19th century. The twin tracks run along a centre corridor within the carriageway and have

Department of Infrastructure Phase 2 Douglas Promenade Highway & Environmental Improvements

December 2013 Planning Statement of Case

remained largely unaltered since they first started. In recent years the service has been scaled back in parallel with the decline of the tourist industry but they are still popular and unique. In terms of safety, whilst accidents involving passengers alighting into live traffic are rare, it is becoming increasingly difficult to defend this practice.

Chapter 2 – Why an Improvement Scheme is Needed

2.1 General

It is widely accepted that the Promenade has reached the end of its useful life both in highway terms and from an aesthetic viewpoint. Ride quality along the whole Promenade is very poor, due to failure of the foundations, settlement, reflective cracking, trench reinstatements, and patching and repairs. The skidding resistance on some asphalt sections is well below current safety guidelines. When the surface is damp or wet, the skidding resistance is reduced further.

2.2 Junctions

The major junctions at Victoria Street*, Greensill’s Corner, Broadway and Summerhill Road have remained largely unchanged for many years and no longer meet the needs of a main arterial route through the town centre dealing with the current volumes of traffic. Pedestrian facilities and desire lines are poor in the vicinity of the Sea Terminal and Victoria Street, and the puffin crossings on Loch Promenade all work independently of each other and cause traffic queues.

• Victoria Street junction has been improved as part of Phase 1 of the project

2.3 Horse Trams

Passengers alight and board the horse trams in live traffic which is no longer acceptable if highway improvements are to be undertaken. Also there are potential conflict points at the pedestrian crossings, and at signalised junctions and uncontrolled crossings. In the narrower sections of the Promenade beyond Broadway, larger vehicles cannot pass between the gap between the horse trams and parked vehicles.

2.4 Accidents

In a past 5 years there have been 173 recorded accidents. The majority of these accidents are damage only or slight and are mainly rear end shunts or drivers misjudging distances. Most of the accidents have occurred at the main junctions and pedestrian crossing points.

Chapter 3 – Consultation and Options Considered

3.1 Consultation

The Department sought the public’s views in 2010 by way of a consultation document entitled ‘Issues and Options’. There was also a series of focus group meetings to help the Department to understand the issues and options in more detail. These groups comprised technical officers as well as a broad cross section of retailers, residents and the general public. Meetings were also held with key stakeholders such as Douglas Corporation and the Department of Economic Development.

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There were 452 written replies to the consultation and a comprehensive feedback report was issued. The key points from the feedback have been incorporated in the design wherever practicable.

Public Transport – the Department has consulted and reached agreement with Bus Vannin and with the Taxi federation regarding the position of bus stops and taxi ranks.

Public Utilities – all public utilities have been consulted and are aware of their requirements for the project. Douglas Borough Council have already indicated that the existing street lighting does not need to be relocated.

3.2 Options Considered

A series of schematic options were produced ranging from 'do minimum' patch and repair to full reconstruction of the carriageway and the footways using high quality natural stone.

3.3 Recommended Option

The optimum solution includes the following:

• Full reconstruction of the carriageway
• Relocation of the horse tram rails over to the seaward side of the carriageway with single track with a passing place
• Replacement and improvements to the surface water drainage
• Remodelling and improvements at the major junctions at Victoria Street, Greensill's Corner, Broadway and Summerhill
• Improvements and rationalisation of the signalised pedestrian crossings
• Reconstruction of the landward side footways from the Peveril Square to Broadway using natural stone paving and kerbs
• Reconstruction of the footways from Broadway to Derby Castle using tarmac
• Relocation of the echelon parking to guest house side of the Promenade, and parallel parking to the seaward side wherever practicable
• Increased parking in the vicinity of the Sefton Hotel, Gaiety Theatre and Villa Marina
• Relocation of taxi ranks and bus stops to more convenient locations

Chapter 4 – Development of the Recommended Option

4.1 General

The project will need to be broken down into a manageable phases and would be spread over a number of years and built as funds allow. This would be essential both in economic terms and in minimising disruption to the public and businesses. Each phase will need to take account of the restrictions to the operations of the horse trams, on-street parking, traffic flows, and pedestrian routes. Other events such as the TT and MGP, and Christmas shopping will need careful consideration.

4.2 Phase 1 – under construction

The first phase of the project between Peveril Square and Victoria Street received planning approval in December 2012 (PA 12/01327/B). Work is progressing on site on the landward side of the Promenade. It does not affect the horse tram tracks but includes the following features:-

1. Reconstruction of the landward side carriageway
2. Improvements to and Walpole Avenue and Victoria Street junctions
3. Improvements to pedestrian desire lines, crossing facilities and amenity areas
4. Use of high quality natural stone kerbs and paving on the footways
5. Relocation of Jubilee Clock to facilitate Victoria Street junction improvement and improve pedestrian access around the clock

4.3 Phase 2 – Peveril Square to Regent Street

This phase of the work will run from Peveril Square to the Admiral Hotel, just beyond Regent Street. It will require the horse trams to be temporarily terminated at a platform at Regent Street for the whole of the 2014 summer season. The improvements will include:-

1. Reconstruction of the carriageway using asphalt concrete (tarmac) including the area where the twin tram tracks are currently laid in the centre of the road
2. Provision of a designated corridor for the single tram track on the seaward side of the carriageway adjacent to the Marine Garden walls
3. Construction of a new bitmac (tarmac) footway adjacent to the tram track corridor
4. A blend of Kellen slabs at setts (see photograph 1) on the landward side footways and granite slabs and setts (see photograph 2) at Regent Street

4.4 Indicative Future Phasing

It is envisaged that each follow-on phase will knit together with the previously completed phase, as the project progresses along the Promenade. The general layout drawing shows indicative phasing as follows:-

Phase 3 – relocate the tram tracks from Sea Terminal to Strathallan Crescent Phase 4 – highway improvements from Regent Street to Senna Slip Phase 5 – highway and junction improvements from Senna Slip to Broadway Phase 6 – highway improvements from Broadway to Castle Mona Phase 7 – highway and junction improvements from Castle Mona to Strathallan Crescent

Chapter 5 – Summary

The Douglas Promenade improvement scheme has developed from the necessity to replace the life-expired carriageway. The existing carriageway construction is over 70 years old and consists of an asphalt surface overlying a reinforced concrete slab. It is evident from surface deterioration, ride quality and a reduction in grip that the foundations and surface have failed and need replacing.

Whilst the carriageway reconstruction is the main priority for the scheme, the Department is taking the opportunity to improve the aesthetics along the Promenade by introducing higher quality materials for footways and pedestrian areas.

Phase 1 is currently under construction on site in the section from the Sea Terminal to Victoria Street on the landward side. Pedestrian facilities and desire lines have been improved and the Jubilee Clock has been relocated to facilitate Victoria Street and Walpole Avenue junction improvements.

Phase 2 aims to reconstruct the remainder of the carriageway and seaward footways from Peveril Square to just beyond Regent Street. The horse trams will be temporarily terminated at Regent

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Department of Infrastructure Phase 2 Douglas Promenade Highway & Environmental Improvements

December 2013 Planning Statement of Case

Street and a new designated horse tram track corridor will be constructed adjacent to the Marine Garden wall. The landward footways will be constructed using a blend of Kellen and granite slabs and setts.

Appendix A

Photographs

Photograph 1: Kellen setts and granite kerbs at Phase 1 in Peveril Square

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Photograph 2: Granite kerbs and setts at Phase 1 at Jubilee Clock

Photograph 3: Patched and failed carriageway

Photograph 4: Surface water drainage problems

Department of Infrastructure Phase 2 Douglas Promenade Highway & Environmental Improvements

December 2013 Planning Statement of Case

Appendix B

Drawings

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Department of Infrastructure Planning and Building Control Murray House Mount Havelock Douglas

Director of Highways Mr R D Pearson BEng (Hons) CEng MICE MCIHT DMS

Switchboard (01624) 686600 Telephone (01624) 686661 Fax (01624) 686920 Email: [email protected] Contact: Jim Davidson Our Ref: Your ref: Date: 20 December 2013

Dear Sirs

Re: Proposed environmental and highway improvements Phase 2 Douglas Promenade, Douglas Please find the attached five copies of the planning application form, Statement of Case and drawings for the above scheme. Yours faithfully

Jim Davidson Highway Schemes Manager

Encls

NOTES
13 91533 NFRASTRUCTURE PLANNING AND OTHER Planning and Testing Chemical Tow and County Planning Act 1999
Decision
Appeal

RECEIVED CIV

23 DEC 2013

DEPARTMENT OF

NFRASTRUCTURE

Ref.	Revision	Date	By	Title
APPROVED BY
TODAY PLANNING
infrastructure non-traggiable
Technical Services Section Forsythes House Post Road Dorghoe, Isle of Man SN1 9YR Telephone: (010241) 880030 Fax: (010241) 880070 IT Event (Highways Division)
AS 744 Douglas Promenade Improvements Phase 2, Peveril Square - Regent Street
Cleaning 744 Phase 2, Peveril Square - Regent Street Decorative Fencing Detail
Printed By P.R.	Date December 2013
Approved By	Date N.T.S.
Ref. No.	Effective Date
HW/3080	11/204