Jeff Miller, Service Director, Regeneration, Highways & Transportation, will give a presentation on highways work in the area, including the Upperton Road.
Minutes:
Jeff Miller, Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation, gave a presentation on highways issues in the City and the Westcotes Ward.
He had identified what the meeting had highlighted as main issues at previous community meetings. These included parking provision and obstruction, speeding and road safety, public transport, and condition of roads and footways. He explained how the work of the team fitted into main Council strategies and gave an indication of the extent of the work they were responsible for, including roads, footways, lights, traffic lights, highway trees and car parks.
Jeff explained how the team could help with the priorities identified. Parking could be dealt with by the proposed parking scheme, verge hardening, laybys, enforcement and highway design. Ways of tackling speeding and safety included speed surveys, vehicle activated signs, safety cameras on major routes, traffic calming, pedestrian crossings and lower speed limits. It was noted that Leicester was the first city to roll out 20mph speed limits on residential roads. Making public transport more appealing an accessible was a priority; options included a new bus terminal, and looking into a tram service. Other measures were linking traffic signals to minimise delay, junction improvements, quality partnerships with bus companies, concessionary fares, Star Trak and park and ride.
Jeff stated that roads and footways in the city had been assessed as in fair condition. Work was ongoing to improve them. Highway inspections were being done, and the Council had introduced a rapid response team to deal with any dangers that were reported. Utility companies were being instructed to reinstate surfaces properly after work. There was also the Council’s winter service which gritted the roads.
Jeff reported that the frosts this winter had led to an increase in pot holes across the country. The Council would deal with any that were classed as a danger. The meeting discussed problems with roads that were cobbled underneath and the surface was breaking up. It was noted that there were specific issues with cobbled streets, as tarmac didn’t stick to them well.
The Upperton Road scheme was discussed, and Jeff said that this was a major scheme of which they were particularly proud, as it was the biggest scheme of its kind in the East Midlands. A high quality environment was being created around the new road. The scheme had recycled a majority of the material from the old bridge, and had taken other environmental issues into account. The Liberty Statue had been restored and placed on the roundabout. It was explained that the new road was slightly narrower, to deter people from overtaking dangerously.
A resident asked what could be done about tree roots that stuck up and were covered by tarmac, as they were a danger. The meeting was informed that removal of the trees could damage foundations. An option was to look at using the gravel-type surface that was recently used in the city centre refurbishment. A resident said that crab apple trees had been planted in the ward, and these caused a mess and danger. Another resident said that leaves were not cleared enough and blocked drains. Councillor Russell said that the cleansing team had a big job to do to clear them by hand, due to parked cars. Residents suggested that they clean in the day time when fewer cars were parked.
Councillor Connelly thanked Jeff and his team for the work they had done in the ward, and for their responsiveness to the Ward Councillors’ requests. He highlighted the success of the bollards on Narborough Road. He explained to the meeting that Councillors had a balancing act to do with budgets and there was never enough money to carry out all the work needed, but that they and Jeff’s team did their best.