Jeff Miller, Director: Regeneration, Highways & Transportation will provide a presentation on highways and transport related issues in the local area.
Minutes:
Jeff Miller, Service Director, Regeneration, Highways and Transportation, gave a presentation on highways issues in the City and the Fosse Ward. He also gave out a newsletter.
He identified main issues from previous community meetings. These included parking provision and obstruction, speeding and road safety, 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 issues identified. Parking could be dealt with by possible parking schemes, verge hardening, laybys, enforcement and highway design. Ways of tackling speeding and safety included speed surveys, vehicle activated signs, safety cameras, 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.
Jeff stated that roads and footways in the city had been assessed as in fair condition, but had deteriorated in some cases following the harsh winter, causing an increase in potholes. Highway inspections were being done, and the Council had introduced a rapid response team to deal with any dangers that were reported. There was also the Council’s winter service which gritted the roads.
The following questions or points were raised by residents and answered by Jeff:
1) Some roads were resurfaced last year at the wrong time, and now they are damaged and being trodden into our homes. Will they be redone?
The road surfaces will be repaired. The details will be confirmed to the next meeting.
2) Parking is a problem in the area. There may be interest in a parking scheme. Double yellow lines and bollards also add to the problem, as they push the cars elsewhere.
It is known that this is a big issue. Many households now have more than one car. We can consult on a residents’ parking scheme if people ask us to.
3) If more flats are approved, will all of these new residents be able to apply for a permit if we have a parking scheme?
If planning permission was granted on the basis that only a certain number of spaces are required, we would not make permits available to any more than this number.
4) Is a set number of people from each street required to approve a parking scheme for it to go ahead? Also, a lot of households in the area are tenants and may not want the scheme. This would disadvantage permanent residents.
A majority over the whole area would be required, not specific streets. In Clarendon Park, much of the student population didn’t reply to the consultation, meaning that the decision was made mainly on the basis of permanent residents’ opinion.
5) Will 20 mile an hour limits be introduced in Fosse Ward soon?
It is expected that they will be introduced in Fosse in the next 12 months.
6) Who would have to pay the £25 charge for a parking permit?
Any residents who wanted to park would have to pay. This covers the running costs only and does not make any profit.