Agenda item

Officers from the Highways department will be present to provide a action plan showing how the issues raised at the last meeting will be progressed.

Satish Shah, Head of Transport Systems was present to talk about the Highways and Transport action plan which showed how the highways and transport issues raised at the last meeting were being dealt with.

The action plan, which outlined how the Highways and Transport issues raised would be addressed, was circulated.

Satish explained that the Highways department would start working on the new Local Transport Plan for beyond 2011 and any new development schemes that were being planned would be brought before the meeting. With regard to the issues raised, the following discussion took place:

Speeding

Satish stated that not having traffic calming features and the results from the speed survey conducted in October 2008 did not qualify Guilford Road for a 20mph limit. However, he would undertake research to see if other means of introducing 20mph were available and would be speaking to Councillor Grant regarding it.

With regard to the speeding on Overdale Road, officers from the highways department would be meeting the ward Councillors about the traffic calming schemeand there would be feedback brought to the next meeting.

Vehicle Activated Sign

Satish stated that the vehicle activated sign on Shanklin Drive had been reported by Officers to be in the correct position. With regard to the sign that was covered by a tree, this had been discussed with the resident of the property with a view to getting the tree trimmed.

London Road

Satish informed the meeting that an officer from the Highways department would be meeting Councillor Grant next Wednesday to discuss the transport study on London Road.

Dangerous Junctions

It was reported that the Overdale Road / Welford Road and Welford Road / Chapel Lane / Knighton Road junctions had been identified as part of accident cluster sites and officers were investigating the problem. It was stated that feedback would be available at the next meeting.

Condition of Pavements

Satish commented that officers from the Highways Department would be reporting back at each meeting on what improvements had been carried out. It was also reported that maintenance work had been carried out on Aberdale Road, Asquith Boulevard and Carisbrooke road on 5 and 6 July 2009. With regard to concerns raised about rocking concrete slabs on Oakdene Road and Lambourne Road, Satish stated that this would be investigated and there would be a report back at the next meeting. Satish also stated that the matter of advertising on Asquith Boulevard would be investigated and reported on at the next meeting.

Residents also raised the following concerns:

• Parking on the junction of Pendlebury Drive. It was agreed that this would be added to the Highways action plan;
• There was a crossing near to the Welford Rd / Overdale Rd junction which was used by a number of children going to school. It was queried whether this could be included in the Safer Routes to School Scheme and whether could the timings be changed at school opening and closing times to allow a longer crossing period.
• The footway on Asquith Boulevard had been re-surfaced but the camber was unacceptable as it encouraged water to run off from private residencies onto the public highway. Satish agreed to investigate and report back at the next meeting
• Speeding on Knighton Grange Road and Ratcliffe Road and people speeding on Ratcliffe Road and then turning on London Road;
• On Aberdale Rd cars parked on the pavement caused an obstruction because of the on road cycle lane. It was queried whether the cycle lane could be put on the pavement so cars could park on the roadand
• Potholes on Moorland Avenue. It was agreed to add this to the action plan.

Councillor Grant stated that he had met with officers regarding the Overdale Road/Welford Road junction however there had been no progress since. He added that he would report back from the subsequent meeting he was due to have with officers on Wednesday at the next Community Meeting.

A resident queried whether there had been an analysis of the speeds of cars on Overdale Road and queried whether the results could be made available. Satish commented that there had been an analysis and he would look into finding the statistics for the next meeting.

A paper was circulated at the meeting notifying residents of the closure of Palmerston Way Bridge for 5 weeks in order for maintenance work to be carried out.

Residents queried why it would take five weeks to repair the bridge. Satish stated that five weeks was the maximum time required as drawn from the assessment that had been made. Queries were also raised as to why the work had not started sooner to stop it interfering with the school term. Satish commented that funding had to be obtained from the Department for Transport and there had been a period whereby the Council was waiting for confirmation of the funding to come through.