Officers will provide an update on issues which have been raised at previous meetings.
Minutes:
Martin Fletcher – Acting Head of Highways Management provided an update on and summary of the responses given from the relevant Officers regarding issues raised at the previous meeting:
Langley Rd - One-way system request
Martin stated that proposals for one-way streets were not considered without appropriate traffic calming measures in place, as one-way streets tend to increase traffic speed. As no recorded personal injury accidents in last 3 years had occurred and Langley Avenue is 106th on the traffic calming priority list action would not be taken currently.
Parker Drive - Options for parking restrictions for factory visitors
Martin explained that several visits had been made to Parker Drive in last 5 years by officers and every time parking and loading operations had been entirely reasonable and essential to the operation of businesses. If restrictions were increased this would increase the speed of traffic on the road, creating additional risk of severe accidents. Existing waiting restrictions were considered adequate and there were no plans to change them.
A resident asked why the factories do not have to provide their own parking facilities and residents receive a fine on the residential side of the road if a car is parked for more than a few minutes. The chair suggested that the resident submit an enquiry form to get this looked into.
Parker Drive - VAS Pilot
Martin explained if the VAS pilot showed vehicles were still speeding alternate measures would be looked at. The results of the current study would be made available in the middle of 2010 as part of a study on road safety on main roads.
PC Ian Lovell stated the police had carried out checks with handheld speed guns on Parker Drive, more speeding had been detected at the Somerset drive end and some fixed penalty notices had been issued. The traffic management section of the Police may install a “grey box” to record data about speeding soon.
Halifax Drive - Concrete bay removal
Martin explained that an officer had inspected the removal site. The tarmac had sunk slightly but was in a safe condition. Halifax Drive was routinely inspected every six months, should a defect develop repair will be carried out.
Somerset Drive & Halifax Drive - Speeding issues
Martin explained that the VAS pilot study covers Halifax Drive. If it showed vehicles were still speeding alternate measures would be looked at. The results of the current study would be made available in the middle of 2010 as part of a study on road safety on main roads.
Martin also commented that Somerset Avenue is 62nd in the traffic calming priority list and only one recorded personal injury has occurred in the last 3 years. Given the low priority and low accident rate no immediate action was warranted.
Sudley Avenue - Request for yellow lines
Martin explained that no recorded road traffic accidents involving personal injury in the last 5 years had occurred and parking does not cause undue delays to through traffic, therefore action would not be taken as it would incur significant costs.
Hatton Avenue/Marwood Road - Road Surface
Martin explained that both roads had been inspected and were in a safe condition so no action would be taken. Other roads in the city were in a much worse condition.
Orton Road – Road safety issue
Martin responded to a resident’s query that the road was too narrow and frequently obstructed. He explained that the only obstruction was related to the school and not parking enforcement, so the issue had been referred to the police and Councillor Bhavsar’s constituent had been notified by e-mail.
Galliwood Drive – Vandalised fences
Martin explained that as this was a Park Services issue, Stuart Marbrooke was dealing with the issue with Councillor Bhavsar. As no-one had been in touch yet this was to be chased up again.
Abbey Lane/Abbey Park Road – Bus shelters
Martin explained that the shelter at the stop on Abbey Park Road was removed due to development work and could not be replaced in a safe or acceptable position.
The shelter at Abbey Lane could be relocated as part of the development. However JC Decaux were not satisfied the new location was acceptable from an advertising perspective.
Both locations had been added to the waiting list of sites for Council funded non-advertising shelters; the speed at which they would be installed was unknown as this was dependent on funding.
Bus service request to Gateway College via Watermead Rd
Martin explained that there were bus services in the vicinity that went to Hamilton though none at the exact location.
Beaumont Leys Lane – Drive-way request
Martin explained that this request had very specific circumstances: the resident had raised kerbs outside their property due to a bus shelter. The issue had been ongoing for several years and there was nothing new to add at this time.
The following questions were asked by residents:
Who is responsible for looking at an issue when a business selling cars parks them on the road and pavement nearby?
The resident stated a complaint had been submitted on this issue regarding a business on Northgate Street and no response had been forthcoming.
It was stated by an Officer that the Street Wardens Team and Parking Enforcement were responsible for this type of issue.
Steve Letten, Members Support Officer apologised for the lack of response and suggested a written enquiry be submitted and it would be ensured the site would be visited.
Can anything be done to prevent cyclists (especially youths) on the pavement on Parker Drive from being a danger to pedestrians?
Another resident suggested that the motivation for cycling on the pavement was often fear, as the road had no bike lanes and speeding motorists. A resident also stated road surfaces were too bumpy to cycle comfortably on in the area and the footpath on some roads was wide enough to accommodate a cycle lane.
Martin Fletcher responded that irresponsible cycling on the pavement was an education issue among young people and a wider social problem, and that the Council led the way in providing cycle lanes.
Where are cycle lanes are located in the ward?
Martin replied that Heacham Drive had a cycle lane, residents queried whether it was usable due to obstruction by parked cars.
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Action |
Officer/Councillor Identified |
Deadline |
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Parker Drive to be checked by the Council Cycle Officer to see if it is listed anywhere for a planned cycle lane |
Martin Fletcher |
As soon as possible |