Agenda item

An Officer from the City Council’s Highways and Transport section will be present to feedback on Highways and Transportation issues that have been previously raised at the Community Meeting and consult on new traffic calming proposals in the ward.

David Poxon, Team Leader Road Safety, Transport Strategy and Graham Seaton, Transport Development Officer, Transport Strategy were present to consult on new traffic calming proposals in the ward.

David reported that with regards to the Overdale Safer Routes to School Scheme, a scheme involving area wide traffic calming was consulted on in 2007 however due to objections the scheme was halted. There had then been work carried out with local schools to revise proposals for an Overdale Safe Routes to School Scheme however following reprioritisation of areas, funding for the Overdale area had then been removed. David informed the Community Meeting that following concerns raised by residents, a small scale scheme for the Overdale area was now being considered.

David explained some of the potential scheme ideas, these included:

• Junction narrowing and a footway widening outside the school to help children cross the road.
• Traffic calming scheme on Overdale Road to lower the speeds. It was noted however that Meadvale Road residents may object due to displacement of traffic.
• Traffic calming scheme on Overdale Road and Meadvale Road.

It was noted traffic calming schemes may occur a larger cost. Some residents stated that any scheme introduced should not affect the property prices on Overdale road. Concern was also raised at the double decker bus going through the road and parents parking their cars. In response to a query, David stated that only the junction where cars turned in would be narrowed. Suggestions were made that speed signage may be a more cost effective method.

Concern was raised that junction narrowing would make it more dangerous for children and there would also be more cars parked together. David stated that it was illegal for cars to park on junctions and tickets could be issued for this. The Chair raised concern that currently parents were not taking any notice of the zig zag markings near the school. David stated that it needed to be asked whether residents wanted a general traffic calming scheme or one specifically related to when children were present.

In response to a query about ‘walking buses’, David commented that these were declining rapidly as children regularly moved schools. However there were incentives for children walking to school such as ‘star walkers’ which offered rewards for walking to school.

David explained where Vehicle Activated Signs were implemented and the potential difficulties with them. It was noted that:

• The City Council was preparing a system of prioritisation of these types of signs in the city and a policy for their future use because of high demand.
• Concern had been raised that the familiarity of the signs had lowered their effectiveness.
• Following guidance, the signs would be used where there was a collision problem, where excessive speed was involved and other measures could not be used.

David explained some of the problems associated with Vehicle Activated Signs, these were:

• Maintenance and running costs
• Failure to lower speeds to expectations.
• Speed only reduced by 2-3 mph.
• Funding the cost of lamp columns to bear the weight of the signs.

David also explained some of the alternative solutions, these were:

• Partnership working with the Leicester, Leicestershire and Rutland Road Safety Partnerships to carry out enforcement.
• Using Police Community Support Officers in the areas of concern and following this ad hoc enforcement in the area when Police resources allowed.
• Getting a ‘Community Speed Watch’ scheme in the area.
• Carrying out further road safety training and education at the local schools.

The Chair also raised concern at the traffic around St Thomas More School as the area was busy with large vehicles and there were also buses down Ratcliffe Road. David informed the Community Meeting new signage had been placed on Ratcliffe Road. Further concern was raised regarding articulated lorries going down Knighton Road. David stated that this was one of the areas where the Police had been told to use a Speed Indicator Device (SID).

A resident stated that the introduction of a SID on the bend near St Thomas More School had shown evidence of reducing speeds. David stated that the speeds in the area had not been reduced by a huge amount and the SID had only been at the location for a short period of time. David stated that the Police would be using an SID in the area again however could not say when this would be.

With regards to the junction of Welford Road and Overdale Road Graham informed the Community Meeting that a proposal to provide extra traffic signals for the right turn from Welford Road into Overdale Road had been identified to reduce accidents at the junction. A similar proposal has been identified for the Welford Road and Chapel Lane junction. He stated that the City Council was currently preparing the new Local Transport Plan and the proposed schemes would be included in that. The construction of these schemes would be dependent on the allocation of funding.

A resident suggested that bollards could be placed outside the school. David stated that this was a possibility that would be considered. In response to a query, David stated the bollard would cost £400 to £500 each. It was suggested that there could another trial period with the bollards. The Chair stated that there was some funding available from the Community Meeting budget to assist with a scheme. It was decided that the Members would meet with the officers before the next meeting to discuss a scheme and funding.

Graham stated that if it was decided to proceed with the road narrowing scheme, it would only be in places where cars should not be parking. Schools had previously raised concern that traffic could not be seen when children were crossing the road.

A resident suggested introducing a 20mph scheme. David stated that any 20mph would have to be self enforcing.

A resident raised concern that their vehicle was frequently blocked in by other vehicles on the cul de sac on which they lived. David commented that access protections markings could be inserted to prevent this problem.