Agenda item

Martin Fletcher, Head of Highways will be at the meeting to provide an update on the Traffic Island which is situated on Evington Road.

Councillors informed attendees of the works and activities they had been involved in regarding the pedestrian refuge on Evington Road. A visit to the site took place on a Saturday morning for over 1hour and 20 minutes at which some residents gave their opinions on the refuge and any issues with the refuge were identified;

• Approximately 22 people requested it not be removed; others suggested possible removal but required some sort of crossing.

• Concerns were expressed that it was not safe as drivers would drive around the pedestrian refuge to overtake the buses. The Chair expressed the importance that something needed to be done to improve the safety.

Martin Fletcher and Mark Govan from the Highways Department discussed potential proposals to resolve the Pedestrian Refuge issue on Evington Road. Stoneygate Ward Councillors had raised this issue for approximately two years and funding had now been allocated for the works.

Highways Officers discussed several options that had been looked at as a resolution:

1. Remove the pedestrian refuge completely. However, there would still be concerns regarding safety.
2. Relocate bus stop further east towards residential area. However, the new bus stop would be parallel to the bus stop on the opposite side of the road.
3. Move the refuge towards the co-operative supermarket therefore the buses would stop in between the existing signalised crossing and refuge.
4. Install pedestrian crossing facilities. It was said that this option would be costly and many additional factors would need to be taken into account.
5. Road markings could be looked at to re-enforce safety and implement targeted enforcement actions.

Highways Officers suggested that option three would probably be the most likely, but more consultation would be required.

• A resident who had also attended the site visit suggested another option (2a) to move the bus stop east by 3metres (10ft) down, which would allow cars to pass. Some other residents requested cameras which could monitor issues on the road/ street.

• The Chair informed attendees that after the site visit, the issue was re-raised with the Police. The Police expressed that the issue was serious but did not give further advice as to any actions they planned to implement.

• It was requested that the Stoneygate Community Engagement Officer contact the Police with a request from this meeting’s minutes for a camera to be installed. It was also requested that people called the Police when offences or incidents occurred on Evington Road in order for the Police to build known reports. Discussions took place of local groups/ organisations and residents formulating a petition to present to Police in support of the cameras.

• Attendees agreed that further consultation was required. Discussions of a possible street/ site visit were to take place during a weekday rush hour and a Saturday to get local residents’ opinions. Leaflets would also be placed in local shops for people to access. It was agreed by the Chair and Highways Officers that one street/ site visit with a stall giving information to the public could take place before Christmas 2014.

• Highways Officers said it was intended that works would be completed by March 2015.

• An update would be provided at the next meeting.