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:
- Remove the pedestrian
refuge completely. However, there would still be concerns regarding
safety.
- 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.
- Move the refuge
towards the co-operative supermarket therefore the buses would stop
in between the existing signalised crossing and refuge.
- Install pedestrian
crossing facilities. It was said that this option would be costly
and many additional factors would need to be taken into
account.
- 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.