Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition, bearing 314 signatures (303 paper and 11e-signatures) which has been submitted by Councillor D Skinner, a Westwood Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition bearing 314 signatures (303 paper and 11 e-signatures) which was submitted by Councillor Skinner, a Westwood Ward Councillor, who was unable to attend the meeting. The petition organiser Mr Bob Wright attended the meeting and he spoke on behalf of the petitioners. Karen Sprouse, local resident, was also in attendance and spoke in support of the petition. The report had been requested by the petition organiser following the receipt of the determination letter. The petitioners were requesting that a number of roads in Tile Hill Village become a 20mph along with the installation of traffic calming measures and a zebra crossing.

The report indicated that the area referred to was an extensive area which included a fuel garage, local shops and a pub in addition to residential properties. Some of the roads were part of bus routes. A location plan was set out at an appendix to the report. Reference was made to the commitment from the Cabinet Member for Public Services to the aspiration that Coventry becomes a 20mph city. 

The determination letter had advised of the review undertaken and the actions proposed and approved in response to the petition. This included advising in regard to the safety scheme criteria and that negotiations were currently underway with housing developers regarding proposals for the local area. The planning process included the possibility of securing mitigation measures such as traffic calming and improvements at signalised junctions. Any proposals would be the subject of local consultation. A copy of the determination letter was set out at a second appendix.

The Cabinet Member was informed that since the issuing of the determination letter, Planning Committee had agreed to delegate planning approval for the development subject to the conditions and a section 106 agreement. The section 106 agreement process was now ongoing and contributions for highway mitigation measures were in the process of being agreed.

Mr Wright indicated that Tile Hill Resident’s Group wanted the major roads in Tile Hill Village to become a 20mph zone including Station Avenue, Cromwell Lane, Duggins Lane, and Tanners Lane along with Conway Avenue and Nailcote Avenue. He informed that traffic was getting heavier by the day and would increase with new housing developments in the area, the proposed new multi-storey car park at Tile Hill rail station and the heavy goods vehicles for the construction of HS2. There were many incidents of excessive speeding and there had been a number of accidents. The increasing traffic also had an effect on the air quality in the area.

He drew attention to the 20mph areas being introduced by Leeds City Council and to Department of Transport guidance regarding 20mph limits and zones for urban areas and built up village streets to ensure greater safety for pedestrians and cyclists. He also referred to West Midlands Police policy which stated that 20mph limits were the future in urban areas.

Mr Wright highlighted how a 20mph limit would save lives and reduce the severity of injuries to pedestrians involved in traffic accidents. It would also improve the air quality for local residents.

Karen Sprouse referred to the continual speeding traffic and to recent traffic accidents. She referred to the need to change culture.

Councillor Innes, Cabinet Member referred to the introduction of average speed enforcement cameras in the city which would look at the speed of a car on a stretch of road. She also referred to the intention to work with Ward Councillors and local residents regarding the use of Section 106 funding. She informed that new initiatives were being planned around Clean Air Day which was taking place on 21^st June, 2018.     

RESOLVED that:

(1) The petitioners concerns be noted.

(2) The actions confirmed by determination letter to the petition spokesperson (as detailed in paragraph 1.8 of the report) are undertaken be endorsed, noting that Planning Committee have since resolved that the grant of planning permission be delegated to the Head of Planning and Regulation in respect of Application OUT/2016/1874 subject to conditions and subject to the completion of a satisfactory section 106 agreement to secure the contributions and obligations listed within the report and the late representation document.