Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

The Cabinet considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place), that had also been considered by the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) at their meeting on 5^th March 2018 (their minute 32/17 referred), that proposed the introduction of Average Speed Cameras on London Road and Ansty Road, Coventry.

Coventry City Council received many requests from local residents and Members across the City about inappropriate vehicular speed. This included a significant number of petitions requesting road safety measures on local roads in the City. In addition, the number of people killed and seriously injured (KSI) had increased on major routes into the City where inappropriate speed was a factor. This included London Road and Ansty Road. 

Although the overall accident rates were declining on Coventry’s road network, the number of people killed or KSI on major routes, carrying high volumes of traffic was increasing. Analysis of KSI’s caused by inappropriate speeds highlighted both London Road and Ansty Road as locations of high concern.  To address this trend, it was proposed to introduce Average Speed Enforcement (ASE) into the City.

The use of ASE has been piloted in Birmingham and Solihull.  Early results were positive with a reduction in speed of up to 20% being achieved.  Elsewhere, ASE has reduced KSI rates by up to 75%.

As the Highway Authority, the Council was responsible for setting speed limits on local roads and worked closely with West Midlands Police (WMP) as the enforcement agency.  Additionally, Coventry City Council was the West Midlands Combined Authority (WMCA) lead authority for Road Safety, and was committed to reducing the numbers of people KSI by 40% over the next 10 years’ based on a three year average (2014, 2015 and 2016) as the baseline.

The approval and installation of ASE would require close working with enforcement partner organisations such as the WMP and other associated agencies.

There was no adopted policy for installing and prioritising the use of ASE in Coventry and this report highlighted the mechanisms utilised by other regional authorities and proposed Coventry City Council adopt the WMP set criteria agreed in 2017.

The report proposed ASE to be introduced on London Road and Ansty Road, the installation for which would be funded from the Highways Maintenance and Investment Capital Programme budget through the Local Transport Plan. It was anticipated on the basis of the Birmingham and Solihull ASE pilot, that ongoing maintenance costs would be covered by a share of the revenue generated from speed awareness course fees.

The Cabinet also considered recommendations from the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) set out in a Briefing Note which was tabled at the meeting.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet:

1)  Notes that the Communities and Neighbourhoods Scrutiny Board (4) supports the recommendations to Cabinet.

2)  Approves the use of Average Speed Enforcement in Coventry and that the associated procurement processes for Average Speed Enforcement equipment is undertaken.

3)  Approves Average Speed Enforcement Schemes to be implemented on London Road and Ansty Road.