Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

NOTE: The objector has been invited to the meeting for consideration of this item.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning an objection that had been received to the proposed revocation of the experimental one way on Eaton Road which had been advertised on 28^th March 2019.  A copy of the objection was set out at an appendix to the report. The objector attended the meeting for the consideration of this issue and spoke in support of his objection. Detailed consideration was given to the individual issues raised in the objection.

The report indicated that, as part of the Station Masterplan works, the available off-street car parking at Westminster Road had temporarily been increased.  When the changes were being proposed it was considered likely that the changes would result in more pedestrians travelling from the car park area to the railway station and that there would be an increase in the number of pedestrians crossing Eaton Road (the section south of its junction with Ringway St Patrick’s clockwise off slip). Due to these anticipated changes it had been decided to implement a one way, only permitting traffic to travel in a northerly direction, to assist pedestrians crossing the road. To be able to monitor the impact of the change, the traffic regulation order (TRO) was implemented as an Experimental TRO. 

Due to the impact on traffic flows around the station with the one way in operation, it was proposed that the Experimental TRO was revoked before the end of its 18 month duration. The revocation would result in the road becoming two way again, but with the addition of a zebra crossing installed to assist pedestrians.

The objector’s concerns related to the traffic management around the station and he also raised concerns regarding the planning permission that had been granted. He considered that the planning permission should be revoked. It was the view of the Local Plan Authority that the planning process had been correctly followed and the decisions issued. This included listed building consent in August 2018 (LB/2018/1810) and full planning permission being approved at planning committee in November 2018 (FUL/208/1732).  There were no proposals to revoke the permission and works had now commenced to introduce the Station Masterplan which would provide a second Station entrance on Warwick Road as well as a new multi storey car park to facilitate the growing needs of the Station.

A number of the concerns raised by the objector were due to temporary measures which, in time, would be addressed by the wider Friargate Development that was also taking place around the Station area. The objector made reference to other surface car parks, the shared “flash” crossing and taxi driver’s interaction with pedestrians. The Cabinet Member informed that these matters were all either due to the current temporary arrangements or would be addressed as part of the masterplan works. In addition, the Transport Delivery Team were currently reviewing the cycle network around the station. The comments raised by the objector relating to cycle paths would be considered in due course.

The proposed revocation of the one way on Eaton Road, making the road two way, would assist to improve the efficiency of the movement of traffic from the Ringway St Patrick’s clockwise off slip in to the station area. A zebra crossing would assist pedestrians to cross Eaton Road. This would be done in conjunction with other works on Manor Road and Park Road to improve the general flow of traffic during the Station Masterplan construction phase.

Councillor Hetherton, Cabinet Member, highlighted the continued consultation that was taking place between Councillors, officers, Virgin Trains and representatives from the taxi drivers. There was an acknowledgement of the issues that had arisen with all the development works that were taking place, however once completed the situation would be much improved. She clarified the importance placed on the Equality Act by the City Council along with the issue of air quality.

RESOLVED that, having considered the objection to the proposed revocation of the one way on Eaton Road, approval be given that the City of Coventry (Eaton Road) (Revocation) Order 2019 be made operational.