Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

The Cabinet Member considered a report and received a presentation of the Director of Transportation and Highways concerning objections that had been received to a Traffic Regulation Order and Notice of Intent advertised on 10 December 2020 for a 20mph speed limit on Leaf Lane and traffic calming measures. 9 objections were received along with 3 responses in support of the proposals. A summary of the proposed restrictions, objections and responses were set out in an appendix to the report. As the meeting was being held remotely, in line with the revised government regulations, all the respondents were offered the opportunity to submit any additional comments in writing in response to the report and 2 additional response were received following the publication of the meeting documentation. All the respondents had been provided with additional information on watching the live stream meeting.

Councillor Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, attended the meeting for the consideration of this item.

The report and presentation indicated that safety measures were proposed to be installed on Leaf Lane as part of mitigation measures relating to the Whitley South development, which had included changes to provide access to the Jaguar Landrover (JLR) premises. It was intended that developer funding from JLR as part of Section 106 financial contributions would be used to mitigate the impact of these changes on residents.

Over the last few years, the Council had received many concerns from local residents about speeding vehicles and a significant increase in traffic volumes since the new grade separated Whitley Junction became operational.  Feedback from residents coupled with observations by officers revealed that these problems occurred predominantly in the morning at peak times.  Observations undertaken by Council Officers revealed that drivers were using Leaf Lane as a cut-through between Stivichall Interchange and the A444 to avoid queueing traffic during the morning peak.

In August 2020, a Street News consultation was undertaken with 1500 residents being consulted on a possible road safety scheme for Leaf  Lane. The proposed road safety measures included:

·  Reduce the speed limit to 20mph

·  Installing speed cushions

·  Installing a one-way system on a section of Leaf Lane between Gregory Hood Road and Fenside Avenue

·  Improving cycle facilities throughout the traffic calming measures.

273 responses were received to the consultation. The report detailed that although the majority respondents (74%) supported the proposed road safety measures, many residents did not support the proposed one-way system. Subsequently, the one-way system was removed from the proposals and changes made to the design, with residents being advised of the new proposals.

As part of the statutory procedure, the Traffic Regulation Order for the 20mph speed limit and the Notice of intent to install speed cushions were advertised in the local press and notices were posted on lamp columns in the area on 10th December 2020, and the nine objections and three letters of support were subsequently received. The objections highlighted numerous concerns including the speed limit reduction was ‘bad for the environment with emissions increasing due to starting and stopping at the traffic calming measures. Other comments received objecting to the proposals included that drivers may avoid Leaf Lane and use other roads in the area creating traffic migration. The letters in support of the speed limit reduction included comments that the 20mph speed limit and the cushions would work well together. Others offered ‘full support’ to the proposals.

The introduction of the 20 mph speed limit and the installation of speed cushions was recommended due to the road characteristics and the recorded vehicular speeds and complaints from local residents. Leaf Lane comprised a series of long straights, and this could increase the likelihood of excessive vehicular speeds, as drivers tend to look at where they were going and not what was immediately in front of them, often referred to as ‘tunnel vision’. There was a downhill section, bend, a number of junctions, and some houses which fronted the road, although there was limited on-street parking for these properties and was not utilised much  These factors all increased the road safety risk when  drivers travelled at inappropriate speeds.

The cost of introducing the Leaf Lane safety scheme was estimated to be approximately one hundred thousand pounds, and if approved, would be funded from the Leaf Lane Works Contribution as part of Section 106 allocations.

Councillor Hetherton, Cabinet Member, sought clarification of the type of speed cushions proposed to be installed and their impact to drivers and their vehicles.

Councillor Bailey, local Ward Councillor, expressed support for the scheme and the consultation which had involved 1,500 properties. He requested that consideration be given to the replacement of the current bollards plus additional bollards on the lane and also that consideration be given to replacing the current worn pavements. Officers undertook to raise the issue of the state of the pavements with Highway Maintenance and highlighted that the main purpose of the bollards was to protect bends. Any potential bollard works would be subject to the availability of funding from the Section 106 allocation. In response to a question, the intentions for post scheme monitoring were detailed.

The Cabinet Member thanked officers for all the work undertaken to develop the safety scheme for Leaf Lane.

RESOLVED that, having considered the objections to the 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures, approval be given to the implementation of the 20 mph speed limit and installation of speed cushions.