Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

Note: The objectors have been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways concerning three objections that had been received to the City of Coventry (Spon End) (Prohibition of Waiting and Loading) Order, advertised on 18^th November, 2021 which prohibited parking in Spon End outside the Spon End Terrace and Nissan Westway. The prohibition was required to facilitate the widening of the running carriageway through Spon End as part of the Air Quality Action Plan. The objectors had been invited to the meeting and all attended and outlined their concerns to the Cabinet Member.

The report indicated that since 2017 the Council had been working closely with the Government’s Joint Air Quality Unit (JAQU) to develop an action plan to reduce NO2 levels below the legal limit of 40ug/m3 in the shortest possible time.

Following consultation in 2019 and 2020, the Council developed a Local Air Quality Action Plan. To develop this plan, around fifty individual measures had been assessed using traffic and air quality models. A further consultation was held in November and December 2021 on the details of the infrastructure schemes which formed a key part of the package of measures. The package of measures consulted on was the one that best deals with the NO2 on Holyhead Road without transferring the problem to other areas in the city. The plan included work to reduce traffic on Holyhead Road and to direct traffic through a widened Spon End. To enable this to happen, changes were required to three areas around Holyhead Road as follows:

i) Spon End: remove the pinch point which cause congestion at Spon End and to reduce traffic delays and queuing

ii) Ring Road Junction 7: remodel Junction 7 including removing the roundabout and Moat Street car park and replace with a direct route from Spon End to the city centre

iii) Upper Hill Street/Barras Lane: close the right turn from Holyhead Road to Barras Lane and remove one of the key congestion points in the city.

The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to prohibit parking in Spon End outside the Spon End terrace and outside Nissan Westway was required to complete the necessary highway works at Spon End. A location plan was set out at an appendix to the report.

Details of the three objections that were received to the proposals during the 21 day objection period and responses to the objections were summarised in a second appendix to the report. The objectors were concerned that removing the parking would bring the running traffic lane closer to the listed buildings and that the loss of parking would have an impact on the businesses in the Spon End terrace.

The cost of introducing the proposed Air Quality scheme, would be funded by the Air Quality Implementation Fund supported by additional funding from the Transforming Cities Fund.

On completion of the works, the Council would provide alternative off-street parking.

The objectors put forward a number of concerns to the Cabinet Member including they felt that the alternative off street parking being offered wasn’t a safe and secure location and would increase insurance costs; correspondence had been received stating works would be undertaken at night time over a 12-18 month period; the 4 lane carriageway would be very close to the properties and would encourage more traffic hence more pollution; the current parking spaces offered a good buffer for the residents and businesses at the location; additional traffic would exacerbate the problems of vibration caused by buses and lorries; and the proposal would mean a reduction in the value of properties and was compensation an option.

The objectors felt that pollution from the Holyhead Road was just being transferred to Spon End and this would affect the quality of their lives; and concerns were raised about the mitigation measures that had been recommended to the objectors.

Reference was made to the impact the measures would have on the local fish and chip shop with concerns about deliveries and a reduction of passing trade.

A further concern raised involved the consultation process since some properties hadn’t received the notification about the TRO and if these residents had been aware of the proposal, they would have submitted objections. Clarification was sought about what had happened to petitions that hadn’t been referred to during the consultation process. 

The objectors also referred to the health implications of living with the pollution generated by the additional traffic, along with the increased levels of noise.

Councillor Lloyd, Deputy Cabinet Member sought clarification on a number of issues including what could be done to assist the local business with the issue concerning delivery times; the potential option to have a weight limit approach on the road to prevent heavy traffic using the road as a short cut; consultation with Satnav companies relating to concerns about current diversion routes on their systems; to look again at other off street parking options including the Rugby Club; providing residents and businesses with progress updates as works progress with the scheme; a request for additional tubes to be installed in the locality to measure pollution levels; and consideration of additional measures to mitigate against the noise, pollution fumes and vibrations. Councillor Heaven asked about the option to provide off street parking in an area by the local church. The officer undertook to investigate the issues raised.

Councillor Hetherton, Cabinet Member, highlighted the Council’s aspirations for encouraging residents to walk, cycle and use public transport with the aim of reducing traffic levels across the city. 

RESOLVED that:

(1) Having considered the objections to the prohibition of the parking Traffic Regulation Order, the Order for the removal of the parking in Spon End outside the terrace and outside Nissan Westway be approved.

(2) Officers be requested to investigate the issues raised, as detailed above, to help mitigate potential problems for residents and local businesses.