Agenda item

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

The Cabinet Member for City Services, Councillor P Hetherton, considered a report regarding the City of Coventry (Watery Lane, Parish of Allesley)(Prohibition of Driving) Order 2024 –Objection.

Residents, with the support of Allesley Parish Council, have contacted the Council on several occasions over the previous 18 months+ regarding ongoing concerns associated with antisocial behaviour (ASB) and misuse of Watery Lane, Corley Moor. The concerns raised include fly tipping, late-night gatherings, antisocial behaviour and conflict between drivers and non-motorised road users.

In response to the concerns raised, a scheme proposing the introduction of restrictions preventing motor traffic from using a section of Watery Lane was developed in liaison with the Parish Council. The scheme proposed would use bollards to prevent motor vehicles from entering the section of Watery Lane between Oak Tree House and Hollyberry Hill Farm as shown in Appendix 1. The bollards would be removable, and keys provided for access to adjacent land. Through the scheme, adjoining sections of Watery Lane between Oak Tree House and Green Lane would also be subject to a prohibition of driving except for access restriction, however this would be signed only and remain physically open.

On 7^th March 2024 a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) proposing the introduction of prohibition of driving except for access on Watery Lane was advertised. This commenced a twenty-one (21) day statutory objection period. Six (6) objections were received. In accordance with the Council's procedure for dealing with objections to TROs, they were reported to the Cabinet Member for City Services for a decision on how to proceed.

The objections received raised several concerns associated with the impact and inconvenience of the restriction on residents and landowners and highlighted the risk facilitating other types of antisocial behaviour on Watery Lane and neighbouring roads.

Petition 50 24-25 was reported to the Cabinet Member on 9^th April 2025. The 30-signature petition request Coventry City Council to “close the section of Watery Lane between Elkin Wood and the first house 'Hycott' with lockable bollards. This is to address safety concerns on the narrow section of lane with poor visibility for pedestrians, cyclists and horse riders.”

Following receipt of that petition it was agreed that it would be incorporated into an updated version of the previously deferred Watery Lane, Corley Moor – Objections to Proposed Prohibition of Driving Restriction Report from 2024. Included within the recommendation at that time was a proposal to utilise an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) and semi-permanent temporary traffic management to trial the proposed closure of Watery Lane for a duration between 12 to 18 months. This would allow any impact on the local community to be assessed before a decision was made on any permanent measures.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Considered the objections to the proposed City of Coventry (Watery Lane, Parish of Allesley) (Prohibition of Driving) Order 2024.

2)  Approves that the Order as advertised is not implemented and that objectors are informed.

3)  Endorses officers introducing a 12-to-18-month trial using an ETRO with semi-permanent temporary traffic management measures at this location in order to test the impact of a Prohibition of Driving restriction at this location.