Agenda item

Report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy

To consider the above petition bearing 23 signatures. 

The petition is being sponsored by Councillor R Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item, along with the Petition Organiser.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Regeneration and Economy, that responded to a petition requesting speed reduction displays (Vehicle Activated Signs VAS) on William Bristow Road. ‘The Petition Organiser, and the Petition Sponsor Councillor R Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, attended the meeting.

The petition contained 23 signatures and in accordance with the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those related to road safety were heard by the Cabinet Member for City Services. The Cabinet Member had considered the petition in advance of the meeting and requested that the petition be dealt with by Determination Letter rather than a formal report being submitted to a meeting of Cabinet Member for City Services. The Petition Organiser subsequently requested that a report be submitted to a meeting.

The determination letter advised that locations where there had been 6 or more personal injury collisions recorded by the Police in the previous 3 years, were considered for inclusion in the safety scheme programme.  The latest annual review of recorded personal injury collisions identified 48 roads or junctions in the city where there had been 6 or more recorded personal injury collisions.

A review of the recorded personal injury collision history for William Bristow Road had shown that there were 2 personal injury collisions recorded by the Police on William Bristow Road in the past 3 years and therefore, it did not meet the criteria to be considered for inclusion in the safety scheme programme.

However, noting the concerns of local residents, it was proposed to carry out a speed survey on the road, which had now been completed, and subsequently the location would be added to the mini speed visor programme, which would see the deployment of a mobile vehicle activated sign of a rolling programme, which would highlight driver speed and aid compliance with the speed limit.

The Petition Sponsor, Councillor R Bailey and Councillor M Mosterman attended the meeting and spoke in support of the petition, raising concerns regarding vehicles cutting across the corner to the wrong side of the road when crossing William Bristow Road onto the The Mount.

The Petition Organiser attended the meeting and spoke in support of the scheme, concurring with the Petition Sponsor, Councillor R Bailey’s concerns regarding vehicles cutting the corner onto The Mount and suggesting a pedestrian refuge which would encourage drivers not to use the cut through.

The Officer responded to Councillor Baileys concerns and queries advising the temporary mobile vehicle activated sign would be in place a couple of time per year for between 4 – 6 weeks at a time, which would assist in understanding speeding issues and that a site visit could take place to investigate the following measures:

• The kerb line on the junction with William Bristow Road and the Daventry Road, which had been widened at some stage, to be re-investigated.
• The possibility and viability of an additional pedestrian refuge at the junction of the William Bristow Road and the Daventry Road.
• Traffic calming measures ie. VAS on the junctions of Cecily Road and Montalt Road where they met the William Bristow Road.

The Petition Sponsor, Councillor R Bailey welcomed measures discussed, the site visit and advised a refuge would be safer for pedestrians crossing the road.

The Cabinet Member requested VAS as it collected speed data and was useful for drivers to see it was in place.

RESOLVED that the Cabinet Member for City Services:

1)  Notes the petitioners’ concerns.

2)  Endorses the actions which have been agreed to be issued by determination letter to the petition organiser as detailed in paragraph 1.6 of the report.

3)  Agree that Officers undertake a site visit to investigate the possibility of additional speed reduction measures.