Issue details

The recent installation of the Hostile Vehicle Mitigation (HVM) measures on Blake Street, with the bollards being located some 40m or so into Blake Street itself, has led to a greater number of vehicles using the initial stretch of Blake Street for deliveries nearby. Current restrictions mean that during Footstreets hours (10:30–17:00), no vehicles should be entering Blake Street (limited exceptions apply).

During Footstreets hours, when the bollards are closed, vehicles which do contravene this restriction (deliberately or accidentally) are prevented from continuing along Blake Street and are forced to exit back onto the Museum Street / Duncombe Place junction. This activity is currently both illegal, as Blake Street is one-way inbound, and unsafe as vehicles are rejoining the junction without a traffic signal. The manoeuvre also places pedestrians and other road users at risk as they would not be expecting vehicles to exit Blake Street at the junction.

In order to improve safety for everyone at this junction, Transport Projects are proposing to make some minor changes to the road layout and have advertised the associated traffic regulation order (TRO) to allow vehicles which do enter Blake Street to safely exit onto Duncombe Place at times when the HVM bollards are closed.

The Executive Member is asked to consider any objections to the advertised TRO and the findings of the consultation, to approve the recommended action for progression to implementation.

The Executive Member will be asked to approve the following interventions, including the associated TRO:

• Removal of the existing one-way restriction between the junction and the HVM bollards, and replacement with a part one-way/two-way flow to enable vehicles in Blake Street to turn around and exit via the slip road onto Duncombe Place if the bollards are closed (the remainder of Blake Street, beyond the HVM bollards, remains as one-way).
• Introduction of 2 disabled spaces (24/7 access), reinstated from previous.
• Retention of the “no waiting at any time” restrictions (double yellow lines), with introduction of a new loading ban (10:30–17:00) from Museum Street down to the HVM to support the current loading restrictions and to keep the area free of stationary vehicles and prevent blockage.
• Introduction of new cycle stands to replace existing damaged stands.
• Reintroduction of advance signage positioned on St Leonard’s Place and Museum Street, with Blake Street indicated as a “Pedestrian Zone”.
• Replacement of the existing faulty gateway (toblerone) sign with an improved (static) sign displaying all the existing entry restrictions.

For info, the existing entry restrictions shall remain in place. For clarity, these are: No vehicular entry into Blake Street between 10:30–17:00 (note that Blue Badge holders are permitted entry during these times); No entry for motorised vehicles between 08:00–10:30 and 17:00–18:00, except for loading.