Agenda item - A19 Fulford Road and Fishergate Gyratory Improvements Studies

This report identifies the transport issues to be addressed and potential improvement measures in the following areas on the A19 Fulford Road corridor:

Cemetery Road junction
Cemetery Road to Fishergate School
Fishergate Gyratory and
Piccadilly junction

RESOLVED: That the Executive Member for City Strategy agrees to:

i) Note the contents of the report and its annexes.

ii) Note that proposals to improve the safety of the Cemetery Road junction are still being developed and to agree to receive a further report in due course.

iii) The proposals as shown in Annex A, including option 1A, should form the basis for the proposed improvements between Cemetery Road and Fishergate School.

iv) The proposals shown in Annex B should form the basis of the proposed improvements to Fishergate Gyratory.

v) Note that it is not proposed to amend the junction with Piccadilly at the current time and to agree to further investigations into a staggered crossing in the vicinity of this junction.

vi) Carry out public consultation on the proposed improvements.

vii) Advertise any Traffic Orders associated with the proposed improvements.

viii) Commence detailed design on the basis of the proposals shown in Annex A, including option 1A, and Annex B to review the proposals to take due account of any issues raised during the consultation process and to address any outstanding written and verbal representations, made to this meeting as part of that exercise.

ix) Implement the proposed reduction in carriageway width and associated changes in lane use at the southern end of the Fishergate gyratory on a trial basis and monitor its implications pending implementation of the permanent scheme.

REASON: To improve conditions at these key locations and sections of the corridor and to give the public an opportunity to comment on the proposed improvements.

The Executive Member considered a report, which identified the transport issues to be addressed, and potential improvement measures in the following areas on the A19 Fulford Road corridor:

· Cemetery Road junction

· Cemetery Road to Fishergate School

· Fishergate Gyratory

· Piccadilly junction

Details of the various options for these areas were set out in the Officers report.

The Executive Member reported receipt of two additional representations from a resident whose child attended Fishergate Primary School and from a Parent Governor in support of a 20mph in the vicinity of the school.

Officers updated that additional points had also been received by email from Councillor Merrett in relation to the northern section of the A19 Fulford Road Corridor and the Fishergate Gyratory. The Executive Member confirmed that he would ask Officers to examine these issues at the next stage of the process.

Representations were received from a member of the Cycling Touring Club (CTC) who confirmed that they were broadly in favour of the scheme and welcomed further opportunity to comment on the proposals at the detailed design stage. He also raised a number of points in relation to possible options for light controlled crossings at Blue Bridge Lane/Melbourne Street, liaison with Cycling England re timescales, a new right turn facility linked to an advisory southbound route through St Georges Field car park and recommended widths for traffic islands.

Representations were also received from a Fishergate resident who was also the parent of a child who attended Fishergate School. He highlighted the benefits of lower vehicle speeds in relation to pedestrian accidents and to the speed of traffic in the vicinity of both Fishergate and St George’s Primary Schools. He pointed out that a petition signed by nearly 300 residents had been collected in support of a 20mph limit outside these schools and that it would be better to carry out this work during the present improvements rather than delay.

Councillor D’Agorne, as Ward Member for Fishergate, confirmed that he welcomed the proposals for the gyratory system including the widening of the footway in front of Fishegate School. However he strongly urged that consultation should include the options for a 20mph limit from Grange Street/Howard Street to Fishergate School as both schools were working hard to promote walking and cycling to school. He confirmed that there was clear public support for a 20mph limit and that he felt the proposed alterations without the lower speed limit would fail to meet the objectives of the strategy and in some cases make it worse for the safety of cyclists.

Officers responded to the comments and confirmed that the ultimate aim of the scheme was to reduce traffic speeds. They pointed out that they were aiming to carry out speed surveys prior to public consultation to gain support for the proposals from both the Police and consultees.

The Executive Member confirmed that generally the officer proposals had been well received with the exception of the treatment of the speed limit outside Fishergate School. He acknowledged that there appeared to be an anomaly at this point, as most schools now had a 20mph zone outside their entrances, and confirmed that he would be amending the recommendation to allow for public consultation on a proposal to establish this.

The Executive Member also confirmed that Officers would examine the detailed issues raised by those who had made written and verbal representations as they developed the details of the scheme.