Issue - meetings

This report advises Members of the results of vibration monitoring surveys conducted inside residents’ properties close to the speed cushions on North Moor Road, Huntington, within the existing 20mph School Safety Zone.

Option One – make no changes to the existing School Safety Zone;

Option Two – remove the School Safety Zone or make alterations to the traffic calming measures in an attempt to reduce the current traffic vibration levels.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That Executive Member for City Strategy be advised  to approve Option One, to make no changes to the existing School Safety Zone on North Moor Road, Huntington and authorise Officers to formally notify the residents of the decision taken.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            The levels of vibration recorded do not warrant making any changes to the existing layout. Making no changes to the existing School Safety Zone means that an effective form of traffic calming can be retained outside the primary school in order to maintain low vehicle speeds and control traffic speeds on the approach to the speed table crossing point, thereby maintaining a safer environment for school children and village residents.

Members considered a report, which advised them, advised them of the results of vibration monitoring surveys conducted inside residents’ properties close to the speed cushions on North Moor Road, within the existing 20mph School Safety Zone. Members were asked to consider options on the way forward.

The 20mph School Safety Zone with traffic calming measures has been in place outside Huntington Primary School since 2002 and residents had first raised concern about vibration levels in the summer of 2004. Additional road markings and signs had been provided in early 2005 and no further complains had been received concerning vibration levels until September 2007. Residents had indicated that vibration levels were much worse and a petition had been presented to the EMAP. Officers had been instructed to undertake vibration monitoring surveys and this had been carried out at two properties closest to the speed cushions. It was reported that the surveys had shown that vibration dose value was very low at both properties.

Members questioned details of the vibration monitoring methods and the possible affects of moving the cushions or the speed table.

Officers explained that the monitoring equipment calculated vdv for a 3 hour period and that these results were then used to calculate results for a 16 hour period. they agreed that there was vibration but not an unacceptable level.

Member then considered the following options:

Option One – make no changes to the existing School Safety Zone;

Option Two – remove the School Safety Zone or make alterations to the traffic calming measures in an attempt to reduce the current traffic vibration levels.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to approve Option One, to make no changes to the existing School Safety Zone on North Moor Road, Huntington and authorise Officers to formally notify the residents of the decision taken. ^1.

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

RESOLVED:That the advice of the Advisory Panel be accepted and endorsed.

REASON:            The levels of vibration recorded do not warrant making any changes to the existing layout. Making no changes to the existing School Safety Zone means that an effective form of traffic calming can be retained outside the primary school in order to maintain low vehicle speeds and control traffic speeds on the approach to the speed table crossing point, thereby maintaining a safer environment for school children and village residents.