Issue - meetings

This report presents the findings of the Task Group set up to consider a Councillor Call for Action submitted by Councillors Scott, King and Douglas in relation to traffic issues at the junction of Water End and Clifton Green, Westminster Road, The Avenue and Clifton Green.  Councillor Hudson, Chair of the Task Group, will be in attendance to present the report.

RESOLVED: (i)         That the advice of the Executive Member for City Strategy to agree the Task Group’s recommendations (ii) and (iii), be accepted.

                        (ii)        That Officers be instructed to undertake, on a trial basis, the installation of chicanes on Westminster Road, with a view to establishing what effect they have on vehicle volumes and speeds.

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested, in line with the recommendations of the Task Group, to bring forward for public consultation proposals which would see a left turn general traffic lane provided at the Water End junction, on the basis that such a proposal would also retain a discrete cycle lane or path.  It is recognised that such a project could have significant financial, conservation and road safety implications, all of which would have to be highlighted in any Officer report before a final decision on implementation could be made.

REASON:      In order to provide an appropriate response to the findings of the Task Group and the views expressed by other interested parties.

Members considered a report which presented the findings of the Economic & City Development Overview & Scrutiny Committee Task Group set up to examine a Councillor Call for Action submitted by Councillors Scott, King and Douglas, in relation to traffic issues at the junction of Water End and Clifton Green, Westminster Road, The Avenue and Clifton Green.  Councillor Hudson, as Chair of the Task Group, was in attendance to present the report.

The three recommendations arising from the review were set out in paragraph 5 of the cover report and paragraph 137 of the Task Group’s final report, attached as Appendix 1.  Clarification on the first of these recommendations, as requested by the Executive Member for City Strategy at a Decision Session on 1 June 2010, was provided in paragraph 9 of the cover report.

Members were reminded of the advice given in respect of the final report by the Executive Member for City Strategy at his Decision Session on 1 June, which had subsequently been called in and later endorsed at the Executive (Calling In) meeting on 15 June.

Having noted the comments made on this item under Public Participation, the comments of the Labour Group Spokespersons and the additional written comments of Cllr Scott circulated at the meeting, it was

RESOLVED: (i)         That the advice of the Executive Member for City Strategy to agree the Task Group’s recommendations (ii) and (iii), be accepted. ¹

                        (ii)        That Officers be instructed to undertake, on a trial basis, the installation of chicanes on Westminster Road, with a view to establishing what effect they have on vehicle volumes and speeds. ²

                        (iii)       That Officers be requested, in line with the recommendations of the Task Group, to bring forward for public consultation proposals which would see a left turn general traffic lane provided at the Water End junction, on the basis that such a proposal would also retain a discrete cycle lane or path.  It is recognised that such a project could have significant financial, conservation and road safety implications, all of which would have to be highlighted in any Officer report before a final decision on implementation could be made. ³

REASON:      In order to provide an appropriate response to the findings of the Task Group and the views expressed by other interested parties.