Issue - meetings

This report advises the Executive Member of the proposed response to receipt of a petition requesting a 20mph zone for Almsford Drive. The petition requests an extension of the existing 20mph zone covering the Danebury Drive area to reduce through traffic attempting to avoid the traffic calming around Carr Infant School.

RESOLVED:            That the Executive Member for City Strategy agrees:

i)       That no further action should be taken at the current time in relation to Almsford Drive but that it should be taken forward for consideration against other priorities in 2011/12.

ii)     To await further guidance from the Department for Transport before determining whether it should be progressed as a wider 20mph speed limit or as an extension to the 20mph zone.

REASON:            To progress requests and petitions against agreed criteria to ensure that limited funding is allocated consistently

The Executive Member considered a report prepared in response to a petition requesting the extension of the existing 20mph zone covering the Danebury Drive area. Residents had requested this in order to reduce traffic taking a shortcut to Wheatlands Drive, attempting to avoid the traffic calming around Carr Infant School.

In answer to comments recently received from Cllr Simpson-Laing, Officers confirmed that, unlike Portsmouth, without any city wide mandate on 20mph zones they had to continue to following existing policy. Confirmation that the Ostman Road area did have traffic calming in the form of tables/cushions and that the original petition had requested an extension to the current zone, athough officers were aware that residents may have been referring to a 20mph speed limit instead, hence the reference to both in the report. It was also pointed out that this scheme would be considered against other priorities in the next financial year.

The Executive Member confirmed that as this scheme had relatively low support and in the absence of any accidents, that it would have to be prioritised according to the agreed methodology and not advanced above those schemes already scheduled for implementation.

With this in mind he then considered the following options:

Option one – Agree that an extension to the 20mph zone should not take place during 2010/11 and consider the scheme against other priorities coming forward for delivery during 2011/12. The scheme could be considered through two processes, either as a 20mph zone or as part of a wider 20mph speed limit already requested by residents on adjacent streets.

Option two – Do not agree to delay any consideration of the scheme and agree to proceed with implementation (subject to wider consultation) during 2010/11 and direct officers to halt an existing scheme in order for it to progress.

RESOLVED:            That the Executive Member for City Strategy agrees:

i)       That no further action should be taken at the current time in relation to Almsford Drive but that it should be taken forward for consideration against other priorities in 2011/12.

ii)     To await further guidance from the Department for Transport before determining whether it should be progressed as a wider 20mph speed limit or as an extension to the 20mph zone. ^1.

REASON:            To progress requests and petitions against agreed criteria to ensure that limited funding is allocated consistently