Issue - meetings

Part A of this report asks Members to consider the representations made in respect of the statutory consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and to decide whether to proceed to the next step in the process to introduce a revised bus priority traffic restriction on Coppergate.

In the event that Members resolve to make the TRO under Part A of this report, Part B seeks approval for the permanent and temporary signing proposals, the grace period for drivers after implementation and the post scheme implementation monitoring and reporting.  An update is also provided on the anticipated timescale for implementation and the start of enforcement.

Resolved:  That Executive agree to:

(i)           Approve Option 2 , set out at paragraph 12 of the report and the making of the new Traffic Regulation Order as planned (with the minor modification to take account of the Emergency Services representations);

(ii)          The enhanced street name signing shown in Annex D of the report;

(iii)        The pre-implementation temporary advance information signing shown in Annex E;

 (iv)   The post-implementation temporary advance information signing shown in Annex E;

(v)         The permanent advance information signs shown in Annex F;

(vi)        The regulatory signs at the start of the restriction shown in Annex G and road markings show in Annex H;

(vii)      The grace periods of; 2 weeks for the initial period where all drivers are sent warning letters, followed by a six month period where drivers receive a first offence letter;

(viii)     The monitoring and reporting on enforcement action taken in Coppergate set out in paragraph 29 of the report. With the precise details of what and how the information should be presented to be delegated to officers.

Reason: (i)          Because it achieves the bus priority aims and allows effective ongoing enforcement of the regulations to take place;

     (ii) To provide better awareness of where Coppergate is;

(iii)&(iv) To raise greater awareness of the commencement date for the new bus priority restriction;

 (v) To ensure there is ongoing information available to drivers before they reach the point of the restriction so that they are better prepared to make a driving decision;

(vi) The signs are designed in accordance with the signing regulations and are required to accurately convey the meaning of the TRO. The road markings are aimed at giving additional emphasis to the start of the restriction;

(vii) In order to achieve greater compliance without creating a feeling of being unfairly penalised;

(viii) To keep residents and others who are interested in this issue better informed with accurate information.

Consideration was given to a report which set out details of the representations received in respect of the statutory consultation on the proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to provide bus priority in Coppergate which could be enforced using automatic number plate recognition equipment.

Members noted that eleven representations had been received, including comments from the emergency services who had requested a slight modification to the TRO.

Officers confirmed details of the proposed signing and enforcement arrangements including a period of grace, in order to achieve greater compliance.

The Executive Member confirmed his support for the TRO to include the minor modification requested by the emergency services. He also confirmed that work was in progress in relation to traffic issues in the surrounding area which would be reported in due course. 

Consideration was then given to the following options:

Option 1 – Proceed with the proposal as advertised to implement without making the requested modification. This was not the recommended option as it did not take account of the requests made by the emergency services that would allow them to provide a more comprehensive service to the community.

Option 2 – Make the requested modification to remove the words “in an emergency” and proceed to make the modified TRO. This was the recommended option as it achieved the bus priority aims and allowed effective ongoing enforcement to take place.

Option 3 – Decide not to make the TRO and instead approve a re-investigation of the proposal with a view to re advertising a more severe restriction (either time or class of vehicle or both). This was not the recommended option as the current proposal was considered sufficient to achieve the aims of improving bus priority during the peak hours and maintain deliveries during the rest of the day.

Resolved:  That Executive agree to:

(i)           Approve Option 2 , set out at paragraph 12 of the report and the making of the new Traffic Regulation Order as planned (with the minor modification to take account of the Emergency Services representations);

(ii)          The enhanced street name signing shown in Annex D of the report;

(iii)        The pre-implementation temporary advance information signing shown in Annex E;

 (iv)   The post-implementation temporary advance information signing shown in Annex E;

(v)         The permanent advance information signs shown in Annex F;

(vi)        The regulatory signs at the start of the restriction shown in Annex G and road markings show in Annex H;

(vii)      The grace periods of; 2 weeks for the initial period where all drivers are sent warning letters, followed by a six month period where drivers receive a first offence letter;

(viii)     The monitoring and reporting on enforcement action taken in Coppergate set out in paragraph 29 of the report. With the precise details of what and how the information should be presented to be delegated to officers. ^1.

Reason: (i)          Because it achieves the bus priority aims and allows effective ongoing enforcement of the regulations to take place;

     (ii) To provide better awareness of where  ...  view the full minutes text for item 60