Agenda item

This report summarises the outcome of consultation on a package of highway improvements aimed at providing safe and sustainable transport links to the new Manor School on Millfield Lane. Approval of a scheme for implementation is sought together with authorisation to advertise the related traffic regulation orders.

Consideration was given to a report which summarised the outcome of consultation on a package of highway improvements aimed at providing safe and sustainable transport links to the new Manor School located on Millfield Lane.

The package included elements that the school was required to provide as planning conditions, plus other complementary proposals, which would be funded via the Council’s Local Transport Plan. Issues arising through the consultation were detailed, and possible amendments to the proposals were considered. Options for providing cycle facilities along Beckfield Lane were also discussed. Approval of a scheme for implementation was sought, along with authorisation to advertise some related traffic regulation orders. 

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)           Approve the following as the preferred package of measures for implementation, subject to resolution of any Traffic Regulation Order issues and possible minor amendments required by further detailed design and the road safety audit process:

·        the alternative School Safety Zone layout on Millfield Lane shown in Annex H of the report;

·        the arrangements around the Millfield Lane /Low Poppleton Lane junction shown in Annex D of the report;

·        the scheme layout shown in Annex E, including the revision shown in Annex I of the report;

·        the revised layout of the Boroughbridge Road/ Low Poppleton Lane / Beckfield Lane junction shown in Annex M of the report;

·        the proposals for Beckfield Lane shown in Annex G of the report;

·        the relocation of the bus stop on Boroughbridge Road as shown in Annex L of the report.

(ii)               Authorise the advertisement of any Road Traffic Regulation Orders associated with the preferred highway improvement scheme and, subject to no objections being received, the Orders be made.  Any unresolved objections to be referred to the Director of City Strategy to consider in consultation with the Executive Member for City Strategy.

           (iii)     To approve, in principle, a long term aim of introducing off-road cycle paths along either side of Beckfield Lane where practical, and agree to the development of detailed proposals for providing a path on the east side of the street extending as far south as Ostman Road as the priority for 2008/09.  

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:     (i) To provide safe and sustainable transport links to the new Manor School, deliver the required highway improvements as conditioned within the planning approval, and to respond to issues and concerns raised through consultation on the detailed scheme plans.

(ii)               To enable any necessary restrictions on parking, use of any section of carriageway or footway, and changes to speed limits to be introduced.

(iii) To provide officers with direction on how to progress the Beckfield Lane Cycle Route scheme, and make best use of the funding currently available to take this forward.

Consideration was given to a report, which summarised the outcome of consultation on a package of highway improvements aimed at providing safe and sustainable transport links to the new Manor School located on Millfield Lane.

The package included elements that the school was required to provide as planning conditions, plus other complementary proposals, which would be funded via the Council’s Local Transport Plan. Issues arising through the consultation were detailed, and possible amendments to the proposals were considered. Options for providing cycle facilities along Beckfield Lane were also discussed. Approval of a scheme for implementation was sought, along with authorisation to advertise some related traffic regulation orders. 

Officers updated that additional representations, both in support and in objection, to the amendments proposed to the scheme had been received from the following, copies of which were circulated at the meeting:

·        Letter from Cllr Simpson-Laing detailing the strong concerns of local residents on the proposed revisions to the scheme, particularly in relation to the ‘off road cycle lane’ on Beckfield Lane;

·        Email from Mr A Hall of Beckfield Lane, advising Officers of residents continued concerns over the proposals for a cycle path on Beckfield Lane;

·        Five emails, mainly from Governors of Manor School, supporting the safer route for cyclists and highway improvements proposed by Officers for the new school;

·        Written report representing the personal views of Mr Pagliaro as a cyclist, of his grand daughter who attended Manor school, his daughter who had been involved in an accident at the junction of Beckfield Lane/A59 and from York Access Group;

·        Letter from Mr J Doherty, a member of the York Access Group fully supporting the proposals.

A number of Members referred to the continued concerns raised by residents in relation to the cycle lane proposals for Beckfield Lane. They questioned whether this aspect of the scheme could be deferred to allow further consultation and an examination of how the cycle way could be better integrated into the cycle network.

Members also stated that parents driving children to school would tend to leave them in Low Poppleton Lane requiring the vehicles to complete a turning manoeuvre in the vicinity of the rising bollard raising safety concerns. Some Members felt that a complete review was required of priorities on Beckfield Lane with cyclists requiring greater priority.

Following further discussion Cllr Potter moved and Cllr Scott seconded the following amended recommendation:

(i)Approve the following as the preferred package of measures for implementation, subject to resolution of any Traffic Regulation Order issues and possible minor amendments required by further detailed design and the road safety audit process:

·        the alternative School Safety Zone layout on Millfield Lane shown in Annex H of the report;

·        the arrangements around the Millfield Lane /Low Poppleton Lane junction shown in Annex D of the report;

·        the scheme layout shown in Annex E, including the revision shown in Annex I of the report;

·        the revised layout of the Boroughbridge Road/ Low Poppleton Lane / Beckfield Lane junction shown in Annex M of the report;

·        the proposals for Beckfield Lane shown in Annex M of the report;

·        the relocation of the bus stop on Boroughbridge Road as shown in Annex L of the report.

(ii)              Authorise the advertisement of any Road Traffic Regulation Orders associated with the preferred highway improvement scheme and, subject to no objections being received, the Orders be made.  Any unresolved objections to be referred to the Director of City Strategy to consider in consultation with the Executive Member for City Strategy.

(iii)            To approve, in principle, a long term aim of introducing off-road cycle paths along either side of Beckfield Lane where practical, and agree to the development of detailed proposals for providing a path on the east side of the street extending as far south as Ostman Road as the priority for 2008/09.

(iv)            Officers to further examine the feasibility of introducing a 20mph speed limit on Beckfield Lane and undertake further consultation with residents in respect of the proposals for on/off road cycle paths on Beckfield Lane.

On being put to the vote the amended recommendation was lost.

Members agreed that improved signage to prevent vehicles accessing Low Poppleton Lane would be necessary together with any drainage mitigation measures required to prevent additional water run off arising from the highway works to adjacent properties on Low Poppleton Lane.

Members again thanked Officers for all their hard work on this complex scheme.

Advice of the Advisory Panel

That the Executive Member for City Strategy be advised to

(i)           Approve the following as the preferred package of measures for implementation, subject to resolution of any Traffic Regulation Order issues and possible minor amendments required by further detailed design and the road safety audit process:

·        the alternative School Safety Zone layout on Millfield Lane shown in Annex H of the report;

·        the arrangements around the Millfield Lane /Low Poppleton Lane junction shown in Annex D of the report;

·        the scheme layout shown in Annex E, including the revision shown in Annex I of the report;

·        the revised layout of the Boroughbridge Road/ Low Poppleton Lane / Beckfield Lane junction shown in Annex M of the report;

·        the proposals for Beckfield Lane shown in Annex G of the report;

·        the relocation of the bus stop on Boroughbridge Road as shown in Annex L of the report. ^1.

(ii)               Authorise the advertisement of any Road Traffic Regulation Orders associated with the preferred highway improvement scheme and, subject to no objections being received, the Orders be made.  Any unresolved objections to be referred to the Director of City Strategy to consider in consultation with the Executive Member for City Strategy. ^2.

(iii)        To approve, in principle, a long term aim of introducing off-road cycle paths along either side of Beckfield Lane where practical, and agree to the development of detailed proposals for providing a path on the east side of the street extending as far south as Ostman Road as the priority for 2008/09. ^3. 

Decision of the Executive Member for City Strategy

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

REASON:     (i) To provide safe and sustainable transport links to the new Manor School, deliver the required highway improvements as conditioned within the planning approval, and to respond to issues and concerns raised through consultation on the detailed scheme plans.

(ii)               To enable any necessary restrictions on parking, use of any section of carriageway or footway, and changes to speed limits to be introduced.

(iii) To provide officers with direction on how to progress the Beckfield Lane Cycle Route scheme, and make best use of the funding currently available to take this forward.