Agenda item

To respond to a petition signed by 192 individuals and submitted to the Council requesting a push button crossing at the junction of Bishopthorpe Road and Butcher Terrace.

Resolved:  To undertake a detailed review of the Bishopthorpe Road which would include the assessment of the Bishopthorpe Road and Butcher Terrace / Southbank Avenue junctions, Bishopthorpe and Balmoral Terrace junction as well as the Bishopthorpe Road and Campleshon Road junction, with possible recommendations to be brought to a future meeting. The review would be undertaken as soon as the results of the new residents’ parking zones on Bishopthorpe Road and the side roads could be considered.

Reason:     With a consideration for the passing of time, changes to road conditions, highway standards and the expectations of users, the outcome of the previous review (i.e. installation of central refuges on Bishopthorpe Road) could differ from the one desired at that moment.

The Executive Member considered the report responding to a petition signed by 192 individuals and submitted to the Council, requesting a push-button crossing at the junction of Bishopthorpe Road and Butcher Terrace. The Sustainable Transport Manager and the Assistant Director for Transport, Highways and Environment were in attendance to answer potential questions. It was confirmed that there were no updates to the original report.

Anna Semleyn, a local resident, spoke in support of the petition. She explained that the route in question was frequently used by children going (on their own) to their local primary and secondary schools. She also added that, according to the research, younger children were not able to cross the road on their own even if speed of the vehicles was restricted to 20mph, which was attributed to their reduced sensitivity to visual looming. She emphasised that, compared to adults, children needed to find longer gaps in order to safely cross the road. Finally, she stated that the Executive Member had a duty of care to provide a push-button crossing at Butcher Terrace, particularly for young people and other pedestrians, all of whom had priority when using the road.  

Phoebe Morgan, a local resident, also spoke in support of the petition, highlighting that the push-button crossing should be introduced due to the demography of participants using the road, a busy flow of traffic which constituted danger for children as well as increased car usage in the area.

Following on the queries from the public speakers, the Officers confirmed that:

·        the comprehensive piece of work had been undertaken in relation to this junction in 2004-2006;

·        the 20mph restriction was implemented as a result of that review; this reduced the mean speed on Bishopthorpe Road which, according to the speed surveys, was under 20mph;

·        several central refuges on Bishopthorpe Road were introduced after the review had ended;

·        by means of the public consultation, members of the public rejected an idea of implementing a signalised junction in that area at the end of 2004;

·        the location was referred to the North Yorkshire community speed watch team who would assess it for its suitability for inclusion in the community speed watch programme.

The Executive Member thanked the public speakers and the Officers for their input. It was acknowledged that, although there was no current evidence suggesting that the push-button crossing at Butcher Terrace was required, the perceived danger highlighted in the petition should be given due regard. It was then

Resolved:                     That a detailed review of the Bishopthorpe Road which would include the assessment of the Bishopthorpe Road and Butcher Terrace / Southbank Avenue junctions, Bishopthorpe and Balmoral Terrace junction as well as the Bishopthorpe Road and Campleshon Road junction be undertaken, with possible recommendations to be brought to a future meeting. The review would be initiated as soon as the results of the new residents’ parking zones on Bishopthorpe Road and the side roads could be considered.

Reason:                        With a consideration for the passing of time, changes to road conditions, highway standards and the expectations of users, the outcome of the previous review (i.e. installation of central refuges on Bishopthorpe Road) could differ from the one desired at that moment.