Agenda item - Fossgate Public Realm Improvements

This report provides background to the Fossgate Public Realm Improvements scheme, which aims to enhance the street’s appearance and character; create a more pedestrian-friendly environment; attract more people into Fossgate; and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst maintaining vehicular access for residents and deliveries.

Resolved:

(i) That the implementation of the proposed scheme as shown in Annex C be approved.

Reason: The proposals serve to provide much needed improvements to enhance the layout of the street in support of the recent change in traffic flow direction, thereby improving the quality and experience for pedestrians with additional crossing facilities, widened footways and sections of the road raised to improve accessibility. By renovating the junction of Pavement and modifying the Merchantgate junction, this will provide improved connectivity for pedestrians and cyclists to access Fossgate.

(ii) That approval be given to advertise a Traffic Regulation Order required to amend the parking and waiting restrictions on Fossgate associated with the measures and to give approval to implement the changes to the TRO if no objections are received. If objections are received to the TRO advertisement, these will be reported back to the Executive Member for a decision.

Reason: to enable the parking and waiting restrictions to be amended and implemented concurrent to the proposed scheme

(iii) That approval be given to undertake a future, more focussed consultation on the potential to pedestrianise Fossgate either in full or partially,noting that any consultation would not take place until works on the scheme had been completedand after options for pedestrianisation had been presented to the Executive Member.

Reason: The consultation has highlighted that there is a strong desire to pedestrianise Fossgate.

(iv) That the recommendations of the Economy and Place Policy Development - Pre Decision Call In were taken into consideration in coming to a decision.

Reason: To consider the views of Councillors through the Pre Decision Scrutiny process.

The Executive Member considered a report that provided background to the Fossgate Public Realm Improvements scheme, which aimed to: enhance the street’s appearance and character; create a more pedestrian-friendly environment; attract more people into Fossgate; and improve access for pedestrians and cyclists, whilst maintaining vehicular access for residents and deliveries.

Officers drew the Executive Member’s attention to paragraphs 3 and 4 of the report, asking for approval for the advertisement of the Traffic Regulation Order required to amend the parking and waiting restrictions on Fossgate associated with the proposed measures and confirmed that this should be part of the recommendation for approval.

The Executive Member considered the content of the report, including the results of the consultation, the road safety audit, options for future pedestrianisation and the recommendations of the Economy and Place Policy Development committee who considered the scheme after it was called in for pre-decision scrutiny. He noted the three options detailed in the report and Councillor’s Craghill’s comments about consultation on possible future pedestrianisation.

Officers advised that options around possible future pedestrianisation needed to be fully explored and consultation should not take place until after works had been completed on this scheme. Officers confirmed that blue badge parking in the area would be kept under review and monitored.