Agenda item

Consideration was given to the report of the Corporate Director, Neighbourhood Services which gave details of representations received to the proposed traffic calming measures for the C10a St Ives Road, Leadgate (for copy, see file of Minutes).

Following a number of ongoing complaints from local residents and an accident in April 2010 involving a motor vehicle being driven at excessive speed, the driver lost control and caused considerable damage to a property on St Ives Road, funding was identified for a possible traffic calming scheme.

Further investigations showed that the stretch of road had an ongoing speed complaint profile and an accident profile which would benefit from the implementation of traffic calming measures.  Community Speed Watch was also active at various locations and Durham Constabulary Road Policing Unit had undertaken specific enforcement. 

The last speed survey undertaken in the vicinity of the school showed only 35% of vehicles travelled below the posted 30 mph speed limit, equating to approximately 1600 vehicles of the 4500 average daily flow Monday to Friday.  The pattern was also the same on a weekend; 1250 vehicles of the 3700 on a Saturday and 1060 vehicles of the 3040 on a Sunday.   The mean speed Monday to Friday was 33 mph.  The mean speed on a Saturday and Sunday was 32.7 mph. 

A review of the accidents between the 1^st January 2007 and 31^st October 2010 showed 6 number accidents.  5 of which were damage only and one was a slight injury.  Three, when investigated by Durham Constabulary showed speed as a contributory factor to the accident.

The proposed scheme included for the provision of 8 sets of triple cushions and 1 set of quadruple cushions as per the plans detailed in Appendix 2.  The scheme also included a reduction of the sign clutter at the eastern end of the scheme.  This being designed to re-iterate to motorists that they were entering a built up area.

An informal consultation was carried out with the affected residents, businesses and statutory consultees.  Out of the 98 letters sent to affected residents and businesses, 36 responses were received.  28 were in favour of the proposals and 8 were against.  Durham Constabulary and the North East Ambulance Service responded to the informal consultation, both were in full support of the proposals.

The Statutory Notice for the implementation of the road cushions was advertised and during the period, one further letter of objection was received from a resident who also objected at the informal stage.

The representations received were detailed in the report.

A further email had been received raising the following concerns:

·        the short notice given for the meeting and felt that the Council was going through the motions. 

·        Going against the 20 mph zones outside schools. 

·        Had the council carried out a Disability Impact Assessment

·        Had bus companies been consulted

·        How many of the accidents were in inclement weather

·        A system should be introduced whereby objectors are informed when items were to be considered at committee.

In response to the email, Mr Wilcox explained that the objector had been advised that the Highways Committee was a properly constituted meeting that determined Highway matters and adhered to the Access to Information rules.  There was no policy in place for 20mph zones outside of schools.  It was appreciated that traffic calming measures may affect some residents more than others.  Bus companies were a statutory consultee and the Police had confirmed the speed had been an influencing factor in three of the accidents.

Councillor Marshall referred to the effectiveness of speed humps in general.  Some humps could be driven over and cushions were ineffective.  He was concerned that the Council were introducing measures that were ineffective.

Mr Wilcox explained that the Council used chicanes, speed humps and speed cushions for traffic calming.   Where there was a bus route, cushions were required.  He referred to a scheme in Seaham that used pre formed rubber cushions which had caused some complaints because motorists had to slow down.  The cushions had remained but would be reviewed after 12 months.  He accepted the criticism that the pre formed cushions were creating problems and investigations to build on and improve the specification were continuing.

RESOLVED that the implementation of the (traffic calming cushions) on (C10a St Ives Road, Leadgate) as per the plan in Appendix 2 be approved.