To include updates on Nottingham Express Transit (NET) and Public Transport
Minutes:
Steve Tough, NET Team Leader, updated the Committee on the behalf of Nottingham Express Transit, with regard to the progress in completion of tram works within the Clifton area.
The following points were highlighted and the Committee’s questions responded to as follows:
(a) new street furniture, including bins, benches and bollard, have now been ordered for Clifton Town Centre;
(b) whilst there had been a delay in re-connecting some ‘real time’ bus stop furniture, only one bus stop site on Farnborough Road is yet to be re-connected;
(c) following feedback on the proposed tree pits, a resin bonded gravel method is now recommended for all 23 trees within Clifton Centre;
(d) completion of the Clifton Centre paving remains an issue of dispute with the contractor but it will be completed as soon as the dispute is resolved;
(e) resolution of general snagging issues is ongoing. This includes drainage improvements which are required within the Clifton and Wilford areas and which are not predicted to cause traffic disruption but are unlikely to be completed before the end of September;
(f) third party ‘land hand back’ this is due to commence within the next three weeks but highways hand back will take longer as there are still outstanding works to resolve;
(g) operations are good with the service proving reliable and patronage steady. Bus services will be realigned and further work will be carried out to co-ordinate travel between bus and tram, including the promotion of the Robin Hood travel card;
(h) residents are unhappy that the damage on Coronation Avenue and Fern Road, possibly caused by huge concrete tankers, is yet to be repaired. However the Highways Authority is willing to instruct for reasonable corrective work to be done in Coronation Avenue, but not for Fern Avenue as the road is considered at the end of its life and damage caused purely by the concrete tankers cannot be proven;
(i) trams should only wait at stops which are staging points and shouldn’t block the flow of traffic beyond average 20-25 seconds to enable passengers to embark and disembark. Any reports of such waiting at non-staging points will be investigated;
(j) the Highways Authority are not able to implement and enforce traffic regulation orders, including parking, until contractors’ work is complete;
(k) although concern has been raised since operation started regarding the width of pavements on the Wilford Toll Bridge, specifically by mothers with pushchairs and young children, there are no proposals to change the layout which provides routes for cycling pedestrians and the tram service. Driver behaviour has been examined and drivers are to reduce speed, particularly when younger people are crossing the bridge.
Citizens within the Wilford community do not welcome the pay to park scheme.
Community representatives requested that an officer from the Highways Team attend a future meeting to inform the Committee of the effect of the tram on highways.
Councillors requested that clarification is sought on the impact which the Broadmarsh redevelopment may have upon the numbers 48 and 1 bus services, including connections to Victoria Centre.
RESOLVED for a Transport and Travel Update to be provided to the next meeting of the Committee.