Agenda item

Proposed amended minute 37 dated 17 February 2014

37  BRAMCOTE LANE TRAFFIC CALMING SCHEME

The Area Committee had previously discussed the issue of replacing existing elements of the, now dilapidated, traffic calming measures on Bramcote Lane at its meetings on 16 September (minute 18) and 11 November 2013 (minute 26), when the Chair, Councillor Battlemuch, reported that current proposals, then costed at £123,000, exceed the budget available and further consultations would be required to determine a way forward.

Lylse-Anne Renwick introduced a report of the Director of Neighbourhood Services which summarised the latest position and showed a revised cost for the proposals of £100,000 to be funded by contributions of £60,000 from the Local Transport Plan provision and £40,000 from the Wollaton West Area Capital Fund.  The following range of replacement measures proposed to improve the vehicle driver experience along Bramcote Lane  were explained by Scott Harrison and Navid Arif of the Traffic and Safety Division:

•  Replacement of the existing 1.9m² speed cushion arrangement by 70 millimetre high round - topped road humps extending across the width of the carriageway which, due to their bituminous construction, would give a smoother ride for all vehicles;

•  Removal of the existing raised plateau close to the Bramcote Lane/Wollaton Road junction and installation of a zebra - crossing to enable residents to cross safely and improve their accessibility to bus stops, library, community centre, nursery and other local amenities;

•  Installing other traffic calming measures such as give-way build outs to slow traffic speeds, situated close to bus stops to improve accessibility to public transport, featuring dropped curbs with tactile paving to create shorter crossing distances;

•  Installing double yellow lines at all minor junctions along the route, to provide junction protection and improve visibility for all road users;

•  Working with Wollaton Historical and Conservation Society to tidy up the area around the water pump and consider using primrose yellow 50 mm lining in the Bramcote Lane area, so as to be more in keeping with the nature of the environment;

•  subject to funding, installing two, vehicle activated signs (VAS) along its length, to remind motorists that Bramcote Lane is a 20 mph speed zone.

ACTION

Councillor Culley, by way of an amendment, proposed removing all current  traffic calming humps in conjunction with the following recommendations:

(1)  undertake a thorough consultation exercise seeking residents’ and road users’ views on all possible options, and, subject to consultation:;

(2)  insert gateway features at the Wollaton Road end, with inset cobble stones to slow speeds and railway sleeper planters to emphasise that this road is a ‘village’ road and to bring it in keeping with the area;

(3)  consider removing the existing raised plateau close to the Wollaton Road junction and put in a zebra crossing to enable residents to cross safely and to improve accessibility to the bus stops, library, community centre and other amenities;

(4)  install horizontal traffic calming such as give-way build-outs, which will maintain slow traffic speeds without the discomfort of raised traffic calming features. Large vehicles and motorbikes will also have to reduce their speeds and would be unable to avoid the features;

(5)  the give-way build-outs will have dropped kerbs and tactile paving to benefit pedestrians by creating shorter crossing distances. These crossing points should be situated closely to bus stops to improve accessibility to public transport;

(6)  install double yellow lines at all minor junctions to provide junction protection and improve visibility for all road users;

(7)  work together in partnership with Wollaton Historical and Conservation Society, the opportunity is to be taken to tidy up the area around the water pump, including conservation given to the use of Primrose Yellow 50mm lining in the Bramcote Lane area, to be more in keeping with the nature of the environment;

(8)  install vehicle-activated signs along the length to remind motorists that  Bramcote Lane is 20 mph (subject to funding).

Honorary Alderman Hamilton circulated the observations of the Wollaton Historical and Conservation Society on the proposals contained in the report.

He drew attention to:

•  the extension of a 20 mph speed zone into the area, but without the benefit of other traffic calming measures currently included on Bramcote Lane, making it an apparent anomaly. The 20 mph speed zone could be extended eastwards of the Admiral Rodney Public House up to Russell Drive;

•  proposed installation of a zebra crossing close to the Bramcote Lane/Wollaton Road junction, remaining speed bumps, proposed 'Build outs' and tactile paving and placing double yellow lines on every corner were unnecessary. However, one set of speed bumps could be placed on each of the approach roads to the square to reduce speed and potential conflict between pedestrians and vehicles;

•  the proposal to install two vehicle activated signs on Bramcote Lane is supported and a further sign should be installed on the approach to the dangerous bend at the bottom of Church Hill, opposite Rectory Gardens;

•  The proposals as submitted do not represent value for money or address the problem of the speed bumps or the inconvenience which they cause to residents and damage to their vehicles;

•  The majority of people attending meetings of the Historical and Conservation Society consider, when asked, that the proposed scheme is a waste of money and that speed bumps should be removed entirely.  The Council should therefore consider withdrawing the scheme and submit a comprehensive plan for the whole of the Wollaton area which will better address the problems;

•  The proposal to consult local residents and road users, suggesting that any consultation material should seek views on:

  Whether the proposals set out above are supported?;

  Whether the speed bumps should remain as they are, or should be removed, except for those closest to the Square?

ACTION

Discussion

Community Representatives noted the proposal that "built out" measures will be illuminated by solar panel bollards, but also expressed the view that these features should, nonetheless, be properly lit to make oncoming traffic aware of them and avoid potential accidents.

It was pointed out that the effect of Councillor Culley’s amendments was to remove the road humps before any consultation took place.

Several attendees reiterated the view that the Area Committee should take local views into account and that genuine consultation should include the widest range of residents and users, should be meaningful and should include a range of alternatives where possible.

The view that the City Council will be most reluctant to endorse formally alternative proposals which will see the removal of traffic calming features without recommendations for alternative measures also being included, due to the need for the authority to be seen to be actively promoting vehicle and personal safety and to avoid potential legal liability claims in the event of accidents in the future was appreciated by the Committee, but did not appear to move the matter further forward in a positive way.

The intention of Nottinghamshire Police to establish a vehicle speed group to monitor vehicle sped in the area, passing information from local residents to them to inform targeted enforcement action to reduce the problem is supported.

The interpretation that any formal vote on the proposals and/or alternative solutions was capable of being taken only by Councillors due to the inclusion of information about the source of financing, was not readily understood as, currently, the proposals are to be approved for public consultation purposes, before being finalised at a future meeting of the Area Committee.

The Chair indicated that restricting the vote to councillors was on the basis of advice from Constitutional Services earlier that day.

RESOLVED by a majority of three votes to two:

(1)  to reject Councillor Culley's proposed amendment outlined above;

 (2)  to approve the proposals as set out above for public consultation purposes with local residents and road users, before being considered again at a future meeting of the Area Committee;

(3)  to note the revised cost and funding arrangements.