A report on traffic management measures associated with the development at Reading Link Retail Park, Rose Kiln Lane, and seeking approval to carry out statutory consultation on the introduction of waiting restrictions within the new vehicular access into the retail park situated on Rose Kiln Lane.

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report on traffic management measures associated with the development at Reading Link Retail Park, Rose Kiln Lane, and sought approval to carry out a statutory consultation on the introduction of waiting restrictions within the new vehicular access into the retail park situated on Rose Kiln Lane.  An illustration of the proposal was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that planning permission had been granted in July 2021 for a new drive-thru coffee shop and vehicular access onto Rose Kiln Lane and that it had been constructed, but it had been acknowledged that the waiting restrictions within the access had not been provided as had been secured through the Highways Agreement.  The report proposed providing a double yellow line waiting restrictions on both sides of the road to the new retail park access for a setback distance of circa 6.33m.  The inclusion of the waiting restrictions had been deemed necessary to ensure that indiscriminate parking did not occur within the new access resulting in queues back onto Rose Kiln Lane.  The new access would only provide access to and not egress from the retail park, given constraints and as such had been designed narrower than a standard access width.  Any vehicle that had parked within the access would therefore leave insufficient room for an additional vehicle to pass.  The waiting restrictions were therefore essential to dissuade drivers from parking vehicles on or close to the new access road to the retail park.  The funding that had been provided by the developer only related to works associated with the development and therefore only dealt with the new access and not any restrictions on the surrounding Highway Network. 

Resolved –

(1)        That the report be noted;

(2)        That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to undertake a statutory consultation in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996, for the proposals contained set out in Appendix 1, attached to the report;

(3)        That subject to no objections being received, the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to make the Traffic Regulation Order for the proposed scheme;

(4)        That any objection(s) received following the statutory advertisement be submitted to a future meeting;

(5)        That the Head of Transport (or appropriate Officer) in consultation with the appropriate Lead Councillor, be granted authority to make minor changes to the proposals;

(6)        That no public inquiry be held into the proposals.