A report informing the Sub-Committee of proposals to reduce the width of the cycle infrastructure on Sidmouth Street, and to seek approval to undertake a statutory consultation to amend the Traffic Regulation Order as required.

The Sub-Committee received a report informing them of proposals to reduce the width of the cycle infrastructure on Sidmouth Street, and sought approval to undertake a statutory consultation to amend the Traffic Regulation Order as required.  The Sidmouth Street Scheme Design – Option 2 was attached to the report at Appendix A.

In making the proposal consideration had been given to several factors, including the following:

• The availability of alternative cycle facilities within the local cycle network, which were more desirable and provided more direct, or linked routes;
• The underutilisation of the infrastructure implemented on Sidmouth Street;
• The impact of the approved bus lane, due to be implemented on London Road between the junctions with Sidmouth Street and London Street.

The report explained that the cycle lane facility on Sidmouth Street had been installed following the allocation of Tranche 1 funding through the Government’s emergency Active Travel Fund, which had been received in 2020.  It had been one of the short-term proposals that had specifically addressed the immediate need to promote active travel and facilitate social distancing based on Government advice around the Covid 19 pandemic at the time.  The cycle lane on Sidmouth Street had initially been installed as a temporary measure, which later became permanent following a statutory consultation and had been approved by the Sub-Committee at its meeting on 14 September 2022 (Minute 19 refers).  As a result of the cycle scheme being implemented, the southbound traffic lane had been removed and replaced by a two-lane cycle facility.  However, the lack of linking routes, and the provision of alternative cycle routes, including those on London Street and Watlington Street, had resulted in the cycle lanes being underutilised. 

The report explained that, as part of the ongoing review of the transport network, officers had carried out an optioneering exercise to consider various changes that could be made to improve the overall network performance in this area.  As part of this, officers had considered the potential impact of the previously approved BSIP scheme to introduce a new bus lane on London Road and the possible impact this could have on London Road and the wider network.  Sidmouth Street functioned as a key distributor road within the local highway network, linking London Road to Queens Road. And was commonly used as an alternative route during peak periods.  The new bus lane on London Road had been designed to improve public transport reliability and journey times and although minimal reallocation of road space was necessary, it was expected that some general traffic might be displaced onto Sidmouth Street.  As well as the improvements for public transport, the implementation of the bus lane would also create another shared space for cyclists travelling westbound towards the town centre and would provide safer facilities for cyclists travelling through the London Street junction, towards the town centre.  Officers had also considered whether the loss of cycle provision could be expected to have a significant impact on Active Travel opportunities in the area.

As part of the scope of the optioneering exercise, officers had considered the existing road layout, and in particular the benefits of the existing cycle infrastructure.  At this stage officers had not conducted a cycle survey of this route.  However, through communication with the local cycle groups, it was understood that this route was used for southbound movements, connecting cyclists from London Street, via South Street but, due to the lack of northbound connections it was had not been clear how well used the route was for travelling towards town.  The existing cycle provision on Watlington Street, and in particular the facilities for crossing Queens Road had also been noted. 

The report stated that in preparing options for consideration, the primary design principle that had been applied was to maximise the carriage way widths and to provide additional northbound vehicle capacity.  The secondary design principle had been to retain as much Active Travel provision as possible.  Following these principles officers had worked with design consultants to develop four options each of which had the following similar characteristics:

• Sidmouth Street would remain a one-way street;
• Two lane entry to Sidmouth Street from London Road would be introduced which would require amendment of the traffic signals in that area and two northbound lanes for general traffic;
• Two lanes of traffic between London Road and South Street would be introduced;
• Three lanes of traffic between South Street and Queens Road would be introduced (one left turn, two right turn).

Having reviewed the options that had been presented by the design team, the report proposed that option two, which would retain a southbound (contra-flow) cycle lane (south of South Street only, two northbound lanes and would retain pay and display parking, provided the best balance of benefits/value for money and would provide additional vehicle capacity on Sidmouth Street and would improve flows onto Queens Road.  Alongside this it would still provide a valuable southbound active travel connection from the town centre towards the shared path facilities on London Road, and southbound towards the cycle infrastructure on Shinfield Road, and would complement the existing provisions on Watlington Street.  The detailed designs would be developed in parallel to this proposed consultation, which included further analysis and traffic surveys to support the initial assumptions, both in terms of use of the cycle facilities, as well as understanding potential impacts on traffic flows both on London Road and Queens Road.

Resolved –

(1)           That the report be noted;

(2)           That the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to undertake the statutory consultation for the proposed amendments to the Traffic Regulation Order for Sidmouth Street;

(3)           That the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services, in consultation with the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services, the Lead Councillor for Climate Strategy and Transport and the Chair of the Traffic Management Sub-Committee, be granted authority to make minor amendments to the agreed proposals, if required, prior to the implementation;

(4)           That subject to no objections being received the scheme be considered as approved and the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be granted authority to amend the Traffic Regulation Order;

(5)           That should any objections be received during the statutory consultation period, a report be submitted to a future meeting for consideration and decision regarding scheme implementation.