Decisions

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Decisions published

10/11/2022 - Evaluation of Local 15% CIL Scheme - Redlands Traffic Calming ref: 805    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Made at meeting: 10/11/2022 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Decision published: 25/11/2022

Effective from: 10/11/2022

Decision:

The Executive Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing the Sub-Committee with a summary of the findings following delivery of the measures in 2021 to improve motorist compliance with the 20mph zone restrictions in specific locations within Redlands Ward and Katesgrove Ward and the undertaking of comparative speed surveys and an independent Road Safety Audit.  The scheme drawings, as advertised during statutory consultation in 2020 were attached to the report at Appendix 1 and an enlargement of the priority flow measure recommended for alteration was attached to the report at Appendix 2.

The report explained that speed surveys had been commissioned and carried out in early 2022.  The surveys had been conducted over a representative one week period, 24 hours per day, which would have captured both the busier work/school traffic mid-week, leisure type traffic at the weekends and speeds during periods where overall traffic volumes had been far lower, for example overnight.  It was accepted that it was not possible to exactly replicate the conditions of prior surveys, but best endeavours had been used to conduct the surveys in the same locations as those carried out previously and the results provided the closest factual baseline and evaluation measures of a scheme of this type.  It was standard practice to analyse the ‘85th percentile’ speeds, which was the speed that 85% of vehicles were travelling at or below and the report set out the results for Allcroft, Kendrick, Morgan and Redlands Roads.  The result of the speed survey comparison had indicated that the delivery of the measures had achieved speed reductions, particularly in Allcroft and Morgan Roads where full-width speed humps had been installed, although a proportion of motorists had continued to speed, regardless of the physical measure that had been put in place to discourage them from doing so.

Independent Road Safety Audits had also been conducted for the scheme, both at the design stage and on-street, following delivery of the scheme.  The audits were intended to provide an independent view on the safety and regulatory compliance of the features.  Officers had also received feedback from residents and users both directly and via Ward Councillors.  The primary themes of the feedback were as follows:

·         The speed humps on Allcroft Road and Morgan Road were too high;

·         Congestion was caused by buildouts on Redlands Road and Kendrick Road;

·         Placement of cushions in the context of cycling and on-street parking;

·         Priority-flow feature on Redlands Road (near Allcroft Road) was causing congestion and was unsafe.

During the post-delivery independent Road Safety Audit the auditor had been made aware of the primary themes of feedback from the scheme, informal comment was made in reference to the parking bay build out on Redlands Road, but it was the priority flow feature on Redlands Road about which they had raised a suggestion of a review requirement.  The issue raised was that the parking bay immediately to the south side created the potential of a long section of carriageway that would be impassable by two-way traffic and the auditor suggested that either a section of parking or the priority flow feature be removed.  They also recommended that if the priority flow feature was removed that an alternative form of traffic calming measures should be installed in its place.

There report explained that currently there was no identified funding for making alteration to the scheme, but it acknowledged that there was a requirement for alterations to the priority flow feature on Redlands Road, the officer recommendation to address this issue was detailed in the report.  Officers also recommended that, once funding had been identified, and the priority flow feature at this location had been removed, that officers proceeded to statutory consultation on the proposed placement of speed cushions in this approximate location as an alternative speed reduction measure. 

At the invitation of the Chair Councillor Cross, Ward Councillor for Redlands Ward, and Joe Edwards, Chair of the Reading Cycle Campaign, addressed the Sub-Committee.  They raised a number of points where they considered there were issues with the scheme including the chicane at the junction of Redlands Road and Allcroft Road that had resulted in bad behaviour from road users and cars being in the wrong lane; the buildouts on Redlands Road went to the edge of the curb so cyclists were forced out into the middle of the road; the buildouts also ‘book ended’ parking bays; traffic going downhill on Redlands Road was going very fast; vehicles were going into the centre of the road to straddle speed cushions and excessive noise was created by vehicles going over the speed humps too fast.

The Sub-Committee discussed the report and Councillor Page suggested that whilst officers were identifying funding a meeting be arranged with Ward Councillors, members of the Reading Cycle Campaign and officers to review the additional points and concerns that had been raised and a report be submitted to a future meeting with the agreed proposals to be included in one consultation.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the following be agreed, once funding had been identified:

(a)     The Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to undertake statutory consultation processes for the proposed adjustment to the priority flow measure (Item 4.7) in accordance with the Local Authorities Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales) Regulations 1996;

(b)     Feedback to the statutory consultation, alongside costings (quotations) for the proposed changes, be submitted to a future meeting for a decision on the outcome;

(c)      A meeting be arranged with Ward Councillors, members of the Reading Cycle Campaign and officers to review the additional points and concerns that had been raised and a report submitted to a future meeting with the agreed proposals included in one consultation;

(3)     That no public inquiry be held into the proposal.

Wards affected: Katesgrove; Redlands;


10/11/2022 - Requests for Traffic Management Measures ref: 804    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Made at meeting: 10/11/2022 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Decision published: 25/11/2022

Effective from: 10/11/2022

Decision:

The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report informing the Sub-Committee of requests for traffic management measures that had been raised by members of the public, other organisations/representatives and Councillors.  These were measure that had either been previously reported, or those that would not typically be addressed in other programmes, where funding was yet to be identified.  The following appendices were attached to the report:

Appendix 1

List of requests that were new to the update report with initial Officer comments and recommendations;

Appendix 2

List of requests that had previously been reported, where significant amendments were proposed, with Officer comments and recommendations;

Appendix 3

The principal list of requests, as updated following the previous report to the Sub-Committee in March 2022. It also contained the prioritised list of cycling and walking measures from the LCWIP;

Appendix 4

The results of a survey carried out by Ward Councillors in the Amersham Road area, supporting the amendment request in Appendix 2.

The Sub-Committee discussed the report and it was pointed out that Walnut Way already appeared in Appendix 3, albeit with slightly different officer comments.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That having considered the officer recommendation for each request, set out in Appendix 1 attached to the report, the entries be retained on the primary list of requests, as set out in Appendix 3 attached to the report, subject to:

·         Walnut Way being moved to Appendix 2 as it already appeared in Appendix 3;

(3)     That the items previously submitted to the Sub-Committee, as set out in Appendix 2, attached to the report, be agreed.

Wards affected: Boroughwide;


10/11/2022 - Petition Update - Private Hire access to Kings Road & Duke Street Bus Lanes ref: 803    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Made at meeting: 10/11/2022 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Decision published: 25/11/2022

Effective from: 10/11/2022

Decision:

Further to Minute 16(a) of the previous meeting, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update to the petition for private hire vehicle use of Kings Road and Duke Street following the receipt of further information form the lead petitioner.  The report recommended against pursuing the change to the access exemptions in these bus lanes at the current time, set out the reasons and recommended that consideration of bus lane access be carried out as part of a further strategic evaluation, in the context of local and national strategic priorities and policy, including the Local Transport Plan, Bus Service Improvement Plan and Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plans.

The report explained that following the previous meeting the lead petitioner had provided further information to the Council, reporting the local challenges that existed regarding the challenges with educational establishment recruiting school transport drivers.  In addition to the lengthy application process, it being suggested that potential drivers were finding it unappealing to apply for the limited work particularly when the vehicles were having to use general traffic lanes and contend with the associated traffic.  It was also suggested that allowing private hire access to these bus lanes would contribute to expedited journeys for school transport providers and make this work more appealing, thus improving the level of service.  It was proposed further that many bus lanes in the Borough were being used by Oxfordshire plated vehicles that had been licensed as Hackney Carriages, but were mostly carrying out executive industry work. 

Some of the Borough’s bus lanes permitted access by other vehicle types, such as motorcycles and taxis, including private hire vehicles, and officers were separately aware of requests for wider access by these vehicle types.  Enabling a wider range of vehicle access would increase the volumes of traffic using the bus lanes and it would inevitably have an impact on the effectiveness of the lanes for its core purpose, increasing the length of bus journey times.  This would also risk creating barriers to cycling by adding the level of traffic. 

The report stated that it was important that such recommendation for change were made appropriately and in line with local and national policies and strategies.  It was an additional concern of officers that adding vehicles to the Kings Road outbound bus lane might risk additional contribution to casualty incidents along the route, as there would be a speed differential against general traffic lanes at busier times and the vehicles would be lower in profile compared to buses.  The petitioner had also made reference to recent changes to the Kings Road inbound bus lane access, but the report noted that the outcome of the changes was a reduction in access over the previous restriction.

Changes to access would require a change to the Traffic Regulation Order that underlaid each restriction.  This change would require a statutory consultation to be carried out on the new draft order and back office changes to the enforcement software would be required and would need funding and resourcing.  Finally, the report proposed that bus lane access should be considered holistically as part of future strategy work related to the Local Transport Plan, Bus Service Improvement Plan and other policies of the Council.  The outcomes would be submitted to the appropriate Committee.

At the invitation of the Chair Kameran Saddiq addressed the Sub-Committee in favour of private hire vehicle use of Kings Road and Duke Street bus lanes, he was accompanied by his legal representative who also addressed the Sub-Committee.  At the invitation of the Chair Ashif Rasheed, Chair of the Reading Taxi Association, also addressed the Sub-Committee, he spoke against private hire vehicles using the bus lanes.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the requested alterations to increase access to the bus lanes are not pursued at this time;

(3)     That a future strategic piece of work be undertaken to consider current and potential alterations across the bus lane network within Reading and noted that while not yet programmed, this would likely be reported initially through Strategic Environment Planning & Transport Committee and/or Policy Committee;

(4)     That the lead petitioner be informed of the decisions of the Sub-Committee, following publication of the agreed minutes of the meeting;

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

(Councillor Ayub declared an interest in the above item on the grounds that he owned a hackney carriage. He left the room and took no part in the discussion or decision making.)

Wards affected: Abbey; Katesgrove; Park; Redlands; Thames;


10/11/2022 - Petition Update - Kendrick Court inclusion in Resident Permit Parking scheme ref: 802    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Made at meeting: 10/11/2022 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Decision published: 25/11/2022

Effective from: 10/11/2022

Decision:

Further to Minute 16(b) of the previous meeting, the Executive Director of Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update to the petition on resident parking permit eligibility for Kendrick Court following the receipt of further information from the lead petitioner.  The report also set out the rationale for the current exclusion of Kendrick Court from the full permit eligibility within the zone, set out how a change to the eligibility could be made, referred to further information that had been received and recommended against making the change.

The report explained that officers had considered the further information and feedback that had been received from the lead petitioner and the themes were included in the reports along with comments from officers. 

The report stated that it remained the recommendation that Kendrick Court was not included for full RPP eligibility, meaning that the eligibility for the full permit entitlement in the Traffic Regulation Order would not be changed.  It would also not be reasonable to consider Kendrick Court in isolation of other properties that were in the same position and to include all such properties would have significant and unmanageable risks on the saturation level of on-street parking within the zone area thereafter.  Residents of Kendrick Court would continue to have the option of applying for discretionary parking permits and the points that had been raised in the petition could be used to strengthen their case. 

At the invitation of the Chair Edward Hammond addressed the Sub-Committee. 

The Sub-Committee discussed the report and agreed by a majority that the current arrangements should remain in place and that residents should apply on an individual basis for a discretionary parking permit stating the reasons why they needed a permit, and it not being just because there was limited parking in Kendrick Court, which the Sub-Committee would consider sympathetically.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the current address eligibility for the full allocation of resident parking permits remains unchanged;

(3)     That the lead petitioner be informed of the decisions of the Sub-Committee, following publication of the agreed minutes of the meeting and that residents be advised to apply for discretionary parking permits;

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

Wards affected: Katesgrove; Redlands;


10/11/2022 - Petitions ref: 801    Recommendations Approved

Decision Maker: Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Made at meeting: 10/11/2022 - Traffic Management Sub-Committee

Decision published: 25/11/2022

Effective from: 10/11/2022