BOROUGH OF POOLE
MINUTES OF THENEWTOWN, PARKSTONE AND PENN HILL AREA COMMITTEE
HELD ON 18 FEBRUARY 2004 IN THE COMMITTEE SUITE, CIVIC CENTRE, POOLE
The Meeting commenced at 7.00 pm and concluded at 10.15pm
Present :
Councillor Mrs Stribley (Chairman) (Parkstone Ward)
Councillors Collier, Mrs Stribley and Woodcock (Parkstone Ward)
CouncillorsClements and Wilson (Newtown Ward)
CouncillorsMrs Dion and Parker (Penn Hill Ward)
Members of the public present - 39 approximately
- APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Ms Atkinson and Plummer.
- MINUTES
RESOLVED that the minutes of the last meeting of the Area Committee held on 3rd December 2003, having been previously circulated, were taken as read and confirmed and signed by the Chairman.
- MATTERS ARISING
Planning Issues
It was reiterated that Members of the Planning Committee could listen to residents’ concerns, but were not empowered to give an opinion as Planning was a regulatory Committee and Members of the Local Planning Authority sat in a quasi judicial capacity.
It was AGREED that it be investigated to see if the advice of the Council’s Head of Legal Services and Monitoring Officer to Planning Committee Members could be placed on the Borough’s web site for public information.
4.SMOKING IN PUBLIC PLACES: CONSULTATION
Councillor Adams addressed the meeting referring to the Motion to Council on 16 September 2003 which had been referred to the Area Committees for consultation. The Motion was as follows:
“In view of very great public concern regarding health issues relating to passive smoking, we the undersigned, request this Council to undertake consultation with all interested parties and investigate the possibilities of seeking a byelaw to prohibit or severely restrict smoking in all enclosed areas to which the public have access”.
He reiterated that the Motion was not to prevent smoking, just to review it in enclosed public spaces and that he was undertaking Borough-wide consultation at its Area Committees. The Daily Echo was also conducting a “Vox-Pop survey” and he asked residents if they would fill in the slips to be published in the Echo and return them. Bournemouth University had been appointed as independent surveyors and were proposing a number of questions together with the Poole Opinion Panel, comprising 1,600 residents compiled on gender and demography, was also being consulted. A cross political party working party comprising smokers and non-smokers had also been established and evidence was to be taken from focus groups and a ‘select committee’ type hearing held.
Councillor Adams had also circulated a survey at its Area Committee and he requested Members of the public in attendance at this Area Committee to fill in the questionnaire. A member of the public queried how much the survey was costing above the £20,000 granted to the Borough by the NHS. Councillor Adams explained that costs were being stringently controlled and a very unusual amount of the Committee’s resources (mainly officer time) was being used.
A Member queried how enclosed public spaces was defined and Councillor Adams responded “four walls and a roof”.
A Member also commented that with regard to the questionnaire, there was not freedom to smoke anywhere in public at present, sighting such places as the Dolphin Shopping Centre etc. A Member also queried whether the American perspective had been taken into account.
A Member queried how much this reflected the Council’s commitment to health promotion and how much this was a personal issue Councillor Adams was pursuing.
Councillor Adams explained that he felt this was something which should be reviewed. It was in line with the Council’s policy of improving public health and a number of members of the public had complained to him who were employed to work in public places, for example, waitresses in restaurants, about the effects of passive smoking.
Councillor Adams thanked the public for their attention and his presentation was noted.
- DORSET SAFETY CAMERA PARTNERSHIP
The Chairman welcomed Mr Pat Garrett, Project Manager to the Partnership who gave a presentation to the Area Committee and answered questions from the public on the first year of the Safety Camera Partnership’s operation. He explained that, contrary to public perception, a business case had to be made for the siting of cameras in designated positions. Accident statistics had to meet the criteria for safety and a budget had to be put together, together with the predicted income. The casualty figures had been reduced by 40% since the introduction of the speed cameras.
A member of the public queried whether the Dorset Safety Camera Partnership published statistics for accident black spots. Mr Garrett replied that currently this was not the case, but following the introduction of the Freedom of Information Act, all information would be available on the Partnership’s web site. Mobile cameras were also placed at sites in response to public request. A member of the public queried why mobile cameras, were not placed where motorists could see them. Mr Garrett explained that wherever possible vans were parked where people could see them, but ultimately those exceeding the speed limit were breaking the law.
A member of the public queried whether reaction time if taken into account, stating that speed limits were too low and the conditions could mean that concentration was reduced. Mr Garrett responded that certain work had been undertaken on this.
A member of the public queried whether when tickets were issued, if there was a charge for the photograph of £50.
Mr Garrett explained that there was no charge for photographs, but that a copy of the calibration certificate was not sent. He also explained that in one case a mistake had been made, this was one case in a hundred thousand and he currently had a team of two checking on what had happened. He understood that a member of the public had been told that the partnership had run out of paper to photocopy the photograph and that particular member of the public had received an apology.
A member of the public queried what percentage of cases for cameras were refused. Mr Garrett explained that there were 42 Partnerships in the Country and one Partnership had taken 6 months to get permission for the siting of one camera.
Mr Garrett explained that the cameras would be triggered and a speed ticket issued at 35mph in a 30mph zone. Cameras could record vehicles on both sides of the road.
A member of the public explained that there was a speeding problem on Links Road and requested a camera be put there. Mr Garrett explained that this would need liaison with the Police.
In response to a query as to how the mobile cameras were calibrated, Mr Garrett explained that two pictures were taken and that if necessary, an operator could go to Court to corroborate the evidence. All cameras were calibrated once a year, off-site by an independent firm. He explained that driver awareness training was currently being considered by the Partnership. A member queried whether the Partnership’s web site could be linked to the Poole Partnership web portal and Mr Garrett confirmed that it would be possible to link with any appropriate site.
A Member requested that a summary of the information be placed in Poole News. A Member also commented that he had asked for information from the Partnership and it had not been provided. Mr Garrett explained that this was an unusual occurrence, which he would investigate.
Mr Garrett stated that it was hoped that the Partnership would engender a culture where the appropriate speed for the appropriate environment was the norm. A member of the public queried the composition of the Partnership and was advised it comprised of 8 partners, including the Borough of Poole, Bournemouth Borough Council, Dorset County Council, The Highways Agency, Dorset Police, Dorset and Somerset Strategic Health Authority, the Crown Prosecution Service and the Dorset Magistrates Courts. It was reiterated that cameras were only permitted on roads with a proven road injury problem where there was a history of speed related collisions or red light jumping.
It was queried whether uninsured drivers could be detected through cameras. Mr Garrett explained that currently not, but a pilot was being undertaken in nine Constabularies helping to identify MOT and Tax evasion. He also confirmed that the cameras could operate within variable speed limits.
A member of the public queried whether the signs that flash up the speed were more expensive than cameras or less expensive. Mr Garrett explained that these were less expensive, but still had to comply with regulations and could give false readings.
The Chairman thanked Mr Garrett for his interesting presentation.
RESOLVED that the presentation be noted.
- THE WEB PORTAL FOR POOLE PARTNERSHIP
Mr Fred Davies, Policy Director (Social Services), introduced this item explaining that Poole Partnership brought together a broad range of agencies and representatives from across the Borough. This Web Portal was an exciting opportunity through Central Government funding to enable a web site to be established that both held information and linked easily to other relevant sites. MrDavies reiterated that this was a community facility and he hoped that members of the public would get involved explaining that Jonathan Burke and Hilary Evans at the Borough could be contacted either by telephone or by email on and so that the web site could be developed in the way the community wished.
The Secretary of the Upper Parkstone Residents Association explained that a number of residents did not have computers. Mr Davies explained that the web could be accessed free of charge through the Council’s Libraries.
A member of the public requested that site notices and traffic orders should be placed on the web and the officers undertook to investigate this for the future.
- PREPARATION OF AN OPEN SPACE STRATEGY FOR POOLE
Mr Mike Childs of Leisure Services introduced the Report explaining the Strategy’s aims and detailing that public open space of all types amounted to nearly 1070 hectares and made up 17% of the total land area in Poole and that it was one of the Borough’s most important public assets. The Open Space Strategy was intended to be a tool to assist the planning and management of “green space” for recreation, amenity and bio diversity and the delivery of a good quality of life. Residents were being consulted at each Area Committee. He detailed the sites in or partly within Newtown, Parkstone and Penn Hill wards and their suggested priority.
The Chairman thanked Mr Childs for his presentation and invited questions from residents.
A resident queried whether there was a “hidden agenda” to reduce Poole’s open space and he was assured this was not the case.
A resident queried why Pine trees were being removed in Branksome Woods. Mr Childs explained this work was being undertaken following consultation as part of the Woodland Management Plan to achieve a balance of coniferous and hardwood trees.
A Member queried why the open space alongside Trinidad School was not shown and requested that it be included in the strategy.
The Rossmore Road/Herbert Avenue open space also needed to be included in the discussions as this fed into the Alderney Recreation Ground.
It was AGREED that
(i)the prioritisation of Poole Park/Harbourside Park/Haskells Recreation Ground/Upper Road/Newtown/Alexandra Park/Parkstone Park/Parkstone Heights be approved;
(ii)that the open space at the side of Trinidad School be included;
(iii)that the Rossmore Road/Herbert Avenue open space which fed into Alderney Recreation Ground be incorporated in the Strategy; and
(iv)that the Head of Leisure Services be informed of this Committee’s considerations.
- OBJECTIONS TO TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS
A revised report on objections to Traffic Regulation Orders relating to Heavytree Road, Whitecliff Road, Weymouth Road and Alexandra Road was circulated at the meeting.
Heavytree Road
The Chairman explained that representations had been received from owners of properties 4, 5 and 6 Heavytree Road explaining that it was unlikely anyone would park across their driveways and the turning head would not be obstructed so it was requested that the yellow lines be not imposed in front of properties 4, 5 and 6.
RESOLVED that the Order be made leaving out yellow lines in front of 4, 5 and 6 Heavytree Road.
Note: Councillor Clements abstained from voting on this item.
Ashley Road/Weymouth Road
The Committee considered this proposal for a no right turn from Ashley Road into Weymouth Road. A Member suggested that until agreement could be reached with all residents nothing should be done in this area.
Some Members explained that this was a dangerous junction at Weymouth Road/Balmoral Road and urged colleagues to support the proposal.
Residents were not convinced that the proposals would address the problem.
RESOLVED that a right turn filter arrow be introduced at the Richmond Road/Ashley Road signals and the Order be deferred for six months to see if this proposal solves the issue.
Whitecliff Road
As no representations had been received in respect of the yellow lines opposite Sherwood Avenue the Order has to be made as advertised.
Alexandra Road
RESOLVED that the Order, No Waiting at Any Time restrictions on the southern side of Alexandra Road at the two park accesses (the northern side of which is already protected by waiting restrictions) be made, as advertised.
- REQUEST FOR WAITING RESTRICTIONS – WYNDHAM ROAD, ALTON ROAD.
The Committee considered a petition requesting waiting restrictions on the outside of the bend in Alton Road on one side of Wyndham Road and at the Alton Road/Windsor Road junction.
Mr Dean explained that consideration of this issue had been defered from the 3 September 2003 meeting so that the Committee would have more knowledge of the outcome of consideration of yellow lines in Steepdene and proposals outside Baden Powell School.
The restrictions in Steepdene were subsequently confirmed and would be implemented shortly. Discussions have been held with the Baden Powell Middle School and a package of improvements was being prepared for consideration by the Transportation Advisory Group (TAG). The package would include waiting restrictions at the Alton Rd/Windsor Rd junction.
RESOLVED that the yellow lines requested in Wyndham Rd and Alton Rd be advertised when the Transportation Advisory Group advertises any other Orders in this area in association with the proposed safety measures outside Baden Powell School. This committee would fund those elements of the restrictions that were not directly associated with the safety of school children.
Note: Councillor Clements abstained from voting on this matter.
- IMPROVEMENTS TO RINGWOOD ROAD AT THE JUNCTION OF HAYMOOR ROAD
The Committee considered the report of the Head of Transportation Services noting that the proposed No Waiting restrictions and bus passenger improvements could be achieved within the £5,000 budget.
RESOLVED that
(i)a No Waiting At Any Time restriction is imposed from the existing restrictions from the junction with Kinson Pottery Estate to extend up to the existing restrictions opposite the Sea Cadets Hall;
(ii)a bus stop clear-way is added;
(iii)low floor access bus kerbs be installed at the bus shelter; and
(iv)tactile paving be installed at the junction across Kinson Pottery Estate.
- TRAFFIC PANEL
The Committee considered the Traffic Panel’s recommendations relating to Penn Hill Avenue/St Osmunds Rd/Woodside Rd junction and Good Rd.
With regard to the Rosemary Road junction there was a possibility that drivers could misread the junction and not realise that they had to give way. The Panel agreed there should be a Give Way sign at the junction to compliment an advance Give Way sign which had been placed when approaching from the north.
Mr Dean explained that, following a site meeting at the Rossmore Rd/Good Rd junction, it was clear that a kerb extension would improve the layout of the junction and make it safer for pedestrians to cross. The Committee approved the scheme for implementation this year.
RESOLVED that a Give Way sign be installed on the southbound, Good Road approach to the Rosemary Rd junction, and a kerb extension be installed to “square up” the Rossmore Rd/Good Rd Junction.
- ANY OTHER BUSINESS RAISED BY THE PUBLIC
Question from Tina Cockwell relating to possible breaches of Health and Safety Regulations
RESOLVED that
(i)a written answer be supplied to the resident; and
(ii)that consideration be given by the Chairman of the next meeting to Residents’ Questions being the first item of business, after Apologies for Absence etc.
CHAIRMAN
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