BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP
18 JANUARY 2007
The Meeting commenced at 0930 hours and concluded at 1310 hours.
Present:
Councillor Burden (Chairman)
Councillors Adams (substituting for Councillor Gregory), Lavender, Leverett, Parker (substituting for Councillor Gillard), Trent, Miss Wilson and Wilson (substituting for Councillor Knight).
Also attending:
Councillor Mrs Moore
Members of the public present – 18
1. APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Gregory, Gillard and Knight, with the above substitutions.
2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST
Councillor Mrs Lavender declared personal interests in the following items: M.8, Local Transport Campaign Petition, as a member of Poole Pensioners, M.7, Gwynne Road Traffic and Parking as a Ward Councillor and M.13, St Aldhelms VA Combined School as she had been lobbied.
Councillor Adams declared personal interests in the following items: M.9, Objections to Traffic Regulation Orders as a Ward Councillor and M.11, Disabled Parking Bays as his daughter had disabilities.
Councillor Leverett declared a prejudicial interest in M.9, Objections to Traffic Regulation Orders as he had properties in Gorsehill Crescent and Pound Lane. Due to these interests he would leave the Meeting for the consideration of these items.
He declared a further personal interest in M.14, Wimborne Road Safety and Cycling Improvements as a Governor of Poole High School.
Councillor Parker declared personal interests in the following items as he had been lobbied: M.6, Broadstone Car Parks, M.8, Local Transport Campaign Petition, M.10, Penn Hill Junction and M.11, Disabled Parking Bays.
The Chairman declared personal interests in the following items as he had been lobbied: M.10, Penn Hill Junction and M.13, St Aldhelms VA Combined School.
Councillor Trent declared personal interests in the following items as he had been lobbied: M.6, Broadstone Car Parks, M.7, Gwynne Road Traffic and Parking, M.8, Local Transport Campaign Petition, M.11, Disabled Parking Bays, M.12, 2006/07 Capital Programme Update and M.13, St Aldhelms VA Combined School.
3. MINUTES
RESOLVED that the Meeting held on 30 November 2006, having previously been circulated, be approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.
4. SUCH OTHER BUSINESS, AS IN THE OPINION OF THE CHAIRMAN, IS OF SUFFICIENT URGENCY TO WARRANT CONSIDERATION
There were no items of urgent business.
5. ROADSIDE MEMORIALS
Steve Tite, Acting Head of Transportation Services, presented a report which sought approval for a policy to deal with Roadside Memorials. The Transportation Strategy’s aim was for the potential for accident reduction to be a major factor in assessing priorities for highway improvements.
Members were advised that this matter had been discussed with Dorset Police and was also supported by the Council’s Chaplain, Reverend Jonathan Martin.
Nationally, the Police had asked that all Highway Authorities considered adopting a consistent policy for Roadside Memorials following a fatal collision. Within the Dorset Police area, Dorset County Council and Bournemouth Borough Council were in the process of adopting similar policies. The recommendations outlined within the Report followed the policy already adopted by Hampshire County Council, Reading Borough Council, Buckinghamshire and Milton Keynes and was also supported by Hampshire Police and Thames Valley Police.
The Policy of laying floral or more permanent tribute a the site of a fatal collision had, over recent years, become more common and may, for many families, become a more significant part of the grieving process. Such tributes provided a poignant reminder of the tragic loss of an individual and could act as a reminder to other road users of the need to drive with greater care and tolerance. However, to others they posed a risk of being distracted and a constant, yet not possibly wanted reminder of a tragedy which could be distressing to residents or the community as a whole.
The purpose of the Policy being proposed was to try and provide a clear statement of what would be allowed on highways under the Council’s control. Members were provided with a copy of the recommended policy as an appendix to the Report.
Low key memorials such as the discrete placing of a small floral tribute at the roadside may be acceptable provided there was no significant risk of a driver distraction or undue risk to the individual visiting a location. Any items should be placed clear of any locations where Highway Maintenance was likely to be undertaken. They should also be placed away from locations that were hazardous to access, such as carriageway central reservations and roundabout central islands.
In conclusion, Members were advised that the Department for Transport had commissioned consultants to formulate a policy to manage roadside memorials. Once this policy had been agreed a further report would be presented to this Advisory Group advising whether or not any approved policy needed to be updated in light of this new information. In addition, to compliment the Policy, a leaflet would be produced which would give useful information to victim’s families and to provide contact details of local support networks as well as contact details of national organisations such as Break and Roadpeace.
RECOMMENDED that
(i) the Portfolio Holder be requested to approve for implementation, the Policy outlined in Appendix A to the Report; and
(ii) a further Report be presented to a future Meeting should the Department for Transport issue further guidance which would require a change in the approved Policy.
For – Unanimous
6. BROADSTONE CAR PARKS
Steve Dean, Transportation Services, presented a report which addressed concerns that the Broadstone Car Parks were being used by drivers who then continued with their onward journey to the Town Centre by bus.
Members were advised that the two car parks in Broadstone were subject to the standard district car park tariff:
· Up to two hours: £0.40p
· Up to four hours £0.60p
· Over four hours: £1.00
· (Season tickets were available for £150 per annum).
It had been suggested that cars were being parked in the car parks while drivers and passengers then took the bus into Poole as there was a very fast regular service from Dunyeats Road. There had also been other suggestions that this was also happening in other areas although vehicles were parked on street rather than paying to park in a car park.
It was rare for the car parks to be completely full and in fact there had been a reduction in the income from the Broadstone Car Parks this year. The roads closest to the centre of Broadstone were subject to a two hour limit but there was heavy parking in the streets beyond.
Members were advised that it would not be appropriate to raise the cost for all day parking in these car parks without also raising the rate in the other district car parks. Therefore, it was felt that a more appropriate measure would be to introduce a four hour maximum stay. This had already been done in the Commercial Road car park to ensure that short stay parking was always available for shoppers. Any season ticket holders would be exempt from the four hour limit and the Council could regulate the number of season tickets in circulation to ensure that spaces were available. Members were asked to note that the income generated by vehicles parking for over four hours in the two Broadstone Car Parks equated to £15,600 in 2005/06.
As the primary purpose of the Broadstone Car Parks was to serve the local community, it was felt that the local Area Committee was the most appropriate forum to consider any changes to address this particular problem. It was also suggested that the Area Committee may wish to also consult with the Broadstone Chamber of Trade and Residents Association in order to determine its view.
In conclusion Members were advised that, in view of the fact that the income from district car parks formed part of the finances of the Authority, any proposed changes which would have an adverse effect on income would then need to be considered by this Advisory Group.
A Member stated that he had spoken to the Ward Councillor who was happy for this Report to be presented to the Area Committee adding that it was important for the consultation to take place with the Chamber of Trade prior to the item being considered by the Area Committee.
RECOMMENDED that the Portfolio Holder be requested to agree that
(i) the Area Committee for Bearwood, Merley and Broadstone be asked for its views on imposing a four hour limit in the Broadstone Car Parks; and
(ii) the Ward Councillor meets with the Chamber of Trade to discuss consultation arrangements prior to the Area Committee.
For – Unanimous
7. GWYNNE ROAD – TRAFFIC AND PARKING
Steve Dean, Transportation Services, presented a Report which considered requests for traffic and parking restrictions in Gwynne Road and the surrounding area.
Members were advised that at the last two meetings of the Alderney, Branksome East and West Area Committee a number of complaints had been received from residents about the speed of traffic and parking problems in the Gwynne Road area.
No personal injury accidents had been recorded in Gwynne Road itself over the last four years and it would therefore be difficult to justify introducing traffic calming measures. There had however, been four accidents in the last four years at the junction of Alder Road and Gwynne Road which could be addressed if the number of conflicting movements were reduced. A “no entry” restriction with a road narrowing at the Alder Road junction would cost approximately £5,000 but in order to avoid displacing traffic into Bountys Lane, it would be appropriate to impose a one-way restriction (east bound) between Francis Road and Alder Road.
There would inevitably be objections from local residents to any measures that forced them to take detours to reach their homes and it was therefore suggested that a widespread consultation exercise would be needed before this could be considered further. Members were provided with an Appendix which detailed the proposed consultation area.
Members were reminded that the Area committee did not have a large enough budget to fund this, however, there may be the opportunity to use developer contributions. Support from this Advisory Group would be required for measures of this kind that could divert traffic into other roads and the Area Committee had requested this Advisory Group to progress the consultation and implement the proposals if there was support from residents.
The Area Committee considered a range of possible ways of dealing with concerns of parking in the area and it was noted that whilst most of the junctions in the area were not protected by waiting restrictions, this would not necessarily be welcomed by all residents. The Area Committee suggested that this element could be included within the consultation.
A Ward Councillor stated that some residents in Douglas Road did not welcome these restrictions and therefore she agreed that wider consultation was appropriate.
In the absence of one of the Ward Councillors, the Chairman read out a statement that had been prepared by him regarding this matter:-
“I should like to record my full support for the proposals contained within the Report and welcome the more restricted consultation area from that shown on the original Area Committee papers”.
RECOMMENDED that the Portfolio Holder be requested to approve consultation being undertaken with residents on:-
(i) a one way restriction (towards Alder Road) in Gwynne Road, between Frances Road and Alder Road, to be funded by developer contributions; and
(ii) parking restrictions at the junctions shown on Appendix B; and
(iii) that these results be presented back to a future meeting of this Group.
For – Unanimous
(Councillor Miss Wilson was not present for the vote on this item).
8. LOCAL TRANSPORT CAMPAIGN - PETITION
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, presented a report which considered a petition from the Poole and District Pensioners Association requesting the re-instatement of bus services withdrawn by the Operators last summer.
John McVey, Passenger Transport Manager, then provided Members with background information regarding the introduction of the major changes made to its local bus service network in the Poole area by Wilts and Dorset Bus Company on 4 June 2006. Information was also provided on the major changes made to their network by Bournemouth Transport (Yellow Buses) on 2 July 2006. Whilst overall, these were less significant for the Borough than the Wilts and Dorset revisions, they did impact on certain areas including Alderney and Branksome.
In an attempt to mitigate the adverse effects of the bus service revisions, the Council took immediate action. This included the introduction of a number of new off-peak services, initially on a temporary basis, and the re-routing of some existing supported routes to cover the unserved bus stops. The result of this had been a partial replacement of the lost services providing relatively low frequency journeys during the daytime. Though most areas of the Borough had this basic level of service during the daytime, it was acknowledged that some people now had to change buses where they previously had a direct service.