Issue - items at meetings - Lewes Road LSTF Project - Update and Next Steps

Report of the Strategic Director, Place (copy attached).

1.            That the Cabinet Member formally notes the outcome of the initial public consultation

2.            That the Cabinet Member agrees the principles of the schemes set out in this report and grants permission to consult with local people in accordance with the timescales outlined.

102.1           Councillor West considered a report of the Strategic Director, Place that shared the results of the public consultation on infrastructure improvements to Lewes Road and details as to the nature of the infrastructure changes the Council was seeking to deliver.

102.2           Councillor West stated that he was pleased to present the report that provided an update on the progress made so far with the Lewes Road Local Sustainable Transport Fund (LSTF) project and outlined the proposed next steps.

Councillor West noted that there has been a strong response to the initial consultation that had indicated that sustainable modes, bus, foot and bike were the predominant travel modes for local people.  Respondents had also reported that their travel experience was poor, blighted by congestion, inconsiderate parking, and for cyclists a lack of actual and perceived safety.

Councillor West said that the information gathered from local people had been used to help identify and design specific improvement schemes for Lewes Road. The proposals identified had been developed in partnership with members of the local community and had support from a number of key stakeholders including Brighton and Sussex Universities, Brighton & Hove Buses, The Big Lemon, Brighton & Hove Albion Football Club and The Jo Walters Trust - a charity set up by the family of Jo Walters who died cycling to University on Lewes Road in 2010.

Councillor West added that being able to travel safely and sustainable along the Lewes Road is of great importance to local residents and business, but also to the city as a whole. 

With plans to expand the Amex Stadium, the Albion were keen to build  on their success in encouraging fans to travel sustainably, and the Lewes Road improvements would be key to enabling that.

Councillor West supplemented that the improvements would also underpin sustainable travel choices for those experiencing the new national park, and the developing Eco Tourism offer.

Councillor West stated that a second consultation on the detailed proposals outlined in the report would take place in April 2012 for a further 6 week period.  Subject to the results of that consultation, construction work could commence in late 2012.

102.3           The Principal Transport Planning Officer gave a short presentation that provided more detail on the area, initial consultation and the proposals.

102.4           Councillor Mitchell expressed her disappointment that she had not received a briefing from officers regarding the consultation or the proposals before the meeting adding that it was essential that opposition Members were kept informed particularly on a major project such as this. Councillor Mitchell went on to congratulate officers for the work carried out thus far however; she had a number of concerns. Councillor Mitchell felt that the delays caused when work was underway and the general shifting of attitudes to travel had to be managed carefully. She recommended that motorists be offered something in return such as a football matchday park and ride scheme. She also had concern as a ward councillor for any increases in the number of buses travelling along Eastern Road that was already serviced by twenty four buses an hour and experienced significant traffic problems.

102.5           Councillor West apologised to Councillor Mitchell for the lack of a briefing on the project adding that it was important for opposition Members to be kept informed on such a major undertaking. Councillor West agreed that there would be a cross over period when the work was being carried out. The Principal Transport Planning Officer supplemented that the work proposed for Eastern Road was the development of a bus priority infrastructure not an increase in the number of buses.

102.6           Councillor Theobald asked how turnings would be managed if a lane was removed from Lewes Road, how utility company work would be managed whilst the work was ongoing and if measures would be introduced to the south of the Vogue Gyratory as well as the north.

102.7           The Principal Transport Planning Officer clarified that right turn dividers would remain along Lewes Road for right turns, that a Permit Scheme was being proposed to manage works undertaken by utility companies and that research had demonstrated that by alleviating traffic problems to the north of the Vogue Gyratory would ease the problems in the south.

102.8           RESOLVED-

1.            That the Cabinet Member formally notes the outcome of the initial public consultation

2.            That the Cabinet Member agrees the principles of the schemes set out in this report and grants permission to consult with local people in accordance with the timescales outlined.