Agenda item - Public Involvement

To consider the following matters raised by members of the public:

(a)               Petitions: To receive any petitions presented by members of the public to the full Council or at the meeting itself.

(b)               Written Questions: To receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 4 December 2013.

(c)               Deputations: To receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 4 December 2013.

(b)              Written Questions

55.1         Amanda Brace presented the following Question:

“As residents and users of Freshfield Road we have noticed higher traffic and speeds since it became the boundary of the Phase 1 20mph area. We were concerned that Phase 2 didn’t recommend 20mph. That’s why 78% of residents supported 20mph – one of the highest levels in the city!

It is almost totally residential and not a main road, so there is no reason for 30mph. It’s on the way to school not just for St Lukes pupils but also children at Queens Park and Royal Spa.

We ask councillors to support 20mph in Freshfield Rd. We also welcome city-wide 20mph”.

55.2         The Chair provided the following response:

“Traffic speed monitoring on Freshfield Road has shown that, in line with a number of the boundary roads to the phase 1 area, traffic speeds on Freshfield Road have in fact reduced slightly ( by 0.9mph) since the implementation 20mph limits in central Brighton and Hove. It understandable however, that as traffic speed has slowed on nearby streets with the introduction of lower limits, that residents of this area would be more aware of the higher speeds on roads like Freshfield in comparison.

I note that in response to the consultation on phase 2 of 20mph, responses were received from 57% of properties, with 78% expressing support for Freshfield Road to become 20mph.

Proposals for the second phase of the 20mph programme will be debated and considered at this meeting and include, in recognition of the strength of views expressed by local residents, a recommendation for the speed limit on Freshfield Road to be reduced to 20mph. This has been supported by a number of stakeholders including Brighton and Hove Bus Company”.

55.3         Amanda Brace asked the following supplementary question:

“We really welcome the recommendation of the report and parents and residents were really pleased to know that was in there. If we could know what the process and time limit would be for looking at the measures mentioned at 4.62 of the report and how the community and school can be involved in making sure that any measures implemented in Freshfield Road to make 20mph self-enforcing”

55.4         The Chair provided the following response:

“If Members agree to the recommendations today, there will be a further opportunity to consult through the speed limit orders. With regard to the request to support speed reduction measures, I will ask Officers to get in contact with you and explain how that can be done”

(c)               Deputations

55.5         The Deputees were unable to attend the meeting therefore a formal response was provided in writing as follows and was also read out at the meeting at the request of the Committee:

“Thank you for your deputation. We have always been very clear that the key arterial routes into the city such as Old Shoreham Rd which runs along the south side of Hove Park should remain at 30 mph.

In terms of Hove Park Road, Goldstone Crescent, Orchard Road and the westernmost section of The Droveway, the basic reason for the areas cited not being included, was a clear absence of support from local residents in that area (not just the roads cited but the area as a whole) for lower speed limits.

There is also no significant identified collision/casualty problem in the area.

Whilst a consultation is not (as the deputation points out) a referendum, the DfT guidance is clear that 20mph limits should be considered in consultation with local communities.

As with other areas, on those streets proposed to be reduced to 20mph speed limits and those proposed to remain at 30mph, officers will continue to monitor casualty and collision data together with traffic volumes and speeds alongside local community opinion as part of the ongoing monitoring and evaluation of speed limits across the city”.

55.6         RESOLVED- That the Deputation be noted.