Agenda item - Church Road, South Portslade - Traffic & Road Safety Improvements

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Agenda item

Church Road, South Portslade - Traffic & Road Safety Improvements

Report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

 

Decision:

1)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves to the inclusion of a formal pedestrian crossing in the section of Church Road, south of St Michael’s Road in the Council’s Priority listing for 2014/15 where the City Council’s adopted assessment criteria indicates that a crossing is justified as set out at paragraph 4.11 of the report.

 

2)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the interim provision of a School Crossing Patrol in the section of Church Road between St Michael’s Road and St Peter’s Road, subject to appropriate Health & Safety at Work requirements being  met.

 

3)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the implementation of associated traffic signs, road markings and road surface materials necessary to support the interim School Crossing Patrol facility.

 

Minutes:

62.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director for Environment, Development & Housing that set out the specific physical, legal and financial implications of introducing a formal pedestrian crossing facility in Church Road, south Portslade following a Committee request at its meeting on 7 October 2014.

 

62.2      Councillor Davey enquired to the implications of the Committee requesting proceeding with Option 1 of recommendation 2.1 of the report contrary to the advice of the Road Safety Manager.

 

62.3      The Head of Transport clarified that the Committee had provided a string steer at the meeting in October 2014 to explore options for a crossing at the North Street/Church Road location. He added that the report set out the legal and safety concerns of the Road Safety Manager regarding a crossing located at that location and also made clear why a crossing located in the section of Church Road, south of St Michael’s Road was the preferred option in his professional view.

 

62.4      Councillor Robins stated that he had recently met with local residents and campaigners who had made clear that they were now content with a crossing located south of St Michael’s Road but on the basis that railings be installed at the current pedestrian refuge to prevent people using it and that safety measures to direct people to the new crossing.

 

62.5      The Traffic Technician stated that it was his view that the current facilities were not viewed as unsafe and was a refuge not a formal crossing. Furthermore, the installation of guard railings was not deemed feasible due to the narrow width of the footway.

 

62.6      Councillor Mitchell stated it was the clear view of the local community that they would now accept the council’s proposals and asked officers what could be done to assist this if barriers were viewed as unfeasible.

 

62.7      The Traffic Technician stated that the current facility wasn’t viewed as unsafe by the Road Safety Team and unfortunately it was difficult within the current physical environment to install any such guidance measures.

 

62.8      Councillor Davey noted that the recommendations proposed an interim provision of a School Crossing Patrol that would hopefully help guide people to the new crossing facility if agreed.

 

62.9      Councillor Cox stated that the role of councillor was sometimes about compromise and this was one of those instances as there was no clear solution. Councillor Cox stated that he was pleased that Shoreham Port was thriving as it provided jobs and apprenticeships but that inevitably led to heavy traffic movement that could not be redirected. Councillor Cox added that the road did feel dangerous to a pedestrian particularly because of the narrow pavements and he understood the concerns raised about safety. Councillor Cox supplemented that he was concerned about going against the professional safety advice and he had attended with officers and their suggestions had made sense. Councillor Cox stated that option 1 was unfeasible and it would also require huge changes to infrastructure further toward the entrance to the Port. Councillor Cox noted that he felt the pedestrian refuge performed a traffic calming function and he was unconvinced that barriers should be installed along the road. Councillor Cox stated that he would be supporting option 2 to recommendation 2.1 and urged road safety officers to continue to pursue additional traffic calming measures.

 

62.10   Councillor Mitchell stated that she would also be supporting option 2 to recommendation 2.1 and echoed Councillor Cox’s plea that the area be under constant consideration for safety and traffic calming measures particularly because the local school would be expanding in capacity.

 

62.11   Councillor Deane thanked officers for providing a site visit that had been very useful. Councillor Deane stated that she would be supporting option 2 to recommendation 2.1 as it appeared the most realistic option.

 

62.12   Councillor Janio stated that he would be supporting option 2 to recommendation 2.1 adding that he hoped the crossing could be made highly visible.

 

62.13   RESOLVED-

 

1)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves to the inclusion of a formal pedestrian crossing in the section of Church Road, south of St Michael’s Road in the Council’s Priority listing for 2014/15 where the City Council’s adopted assessment criteria indicates that a crossing is justified as set out at paragraph 4.11 of the report.

 

2)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the interim provision of a School Crossing Patrol in the section of Church Road between St Michael’s Road and St Peter’s Road, subject to appropriate Health & Safety at Work requirements being  met.

 

3)            That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the implementation of associated traffic signs, road markings and road surface materials necessary to support the interim School Crossing Patrol facility.

 

Supporting documents:

 


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