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.

(i)            Reduce speed limit on Holmes Avenue

(b)          Written Questions: To receive any questions submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 18 November 2014.

(i)            Old Shoreham Road Cycle Lane

(c)          Deputations: To receive any deputations submitted by the due date of 12 noon on the 18 November 2014.

(a)          Petitions

Reduce speed limit on Holmes Avenue

58.1      The Committee considered a petition signed by 280 people requesting a reduction in the speed limit on Holmes Avenue to 20mph.

58.2      The Chair provided the following response:

“Thank you for your comments and concerns that I too share. Regrettably the report on a speed reduction on Holmes Avenue due to be considered at this meeting has been deferred”

58.3      RESOLVED- That the petition be noted.

(b)          Written Questions

Old Shoreham Road cycle lane

58.4      Linda Freedman presented the following question:

“Prior to the installation of the cycle lane in Old Shoreham Road, Hove the houses and gardens south of the road did not experience flooding. Since the cycle lane was installed the gardens, garages and homes are impacted by flooding any time there is substantial rainfall. What does the Council intend to do to stop this happening? How will the Council compensate those householders who have been impacted by the design flaws apparent in the cycle lane?”

58.5      The Chair provided the following reply:

“The pedestrian and cycle facilities were completed in June 2012 and were designed with awareness of existing flat topography of the area and historical surface drainage issues.  Designs therefore incorporated adequate surface water drainage gulleys.

Overall drainage capacity along Old Shoreham Road is determined by the existing surface water sewer rather than the number and location of individual gulleys.  In July 2014 73mm of rain fell on Brighton & Hove in 3 hours.  The usual monthly average at that time is 40mm. The city has had similar severe weather events in October 2014. It should be noted that on Old Shoreham Road the gullies connect to the Southern Water surface water sewer and in extreme events, such as those experienced in July and October of this year, the road drainage can only clear the water from the road as fast as the sewer allows. 

Radinden Manor and The Upper Drive are indicated as flow routes by the Environment Agency’s updated Flood Map for Surface Water.  The Highway Maintenance Manager and Flood Engineer have suggested that gullies along this route would benefit from a more frequent cleansing schedule and whilst all gulleys located on this section of Old Shoreham Road have been cleansed recently, we are looking at this.

Our contractors will also be instructed to increase the opening of existing side-inlet gulleys and put in an additional surface gulley adjacent to an existing surface gulley located outside no. 54 Old Shoreham Road.  Council contractors will aim to complete this work by Christmas 2014”.

58.6      Linda Freedman asked the following supplementary question:

“Why did the council opt for a raised curb in deference to a painted cycle lane on the existing road? Surely this would have been the cheapest option, offering identical protection for cyclists but would not have increased the flooding risk”

58.7      The Chair stated that he would provide a written response to the supplementary question.