Agenda item - George Street - Opening hours to traffic

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

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves a consultation to businesses in George Street on whether their road should be open to traffic at 4pm all year rather than the current opening of 6pm between 1^st April and 31^st October. This will include a consultation letter to any interested groups.

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agrees that the results of the consultation be presented to a future Committee meeting to agree the way forward.

13.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing that outlined suggested next steps for George Street in response to a petition presented to the previous meeting on 17 March 2015.

13.2      Councillor Greenbaum stated that whilst she agreed to proceed with consultation, she was surprised that businesses and traders had made such a request as changes such as road closure had made a positive difference since being introduced.

13.3      Councillor West agreed that he found the request to be unwise noting that there was a lack of support for a similar consultation in 2011. Councillor West stated that he hoped the consultation could consider the wider area and could be broader than just businesses in the direct vicinity.

13.4      Councillor Atkinson stated his agreement with the comments made and that an earlier opening of traffic in George Street would be unpractical to the shopping environment.

13.5      Councillor Greenbaum asked if the word “businesses” could be removed from recommendation 2.1 to reflect the variety of users accessing George Street.

13.6      Councillor Mitchell noted that the recommendation was set out to reflect the request of the petition which the committee needed to address directly.

13.7      Councillor Barradell asked if people that used George Street would be consulted.

13.8      The Parking Infrastructure Manager stated that the previous consultation had contacted residents, business and interested groups and it was intended to repeat that process if the proposals were agreed.

13.9      Councillor West stated that no value would be achieved from just contacting businesses.

13.10   The Chair noted that the recommendations outlined that a consultation letter would also be sent to interested groups.

13.11   RESOLVED-

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves a consultation to businesses in George Street on whether their road should be open to traffic at 4pm all year rather than the current opening of 6pm between 1^st April and 31^st October. This will include a consultation letter to any interested groups.

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee agrees that the results of the consultation be presented to a future Committee meeting to agree the way forward.