Agenda item - Items referred from Council

To consider items referred from the last meeting of Full Council held on 7 April 2022:

 

(a)          Petitions

 

(1)          Keep the permanent street closure on Queens Park Rise

(2)          Bankside Imposition

(3)          Keep the permanent closure by Brunswick School, on Somerhill Road

(4)          Traffic Gridlock Hove Park

(5)          Ditchling Road/Coldean Lane Traffic Control

(6)          Save Our Starlings

(7)          Remove the Old Shoreham Road from the local cycling plan and do not build any cycling infrastructure along this route

(8)          Permanent Well-Planned and High-Quality Cycle Lanes for the Old Shoreham Road

(9)          Petition for a proper pedestrian crossing, signage and improved road layout at Hangleton Way Schools Zone

 

(b)          Deputations

 

(1)          Request for design improvements to Church Road - for inclusion in LPT 5 as an exemplar of sustainable transport solutions in an urban area

(2)          West Blatchington Primary Pedestrian Crossing

(A)          Petitions

 

1)             Keep the permanent street closure on Queens Park Rise

 

6.1          The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council that requested the retention of  the current permanent street closure on Queens Park Rise at its junction with Queens Park Terrace, as part of the School Streets Scheme.

 

6.2          The Chair provided the following response:

 

“School Streets offers a solution to many of the issues that schools and residents have experienced over many years including idling, double parking and dangerous driving at drop off and pick up times. The reduced traffic and reallocation of road space made available by School Streets closures also encourages people to make the school journey using sustainable modes such as cycling, walking and scooting.

The permanent closure at the bottom of Queen’s Park Rise was implemented in the Covid-19 pandemic as part of the Emergency School Streets programme. It was done so on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order on a trial basis and as a way to alleviate some of the pressure on volunteers and school staff who had been operating the closure at both ends of the road, using temporary barriers.

Following the trial period, officers recommended that the School Street closure be reverted to a timed closure which is operational during school drop off and pick up times. This was based on concerns about road safety due to the lack of adequate turning space for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other vehicles turning on Queen’s Park Rise.

As the recommendation to revert the measures was approved by the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 21 September 2021, the Traffic Regulation Order to revert the permanent measures and reinstate temporary, timed restrictions was sealed.

This has enabled the primary benefits of School Streets to be realised, as traffic is reduced at peak times while allowing the road to be open to through traffic the remainder of the time. The permanent filter has since been replaced with retractable bollards at one end and a gate at the other, providing physical barriers during drop off and pick up times to restricted vehicles while ensuring access at all times to those that are exempt.

We are committed to delivering School Streets closures to all eligible schools in the city and as the first School Street in the city, St Luke’s has been an excellent example of the difference School Streets can make to the school journey.

Officers will continue to monitor the closure and we are grateful for the continued support of volunteers, school staff and the local community”.

 

6.3          Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

2)             Bankside Imposition

 

6.4          The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting the council to revise the "School Streets" initiative proposed for Westdene.

 

6.5          The Chair provided the following response:

 

“As a ward Councillor, I have been closely engaged in the development and design for a School Street at Westdene Primary School.

Like many schools in the city, Westdene School has faced ongoing problems with road safety issues stemming from increased traffic, dangerous driving and illegal parking at school drop off and pick up times. An informal queuing system has been in place on Bankside for many years and concerns about road safety around Westdene School have been longstanding and raised by local residents, parents and the school as well as by Councillors.

The proposed design for the School Street at Westdene, which focuses on measures to be introduced on Bankside and the section of Barn Rise where there are school entrances, was consulted on at the end of last year. 260 people responded to the Westdene consultation, with over 75% respondents in support of the principle of school streets and over 70% in support of the proposed design. In addition to the consultation, we have also welcomed and accepted stakeholder feedback from other (means) –and are grateful to submissions by resident and local forums.

Since the consultation, officers have been working to incorporate improvements to the design based on the feedback provided. Ahead of implementation, traffic monitoring has also been carried out, which will provide baseline of data to help measure impacts when the scheme is in place. As a result of the concerns raised about the proposed scheme at Westdene, we will also be implementing the scheme on an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order which will allow us to monitor the impact of the scheme in situ. It will also provide a further opportunity for residents and members of the school community to have their say on the scheme, and any adjustments can then be made if necessary.

We are committed to supporting schools in the city to address longstanding issues and create safer journeys to school, that also encourage sustainable, active travel modes which contribute to children’s health and wellbeing and reduce emissions from vehicles”.

 

6.6          Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

3)             Keep the permanent closure by Brunswick school, on Somerhill road

 

6.7          The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting that the permanent closure by Brunswick school, on Somerhill Road be kept in place.

 

6.8          The Chair provided the following response:

 

“School Streets offers a solution to many of the issues that schools and residents have experienced over many years including idling, double parking and dangerous driving at drop off and pick up times. The reduced traffic and reallocation of road space made available by School Streets closures also encourages people to make the school journey using sustainable modes such as cycling, walking and scooting.

As you will be aware, the School Streets closure at Brunswick Primary School on Somerhill Road was introduced as part of the council’s urgency response in the Covid-19 pandemic, which had the additional aim of supporting social distancing at drop off and pick up times. Infrastructure was implemented on Somerhill Road in March 2021 to support the sustainability of the closure and reduce the pressure on volunteers and schools to operate the closure at both ends of the road.

In September 2021, a report was presented to the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on the School Streets closures trialled through the emergency programme, including the one at Brunswick Primary School. It was recommended by officers that the permanent closure at one end of Somerhill Road was reverted to timed, temporary restrictions. The decision to remove the permanent filter, while maintaining the timed School Streets closure, was informed by the trial of the closure and concerns about road safety due to the lack of adequate turning space for Heavy Goods Vehicles (HGVs) and other vehicles on Somerhill Road. As the recommendation to revert the measures was approved by the council’s Environment, Transport and Sustainability Committee on 21 September 2021, the Traffic Regulation Order to revert the permanent measures and reinstate temporary, timed restrictions was sealed.

This has enabled the primary benefits of School Streets to be realised, as traffic is reduced at peak times while allowing the road to be open to through traffic the remainder of the time. The permanent filter has since been replaced with retractable bollards at one end and a gate at the other, which are operated by volunteers. These measures provide physical barriers to the road that prevent motor vehicles from entering during drop off and pick up times, while ensuring access at all times to those that are exempt.

We understand that the decision will be disappointing for some residents, as the permanent closure offered wider benefits including a reduction in overall traffic levels on Somerhill Road beyond school drop off and pick up times.

Officers will continue to monitor the closure and we are grateful for the continued support of volunteers, school staff and the local community”.

 

6.9          Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

4)             Traffic Gridlock Hove Park

 

6.10      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting it review the road network in Hove Park Ward and bring forward proposals to reduce congestion.

 

6.11      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“Thank you for your petition. Our city is an attractive place to live and work and that generates a lot of regular, local, and longer distance commuter and visitor trips on a daily basis. The congestion that can occur as a result of this in some areas or on strategic routes can be caused by many factors, but it is primarily a problem that is caused by too many vehicles using the city’s limited road space and in some cases, certain roads are not suitable for the levels or type of traffic using them.

The proximity of Hove Park ward to the bypass means there is a combination of local and longer distance journeys using certain routes. Tackling the congestion that arises from these journeys can be done in a number of ways but the main one is to reduce people’s overall need to travel and encourage and enable people to switch to other forms of transport for certain journeys. This will create space for essential vehicle trips and reduce delays, which in turn will help create cleaner, healthier, and attractive neighbourhoods.

You have mentioned development and main roads. We know that this can cause concerns, but we need to ensure that the city can grow sustainably. The recent planning application for the allocated Toad’s Hole Valley site in the City Plan was thoroughly discussed and considered before it was agreed by the Planning Committee last month. The development will provide homes for local people which we desperately need, as well as providing local employment and other community uses.

The associated sustainable transport and highway strategy for the site had been comprehensively assessed and included independent checks on traffic modelling for a number of routes, and the safety of proposed junction designs. The overall package will mitigate identified impacts, with active travel improvements for people walking and cycling (including BikeShare provision), funding for a new/enhanced bus service, new junctions, access to car club vehicles, and a Travel Plan which will increase the use of sustainable transport for local journeys.

We also have a report today about a Low Traffic Neighbourhood for the Hanover & Tarner area that is being developed with residents and stakeholders in response to an initial request from within the local community to create a more liveable neighbourhood. If you think this is something that may help to address local issues then it would be helpful to hear from you, as this is something that could be considered as part of a new process that is being developed to assess requests for such measures. The assessment framework itself will be reported to this committee later in the year”.

 

6.12      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

5)             Ditchling Road/Coldean Lane Traffic Control

 

6.13      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting the council to install traffic lights on the junction between Ditchling Road and Coldean Lane to reduce congestion and improve safety.

 

6.14      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“Thank you for your petition. I do appreciate your concerns as this junction is busy during peak times and has some challenges in the layout with conflicting movements and gradients. The safety record has been checked and it currently does not suffer from crashes occuring. Traffic signal controlled junctions, where used, require significant design and operation to ensure they will be safer and more efficient than the existing arrangements. Given the layout of the T-junction, topography, gradient and lack of available roadspace or adjacent land to widen the junction to create the requisite sight lines it would be technically challenging and costly to create the necessary infrastructure to install traffic signals here. However, the site will be reviewed to see if any other measures might help with the difficulties in negotiating the junction and the safety record monitored.

Further to this National Highways have just informed us that we have been successful in our bid for a feasibility study on the Access for All project. This will involve scoping improvements for pedestrians and cyclists crossing the Ditchling Rd / Coldean Lane junction over the A27 (as well as multi—user paths from the city out to Ditchling Beacon and Devil’s Dyke). Cityparks will be working closely with the Transport Team on possible solutions”.

 

6.15      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

6)             Save our Starlings

 

6.16      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting the council to implement an outright ban on chemical fertilisers, herbicides, pesticides, fungicides and worming treatments across our entire City Downland Estate to improve the local starling population.

 

6.17      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“Thank you for your petition on such an important matter.

We have already phased out pesticide use on all public land looked after by our environment and housing teams, except for high-risk invasive species with no effective alternative.  We have also worked with the you to find locations for 100 starling boxes.

However, we are keen to increase the biodiversity of plants and wildlife in our city, as we know we need to support our declining insect population.

Lots of this work is underway:

We’ve introduced a new wildflower meadow and 37,000 new plants in the city centre.

 

Near the marina we have created a new wildlife site that will become home to butterflies, bees, birds and other small insects to help to enrich biodiversity.

We have installed a number of bee banks, and our flower seeding work along the Lewes Road and elsewhere in the city is both popular with residents and great for biodiversity.

Through our City Downland Estate Plan we will be promoting biodiversity, restored rich chalk grassland landscapes and natural farming.

We are continuing to look at what other measures we may be able to take”.

 

6.18      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

7)             Remove the Old Shoreham Road from the local cycling plan and do not build any cycling infrastructure along this route

 

6.19      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting the council to remove the Old Shoreham Road from the local cycling plan and do not build any cycling infrastructure along this route.

 

6.20      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“At March 2022 ETS Committee it was agreed the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) was used as a basis for the strategic planning of active travel network improvements in the city over the next ten years.

Work on Brighton & Hove’s LCWIP has been progressed over the last three years, involving stakeholder and public engagement and consultation.

The LCWIP will be used as a basis for planning for improvements over the next ten years, and projects will be subject to full design and consultation when taken forward from the plan in future. Old Shoreham Road scheme was included in this approved plan alongside other priorities for the City. Should any proposal for a cycle lane on Old Shoreham Road come forward and funding become available it will be subject to full public consultation and agreement by the ETS Committee”.

 

6.21      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

8)             Permanent Well-Planned and High-Quality Cycle Lanes for the Old Shoreham Road

 

6.22      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting the council to install well-planned and high-quality permanent cycle lanes on the Old Shoreham Road.

 

6.23      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“At March 2022 ETS Committee it was agreed the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP) was used as a basis for the strategic planning of active travel network improvements in the city over the next ten years.

Work on Brighton & Hove’s LCWIP has been progressed over the last three years, involving stakeholder and public engagement and consultation.

The LCWIP will be used as a basis for planning for improvements over the next ten years, and projects will be subject to full design and consultation when taken forward from the plan in future. Old Shoreham Road scheme was included in this approved plan alongside other priorities for the city. Once funding is available schemes will be consulted upon”.

 

6.24      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

9)             Petition for a proper pedestrian crossing, signage and improved road layout at Hangleton Way Schools Zone

 

6.25      The Committee considered a petition referred from Full Council requesting road safety improvements on Hangleton Way.

 

6.26      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“Consultation for the Safer Routes to School scheme was undertaken between September and October 2018 with proposals available online and in physical format. Summary results of this consultation were presented to the Environment, Transport, and Sustainability (ETS) Committee in November 2018 as part of the report “Hangleton Safer Routes to School Scheme”.

This scheme was then further subjected to extensive public consultation during the construction of Kings School with the schools, residents and ward councillors.

Officers have recently undertaken a site inspection of the signage arrangements. There are currently two advance warning signs situated either side of the school entrance with bright flashing LED lights that are illuminated during school pick up and drop off times that officers consider are effective and safe. By limiting the times these signs are illuminated ensures that drivers do not become too accustomed to seeing them, particularly outside these hours, so will pay more attention when they are needed. This is a common safety feature at approaches to schools.

The lining has also been assessed and it is considered by officers that the zig zag markings are set out in prescribed lengths that comply with legal requirements under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. This legislation allows Highway Authorities to place signs and markings on roads but they must conform to the specifications laid out in this publication.

Finally, the crossing provided has been specifically designed for this location, on a raised table so acts as a traffic calming measure and is coloured red as a clear sign to drivers to expect something different in this area. The red surfacing is commonly management schemes.

We must assess any location before a light signalled controlled crossing can even be considered. A controlled crossing of this nature that is used infrequently can actually make the crossing dangerous during the times that it is generally not used as drivers become accustomed to not having to stop at these times and on the rare occasion it is used drivers are not expecting this and the result is potentially disastrous.

To determine the frequency of potential crossing usage throughout the day in school-term time, officers will be undertaking a survey in the coming weeks, the results of this survey will be reported to the ETS Committee along with other pedestrian crossing requests later this year. Additionally, the site is also being assessed to see whether a School Crossing Patrol Officer may be required”.

 

6.27      Resolved- That the Committee note the petition.

 

(B)          Deputations

 

1)             Request for design improvements to Church Road - for inclusion in LPT 5 as an exemplar of sustainable transport solutions in an urban area

 

6.28      The Committee considered a deputation referred from Full Council requesting public realm design improvements for Church Road between Western Road and Sackville Road.

 

6.29      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“The Church Road / New Church Road / Western Road corridor is identified as a high priority strategic route in the Local Cycling and Walking Infrastructure Plan (LCWIP), which was approved by this committee in March 2021.

While there are current improvements planned for Western Road, the rest of the route is currently unfunded and officers are working to identify funding for this and other priority routes in the LCWIP”.

 

6.30      Councillor Nemeth moved a motion to request an officer report on the matter.

 

6.31      Councillor Clare formally seconded the motion.

 

6.32      The Chair put the motion to the vote that passed.

 

6.33      Resolved- That the Committee receive a report to a future meeting responding to the deputation request.

 

2)             Hangleton Way Pedestrian Crossing

 

6.34      The Committee considered a deputation referred from Full Council requesting a pedestrian crossing on Hangleton Way.

 

6.35      The Chair provided the following response:

 

“Consultation for the Safer Routes to School scheme was undertaken between September and October 2018 with proposals available online and in physical format. Summary results of this consultation were presented to the Environment, Transport, and Sustainability (ETS) Committee in November 2018 as part of the report “Hangleton Safer Routes to School Scheme”.

This scheme was then further subjected to extensive public consultation during the construction of Kings School with the schools, residents and ward councillors.

Officers have recently undertaken a site inspection of the signage arrangements. There are currently two advance warning signs situated either side of the school entrance with bright flashing LED lights that are illuminated during school pick up and drop off times that officers consider are effective and safe. By limiting the times these signs are illuminated ensures that drivers do not become too accustomed to seeing them, particularly outside these hours, so will pay more attention when they are needed. This is a common safety feature at approaches to schools.

The lining has also been assessed and it is considered by officers that the zig zag markings are set out in prescribed lengths that comply with legal requirements under the Traffic Signs Regulations and General Directions 2016. This legislation allows Highway Authorities to place signs and markings on roads but they must conform to the specifications laid out in this publication.

Finally, the crossing provided has been specifically designed for this location, on a raised table so acts as a traffic calming measure and is coloured red as a clear sign to drivers to expect something different in this area. The red surfacing is commonly used to indicate a hazard and is used by many Highway Authorities as part of traffic management schemes.

We must assess any location before a light signalled controlled crossing can even be considered. A controlled crossing of this nature that is used infrequently can actually make the crossing dangerous during the times that it is generally not used as drivers become accustomed to not having to stop at these times and on the rare occasion it is used drivers are not expecting this and the result is potentially disastrous.

To determine the frequency of potential crossing usage throughout the day in school-term time, officers will be undertaking a survey in the coming weeks, the results of this survey will be reported to the ETS Committee along with other pedestrian crossing requests later this year. Additionally, the site is also being assessed to see whether a School Crossing Patrol Officer may be required”.

 

6.36      Resolved- That the Committee note the deputation.