Agenda item - Deputations from members of the public.

A list of deputations received by the due date of the 9 July 2009 will be circulated separately as part of an addendum at the meeting.

6.1           The Mayor reported that one Deputation had been received and invited Ms Howard as the spokesperson for the deputation to come forward and address the council.

6.2           Ms Howard thanked the Mayor and stated that:

“The issue of road safety in Chalky Road and Fox Way is one that presents an ongoing concern for many.  We do appreciate the measures that have already been put into place such as the flashing LED light and the 20mph zone but we feel that these need to be seen as a starting point which can be built on rather than a completed project. 

We hope that we have demonstrated both the need and the benefits of the provision of an additional ‘green man’ crossing system and we have many other ideas such as painting ‘20mph’ actually on to the road surface, adding railings at any crossing points and the removal of some pinch points that cause many problems rather than solves them.

We really feel that if we are going to promote sustainable transport from an early age within schemes such as healthy routes to school, bike it, walking buses, etc, the environment in which we are expecting people to travel needs to be made as safe and user friendly as possible.  I, as do many others within the local community, look forward to working with you all in order to make this happen.”

6.3           Councillor Geoffrey Theobald stated that “I am well aware of the situation in Chalky Road, indeed there was at least two petitions that came to my Cabinet Member Meeting from Councillor Alford and I think from a Councillor on that side drawing my attention to the situation, particularly after the very sad death of Henry. 

I went up to Chalky Road and I stood there with our Road Safety Officer and Councillor Alford for at least half an hour trying to consider what we could actually do in this situation.  I watched the movements, I watched the buses coming up and down, I watched people coming off the buses and at that time I think officers were thinking, well we are not sure that 20mph would really suit the situation but I was quite adamant here that I really did think the 20mph should be put in and I was very pleased when officers did that.  It is possible, you refer to the other accident, that the fact that this was 20mph may well have made that injury less severe than it was.

The problem here, and I am sure you recognise that, is what I have already alluded to that there are a number of desire lines and it all depends where the pedestrians cross the road.  It’s quite a long strip as you know and if you stand there you can see some pedestrians crossing the road at point A, others at point B, others at point C and others further along the road.  Now, that means that any formal crossing would probably only suit one set of people, the other sets of people because it wouldn’t be on their desire line wouldn’t use it, so that is the problem that we actually have here. 

Having said all that the Road Safety Team have been up there since this other accident.  They have reviewed the location and they are looking into this again to see whether there is anything that we can really do to alleviate the situation there, so I must just leave it at that particular stage, you know, what you are saying is well understood and I certainly sympathise with the situation there.  It’s just that there are so many desire lines there and buildings in different parts of the road that people wish to actually go to that makes it extremely difficult to know what you can do to alleviate the situation.”

6.4           The Mayor thanked Ms Howard for attending the meeting and speaking on behalf of the deputation.  She explained that the points had been noted and deputation would now be referred to the Environment Cabinet Member Meeting for consideration.  The persons forming the deputation would be invited to attend the meeting and would be informed subsequently of any action to be taken or proposed in relation to the matter set out in the deputation.