Issue - items at meetings - North Street Mixed Priority Route (MPR) Road Safety Scheme

Report of the Director of Environment (copy attached).

1.     That a preferred scheme for Stage Two of the North Street Mixed Priority Route (MPR) scheme be approved as detailed in Appendix A which included:

a)    The creation of a high quality public space at the Clock Tower/Quadrant for pedestrians;

b)    Making Ship Street one way southbound only from its junction with North Street to its junction with Duke Street; and

c)     Retention of the North Street/East Street mini roundabout junction.

2.     That the detailed design together with the advertising of orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in respect of elements of the preferred scheme be authorised.

3.     That the Director of Environment be authorised to implement Stage Two of the MPR scheme in the 2008/9 financial year, within the budget available, subject to the satisfactory resolution to any representations received following the advertisement of the Traffic Orders.

32.1       The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Director of Environment concerning a preferred scheme for stage two of the North Street Mixed Priority Route (MPR) Road Safety Scheme (for copy see minute book).

32.2       Councillor Davey had declared a personal but non-prejudicial interest in this report.

32.3       The Cabinet Member stated that this was the second stage of an important and innovative scheme aimed primarily at casualty reduction and urban realm improvements. The council was delivering this project in partnership with the Department for Transport, the Police and the Bus Company. The scheme combined targeted road safety engineering measures with a high profile education campaign.

32.4       Councillor Mitchell stated that funding from the Government for this scheme presented an opportunity to make the area safer for all users. She supported the retention of the mini-roundabout at the North Street/East Street junction and making the Quadrant (Clock Tower) a space for pedestrians only for the reasons highlighted in the safety audit. She did not support the recommendations for Ship Street, but instead supported Option 1 in the original consultation including the approval of two-way cycling, but for implementation to be delayed until current utilities works had been completed.

32.5       The Assistant Director for Sustainable Transport stated that to implement Option 1 would bring further disruption to traffic in the city, which is currently suffering from high levels of congestion as a result of the works being carried out. The recommendations in the report look to the future and would reduce traffic and accidents. Option 1 could be considered at a later date when current works have been completed.

32.6       Councillor Davey stated that the recommendations in the report did not take into account the results of the consultation, particularly in relation to the Quadrant, and that the pledge to consider two-way cycling in Ship Street did not go far enough. He supported Option 1 for Ship Street.

32.7       The Assistant Director for Sustainable Transport stated that the Council could not ignore the recommendations of the safety audit regarding the Quadrant and that the proposals regarding cycling in Ship Street had not been finalised.

32.8       The Cabinet Member stated that she had listened to the views expressed, but that the recommendations in the report represented the best option for the city.

32.9       RESOLVED – That having considered the information and the reasons set out in the report, the Cabinet Member accepted the following recommendations:

(1)       That a preferred scheme for Stage Two of the North Street Mixed Priority Route (MPR) scheme be approved as detailed in Appendix A which included:

a)    The creation of a high quality public space at the Clock Tower/Quadrant for pedestrians;

b)    Making Ship Street one way southbound only from its junction with North Street to its junction with Duke Street; and

c)     Retention of the North Street/East Street mini roundabout junction.

(2)       That the detailed design together with the advertising of orders under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 in respect of elements of the preferred scheme be authorised.

(3)       That the Director of Environment be authorised to implement Stage Two of the MPR scheme in the 2008/9 financial year, within the budget available, subject to the satisfactory resolution to any representations received following the advertisement of the Traffic Orders.