Agenda item - Valley Gardens Proposed Design

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Agenda item

Valley Gardens Proposed Design

Report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture (copy attached).

Decision:

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes and accepts the outcome of the Independent Review of the project.

 

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the preliminary Highway Design as the Preferred Design/Scheme for Valley Gardens (Phase1 & 2), as set out in Appendix 2  and authorises officers to progress to the detailed Highway Technical Design stage, including preparation of Traffic Regulation Orders.

 

3)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee support ongoing design work for the public/green space and agrees to consider proposals, including those for the Mazda Fountain, at a future Committee meeting.

Minutes:

49.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director, Economy, Environment & Culture that set out the result of the Independent Review into the Valley Gardens project commissioned in June 2015, an overview of the project history, an update on the project following the Independent Review and the preferred design option and proposed next stages of the project.

 

49.2      Councillor Janio stated that there had been some delay in finalising proposals for Valley Gardens but he hoped the thorough consideration would bring substantial improvement to an important area of the city. Councillor Janio acknowledged that the scheme would be a major project and he felt it would be appropriate for a dedicated team and emergency helpline to be established to oversee the works and as a point of contact for reporting issues as there was potential for major delays in the city. Councillor Janio added that although there would be further detailed design, a clear solution for travel north of St Peter’s Church to Lewes Road was needed, specifically for buses. Councillor Janio stated that he did not think that there would be substantial ingress along the section of Gloucester Road, North Road and Gardener Street into the bus lanes and taxi lanes and was also an issue that required further discussion. Councillor Janio added that he would also welcome further overview on what the Intelligent Transport System (ITS) could deliver.

 

49.3      The Transport Planning Officer explained that there would be another year of detailed design work and effective management of the traffic network and a communication and engagement strategy during the building phase would develop as part of that work. The Transport Planning Officer stated that there was a commitment to specifically work with the bus company to find a solution for the transit issues north of St Peter’s Church on to Lewes Road throughout the detailed design stage to ensure as an effective scheme as possible was provided. The Transport Planning Officer supplemented that the number of loading bays on the west side of Valley Gardens had be established through the consultation and in discussions with local businesses but was also an element that could be given further discussion during the detailed design process.

 

49.4      Councillor Janio clarified that his query regarding ingresses was in relation to cars entering into the bus stream and how much local traffic would be allowed in.

 

49.5      The Transport Planning Officer answered that as part of the public transport corridor operation; cameras would be placed at strategic locations to monitor, manage and enforce vehicle movements throughout that corridor but would also allow access to properties and loading where necessary.

 

49.6      Councillor Janio stated that he hoped that area and access could be narrowed down as much as possible to minimise disruption.

 

49.7      Councillor Miller stated that he welcomed the report but did have some concerns and suggestions. Councillor Miller felt that the materials used should be to high quality in order to prevent the need for remedial or maintenance work such as the recent occurrence at the Seven Dials roundabout, that keep clear signs should be displayed at each major junction and noted his concern that vehicle breakdowns or vehicles stopping to load could serious disrupt traffic movement and lead to a single lane of traffic in and out of the city.

 

49.8      Councillor Greenbaum noted her support for the report and that the review had confirmed there were no major issues with the original scheme. Councillor Greenbaum stated her disappointment that the report had reduced its emphasis on the benefit for the scheme to create more green space and an appropriate entrance to the city and that did not seem in accord with its original principles. Councillor Greenbaum noted that Members had received an email from a member of the public with a useful 33 point analysis of the scheme and that it would be beneficial to Councillors to go through that with officers to establish whether each of those could be addressed.

 

49.9      The Chair noted that officers had been included in that email and she was sure the member of the public would receive a detailed response to that email.

 

49.10   Councillor Deane stated that it should be reiterated that the original intention of the Valley Gardens project was a substantial and necessary improvement to the public realm in the centre of the city rather than strictly a transport project. Councillor Deane noted that many residents in the areas surrounding the Valley Gardens area occupied properties with only very limited outdoor space and the Gardens would be an important public space to use and therefore it was important to retain the green space focus of the project. Councillor Deane stated that it was important to remember that the ultimate aim was for Valley Gardens to be a valuable green space to the benefit of all residents and visitors to the city and also to benefit all modes of travel, be it driving, walking or cycling.

 

49.11   Councillor Atkinson welcomed the report that he found demonstrated the sense in pausing for a review and the scheme had been enhanced for that. Councillor Atkinson noted the many areas of benefit relating to the scheme and the enhancement it would make as an accompaniment to the city’s major tourist attractions based in the locality.

 

49.12   Councillor Wares stated that he did share the concerns raised by other in relation to the single carriageway system and was an issue that would need a lot of work going forward. Councillor Wares asked for clarification on how reliant the revamp of Valley Gardens was to the wider issue of the introduction of ITS and whether it was inter-dependent on the wider transport network.

 

49.13   The Chair stated that the scheme itself would be traffic neutral but the impact on the surrounding network had been taken into consideration and officers were very aware of the effect upon the northern sections, particularly the London Road area. The Chair stated that from the discussion at the meeting, she was keenly aware of the need for an officer briefing on ITS and how that would benefit the flow of traffic in relation to this scheme but also the wider network.

 

49.14   The Assistant Director- City Transport explained that ITS was an integral part of how officers would look at the traffic network across the city but also in relation to Valley Gardens. The Assistant Director- City Transport stated that a report had been submitted to the committee in March 2016 that made reference to ITS and the bid that went forward to the Local Enterprise Partnership outlining the rational to obtain funding for the system. The modelling for Valley Gardens worked without ITS but the system would be further benefit to the management of traffic and briefings could be offered to each of the political groups.

 

49.15   Councillor Wares noted that cross-party agreement on the Valley Gardens project was important and asked the Chair of the Committee whether she could confirm that the project had the support and commitment from the Leader of the Council.

 

49.16   The Chair clarified that the Leader of the Council as well as her other group colleagues had expressed hesitation about the scheme in May 2015 and did want to see further information that the scheme would work from a highway perspective. Whilst she was in agreement with the points made by Councillors Deane and Greenbaum regarding the benefit of the public realm elements of the scheme, Valley Gardens represented the main arterial route into the city and ensuring smooth traffic flow was vitally important that would have the two-fold effective of making the Gardens somewhere people wanted to visit and stay. The Chair stated that she was now satisfied that the scheme was at the point where it could be recommended to the committee for progression and the Leader of the Council shared that view.

 

49.17   Councillor Theobald stated that he was pleased to hear the Leader of the Council’s support for the scheme as he had seen postings on social media that appeared to suggest otherwise. Councillor Theobald stated that he personally believed that the scheme had not changed very much following the review and that it was important to ensure that the scheme was traffic neutral and works were timed to ensure as minimum as possible disruption. Councillor Theobald stated it was very difficult to travel by car from the centre of the city to the A23 or A27 and the improvements should make that journey simpler. Councillor Theobald also expressed his hope that the improvements would encourage people to visit Valley Gardens as a public green space.

 

49.18   RESOLVED-

 

1)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee notes and accepts the outcome of the Independent Review of the project.

 

2)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee approves the preliminary Highway Design as the Preferred Design/Scheme for Valley Gardens (Phase1 & 2), as set out in Appendix 2  and authorises officers to progress to the detailed Highway Technical Design stage, including preparation of Traffic Regulation Orders.

 

3)           That the Environment, Transport & Sustainability Committee support ongoing design work for the public/green space and agrees to consider proposals, including those for the Mazda Fountain, at a future Committee meeting.

Supporting documents:

 


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