County Councillors:

 

D Brickhill, D Flude, A Moran, D J Newton, A Richardson and M J Simon

 

Borough Councillors

 

R A Bailey, J A Beech, M Campbell, D J Cannon, T R Dunlop, B H Dykes and

S W Hogben 

 

 

Cheshire County Council

Mr S Kent                 County Engineer

Mr D Heyes             Locality Manager

Mr R Welch             Senior Engineer - Traffic & Transportation Team

Ms L Gleave             Principal Policy and Projects Officer

 

Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council

Mrs C M Jones        Democratic Services Officer

 

County Councillor J Burke     Executive Member (Environment)  Cheshire County Council

Councillor J Lewis                Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council

 

1.            ELECTION OF CHAIR

 

RESOLVED:  That Borough Councillor R A Bailey be elected Chair for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

2.            ELECTION OF VICE-CHAIR

 

RESOLVED: That County Councillor D Brickhill be elected Vice-Chair for the ensuing Municipal Year.

 

3.            DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

 

No Member made any declaration of interest in any item of business on the agenda.

 

4.            MINUTES

 

RESOLVED:   That the Minutes of the meeting held on 10^th April 2006 be approved as a correct record.

 

5.            QUESTIONS BY ELECTORS AND PETITIONS

 

It was noted that there were no questions or petitions received from members of the public in accordance with the County Council's Standing Order No. 35, as adopted by the Local Joint Committee. However, County Councillor Flude who had received a petition on the day of the Committee, presented it to County Officers for action as appropriate.

 

6.             PROPOSED 40-MPH SPEED LIMIT ORDER, A534 WATELODE, NANTWICH

 

At its meeting on 18^th October 2004, the Local Joint Committee recommended that consideration be given to the introduction of a 30-mph speed limit on Waterlode between its junction with Welsh Row and High Street, Nantwich. 

 

The information report of the County Engineer now submitted, up-dated the Local Joint Committee on the current situation regarding the introduction of a speed limit at this location.

 

 

(Note:  In accordance with Standing Order No. 38 of Cheshire County Council's Standing Orders, County Councillor J Burke and Borough Councillor J Lewis, spoke on this item with the permission of the Chair.)

 

7.            BUS STOP (A500) NEWCASTLE ROAD, WILLASTON (REF CR334)

 

At the previous meeting, Members considered issues which had been raised regarding the safety of the location of the bus stop on Newcastle Road, Willaston, adjacent to the Horseshoe Public House.  The Local Joint Committee had resolved that the bus stop be relocated to the East of its existing site, in the Shavington direction.

 

Subsequent to the meeting, a site visit and safety audit had been carried out to identify an appropriate site for the new bus stop.  Consultation had also been undertaken with local residents.  The closing date for receipt of comments was 30^th June, and it was reported to the meeting that no objections had been received.

 

The report of the County Engineer identified the proposed re-location of the bus stop.

 

RESOLVED:  That the bus stop be implemented, as detailed in Drawing No. DR/CR334/05/01 attached to the report submitted.

 

8.           TRAFFIC ISSUES A51, LONDON ROAD, STAPELEY

          

A request, in the form of a petition, had been received from the residents of London Road, Stapeley for traffic management measures along this road.    The petitioners had requested road surfacing improvements, a speed limit supported by speed cameras and "access only" to vehicles whose weight was in excess of 7.5 tonnes.

 

The report of the County Engineer set out the residents' concerns and explained the County Council's policy in respect of speed limits.

 

 

9.          TRAFFIC ISSUES LORD STREET, CREWE

 

A request, in the form of a petition, had been received from residents of Lord Street, Crewe for the carriageway to be widened to ease traffic flow.

 

The report of the County Engineer set out the residents' concerns. 

 

 

                     (b) That Bedford Street, and other streets, where similar problems prevailed be included in those discussions; and

 

                     (c) That a report be submitted to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

(Note:   During discussion, Councillor M J Simon declared a personal interest in the item on the basis that she was a Member of the Fire Authority.)

 

10.         OBJECTIONS: PROPOSED "PROHIBITION OF DRIVING", BODEN  DRIVE, WILLASTON

 

At its meeting on 18^th October 2004, the Local Joint Committee resolved to advertise the intention to make an Order, the effect of which would be to prohibit the driving of motor vehicles over a 2-metre length of Boden Drive, Willaston.   The proposal had been advertised and objections had been received.

                       

The report of the County Engineer provided the background to the proposal, details of the objections, and invited the Committee to resolve that the objections be not sustained.

 

RESOLVED:  (a) That the objections be not sustained; and

 

                     (b) That the Order be made under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, the effect of which would be to prohibit the driving of motor vehicles on the following length of road

Over two metre length across Boden Drive, Willaston at the dividing line of 32 and 34 Boden Drive, Willaston

           

11.        PROPOSED PEDESTRIAN CROSSING, MIDDLEWICH STREET,  CREWE

 

Funding had been allocated from the "Safer Routes to School" budget for 2006/2007 to install a pedestrian crossing on Middlewich Street, Crewe.

 

The report of the County Engineer gave details of the proposed location of the pedestrian crossing.   It had not yet been determined whether the crossing would be a Zebra or a Puffin facility; this would be dependent on design, the safety audit and consultation with any affected "frontagers". 

 

RESOLVED: That, when the appropriate type of pedestrian-crossing facility had been determined, public notice be given, under Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, of the intention to install a pedestrian-crossing facility which would either be a Puffin or Zebra crossing at Middlewich Street, Crewe.

 

12.       MERRILL'S BRIDGE CLOSURE, CREWE (FOR INFORMATION)

 

At its meeting on 10^th April 2006, Members expressed concern about the proposed diversion route during the closure of West Street, whilst work was being undertaken on Merrill's Bridge from July 2006 to February 2007.

 

The information report of the County Engineer gave details of diversionary routes and other amelioration measures during closure for the necessary works.

 

13.        A500 CHEERBROOK ROUNDABOUT TO MEREMOOR MOSS  ROUNDABOUT

 

At its meeting on 5^th April 2004, the Local Joint Committee supported the proposed de-trunking of two contiguous lengths of road, as identified in the report of the County Engineer now submitted.

 

The County Council became responsible for these lengths of road in 2003/2004.  During negotiations relating to its de-trunking, the County Council had raised concerns about the long-term maintenance liabilities relating to the recently completed section of the A500. This matter was due to be raised in the near future with the Department for Transport following which more detailed discussions would be held with a view to obtaining funding for the works.

           

14.         PROJECT PROGRESS REPORTS

 

The Local Joint Committee received for information the report of the County Engineer which detailed progress on highway schemes to be carried out within the Borough during 2006/2007 and Traffic Regulation Orders proposed by the Local Joint Committee which had not yet been made.

           

15.       DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

            30^th October 2006