HTLJC 301006

HIGHWAYS AND TRANSPORTATION LOCAL JOINT COMMITTEE

30^TH OCTOBER 2006

PRESENT:

Borough Councillor R A Bailey; Chair

County Councillors: D Flude, A Moran, D J Newton, P Nurse, A Richardson and M J Simon

Borough Councillors: J A Beech, M Campbell, D J Cannon, T R Dunlop, D J Straine-Francis and S W Hogben

OFFICERS IN ATTENDANCE:

Cheshire County Council

Mr M Cairns Team Leader, Policies and Studies

Mr D Heyes Locality Manager

Mr R Welch Area Traffic Engineer

Mr R Williams Area Maintenance Engineer

Crewe & Nantwich Borough Council

Mrs C M Jones Democratic Services Officer

Mr D Marren Executive Director – Direct Services

ALSO IN ATTENDANCE:

Councillor W S Davies Chair – Bickerton & Egerton Parish Council

Dr R Gibson Chair – Bulkeley & Ridley Parish Council

16. COUNTY COUNCILLOR BRICKHILL

The Chair reported, with regret, the sad death of Marie Brickhill, Councillor Brickhill’s wife, who had died recently whilst they were both on holiday. Members expressed their condolences on Councillor Brickhill’s sad loss.

17. DECLARATION OF INTERESTS

No Member made any declaration of interest in any item of business on the agenda at this point in the meeting.

18. MINUTES

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

19. 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.

20. LOCAL JOINT COMMITTEE – AGENDA ITEMS PROCEDURESTANDING ORDER NO. 34 (APPENDIX 7) – CHESHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL’S CONSTITUTION

At the previous meeting, the Local Joint Committee had asked for information in respect of the facility for Members to request items for inclusion on agendas of the Local Joint Committee.

The report of the County Engineer, which explained the procedure, was submitted for information.

21. TRAFFIC ISSUES – LORD STREET, CREWE

At its meeting on 10^th July 2006, the Local Joint Committee considered the report of the County Engineer, following receipt of a petition from residents of Lord Street, Crewe who had asked the County Council to consider widening the road to facilitate the access of emergency vehicles. The request had been prompted by a fire incident during which emergency vehicles had experienced some access difficulties.

The report of the County Engineer, now submitted, up-dated Members on discussions which had taken place with the emergency services regarding the issues raised. Improvements to the street-names were proposed to identify house numbers and the Local Joint Committee was asked to support the proposals and take no further action other than to monitor the effects in co-operation with the Fire Service.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Local Joint Committee support the improvements to the street-naming in the vicinity of Lord Street, Crewe; and

(b) That no further action be taken, other than monitoring the effects in co-operation with the Fire Service.

22. DE-CRIMINALISATION PARKING ENFORCEMENT – BUS LANES AND CONTRAVENTION CODES

At its meeting held on 17^th October 2005, the Local Joint Committee considered the principles of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE), as approved by the County Members Steering Group. The Committee resolved that the issues be submitted to the County Council’s Executive Member and Cheshire County Council’s Cabinet for approval. The recommendations were considered and approved by the County Council’s Environment Strategy Panel on 17^th November 2005 and the Environment Executive Member on 28^th November 2005.

Subsequently, a draft application for DPE powers had been submitted to the Department for Transport.

The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to make recommendations to the County Council in respect of decriminalised parking enforcement powers.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the County Council indicate, in its full application for Decriminalised Parking Enforcement powers, an interest in bus lane enforcement, subject to further consideration of financial and operational issues; and

(b) That the County Council be recommended to adopt the Contravention Codes shown in the appendix to the report.

23. TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDERS - DE-CRIMINALISATION

The report of the County Engineer proposed changes to certain existing Traffic Regulation Orders which were no longer of use in their present form. To ease enforcement, discussions had taken place with the emergency services in respect of the proposed changes and no objections had been raised.

The Local Joint Committee was asked to support the changes and grant authority to advertise the intention to implement the “Prohibition of Waiting” restrictions at the locations detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the Local Joint Committee support the changes to the existing Traffic Regulation Orders in Section 2.0 of the report;

(b) That the name “Broadways” be substituted for “Churchfields” on page 29 of the agenda; and

(c) That authority be granted to advertise the intention to implement the “Prohibition of Waiting” restrictions and if no objections were received the Orders be made.

24. PETITION: MAIN ROAD/CEMETERY ROAD, WESTON

A request, in the form of a petition, had been received concerning Cemetery Road and Main Road, Weston. The petition had been received via Borough Councillor Maureen Campbell.

The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to note the concerns and request that an investigation of the issues be carried out and the results reported to a future meeting.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the concerns of parents and residents be noted;

(b) That an investigation of the issues be carried out and the results reported to the next meeting of this Committee; and

(c) That Officers liaise with the police for the installation of a temporary Speed Indicating Device in Weston, as soon as practicable.

25. PETITION: REQUEST FOR ON-HIGHWAY RESIDENTS PARKING BARKER STREET AND LOVE LANE, NANTWICH

A request in the form of a petition has been received from the residents of Barker Street and Love Lane, Nantwich for the provision of on-highway residents parking.

The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to note the concerns and inform the petitioners that there was currently no policy for the implementation of on-highway residents parking schemes.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the concerns of the residents be noted; and

(b) That petitioners be informed that there was currently no policy for the implementation of on-highway residents’ parking schemes.

26. PETITION: REQUEST FOR ONE-WAY SYSTEM, WISTASTON ROAD, CREWE

A request in the form of a petition had been received from the residents of Wistaston Road, Crewe for the immediate consideration of a one-way system.

The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to note the concerns and resolve that no action be taken in respect of the implementation of a one-way system, as detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

(a) That the concerns of the residents be noted; and

(b) That no action be taken to implement a one-way system incorporating Wistaston Road, Crewe and Alton Street, Crewe.

27. PROPOSED 50 MPH AND 40 MPH SPEED LIMIT, A534, WREXHAM ROAD, BULKELEY AND BICKERTON

The A534 within the Chester area (East of the A41) had been selected for a speed limit review by the Local Joint Committee for the Chester area. It seemed appropriate that the review should be carried out as a route approach between the A41 Broxton roundabout and A49 at Ridley.

The report of the County Engineer indicated the outcome of the assessment and requested authorisation to advertise the necessary Speed Limit Order.

RESOLVED:

(a) That authority be granted to give public notice of the intention to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which would be to:

i) impose a speed limit of 50 mph along that length of the A534 Wrexham Road in the Parish of Bickerton from the District boundary eastwards to a point 125 metres west of Stone House Lane;

ii) impose a speed limit of 40 mph along that length of the A534 Wrexham Road in the Parishes of Bulkeley and Bickerton from a point 125 metres west of Stone House Lane to a point 170 metres east of Cholmondeley Lane: and

(b) That, if no objections were received, the Order be made.

(Note: Councillor W S Davies, Chair of Bickerton and Egerton Parish Council, spoke on the item in accordance with Standing Order No. 40.)

28. REQUESTS FOR A 7.5 TONNES WEIGHT LIMIT, EXCEPT FOR ACCESS, MAIN ROAD AND SNAPE LANE, WESTON

Following requests from Weston Parish Council and the local Borough and County Members, initial consultation has taken place concerning the possibility of introducing a 7.5 tonnes environmental weight limit, except for access, on Main Road and Snape Lane, Weston.

The report of the County Engineer (12) gives details of the proposal and invites the Local Joint Committee to authorise further traffic surveys and assessments, with a report being submitted to a future meeting, together with an examination of the feasibility of an environmental weight restriction on Englesea Brook Lane and Barthomley Road.

RESOLVED:

(a) That further traffic surveys and assessments be carried out to determine the numbers and future numbers of Heavy Commercial Vehicles using Main Road, Weston and that the results be reported to a future meeting of this Committee; and

(b) That the feasibility of an environmental weight restriction on Englesea Brook Lane and Barthomley Road be considered and that a report be submitted to a future meeting of this Committee.

29. HASLINGTON TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT PROJECT - PROPOSED 20 MPH SPEED LIMITS AND ZEBRA CROSSING

At its meeting on 17^th October 2005, the Local Joint Committee considered a report which indicated the work to be carried out as part of the Haslington Traffic Management Project.

The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to grant authority to give public notice of the intention to carry out the proposals as detailed in the report.

RESOLVED:

(a) That authority be granted to give public notice of the intention to make an Order under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 the effect of which would be to impose 20 mph speed limit on the lengths of roads described in section 2.1 of the report submitted;

(b) That authority be granted to give public notice of the proposal to install a Zebra crossing as described in section 2.3 of the report; and

30. OBJECTIONS TO PROPOSED TRAFFIC ORDERS

The report of the County Engineer gave details of objections raised in respect of Traffic Orders advertised for –

- 40 mph Speed Limit Order, Chester Road, Acton

- Proposed “Prohibition of Waiting” Marshfield Bank, Crewe

- Proposed “Prohibition of Waiting” Coppicemere Drive, Electra Way, Mallard Way, Westmere Drive, Crewe

RESOLVED:

(a) That the objections to the proposed 40 mph speed limit on Chester Road, Acton be not sustained and the speed limit be made as advertised;

(b) That the objections to the proposed “Prohibition of Waiting” Order, Marshfield Bank, Crewe, be not sustained and the Order be made as advertised; and

(c) That further consultation and investigation be carried out in respect of the proposed “Prohibition of Waiting” Order, Coppicemere Drive/Electra Way/Mallard Way/Westmere Drive, Crewe and the results be reported back to a future meeting.

31. TRAFFIC-CALMING MEASURES: LANGLEY DRIVE AND BLUNSTONE CLOSE, CREWE

(Note: At this point in the proceedings, County Councillor D Flude declared a personal and prejudicial interest in this item on the basis that her son was a resident of Blunstone Close, and she withdrew from the meeting.)

Planning permission for the creation of Langley Drive and Blunstone Close, Crewe included a requirement for traffic-calming. At its meeting on 26^th January 2004, the Local Joint Committee considered the results of a consultation exercise. An objection to the proposals had been was raised by the Fire Service during the consultation and further information had been requested by Members.

The report of the County Engineer, now submitted, recommended that no action be taken to install traffic-calming on Blunstone Close and Langley Avenue, and that a mini-roundabout be installed at the junction of Blunstone Close with Langley Avenue.

RESOLVED:

(a) That a system of traffic-calming be not installed on Blunstone Close and Langley Avenue;

(b) That a mini-roundabout be installed at the junction of Blunstone Close and Langley Avenue, Crewe; and

(Note: County Councillor D Flude re-joined the meeting at this point in the proceedings.)

32. LAIDON AVENUE, WISTASTON, CREWE – PROPOSED TRAFFIC-CALMING

It was proposed to introduce traffic-calming measures on Laidon Avenue, Wistaston, Crewe. The report of the County Engineer invited the Local Joint Committee to authorise a public consultation exercise in respect of the traffic-calming scheme and if no objections are received, the scheme be implemented.

RESOLVED: That the issue of traffic-calming on Laidon Avenue, Wistaston, Crewe be deferred for further consideration.

33. A534, NANTWICH ROAD MIXED-PRIORITY ROUTE: MONITORING REPORT

The Local Joint Committee received, for information, the report of the County Engineer which was the second monitoring report following the introduction of the road safety improvement scheme on the A534 Nantwich Road, Crewe between Smallman Road and the Crewe Arms roundabout.

34. PROJECT PROGRESS REPORTS

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

35. TERM CONTRACT HIGHWAYS AND VEHICLES 2004 – PROGRESS REPORT

The Local Joint Committee received the report of the County Engineerwhich reported progress in respect of the County Council’s Term Contract with Edmund Nuttall Ltd.

36. DATE OF NEXT MEETING

29^th January 2007