Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/089

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: (01865) 810028

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE4).

Measures to extend the 30mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road, which are being superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove have been proposed in conjunction with a major new residential development to the west of Denchworth Road and Newlands Drive at Grove. The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on the proposals.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve proposals to extend the 30mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road which are superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove as advertised.

.

Provisionally approve proposals to:

·                       extend the 30 mph speed limit on Denchworth Road

·                       prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road which are superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove

pending further discussions with Grove Parish Council regarding traffic calming including consideration of alternative measures.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered responses received to a consultation on measures to extend the 30 mph speed limit on Denchworth Road, provide traffic calming measures on Newlands Drive and prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road in conjunction with a major new development.

Mr Parnell advised that Grove parish council, while supporting the two elements of the proposal relating to the speed limit and stopping up objected strongly to the traffic calming scheme which they considered excessive.  They felt other viable alternatives should be thoroughly investigated before proceeding.

Mr Kirkwood advised that the objections received to the stopping up proposals centred mainly on the loss of public recreational space and not controversial insofar as the proposed prohibition was considered necessary in the interests of safety for users of the superseded highway.  The objection by Thames valley Police to the speed limit proposals, insofar as that related to current levels of development along this road was, given those current levels of development, judged to be correct. However, the proposal to introduce a 30 limit was consistent with Department of Transport guidance given planned development over the next year.  The traffic calming scheme would have a positive impact on speeding traffic but had also been designed to mitigate against any severe impact and to be bus friendly.

Recognising the representations made on behalf of Grove Parish Council that there were other viable alternative measures with regard to traffic calming the Cabinet Member for Environment agreed as follows:

(a)          to instruct officers to hold further discussions with Grove Parish Council regarding proposals for traffic calming including consideration of alternative measures;

(b)          in the meantime to provisionally approve proposals to:

·           extend the 30 mph speed limit on Denchworth Road;

·           prohibit use by motor vehicles of parts of Cane Lane and Denchworth Road superseded by the proposed new road layout at Grove

and pending the outcome of the discussions at (a) and agreement on further traffic calming all three elements be implemented simultaneously.

Signed………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Environment

Date of signing…………………………….