Members of the panel are asked to consider whether they have a personal or prejudicial interest in connection with any of the items on this agenda and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of such interest.

Members are reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they are subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered at this meeting and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.

Members were asked to consider whether they had personal or prejudicial interests in connection with any item(s) on this agenda and, if so, to declare them and state what they were.

Members were reminded that they should also declare, pursuant to paragraph 18 of the Overview and Scrutiny Procedure Rules, whether they were subject to a party whip in connection with any item(s) to be considered and, if so, to declare it and state the nature of the whipping arrangement.  No such declarations were made.

The Director of Technical services reported concerning objections received to the proposed “Cycling Strategy” scheme for Mount Pleasant Road / Mount Road, Wallasey.

He reported that the “Cycling Strategy” scheme consisting of a Toucan Crossing and associated improvements, as shown on Plan No. Beng/59/09/a, would aid more vulnerable cyclists and pedestrians to cross Mount Pleasant Road and provide a vital link in the network to local facilities including shops, GP Surgery and Earlston Gardens.  In the last three years for which information was available there had been 4 recorded personal injury accidents (RPIAs) at this junction.  An in-depth study of the accident details indicated that at least 2 of these personal injury accidents would be influenced by the provision of the proposed Toucan crossing.

The overall works, estimated to cost in the region of £75,000, would be financed from the 2009/10 Transport Capital Programme. 

A local resident addressed the meeting and outlined his objections to the scheme. He expressed his concerns relating to the negative impact on property values, the removal of an established tree in front of his property, the reduction of on –street parking places, and that the position of the cycleway (on the footway) would increase the risk of collision were it runs adjacent to a vehicle crossing.

The Director responded to each of these issues in turn.

Resolved – That the panel note the objections received and the officers’ responses and recommend to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the “Cycling Strategy” scheme at the junction of Mount Pleasant Road and Mount Road, Wallasey,as shown on Plan No. Beng/59/09/a, be approved for implementation.

The Director of Technical Services reported concerning objections received to the proposed “Local Safety” scheme for Higher Bebington Road, Bebington.

He reported that it was proposed to introduce a “Local Safety” scheme in Higher Bebington Road and Pulford Road, as shown on Plan Beng/54/09a, as there had been 3 recorded personal injury accidents along this route in the current three year study period, all of which would have been prevented if a traffic calming scheme had been present.

The overall works, estimated to cost in the region of £60,000, will be financed from the 2009/10 Transport Capital Programme.

Resolved – That the panel note the objections received and the officers’ responses and recommend to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee that the “Local Safety” scheme, as shown on Plan Beng/54/09a, be approved for implementation in Higher Bebington Road and Pulford Road, Bebington.

The Director of Technical Services reported concerning objections received to a traffic regulation order to introduce visitor permits to the residents’ parking scheme currently in operation in Silverburn Avenue, Moreton, as shown on Plan  TE0013a0.

He reported that, following receipt of a petition calling for the introduction of visitor permits for the Silverburn Avenue residents’ parking scheme, the proposal had been advertised and three objections were received. The reasons for the objections were that parking was already limited and the introduction of visitor permits would result in less parking available to residents, forcing them to park elsewhere.  It was noted that two of the three objectors had previously signed the petition for the introduction of visitor permits.

A petition containing 27 signatures from the 19 supporting properties was received requesting the introduction of visitor permits for the Silverburn Avenue residents’ parking scheme.

Supporting correspondence had also been received from a local Ward Member.

The cost of implementing the proposals estimated at £800 will be financed from the Traffic Management Revenue Budget, which was £33,000 for 2009/10.

A local resident addressed the meeting. He submitted a number of photographs showing that there was limited parking space available in this road and therefore asked the committee to restrict permits to one household and one visitor.  

Resolved – That the panel note the objectors’ concerns and recommend to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee that the traffic regulation order for the introduction of Residents’ Parking Scheme Visitor Permits at Silverburn Avenue, Moreton, be made as advertised, subject to the issue of permits being restricted to one household and one visitor

The Director of Technical Services reported concerning an objection received to the proposed waiting restrictions on Holm Lane and Holm View Close, Oxton, as shown on Plan 62/09. He reported that, during the advertisement period, one unresolved objection to the proposal was received from a resident of Holm View Close.  The reasons for the objection were that the prohibition of parking within Holm View Close could not be considered to support the issue of road safety.

The Director reported that site observations had revealed that due to the limited turning area and parking of vehicles within Holm View Close the saturation of parking resulted in  a number of vehicles reversing back onto Holm Lane. It was considered that the introduction of waiting restrictions within Holm View Close would eliminate speculative parking and  help to alleviate problems of vehicles reversing onto Holm Lane from Holm View Close.

There had been one recorded personal injury accident at this location during the last three-year period.  Merseyside Police supported this proposal indicating that the introduction of waiting restrictions should lessen the occurrences of obstructive parking.

The waiting restrictions on Holm Lane and within Holm View Close had been proposed to improve sight lines, visibility, prevent obstructive parking and improve access for all. The works could be financed from the Traffic Management Revenue Budget.

Resolved –That the panel note the objection received and the Officers’ response and recommend to the Overview & Scrutiny Committee that waiting restrictions, as shown on Plan 62/09, be approved for implementation in Holm Lane and Holm View Close, Oxton.