Agenda and minutes

Venue: Committee Room 4 - Wallasey Town Hall. View directions

Items
No. Item

1.

Members' Code of Conduct - Declarations of Interest/Party Whip

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

Minutes:

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. No such declarations were made.

2.

Objection: Proposed Toucan Crossing at Poulton Road/Dibbins Hey, Spital pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Technical Services reported upon an objection that had been submitted against a proposal to introduce a Toucan crossing near the junction of Poulton Road and Dibbins Hey, Spital along with associated cycle links, which had been identified within the Local Transport Capital Programme approved by the Cabinet. He reported that based upon the Council's adopted criteria for the provision of signalised crossings, the location was revealed as the highest scoring site against the criteria, even without the additional consideration for cyclists.

 

He set out the content of the objection and provided a detailed response to the concerns that had been expressed. The objector had declined to meet with officers on site and although he was not in attendance, had requested the Panel to note that his wife worked from home during the day. The Principal Assistant Engineer presented for Members consideration a letter which had been received by email, which made a number of general observations and raised some queries about the proposed scheme. In response to observations from Members, the Director indicated that the matter of overhanging vegetation would be addressed. He commented also that the cycling strategy intended that new routes would link to existing ones wherever this was possible. Sustrans (Sustainable Transport) had visited the site and their support for the scheme had been demonstrated by way of a substantial financial contribution from the Department for Transport ‘links to school’ programme. This amounted to 50% of the scheme costs with additional funding provided for cycle storage at Poulton Lancelyn Primary School.

 

The Director reported that the points raised by the objector had been carefully considered however, the officers had concluded that the benefits provided by the scheme outweighed the objection raised and that the objection should not prevent the scheme from going ahead. Ward Councillors had been consulted and were supportive of the proposals.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the objection and the further email be noted.

 

(2)  That that the proposed scheme consisting of a Toucan crossing and associated cycling and pedestrian improvements near the junction of Poulton Road and Dibbins Hey, Spital be recommended to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee for approval and implementation.

3.

Objection: Proposed Puffin Crossing at Belvidere Road/Kingsway, Wallasey pdf icon PDF 89 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Director of Technical Services reported upon an objection that had been submitted against a proposal to introduce a puffin crossing facility near the junction of Belvidere Road and Kingsway, Wallasey along with associated pedestrian refuge and radii improvements. He reported that based upon the Council’s adopted criteria for the provision of signalised crossings, the location was revealed as a high scoring site and the provision of a puffin crossing facility would have a positive effect on assisting disabled, visually impaired persons, persons with prams and pushchairs, children, and pedestrians in general to cross a busy road. A high volume of pedestrians crossed the road at peak times with a high percentage being school children travelling to and from three schools located within the area.

 

The Director reported that during the public consultation period, individual objections had been received from the 3 retail shops on Belvidere Road, between Broadway Avenue and Vyner Road, which were primarily concerned that the proposed puffin crossing zig-zag road markings would result in the loss of one on-street parking space, which would affect customer parking and loss of trade for their businesses. Following further discussions/consultation and mindful of the concerns raised by the objectors, it was agreed to improve the radii at the junction of Belvidere Road and Broadway Avenue which would enable the scheme to be introduced without a net loss of on-street parking fronting the shops. Consequently, two of the three objections were withdrawn. However, despite further consultations in relation to concerns raised, one objection remained unresolved. The Director set out the points raised by the objector and provided a detailed response to them. Officers had carefully considered the points raised by the objector and had concluded that the benefits of the scheme outweighed the objection raised and that the objection should not prevent the scheme from going ahead.

 

Resolved –

 

(1)  That the objection be noted.

 

(2)  That the proposed scheme consisting of a puffin crossing with associated pedestrian refuge and radii improvements, at the junction of Belvidere Road and Kingsway, Wallasey be recommended to the Sustainable Communities Overview & Scrutiny Committee for approval and implementation