A motion was proposed and duly seconded that Councillor Steve Williams be appointed as Chair for the Committee for the duration of the municipal year.

Resolved – That Councillor S Williams be appointed as Chair for this meeting and all future meetings of the Highways and Traffic Representation Panel for the remainder of the municipal year.

Members of the Committee are asked to declare any disclosable pecuniary and non pecuniary interests, in connection with any items on the agenda and state the nature of the interest.

Councillor Mike Sullivan declared a prejudicial interest in connection to item 3 by virtue of him being Ward Councillor and him having previously organised a petition on the matter.

Having previously declared a prejudicial interest Councillor Jim Crabtree replaced Councillor Mike Sullivan as a Panel Member.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Environment and Regulation that reported upon an objection which had been submitted by a resident of Nelson Drive objecting to the proposed 20mph speed limit in his area regarding resource implications

The Panel considered Officers response to the objectors written representation and noted that following receipt of the objection, discussions between the objector and Council Officers have taken place to try and resolve the objector’s concerns. Responses to all issues raised were detailed in the report.

The report indicated that a petition containing approximately 600 signatures was submitted in December 2011 requesting the implementation of a 20mph speed limit in residential areas in Pensby and Thingwall. It was further reported that an additional 310 signatures was appended to this petition in February 2012.

Mr M Peet, Service Manager at Technical Services outlined the report and responded to questions by Members of the Panel.

The Objector was not present at the meeting. Members considered additional written representations.

Councillor M. Sullivan on behalf of local residents made representations to Members of the Panel in support of the Officers recommendations to introduce 20mph speed limits in Pensby.

Members considered all representations made orally and in writing.

Resolved – That:

(1)  The Panel note the objection received and the Officers responses; and

(2)  It is recommended to the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee that the proposals as shown on attached drawing no. TD0576b0 be approved for implementation.

The Head of Environment and Regulation reported upon a petition that was presented to Council on 15^th July 2013 containing 39 signatures. It was also reported that following public consultation 10 formal representations in support of the scheme proposals were received and 12 individual applications against the application. There were 10 formal representations of support for the scheme received.

Mark Redman, Principal Assistant Engineer provided Members with background information to the proposed scheme. It was reported that the proposal forms part of a programme of LSTF improvements that had only been made possible as a result of Wirral Council’s successful national funding bid made through the Merseyside Transport Partnership (MTP) to the Department for Transport (DfT) to deliver a programme of sustainable transport measures.

Members heard that as part of the consultation exercise for this scheme, letters were delivered to local residents directly fronting or adjacent to the proposed path informing them of the proposals. It was further reported that consultation was undertaken with Party Spokespersons, local Ward Members, Wirral Cycle Forum, Wirral Pedestrian Forum, local Equestrian Groups and adjacent landowners.

Written representations, as detailed in the report were reported on and copies of plans and photographic evidence were produced for Members information.

Mr M Redman responded to questions from Members of the Panel.

Mr Gordon Hopwood, on behalf of the lead petitioner and local residents made representations to Members of the Panel.

Mr Peter Williams, on behalf of the Wirral Cycle Forum addressed the Committee in support of the proposal.

Councillor Christina Muspratt, Ward Councillor addressed the Committee to object to the proposal.

Councillor Walter Smith, Ward Councillor addressed the Committee to object to the proposal.

Councillor Jerry Williams, Ward Councillor addressed the Committee to object to the proposal.

Members considered all representations made orally and in writing

Resolved – That:

The Panel note the representations made and, on the basis that officers conclude the benefits of the scheme as shown in drawing no. DR&E/4/13 outweigh the objections raised, recommend to the Regeneration & Environment Policy and Performance Committee that the scheme is approved for implementation.

A Report by the Head of Regeneration and Environment reported upon a 44 signature petition that had been submitted by a Ward Member in July 2012 regarding parking and speeding in BenNevis Road, Tranmere.

The report concluded that it would not be appropriate to implement any traffic management action at the current time.

Mr K Rodgers, Technical Services outlined the report and responded to questions from Members of the Panel.

Mr Lucas Ray, lead petitioners made representations to the Panel on behalf of local residents regarding his request that solutions to the problem be explored; including a prohibition of entry into the road.

Members considered all representations made orally and in writing.

Resolved – That :

(1)  Panel note the petitioners concerns regarding parking and speeding in Ben Bevis Road and the recommendation of the report that it would not be appropriate to implement traffic management measures at this time; and

(2)  Panel recommend to the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee that no further action be taken in respect of this petition.

The Panel considered the report of the Head of Environment and Regulation reporting upon an objection which had been received from Mr John Stockdale, Managing Director at ‘Windsors’ car dealership on Harrison Drive.

Members noted that an Officer had met with the Objector to discuss their objection to the proposals. The details of the objection along with the Officers response were outlined within the report.

The report indicated that this scheme will form part of Wirral Council’s ongoing commitment to reduce the number and severity of casualties on Wirral’s roads. It was further indicated that failure to undertake the proposed scheme would also result in a lost opportunity to address key LTP3 Objectives and the Council’s Corporate Goals and Objectives to make sure that Wirral’s roads are safe and well maintained and to continue reducing the number of people killed or seriously injured in road traffic accidents.

Mr M Redman, Assistant Principal Engineer outlined the report and responded to questions from Members of the Panel.

Mr John Stockdale, Managing Director at Windsors Car Dealership addressed the Panel detailing his objections to the proposal.

Members considered all representations made orally and in writing.

Resolved- That:

(1)  Panel note the representations made and, on the basis that Officers conclude the benefits of the scheme as shown in the drawing no. DR&E/5/5/13 attached outweigh the objections raised, recommend to the Regeneration & Environment Policy and Performance Committee that the scheme is approved for implementation.