The Director of Technical Services reported concerning a 105 signature petition requesting traffic calming measures in Wright Street, Wallasey.

Speed surveys which were undertaken in Wright Street had revealed low average speeds and a relatively light flow of vehicular traffic. It was therefore considered that traffic calming measures would not significantly affect vehicle speed.

The petitioners had expresses their concern regarding safety for children playing within the road. However, this was not considered to be a safe practice and during the past five years there had been two tragic road deaths involving young children playing unsupervised in roads.  The lead petitioner was informed of the dangers of children playing on or adjacent to roads.

Councillor Darren Dodd and Jasmine Owen, lead petitioner, addressed the meeting and highlighted their concerns regarding road safety.

The Director reported that Investigations into the road safety records for Wright Street showed that it had an excellent personal injury accident record during the latest three year study period. The introduction of traffic calming measures would not significantly reduce vehicle speeds or lead to an improvement in the already good accident record, and they were not warranted at the present time. However, road safety officers would continue to offer education to children and parents about the highway environment.

The lead petitioner was advised of the following measures that could be carried out within the area:

-  The joint "Community Speedwatch" initiative that the Council has with the  Police, which aims to empower local communities to make drivers more aware of inappropriate speed, could be introduced should the lead petitioner or other concerned neighbours wish to take this forward.

-  This road could be considered for the community speed initiative "Bring Accidents Down 2 Zero".

Officers had also considered an alternative to road humps as a form of traffic calming: by moving a central section of the double yellow lines currently in place along the south west side of the road to a position immediately opposite on the north east side, effectively providing a chicane in the road.

In order to maintain traffic flow and prevent vehicles parking opposite each other within the relatively narrow road, an area of overlap of the double yellow lines on each side of the road would be required.  During site investigations, it was noted that a number of vehicles were parked on the existing double yellow lines. Should this occur within the overlap area of double yellow lines on the approach or exit from the parking chicane it was likely to cause an obstruction on Wright Street.  Wright Street was a one way road and vehicles would not be permitted to reverse out of it should they not be able to manoeuvre through.

This alternative would lead to a loss of on-street parking for approximately four to six vehicles and given the already considerable pressure on parking provision within Wright Street, such a scheme may not find favour with residents.

The report concluded that, based on the Council’s adopted criteria, physical traffic calming measures were not justified at this time and recommends that the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee be informed that no further action should be taken in respect of this petition but that the situation will continue to be monitored.

Resolved – That the Panel:

(1)  Note the petitioner’s request for traffic calming measures to slow the speed of traffic in Wright Street and the surrounding area.

(2)  Recommend to the Sustainable Communities Overview and Scrutiny Committee that no further action is taken in respect of the petition requesting traffic calming measures to slow the speed of traffic in Wright Street and the surrounding area but that the situation will continue to be monitored.