Minutes for Leicestershire County Council Highways Forum for Blaby meeting, Nov 26 2008, 6.30PM official page

The Chairman welcomed Members and Officers to the meeting.  

Apologies for absence were received from Mr B Garner CC, Mr D R Parsons CC,

Mr E F White CC, Mr M J Bradbury DC, Mr K D Coles DC, Mr R S Dixon DC and Mr N M Gilson DC.

There were no urgent items.

There were no declarations of interest.

Minutes of the previous meeting held on Wednesday 30^th July 2008 were confirmed and signed as a true record of the meeting.

The Chairman asked Mr Grierson to update Members on three issues.

i)                     M1 J21 Area Improvements

ii)                   Petition parking problems Needham Avenue, Cork Lane, Glenville Avenue, Glen Parva

iii)                  Request for footway, Castlewood Mobile Home Park, Hinckley Road, Sapcote to Hinckley

i)Junction 21 Area Improvements

Mr Grierson confirmed that the first phase of the £1.5m package of measures in the area are progressing with the following update on the schemes.

·         B582 Whetstone Transfer Station access – completed as programmed – end of August 2008

·         B582 Enderby Road Corridor Improvements - completed 15^th November 2008 after a delay in the programme due to accommodation works on the bridge abutments of the Great Central line. Associated works related to the steps of the public footpath are programmed for completion by the end of the month.

·         Foxhunter Roundabout B4114 St Johns/B582 Blaby Road – programme remains on target for the main works starting in mid January 2009. Advance statutory works are almost complete. A moratorium of highway works will be undertaken between 1^st December 2008 and 5^th January 2009.

Second phase to carry out a public exhibition on the Narborough Road South

·         A5460 Narborough Road South – Environmental Improvements

-          Leaflets and questionnaires were hand delivered on 7^th November to all frontage properties on the corridor together with the Post Office, library and Braunstone Civic Centre.

-          A community bus was used for the mobile exhibition, stopping at locations on the service roads on the 13^th, 14^th and 15^th November 2008.

-          Over 200 residents attended during the 3 days.

-          A presentation of the outline proposals was made to the Braunstone Town Council on the 13^th November 2008.

-          Exhibition material is on show in the foyer of the Braunstone Civic Centre until the 5^th January 2009 when the consultation period ends.

The LCC scheme web pages are regularly updated with the above mentioned information to view by following the links.

J21 - www.leics.gov.uk/junction_21_area

NRS - www.leics.gov.uk/nrs

·         Enderby Park and Ride

-          The main works for the £9m Enderby Park and Ride scheme are expected to start in the New Year, with the service being operated in Autumn 2009.

-          Advance statutory works are progressing, with completion programmed for the end of January 2009.

-          Works on the public footpath is programmed to start in December for a period of 4 weeks.

-          Archaeology works unearthed a small Roman rural cemetery containing six skeletons, alongside Iron Age, Roman and Medieval findings.

-          Analysis of the skeletons and the findings are being undertaken by University Leicester Archaeology Services and will be included in a display at the terminal building.

-          Further archaeology work is planned during the construction of the site to monitor development in the vicinity of the Fosse Way for additional findings.

The LCC scheme web page is regularly updated and can be viewed following the link.

EP&R  ...  view the full minutes text for item 260.

A petition with 81 signatures from Mrs A Kenney will be presented.  The petition requests traffic calming on Trinity Road, Whetstone

(A response to this petition is attached – Agenda Item 8)

A petition with 81 signatures from Mrs A Kenney will be presented. The petition requests traffic calming on Trinity Road, Whetstone.

The Chairman accepted the petition.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the petition requesting traffic calming measures on Trinity Road, Whetstone. The report was introduced by Mr Vears with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mr Vears confirmed that the report updated Members on the outcome of investigations undertaken upon the receipt of the petition. Requests for traffic calming schemes are assessed against the objectives of the Local Transport Plan (LTP2). The objectives in question are:

-          Reducing road casualties (Local Safety Schemes)

-          Reducing the impact of traffic on communities (Speed reducing measures)

The conclusions arising from the investigations were that Trinity Road did not meet the criteria of either of the objectives and therefore it is unlikely that a scheme will be pursued in the near future.

RECOMMENDATION

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on Network Rail’s plans to improve the network between Peterborough and Nuneaton.

The Chairman introduced Mr Adrian Brown, Network Rail’s scheme project manager – strategic freight, who was attending to give a presentation. Mr Brown thanked the Chairman and explained that Network Rail has coordinated the development of the Strategic Freight Network with the aim to improve the capacity, efficiency and resilience of the network for the movement of freight.

He confirmed that the project seeks to enhance the rail loading gauge to allow the movement of 9’6” containers. Meetings have taken place between county officers and NR. The effect is that 16 structures in the county are affected with 9 being in Blaby District and one near the district boundary in Oadby and Wigston.

Mr Brown went through the detail of the works to be carried out on the 9 structures in Blaby and one near the boundary in Oadby and Wigston. He confirmed that the enhancement work is planned to take place in 2010/11.

In answer to a question from Mr D Jennings CC, Mr Brown explained that in some instances the track would be lowered to take these larger containers. He confirmed that this project was not aimed at accommodating lorries only containers.

Members were concerned that there could be major disruption arising from the work. An example was given of the Saffron Road bridge, South Wigston and the impact on the A426 at Glen Parva.

Mr Brown stated that NR has engaged with county officers and will do so to ensure that the timing of the work, construction methods and temporary traffic management arrangements employed will minimise disruption to the highway network.

He agreed to investigate problems highlighted by the Chairman of speeding trains and vibrations endured by residents in Whetstone.

Mr Brown agreed to take on board comments from Members on the problem of tailbacks arising from level crossings.

RECOMMENDATION

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the widening of 20mph zones across whole settlements. The report was introduced by Mrs Notman with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mrs Notman explained that in March 2008 Portsmouth City Council became the first city in Britain to implement 20mph speed limits on almost all of its residential streets. The scheme had been implemented on those streets where the average speed was already shown to be 24mph or less. She confirmed that a report would come to a meeting later in 2009 when the results of the trial had been evaluated. In conclusion Mrs Notman stated that Portsmouth was very different to areas in Leicestershire. Portsmouth has street after street of terraced houses where parked cars make it very difficult to go over 20mph.

Mr Bailey was concerned that the County Council does not rule out the implementation of 20mph for individual residential estates. He explained that areas of Blaby would be ideal to trial where motorists are travelling at less than 30mph but at a speed that was suitable to the area.

Mr Vears stated that the County Council already has 60-70 roads awaiting traffic calming measures. The County Council would have to look at these benefits in comparison to benefits achieved by introducing a 20mph speed limit in one particular area.

Mrs J A Dilks DC supported Mr Bailey and asked officers to consider in the future.

RECOMMENDATION

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on School Travel Plans (STPs). The report was presented by Mrs Notman with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mrs Notman confirmed that the report brought members up to date with the progress that the County Council was making in enabling schools to complete STPs and the schemes arising from their completion. STPs aim to promote alternative ways for children to travel to and from school. The LTP target was to have 90% of all schools completing a STP by 2010. The County Council was well on the way to meeting this target.

Mrs Notman took Members through the report and highlighted the appendices.

           

                        Appendix A – Schools which have developed a plan.

                        Appendix B – Schools working towards a plan 2008/2009.

                        Appendix C – Schools still to develop a plan.

                        Appendix D – Schemes delivered and programmed for STP schools.

           

            Mrs Notman highlighted to Members that, in appendix C, two schools, Countesthorpe Leysland High and Leicester Forest East Stafford Leys Community Primary had indicated that they wished to commence the development of a STP.

Mr Bailey congratulated officers on their work in trying to encourage schools to participate. He commented that some schools in appendix C considered the completion of a STP as a low priority.

Mr J O Hudson DC thanked officers for their work in helping Glenfield the Hall school in developing a STP. He pointed out the problem of parents causing an obstruction, parking near to the school. Mr Wells agreed to send wardens out at specific school times to try to alleviate the problem.

RECOMMENDATION

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the present position of the 2008/09 Maintenance and Improvements Programmes. The report was presented by Mr Grierson with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mr Grierson explained to Members what the footway slurry sealing process was and that the whole of the programme was in the report.

Mr Vears confirmed that the Little Glen Road, Glen Parva scheme was in the reserve programme. Once the scheme had been worked up he agreed to discuss with Mr Bailey.

In answer to a question from the Chairman, Mr Vears explained what the planned work was for the Whetstone bus route 84 scheme.

RECOMMENDATIONS

i)                    That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted; and

ii)                   that officers discuss the Little Glen Road, Glen Parva scheme with Mr Bailey once the scheme had been developed.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the current position of the TRO programme.  The report was introduced by Mr Grierson with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mr Grierson explained that this was a standard report and with the approval of the Chairman asked for questions.

RECOMMENDATIONS

That the report of the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management be noted.

The Forum considered a report by the Director of Highways, Transportation and Waste Management on the ongoing action statement.  The report was introduced by Mrs Notman with a copy filed with the minutes.

Mrs Notman brought Members up to date on the one outstanding action.

Wednesday   21st January 6.30 pm

Wednesday   15th April        6.30 pm

Wednesday   29th July         6.30 pm

Wednesday   25th Nov         6.30 pm

The Chairman asked Members to note the dates of the meetings arranged for 2009.

The Chairman thanked Members and Officers for their attendance at the meeting