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Next Traffic Control meeting - March date TBA
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Minutes of the last meeting
Draft Minutes of the Meeting of the Traffic Calming Committee held on
Monday 30 January 2012 at 7.00pm in New College Hall
PRESENT: Cllr D Millington (in the Chair), Cllr F Kennedy, Mr J Kennedy, Mr P Knotter,
Cllr S Moules, Cllr D Sim, Mr G Stokes, Mr J Wylie and the Clerk
In attendance: Mr K Cosgrove, Mr K Melville & Cllr D Southward (CCC), PCSO P Bradley,
Mr P Kermeen & representative of 3D Travel
T1/12 APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE
No apologies for absence had been received.
T2/12 MINUTES OF THE LAST MEETING
It was RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held on 12 October 2011 be accepted as a true record and signed by the Chairman.
T3/12 SELLAFIELD TRAVEL PLAN
The Chairman reported that the representative from Sellafield Ltd had been unable to attend. It was noted that changes were proposed to travel arrangements with fewer vehicles being allowed onto the Sellafield site and more staff being relocated to offices off site. This was likely to cause changes in traffic flows and an increased need for public transport and park and ride facilities. The parish council had expressed concern about the possible impact on villages such as St Bees. Sellafield Ltd was planning to hold a stakeholder event in a few weeks time and further details were awaited.
ACTION: Details of the stakeholder event to be circulated when received (JD)
T4/12 BUS PARKING, FAIRLADIES
The Chairman welcomed the representatives of 3D Travel to the meeting.
Since the last meeting the pick up point for the school bus had been changed and the bus was now picking up on the other side of the road and continuing on through the village. The bus was stopping briefly in the Fairladies turning circle to collect late-comers on its way back through the village but this was causing no problem.
There had been some problems with children throwing stones across the road whilst waiting for the bus but the Neighbourhood Watch Group would be taking this up with the police.
T5/12 OPTIONS FOR HIGHWAYS IMPROVEMENTS
(a)Outrigg
Mr Cosgrove explained that scheme 1 (new pavement & associated parking restriction) was included in the programme of work to be commenced on 23 July. The funding agreed did not include the gateway features at the eastern approach to the village but if the pavement work came in under budget any remaining funds would be used to provide gateway features. Cllr Southward explained that the programme of work was subject to final approval when the CCC budget was formally agreed in February.
In answer to a question from the Chairman, Mr Melville confirmed that in the event of a shortfall the parish council would have the option to contribute funds to complete the work.
(b) Fairladies
Mr Cosgrove presented three possible designs for a central island on the B5345 opposite the entrance to the Fairladies estate. The lay-by opposite would be delineated with road markings or kerbs. In light of the changed arrangements for the bus pick up point it would be more appropriate to use road markings rather than kerbing. The main issue was whether the island should offer a defined crossing point for pedestrians. It was noted that there was no recognised crossing point from the Fairladies estate and it would therefore be inappropriate to provide an island with a clearly defined crossing point. The safest crossing point was some yards further north where visibility was better. Mr Cosgrove explained that dropped kerbs could be provided
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at that point to facilitate crossing. The estimate for the most appropriate type of island with illuminated bollards was £7K. This included an estimate of £1K for the electrical work. If the scheme was agreed, detailed design work would be carried out to ensure that there was sufficient room for vehicles to turn in and out of the Fairladies estate.
Mr Melville explained that the option of moving the existing island to create a roundabout had not been formally costed but was likely to be an expensive option. With no further funding likely from CCC the scheme would have little chance of being implemented.
It was agreed that option 2 (with no defined crossing point) was the most appropriate option to be recommended to the parish council. With funding from the parish council and the contribution from St Bees School this would be an affordable option.
ACTION: The recommended option to be put to the next Parish Council meeting (DM).
T6/12 SPEEDING ISSUES
Cllr Moules reported that PCSO Bradley had arranged the use of a SID for about 2 months. It had been used in a number of different areas and had had a demonstrable effect in reducing traffic speeds.
PCSO Bradley explained that speeding in St Bees was being highlighted as one of the police priorities and officers were being asked to address speeding issues whenever they were in the village. In the last 10 days they had carried out speed checks on five occasions and given advice to drivers exceeding the limit. During 2011 a total of 5 penalties had been issued. The camera van would visit St Bees but no definite dates had been arranged. The Chairman asked whether some assurance could be given that this would be done within a reasonable time-frame and requested that a report be provided to the next meeting.
Sgt Bennett had confirmed that the police would support a community speed watch initiative and would provide training for volunteers if it was decided to purchase a speed gun. Cllr Moules explained that the parish council was considering the purchase of a hand-held speed gun but would need a team of volunteers from the local community to agree to operate it. It would be useful to know how similar schemes operated in other parts of the country in terms of the training required and the action which the police would take if repeat offenders were identified.
The Chairman asked members for views on a possible scheme and for volunteers to pass names to the Clerk to help the parish council make a decision on whether to go ahead with the purchase of a speed gun.
ACTION: Anyone willing to be involved in speed monitoring to notify the Clerk (all)
Information on training/operation of schemes to be provided (PB)
T7/12 PARKING
(a)Enforcement
Mr Cosgrove provided a report on enforcement action. The new enforcement arrangements were now in operation. There had been some initial problems which had resulted in penalty notices having to be cancelled but there had been several visits to St Bees during January and a number of penalty notices had been issued. Requests for visits early in the morning and in the evening were being collated and it was hoped to organise some changes to working hours to allow this to happen without incurring excessive overtime costs. It was felt that many of the problems in St Bees occurred outside normal working hours but that a few visits might be sufficient to deter people from parking inappropriately. Mr Cosgrove was working with the police on problems of obstruction and it was hoped that the local police could work with the enforcement officers to tackle these problems.
Mr Kermeen pointed out that the bus stop markings were in need of repainting and the bus stops in the village were regularly blocked by parked cars causing a build-up of traffic.
ACTION : Road markings to be repainted (JD to report)
Enforcement officers to follow-up obstruction of bus stops(KC)
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(b) Community Responses
The Chairman outlined comments received from members of the local community following the article in the parish magazine about dangerous/illegal parking. Some of the areas mentioned were already on the list of priorities for enforcement. Other areas noted were the junction of Nethertown Rd/Egremont Road, the junction of Seacroft Drive/Main Street and the bend on Abbey Vale. Problems of obstruction affecting a specific property on Main Street were also noted.
ACTION: List of areas to be sent to Mr Cosgrove (JD)
(c) Time Restricted Zone, Main Street
The Chairman asked whether it was possible for residents of properties on Main Street to be exempted from the time restriction which applies to parking on the section of Main Street opposite the Post Office. Mr Cosgrove and Mr Melville explained that it was possible for residents permits to be issued which would allow exemption from the time restriction but would not guarantee a parking place. At present such permits were free but an annual charge of £25 was to be introduced shortly.
ACTION: Information to be provided to the Clerk to pass on to local residents (KC)
T8/12 ANY OTHER BUSINESS
(a)Shrubbery at the junction of Beach Rd/Abbey Rd/Station Rd
It was pointed out that the visibility at the junction was still being obscured by overgrown bushes despite having been reported at previous meetings.
ACTION: Highways to investigate and arrange for shrubs to be cut back (KC)
(b)List of highway repairs
The parish council had been asked by Highways to compile a list of repair/maintenance items in the parish council’s area. A list of defects had been compiled and the Chairman asked members to pass on details of any items they were aware of to the Clerk so that they could be included in the list.
ACTION: Highway defects to be reported (all)
(c) Change of police representative
PCSO Bradley explained that he was shortly to be transferred to the Millom area and PCSO Simon Kane would be taking over responsibility for the St Bees area. The Chairman thanked PCSO Bradley for his help and support to the committee and wished him well in his new role.
T9/12 DATE AND TIME OF NEXT MEETING
It was RESOLVED that the next meeting take place in March on a date to be agreed.
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Speeding and Traffic Calming Update
- Dec 2011
As many of you will be aware, there have been a large number of recent accidents and near misses in St. Bees, including 2 young children being hit by cars in the past few months. Inappropriate speed kills and injures – and speeding in St. Bees is no exception. We have many dangerous junctions and narrow roads with sharp bends, parked cars, poor visibility and often no pavements, together with a large number of children and elderly people. This is not the place to speed.
Having completed the road safety improvements on the Whitehaven Road approach to the village and the safety chicane near St Bees School, we have now developed proposals for safety improvements for our next 2 priority areas: Outrigg and the Egremont Road approach to the village near the Fairladies estate. These comprise of ‘gateway’ rumble strips and better markings on the approach to the 30mph limits (like those we have put on the Whitehaven Road approach to the village), a footpath on Outrigg from Hillside to the village school, so parents can park and walk safely into the school, and a traffic island near the Fairladies junction to slow traffic in this area. We are currently in the process of obtaining funding and approvals for these schemes. We are also pushing the Highways Team to implement 20mph limits in the New Year when new legislation will make this easier.
In the meantime, we have obtained a mobile S.I.D. (Speed Indicator Device) from the police and are moving it around the village to warn drivers who are speeding. The police have also pulled over several drivers and warned them for speeding, and Sellafield have written to all staff and contractors reminding them to use the main roads and drive carefully through neighbouring villages. Thank you to the majority of drivers who have reduced their speeds to safer levels. Unfortunately like many villages, St. Bees does have some idiots who seemingly don’t care about themselves or others and don’t heed the warnings. Especially for them, we have arranged for the police speed camera van to visit the village so they can look forward to points and fines in the New Year. You can do your part by driving carefully, which will naturally slow down the cars behind you. You can also email PCSO Bradley with the number plates and details of any vehicles you see blatantly exceeding the 30mph limits: Peter.Bradley@cumbria.police.uk
Illegal Parking
We know that parking is a problem in St. Bees. We pay £2,300 each year to Copeland Borough Council to keep the Station car park as a free car park to ease the parking problems in the centre of the village. The Parish Council also own and maintain the Fairladies car park to provide additional free off-street parking capacity for this area of the village, at a cost of around £850 this year. Please make use of the free off- street parking available and avoid parking where it obstructs access to properties and around junctions which reduces visibility for drivers and pedestrians. Dangerous illegal parking directly contributed to one child being knocked down near the school recently. A list of areas to be targeted by the parking wardens has been forwarded to Cumbria Highways. Thank you to everyone who responded with suggestions – we will do what we can to address the problems.