LEDBURY TOWN COUNCIL

Traffic Management Working Party

Tuesday 1st March, 2016 at 7.00pm

At the Town Council Offices

REPORT

Present: Cllrs: Eager, Francis, Harvey, Manns

Residents: David Wood-Robinson, Barry Pringle

1. Apologies

Cllrs Crowe & Mackness and Andy Evans/JMHS, Ed Hogan

2. Parking at Belle Orchard & TROs

Parking issues in Belle Orchard and the TROs currently under consultation were discussed.

3. JMHS transport issues and travel concerns

This item was deferred to the next meeting because no-one from JMHS could attend at short

notice. The question of the status of school travel plans for JMHS and the Primary School was

raised. The schools would be contacted for this information prior to the next meeting.

4. General overview of traffic issues in town

a) Speed Restrictions Inconsiderate driving in New Street, in the Homend, on the Southend and on Bye Street was discussed. The question of whether it was actual or perceived speeding is difficult to address without evidence. There was some uncertainty as to what speed management options, inc moveable SIDs and RADAR messaging signs, were able to be implemented in the above areas of town. There was discussion of the possibility of a blanket 20mph restriction throughout the town. Speeding concerns at an accident spot on the Worcester Road approaching the Eastnor turn were raised by a member of the public in correspondence.

Recommendation: That Traffic Engineers at

Herefordshire Council be

contacted for information

on requirements and

restrictions regarding these

matters

Mr Wood-Robinson repeated his offer of over a year ago to pay for a speed survey in New Street.

Action: That the Clerk ascertain the

cost of a speed survey on

New Street and feed back to

Mr Wood Robinson

b) White Lining/Road Markings

The condition of white and yellow lines in town was discussed. Issues concerning the condition of white lines between the Eastnor turn and Chances Pitch raised in correspondence from a member of the public were also covered. A wholesale examination of the condition of lining in the parish was requested by a member of the public. The possibility of enlisting councillors to assist with such a survey throughout the wards was discussed and the meeting agreed to request the council to consider the matter.

Recommendation: That the council consider

options to undertake an eye

inspection of the condition

of road lines in the parish

c) TROs - Masefield Avenue, Belle Orchard, Queen’s Court, Bank/Homend Crescent Four requests for residents’ parking schemes have been received by Cllr Harvey the areas of the north ward: Masefield Avenue, Bank Crescent (and possibly Homend Crescent), Belle Orchard, Queen’s Court. Mr Pringle confirmed that Masefield Avenue residents were being plagued by inconsiderate parking caused by rail commuters. Cllr Harvey explained the length and bureaucracy of the TRO process required to implement residents’ parking schemes and the low priority they are given by Herefordshire Council. She confirmed she had discussed the prioritisation of schemes in Masefield Avenue, Queen’s Court and Belle Orchard because of their links to impending yellow lining work. Cllr Harvey agreed to find out about the cost of TROs and discuss options to accelerate parking schemes in areas of high need.

Action: Cllr Harvey to investigate

options to progress

residents’ parking schemes

in the north ward

d) Parking/Double Yellow lines See discussions above on parking schemes and lining issues. In addition the poor condition of yellow lines was discussed. Some of these are hampering enforcement in areas of the town. It was agreed to request BBLP to provide information on their planned lining maintenance programme in the town.

Action: The Clerk to request the

yellow and white line

maintenance programme in

the parish for 2016-17 from

BBLP

e) Patching and Potholes The condition of the roads in the town was discussed. Concern at the state of The Homend to Tesco and Bye Street in the town centre and the Lower Road Trading Estate was registered. A number of residential roads are in a socking state due to ribboning of pot holes and erosion of the road surface around hydrant and grain covers. These are

becoming a serious risk to cyclists and motorcyclists and a hazard to pedestrians and wheelchair/buggy users. Roads mentioned included: Martins Way, Biddulph Way – top to bottom, Robinson’s Meadow, Little Marcle Road, Homend from Tesco to the station. The meeting recommended that the Town Council commit to extending its powers under the Lengthsman scheme to include pothole repair – then at least we have the local capability to undertake rapid repairs or temporary patches before the road condition deteriorates too much – subject to funds being available.

Recommendation: That the council commit to

extend its capability under

the Lengthsman Scheme in

2016 to include pothole

repair

f) Knapp Lane Concerns raised by local residents about traffic movement in Knapp Lane were discussed. This is a longstanding gripe which has been investigated on a number of occasions. The most popular traffic management options (Signage and road surface coatings) have already been implemented. Traffic surveys indicate actual speed is not an issue, it is perceived speed in the narrow lane. The group did not consider anything further could be done short of closing off one end of the lane or the other and there was no support for taking such a drastic step.

5. Traffic on Hereford Road – SID status

The current status of this SID was requested.

Action: An update on the status of

this device was requested

of the Clerk

6. Withdrawal of bus service No. 476 Ledbury to Hereford – Monday to Thursday Evening

(refer P.701.16)

No support was obtained from parishes along the route to contribute to the retention of this

service. No feedback was received following the Town Council’s publicity of the risk to the

route in the local press and on the council’s website. The group did not consider it appropriate

for the council to support the significant cost of retaining the late bus service on this route

alone. The group accepted there may be some residents who would struggle to travel to shift

work in Hereford if this service were to be withdrawn, but the town is still well served by the

evening train service to and from Hereford.

7. Any other matters relating to the Working Party

The comments in the county council’s Transport Strategy relating to Ledbury were noted.

Increased parking provision at the station was strongly supported, although quite how this is

proposed to be achieved is not presently understood.

Provision in the county council’s budget for engineering and officer assistance to develop a

programme of costed public realm/transport/road related programmes was welcomed.

Cllr Francis suggested that the Access Group should be invited to attend the next

meeting of the Working Party.

The Town Plan recommendations on traffic and transport management were deferred to the

next meeting.

The matters discussed at the meeting were captured on a large map for collation and

inclusion in a town-wide transport plan.

8. Date of the next meeting and items for the agenda, if required.

DONM to be advised subject to advice regarding the council calendar in the run-up to the

Annual Council Meeting.

Meeting Closed 21:05

Cllr Liz Harvey Chairman 1st March 2016