Agenda and minutes

To approve as a correct record the minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 December 2012, and to authorise the Chairman to sign them.

The minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 11 December 2012 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report attached

The report before Members detailed safety improvements along Hilldene Avenue as part of the Harold Hill Accident Reduction Programme. Transport for London had approved funding of this and other accident reduction programmes as part of the 2012/13 Havering Borough Spending Plan settlement.

A feasibility study and public consultation had been carried out to identify the safety improvements along Hilldene Avenue and had recommended the installation of a humped pelican crossing.  

At the Committee meeting on 11 December 2012, a motion to reject the scheme had been defeated. As the substantive motion to approve had not been supported by a majority vote, no decision had therefore been made. The matter had therefore been submitted to the Committee again.

The scheme proposed to provide a humped pelican crossing together with street lighting improvements along Hilldene Avenue between West Dene Drive and East Dene Drive as shown on drawing No: QL002/H/1. Accident analysis showed 19 personal injury accidents PIAs occurred over a 10 year period. Of the 19 PIAs, 6 were serious; 3 were speed related; 6 occurred during the hours of darkness and 8 involved pedestrians. Of the 20 casualties, 10 were pedestrians at this location. It was considered that the humped pelican crossing would reduce vehicle speeds and subsequently minimise accidents in the area.

Public consultation letters describing the proposals were delivered to local residents / occupiers along Hilldene Avenue, emergency services, bus companies and cycling representatives with a deadline of 30 October 2012.Two written responses were received from London Buses and London Bus Infrastructure. Both indicated that the scheme would not affect them.

The proposed humped pelican crossing would improve pedestrian facility, reduce vehicle speeds and accidents in the area. The report informed the Committee that no respondents objected to the proposal. It was therefore recommended that the proposed measures in the recommendation should be approved for implementation.

During the debate a member of the Committee was of the view that following the recent approval of a new development at Regulatory Services Committee, road and access layouts at the location would change and as a result the scheme should not proceed as the area would be a building site for the next 2 to 3 years.

A motion to recommend rejection of the scheme was proposed by Councillor Kelly and seconded by Councillor Oddy. The motion was carried by 8 votes for to 0 against with 1 abstention.

Report attached

The report before the Committee detailed comments received in response to a public consultation on proposals to provide a loading and parking bay outside 77/79 Butts Green Road and a bus stop clearway outside 69/75 Butts Green Road in support of the implementation of a development at 77/79 Butts Green Road and sought a recommendation to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment that either:

(i)        the measures as described in the report and shown on Drawing F9D08/135A(00)22F (Factor 9 Design) be implemented; or

(ii)      the Head of Streetcare proceeds with the design and consultation on an alternative layout.

Following the appeal by Tesco Stores Ltd that was allowed by the planning inspector, condition 7 stipulated that:

            Prior to the occupation of the development hereby permitted an area within the highway to the front of the site for the loading and unloading of delivery and service vehicles, shall be provided in accordance with a scheme that has been submitted to and approved in writing by the local planning authority. This approved area shall be permanently retained thereafter. There shall be no loading or unloading of goods from vehicles other than from within this approved area.

The proposed layout showed the bus stop being relocated outside 69/75 with a clearway restriction and a single yellow line restriction in front of 77/79 which would permit loading. After discussion with staff, the layout was revised to replace the single yellow line restriction with a multi-use bay for loading and parking.

The proposed layout shown on drawing F9D08/135A (00)22F (Factor 9 Design) was proposed to operate as follows:

·         10am to 2pm – loading as the Planning Inspector limited loading to the new store from 10am and not before (7 days a week).

·         2pm to 6:30pm – pay and display parking (Monday to Saturday)

·         No restrictions would operate outside of these times

Following a public consultation on the proposal, a response was received from Hornchurch Hire & Sales, which objected to the proposals outlining that relocating the bus stop directly outside its premises will block any passing businesses and that at a meeting in their premises there was supposed to be space for three parking/delivery spaces not the two in this proposal.

Tesco Stores Ltd supported the provision of the multi-use bay in terms of loading and    parking. London Buses also supported the proposals as they would provide an accessible bus stop.

During debate, the Committee sought clarification on the requirements to provide loading facilities under the conditions of the planning application P1495.11. Members considered the possibility of alternatives to those proposals laid out in the report. Members were informed of the need to take Equalities legislation into account in considering the design of the parking / loading bay. Members were informed of the practical requirements that need to be taken into account in the design and positioning of the parking / loading bay.:

Councillor Kelly proposed acceptance of recommendation (ii) and this was seconded by Councillor Ower.

By a majority of 7 votes in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 76.

Report attched

The Committee considered a report that detailed three schemes of safety improvement for cyclists using the Roneo Corner gyratory as part of the Local Implementation Plan for 2012/13.  Funding had been allocated by Transport for London to review existing cycle facilities at Roneo Corner gyratory. The scheme was in response to problems with cyclists using the busy gyratory particularly when travelling southbound towards Elm Park, Rainham, Romford or Rush Green.

A detailed feasibility study had been carried out with a view to improve the facilities for cyclists at Roneo Corner gyratory. The objective was to provide safe facilities and connections with the existing A124 cycle route, commencing from the borough’s western boundary and continuing to Upminster via Hornchurch.

As part of the study, it was considered necessary to review trade delivery arrangements for despatching goods by businesses as well as staff and customer parking to ensure that the current arrangements were not impeded.

The collision accident data for the last four years (up to October 2011) compiled by London Road Safety Unit had detailed 15. All PIAs had resulted in slight injury accidents.

          The report proposed the following cycle facilities:

Option 1: retaining the existing layout of the gyratory and conversion of existing footways for shared use and upgrading existing cycle facilities

This option proposed measures relating to converting the existing footways, where feasible, for cyclists to use them safely. The specific measures proposed were:

i)          Eastbound cyclists travelling from Rush Green or Romford to Hornchurch would mount the existing footway on the north side of Hornchurch Road. The existing footway would be converted to shared use by pedestrians and cyclists. The proposals were shown on drawing no. QL035-of-101 included in the report.

ii)        Westbound cyclists would mount the existing footway on the south side of Hornchurch Road (between Upper Rainham Road and Roneo Link).  The existing footway would be converted to shared use. The proposals were shown on drawing no. QL035-of-101 included in the report.

iii)       Southbound cyclists travelling from Hornchurch Road (east of the gyratory) would mount the footway on the south side of the gyratory and continue their journey towards Elm Park or Rainham.  Cyclists travelling from Hornchurch Road (west arm) would use the footway on the west side of the gyratory. The existing footway would be converted to shared use by both pedestrians and cyclists. The proposals were shown on drawing no. QL035-of-101 included in the report.

iv)       At certain locations the footways would be widened to accommodate both cyclists and pedestrians and this had been stated where applicable.  The widening would be limited to the grass verge only and not in the carriageway.

v)         It was estimated that the cost to implement the measures of this option would be less than £60,000. This cost was considered to be modest and could be completed within the financial allocation provided by Transport for London under the Local Implementation Plan for 2012/13.

Option 2: retaining the existing layout of the gyratory and conversion of existing pelicans to toucan  ...  view the full minutes text for item 77.

Report attached

The Committee considered the report and, without debate, RESOLVED:

1.         That the Committee having considered the responses and information set out in this report recommends to the Cabinet Member for Community Empowerment the implementation of a scheme to convert the existing bus stand in Essex Gardens to a 24 hour clearway for buses.  The new clearway would be located on the south side of Essex Gardens from a point 3.5 metres from the western flank wall of No. 2 Essex Gardens, extending westward for a distance of 27 metres. The proposals are shown on drawing no. QL027-of-101.

2.      That it be noted the cost of carrying out the works is £5,000. This would be met by Transport for London through the allocation for 2012/13 Local Implementation Plan for improving reliability of public transport package.

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to work in progress and applications - Report attached

The report presented Members with all new highway schemes requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee would either make recommendations to the Head of StreetCare to progress the scheme or the Committee would reject the request.

The Committee considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service en bloc.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as follows against each request:

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to minor traffic and parking schemes - Report attached

The report before the Committee detailed all Minor Traffic and Parking Scheme application requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee would either make recommendations to the Head of StreetCare to progress the scheme or the Committee would reject the request.

The Committee considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as follows against each scheme: