Petition for the Opening of Lower Corve Street, Ludlow - July 2008
Petition For The Opening of Lower Corve Street, Ludlow – July 2008
Decision Maker:
Penny Spencer - Corporate Director Economy and Environment
e-mail:
penny.spencer@shropshire-cc.gov.ukTel: (01743) 252302Fax (01743) 253172
Summary
A petition has been received by the Council requesting that Lower Corve Street, Ludlow is re-opened to traffic at least in one direction during the works on Burway Bridge. This was from 678 residents and businesses. This was followed by a public meeting chaired by Mr. P. Dunne MP.
A safety audit of the proposals to open this road was carried out and proposals to mitigate the safety implications have been developed.
Recommendations
It is recommended that the Corporate Director, Economy and Environment, in consultation with the Portfolio Holder, Environment and Sustainability, and the Local Members decide to support the petition to re-open Lower Corve Street south bound with the mitigating measures detailed on drawing No.s 755873-100-001/B and 002/B and associate sign details. At an estimated cost of £20,000.
Introduction
1. Lower Corve Street is the Section of Corve Street between Bromfield Road and Coronation Avenue. The loss of Burway Bridge on Coronation Avenue required temporary traffic management to prevent Lower Corve Street and St Mary’s Lane being used as a rat run, either whilst the Bridge was not there or to avoid the temporary traffic signals whilst the temporary bridge was in place.
2. As part of the Bridge Replacement works it was decided to keep Lower Corve Street closed at its southern end (junction with Coronation Avenue).
3. A petition has been received by the Council requesting that Lower Corve Street, Ludlow, is re-opened to traffic at least in one direction during the works on Burway Bridge. This is supported by the local Member of Parliament.
Petition and Public Meeting to re-open Lower Corve Street
4. A petition signed by 678 people was received by South Shropshire District Council and forwarded to the County Council as the appropriate authority. The petition reads “This is a petition by the residents and business people of Lower Corve Street. We are against the closure of our street, it is having a noticeable effect on local people, working and living here, and will also cause huge problems to traffic, and pedestrians in the Henley Road, Gravel Hill, Burway Lane, Bromfield Road, Fishmore, Stanton Road and Many other areas. We wish the road to be open and traffic to flow up Corve Street into town.”
5. It is clear from the number of signatures that the petition is not just from the residents and business people of Lower Corve Street but from other areas within the town.
6. In addition a public meeting was called by Mr Philip Dunne MP on the 20th June 2008 where officers were able to hear the concerns of the local community regarding this ongoing closure. Officers committed to reconsider opening Lower Corve Street south bound, subject to being able to overcome the concerns raised in the safety audit.
7. Residents of Lower Corve Street who were present at the meeting on the 20th June accepted that, as a temporary measure, traffic should be able to use Lower Corve Street but this was on the understanding that it returns to “no motor vehicles except for access” at the southern end once the bridge has been replaced and is fully open to traffic.
Officers’ Comments
8. The loss of Burway Bridge and the subsequent removal of the temporary bridge, in order to carry out the permanent works, have resulted in the diversion of traffic away from Coronation Avenue and onto Henley Road and Gravel Hill. This in turn does have an effect on the traffic in other areas of the town as they suffer delays on Henley Road, Gravel Hill and New Road.
9. The last traffic surveys carried out in October 2002 indicated that approximately 3,500 vehicles crossed Burway Bridge in each direction. Allowing for traffic growth of 3% per year this equates to 4,400 vehicles in each direction. This is likely to have been reduced by the current signing regime and the proposed restrictions.
10. The nature of the road and the junctions at either end of Lower Corve Street prohibit the opening of the road to two-way traffic, and opening north bound was not seen as desirable by the petitioners and would do little to alleviate the congestion at the New Street/ Gravel Hill/Henley Rd junction.
11. In order to use Lower Corve Street south bound, temporary signals would be required at the junction of Lower Corve Street and Bromfield Road to allow a large number of vehicles to safely turn right from Bromfield Road into Lower Corve Street, across the flow of traffic from New Road and Fishmore Road. In addition temporary road humps would be required to ensure that traffic maintained a suitable speed in this narrow road.
12. The width of Corve Street is such that single file traffic can currently pass between parked cars. However, to reduce the volume of traffic indicated above it would be appropriate to restrict access to vehicles less than 3.5 tonne (small vehicles).
13. With the absence of the bridge, Lower Corve Street is the most appropriate route for pedestrians and cyclists, who would be able to use this route to access the school and leisure centre situated on Bromfield Road. The increase in traffic resulting from opening the road would be detrimental to the safety of these people, especially at the junction of Corve Street/Bromfield Road where they cross to the footbridge close to the humped back bridge on Bromfield Road. However, the installation of the signals will allow a temporary footway to be provided on the southern side of the bridge to improve safety for pedestrians and allowing them to cross at a more suitable location.
14. Restricting Lower Corve Street to light vehicles would require a temporary traffic regulation order and continual enforcement by West Mercia Police.
15. A response to the safety audit and the subsequent comments received regarding the proposed scheme is attached as appendix B of this report and should be read in conjunction with the safety audit. However, officers believe that all reasonable measures have been taken to protect the public, whilst carrying out the wishes of the public to have use of Corve Street in a south bound direction.
16. The above proposals would be carried out under a temporary legal notice and, once the works on the bridge have been completed, Lower Corve Street will have to be returned to its original restrictions i.e. two way traffic at the northern end and “no motor vehicles except for access” at the southern end. Similarly, the traffic calming would have to be removed.
Conclusions
17. The proposal to open Lower Corve Street south bound to light vehicle is possible, but will require temporary traffic orders to enable the placing of speed cushions, the restriction of vehicles to 3.5 tonnes and the prohibition of traffic exiting Lower Corve Street onto Bromfield Road.
The proposals also include the installation of temporary signals to enable the safe use of the Bromfield Road/ Lower Corve Street junction and to provide a footway across the humped bridge on Bromfield Road. This is likely to result in some congestion at this junction but may reduce the congestion at New Street/Gravel Hill/ Henley Road junction.
The estimated costs of the proposals shown on Drawings 755873-100-001B and 002/B is £20,000.
Decision(s)
List of Background Papers (This MUST be completed for all reports, but does not include items containing exempt or confidential information)
Decision Report for DMT – Burway Bridge, Ludlow Temporary Traffic Management Measures 27th July 2008
Report Ref SA/762 – Corve Street, Ludlow Possible re-opening during bridge works. Road Safety Audit Stage 2
Human Rights Act Appraisal
These recommendations if approved do not infringe on the privileges or rights that are currently enjoyed.
Environmental Appraisal
The decision to open Lower Corve Street may be slightly detrimental to the environment of the area of Lower Corve Street. However, this may be mitigated by the potential improvements to the environment by decreasing traffic on New Street, Henley Road and Gravel Hill.
Risk Management Appraisal
In determining the course of action, the County Council needs to address the risk of legal challenge to the decision through procedural or other errors. This has been assessed. There is little reputational risk in approving this decision. As appropriate safety audits have been carried out.
Community / Consultations Appraisal
Original Petitions
Public Meeting 20th June 2008
Cabinet Member
County Councillor John Everall
Local Member
County Councillor Peter Corston
County Councillor Vivienne Parry
Appendices
A. Petition and Support Documentation for the Re-opening of Lower Corve Street.
B. Proposed Scheme – Drawing No…………….
C. Corve Street Safety Audit Response July 2008
Appendix A.
Petition and Support Documentation from the residents of Lower Broad Street
Appendix C.
14th July 2008
Corve Street Safety Audit Response
To be read in conjunction with:
Corve Street Ludlow Possible Re-Opening during Bridge works Road Safety Audit - Stage 2 (June 2008)
Item
Summary of Issue/Problem
Response
B1.1
The useable carriage width is 4-4.5m kerb edge to parking bay. – Do not Pursue two-way traffic.
Accepted – Two-way through traffic is not desirable. The Proposal is to restrict access from the south to access only and prohibit access onto Bromfield Rd at the North thereby creating a through route south bound but allowing access only north bound for residents and access thereby reducing the potential risk of increased vehicle speeds.
B1.2
Corve Street is straight with good visibility. One way working is likely to increase vehicle speeds. One way is not recommended. However if it is introduced speed reduction measures will be required.
Accepted – Scheme to be amended to include 2No. speed cushions to control vehicle speeds.
B2.1
The humped back bridge to the west of Corve Street limits visibility for the junction and could lead to accidents if right turn movements into Corve Street are allowed.
Accepted – Temporary traffic lights to be used to control movements into Corve Street and restrict traffic to single lane working on the bridge.
B2.2
Parking of van on bend just before Corve St/Bromfield Rd Junction restricts visibility. Consider additional waiting restriction.
To Be Considered – As the road will be traffic calmed and will be working largely South Bound this is not a dangerous issue.
B3.1
Visibility to the right when exiting Linney is poor. If Corve St is opened at this end it could result in conflicts.
Accepted – Propose to change priority so that traffic exiting Corve St and proceed North to Linney /Corve Street give way to vehicles exiting the Linney.
B3.2
Carriageway marking does not support temporary signing at Linney
Accepted – Marking to be removed.
B3.3
If One Way North Bound option is pursued …………
Not Pursuing this option.
B3.4
If temporary signals are to be used their arrangement would result in significant inter-greens and therefore delays between stages. This could result in driver frustration.
Accepted – However, drivers are experiencing significant delays at the New Street/Gravel Hill junction opening Corve Street south bound may alleviate some of these delays. The intergreen for these signals will be shorter than that used on the temporary bridge, on Coronation Avenue, which operated safely and efficiently Signals still to be used.
B4.1
School Children and other pedestrians use Corve Street and cross Bromfield Road at the end of the Humped Bridge where there is limited visibility. They also walk in the road.
Accepted – As part of the signalisation of the Bromfield Rd/Corve St Junction it is intended to provide a barriered walkway on the south side of this bridge allowing pedestrians to find a safer point to cross. Pedestrians walk in the road as a result of the road closure and reduced traffic as there are adequate footways on both sides of the Corve St.
B4.2
Gap for Cyclist – Corve St Southern end is too narrow
This will be opened as part of the proposals.
B5.1
Street lighting may not be appropriate.
These proposals are a temporary measure and include an advisory 20mph limit in Lower Corve Street. However, the lighting issues will be forwarded to the appropriate team.
Subsequently preliminary scheme drawings were issued to the audit team for their comments. These comments were received on 4th July 2007 – Ref 755873 SA 762a
ItemSummary of Issue/ProblemResponse
1
Diverted traffic should remain on the diversion route (Bromfield Road) and not be signed along Corve Street. Local drivers will become aware the road is open. It may not be appropriate/necessary to provide direction signs.
Partially Agreed – Direction signs to be used but amended to say Town Centre up New Street and Corve Street to the Right/Left. Local traffic will be aware that they can reach town centre via Corve Street.
2.
Direction signs proposed are large and will take up footway space and may affect visibility.
Care will be taken to ensure signs are a suitable size and erected in appropriate locations.
3.
If there is no access restriction at the southern end of Corve St some drivers may be tempted to proceed through the No Entry signs onto Bromfield Road.
There is an existing prohibition of vehicles accessing Corve Street at the Southern end this will also be supplemented by No Through Road Signs.
4.
Motorcyclists may be tempted to use the proposed pedestrian footway on the humped bridge.
Ends of the barriers will be continuing to the kerbs of the existing footways either side of the bridge.
5.
Forward visibility to the proposed Give Way line south of the Linney is reduced by the bend of the road.
The warning signs will be set back to ensure drivers are well informed.
6.
Dimensions of the speed cushions were not provided therefore no comment on the suitability can be made. They should be positioned to ensure that motorists cannot by-pass the humps.
The humps are proposed to be 1600mm Wide by 2000mm Long by 75mm High.
As stated above the useable carriage width is 4-4.5m kerb edge to parking bay and the parking bay is usually occupied so it will be unlikely that vehicles will be able to bypass the cushions
7.
Hump Warning Signs should be erected on Bromfield Rd.
Accepted
8.
Hump Warning signs should be erected on Corve Street
Accepted
9.
As raised previously temporary traffic signals will lead to delays for traffic using the diversion route (Bromfield Rd). This could lead to driver frustration and risk taking (disobeying the signals) or drivers seeking alternative routes.
Accepted – However, drivers are experiencing significant delays at the New Street/Gravel Hill junction opening Corve Street south bound may alleviate some of these delays. The intergreen for these signals will be shorter than that used on the temporary bridge, on Coronation Avenue, which operated safely and efficiently. Signals still to be used.
There are no alternative routes for south bound traffic.
Document prepared and written by Hugh Dannatt – Group Manager Traffic and Highway Engineering. 15th July 20
Penny Spencer -
Recommendations:
Decisions reached:
