Lead Member: Councillor Ed Potter, Chair of the Station Gyratory Task & Finish Group

Lead Officer: Claire Braddock, Overview and Scrutiny Officer

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet endorsed the following recommendations from the Station Gyratory Task & Finish Group and requested officers undertake detailed investigations into the identified options and report back with a proposed timetable for further work:

• Continuing delivery of the Road Safety Audit recommendations via the contractor, which are currently progressing.  

• Exploration of configuration changes to the bus stop and cycleway, with the exploration of alternative designs to address safety and usability concerns. 

• The Task and Finish Group has specifically recommended: 

o   Further exploration of Option 3 of the LUF2 Station Gyratory – Project Conclusion Options document which is ‘Revert to 2 lanes of traffic’  

o   With Parallel exploration of Option 2 of the LUF2 Station Gyratory – Project Conclusion Options document which is ‘Change Cycleway to shared use (bus/taxi/cycle)’ to ensure a robust comparison.  

• Clarification of the grant conditions and any potential clawback risk through officer engagement with the funder. 

• Members have highlighted the need for a stronger evidence base to support decision-making, including: 

o   Teleraam data capture, traffic modelling and signal timing analysis 

o   Cycle usage data and validation of existing counts  

• The Task and Finish Group will: 

o   Continue to operate as a collective advisory group, contributing to the development of recommendations 

The Chair of the Station Gyratory Task and Finish Group, presented a progress update on the group's review of the Station Gyratory scheme, which summarised consideration of the interim Road Safety Audit, traffic data, operational impacts, and concerns relating to traffic flow, congestion, the cycleway and floating bus stop arrangement.

The Task and Finish Group reported that most issues identified in the safety audit were minor and capable of being addressed through contractor-led improvements. However, concerns remained regarding congestion, traffic displacement into residential areas, and the operation of the cycleway and bus stop. Members noted the need for further evidence gathering, including traffic modelling, cycle usage data, signal timing analysis and clarification of any potential grant funding implications.

The Group recommended that the Council continue implementing safety audit recommendations, explore alternative configurations for the cycleway and bus stop, and undertake detailed assessment of two options: reinstating two traffic lanes and introducing a shared bus/taxi/cycle lane. The Group also recommended ongoing engagement with emergency services, businesses and other stakeholders.

Cabinet welcomed the work of the Task and Finish Group and recognised the extensive cross-party scrutiny that had been undertaken. The Portfolio Holder for Transport and Regeneration supported the recommendations and emphasised the need to balance traffic flow, bus reliability, public safety and funding considerations. Cabinet agreed that officers should undertake further detailed investigation of the proposed options, including costs, operational impacts and grant funding implications.

RESOLVED:

That Cabinet endorsed the following recommendations from the Station Gyratory Task & Finish Group and requested officers undertake detailed investigations into the identified options and report back with a proposed timetable for further work:

• Continuing delivery of the Road Safety Audit recommendations via the contractor, which are currently progressing.  

• Exploration of configuration changes to the bus stop and cycleway, with the exploration of alternative designs to address safety and usability concerns. 

• The Task and Finish Group has specifically recommended: 

o   Further exploration of Option 3 of the LUF2 Station Gyratory – Project Conclusion Options document which is ‘Revert to 2 lanes of traffic’  

o   With Parallel exploration of Option 2 of the LUF2 Station Gyratory – Project Conclusion Options document which is ‘Change Cycleway to shared use (bus/taxi/cycle)’ to ensure a robust comparison.  

• Clarification of the grant conditions and any potential clawback risk through officer engagement with the funder. 

• Members have highlighted the need for a stronger evidence base to support decision-making, including: 

o   Teleraam data capture, traffic modelling and signal timing analysis 

o   Cycle usage data and validation of existing counts  

• The Task and Finish Group will: 

o   Continue to operate as a collective advisory group, contributing to the development of recommendations.