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Minutes of TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2007
PLEASE NOTE THAT THESE MINUTES HAVE NOT BEEN APPROVED AS A CORRECT RECORD AND MAY BE SUBJECT TO AMENDMENT
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 26th SEPTEMBER 2007 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT
PRESENT Councillor Mrs D. Watts (Chairman) Presiding
Councillor Mrs G. Gaskell (Vice-Chairman)
Councillors Mrs C Bunday
H Cole
D Corney-Walker
C Davieson
M Hocking
D Howe
R Leeper
K Lewis
K Purchase
A Vizor
Co-opted Members
Mr Joe Beard - Driving Schools Association,
By Invitation
Bob Jones, Project Engineer (South), Devon County Council/Environment Department.
In attendance:
Representative of the Press: John Balment – Mid Devon Advertiser.
207. APOLOGIES
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs A. Fry, Mrs S Maddicott, K. Smith and Mr John Hartley of the Newton Area Cycling Club.
208. MINUTES
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Transportation Committee held on 11th July 2007 were received and signed as a correct record.
209. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Nil.
210. CAR PARKING – NEWTON ABBOT
The Chairman introduced Sue Edwards, Teignbridge District Council’s Car Parks Officer, who had been invited to attend the meeting to address the Committee on the implications of proposed changes to the District Council’s car parking policy in the District.
Ms Edwards explained that the Order, which contained a number of changes to policy, had already been made to enable it to be consulted upon. The reasons for the changes were to make charging in the Council’s 77 car parks uniform throughout the District; to ensure the Council was maximising the efficiency and effectiveness of its assets and to maximise income in view of its estimated £1.3m budget deficit. The latter mainly caused by the District Council’s responsibilities for the Concessionary Fares Scheme.
The options considered by the District Council included the following:-
• ‘Free to fee’;
• Uniformity of charging i.e. Sundays, Bank Holidays and evening/overnight;
• Contracting out the car park service;
• Joint provision.
As a result of consideration by the Council’s Executive and Overview and Scrutiny Board the current proposals were agreed. In relation to Newton Abbot, these meant the extension of charging to Sundays and Bank Holidays and the introduction of a 60p per day charge for the Decoy Country Park car park.
The Committee was invited to ask Questions of Ms Edwards and commented upon the policy changes. Members were particularly concerned with plans to make a full charge on Sundays and Bank Holidays, together with introducing a daily charge for the previously free Decoy Country Park car park. The rationale for introducing Sunday & Bank Holiday charges to make car parking uniform throughout the District was not considered an appropriate ambition as it did not take into consideration the nature of Newton Abbot being a shopping town, whereas the coastal towns tended to be more tourism orientated. Therefore, visits were for very different reasons. Newton Abbot had recently started to encourage a Sunday shopping culture, as other larger town enjoyed. The decision to charge would have a severe effect on this trend, especially where there was competition from towns where charges were not made on these occasions or at least have a differential rate to other days of the week.
With regard to introducing a charge for Decoy Country Park, Members were concerned with the implications for such an important amenity and the likelihood of the charges forcing visitors to park on the surrounding highways.
In relation to both the above issues, Members were concerned that the likely increases in enforcement having the effect of negating the additional income hoped for.
Arising from consideration of the issues raised it was:-
RESOLVED
(a) that Teignbridge District Council be informed that Newton Abbot Town Council condemns the proposal to extend charging in its car parks on Sundays and Bank holidays and introduce a charge at the Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot;
(b) that as soon as is practicable, Teignbridge District Council ceases to make charges on Sundays and Bank Holidays and at the Decoy Country Park, Newton Abbot.
Councillor D Corney-Walker requested that his name be recorded as having voted against the above resolutions.
Councillors Mrs G Gaskell, K C Lewis and A D Vizor requested that their names be recorded as having abstained.
At the conclusion of discussion on the item, the Chairman thanked Ms Edwards for her attendance whereupon she left the meeting.
211. NEWTON ABBOT PEDESTRIANISATION PRIORITY AND ENHANCEMENT WORKS – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT
The Chairman welcomed the Project Engineer (South), Devon County Council/Environment Department, Mr Bob Jones, who gave a progress report and answered Members questions on the works being carried out in Lower East Street, Highweek Street and Market Street and Bank Street. It was noted that commencement of the first phase of the works had slipped from 30th June to 12th September 2007 and were planned to terminate by the Christmas lights switch-on on 17th November for the Christmas break. Work would recommence in the New Year with completion planned for toward the end of March 2008. It was noted the successful contractor was Bardon Contracting; the contractor was required to place a plan of the proposed works on site for the public to view. It was explained that Phase 2 (Wolborough Street) would be advertised towards the end of the current financial year but it was hoped that it might be able to be let to the current contractor.
Arising from matters raised by Members, Mr Jones explained that arising from negotiations between the District and County Councils, finishes to the works would be as originally specified and assured the Committee that there would be no reduction in quality. Reference was also made to timings for the specialist traffic signals to be installed in Highweek Way. It was suggested to Mr Jones that as Newton Abbot was not an Easter trading town and that the school holidays did not coincide with the Easter weekend in 2008 it would not be necessary to suspend activity during that period.
212. TRAFFIC ORDERS
The Committee noted the copies of the notice of Traffic Orders, together with the plans circulated with the agenda for this meeting.
213. BUS INFORMATION STRATEGY 2006 - 2011
The Committee gave consideration to submitting comments on Devon County Council’s draft consultation document entitled ‘Bus Information Strategy 2006 – 2011’ (previously circulated). The Committee also noted comments on the consultation document submitted by Mr A Morley.
Arising from a discussion on the Bus Information Strategy, the Committee agreed it welcomed the document and requested the Chairman and the Town Clerk to formulate a response on behalf of the Committee.
Councillor Corney-Walker referred to certain inconsistencies with the views expressed by Mr Morley in his comments on the Strategy which the Committee noted.
The Committee also noted concerns expressed by Councillor Lewis about the potential dangerous positioning of a bus stop near Whitehill Close, Newton Abbot. It was agreed the Clerk would write to Stagecoach drawing the matter to their attention.
214. ROAD SAFETY AND CYCLING MATTERS
Members raised the following items: -
Members discussed issues generally relating to safety for cyclists and anti-cyclist activities by motorists. Mr Jones requested that if the Cycling Club had details of such activity it should be reported to the County Council. Councillor Corney-Walker undertook to pass the advice onto the Cycle Club.
Councillor Purchase explained that the identified a source to provide cycling proficiency training in Newton Abbot was progressing.
215. BUS SHELTERS
The Town Clerk reported correspondence which he had had with Adshel concerning the damaged bus shelter near Sainsbury’s adjacent the Penn Inn roundabout culminating in the shelter having been replaced on 13th August 2007.
Councillor Lewis reported the state of poor décor and cleanliness of the bus shelters adjacent to the Bus Station and Market. The Clerk undertook to write to Teignbridge District Council requesting the matter be addressed.
216. STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING
(a) The Committee received a request from a developer to name its new housing development at St. Marychurch Road, Newton Abbot ‘Milber View’. Members felt the proposed name was totally inappropriate. The Committee therefore requested that the developer propose a name which is tree related along the lines of the other names in the area and to also incorporate ‘Court’ rather than ‘View’.
(b) The Committee noted additions/amendments at the following locations 9previously circulated):-
i. 1 Mount Pleasant Road;
ii. 61A Wolborough Street;
iii. 83 and 83B Wolborough Street;
iv. Decoy Road;
v. South Whilborough.
217. STRATEGIC WORKING PARTY
(a) The Committee received reports of Strategic Working Party meetings held on 5th September and 18th July 2007 (previously circulated);
(b) Consideration was given to the Committee’s priorities for the next three years as requested by the Strategic Working Party for inclusion in the Core Strategy. It was noted that the next meeting of the Strategic Working Party is scheduled for 18th October 2007.
Members referred to the matter of traffic congestion in and around Newton Abbot. Mention was made of the possibility of the centre becoming pedestrianised and the surrounding roads becoming one-way? To achieve such an ambition it is clear some form of traffic study would be required. The Committee therefore discussed the possibility of budgeting for the commissioning of such a study. However, Mr Jones, referred to the many initiatives already being carried-out by Devon County Council in this regard.
Accordingly, it was agreed that the Clerk would write to The Area Engineer of Devon County Council inviting him or a colleague(s) to attend the next meeting of the Committee to make a presentation on what the County Council has planned. It was also agreed that a letter be written to the Ambulance and Fire Authorities requesting their view on effects on their services caused by the severe traffic congestion experienced in Newton Abbot.
218. DATE OF NEXT MEETING
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Transportation Committee would be held on Wednesday 7th November 2007 to consider the budget for 2008/09.
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Chairman