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Minutes of the Meeting of the Transportation Committee held on 11th July 2007
MINUTES OF THE MEETING OF THE TRANSPORTATION COMMITTEE HELD ON WEDNESDAY 11TH JULY 2007 AT 7.00 P.M. AT THE TOWN HALL, 9 DEVON SQUARE, NEWTON ABBOT.
PRESENT Councillor Mrs D. Watts (Chairman)
Councillors Mrs C Bunday
H Cole
D Corney-Walker
C Davieson
M Hocking
D Howe
R Leeper
K Lewis
K Purchase
A Vizor
Councillor Mrs G. Leeper attended
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.
108. APOLOGIES.
Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Mrs A. Fry, Mrs G. Gaskell (Vice-Chairman), Mrs S Maddicott, K. Smith and Inspector A. Dower
109. MINUTES.
The Minutes of the Meeting of the Transportation Committee held on 28th February 2007 were received and signed as a correct record.
110. PUBLIC PARTICIPATION
Nil.
111. 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 the first phase of the works would commence on 30th June 2007 and were planned to terminate in mid October for the Christmas break and recommence in the New Year with completion planned for end of March 2008. It was also noted that the tender would be let this week and exact details thereof will be for the contractor to submit and consult upon. Phase 2 (Wolborough Street) would be advertised towards the end of the current financial year.
112. TRAFFIC ORDERS
The Committee noted the copies of the notice of Traffic Orders, together with the plans circulated with the agenda for this meeting.
The Committee expressed the view that in view of the timing of the next Council Newsletter a summary of the traffic orders for the streets set out in minute 111 above would be extremely helpful to members of the public.
113. RESIDENTS REQUESTS
Bob Jones reported on requests made at the last meeting by Mr Mackridge re Torquay Road and from the Annual Town Meeting on 11th April, from Mr Wightman of Church Road. It was agreed to continue to place these items on future agendas of the Committee to allow the Area Engineer South, Mr Brian George to provide updates.
114. A383 ASHBURTON ROAD – GREENAWAY ROAD TO MILE END ROAD
The Committee noted that commencement of works by Devon County Council on a £350,000 highway structural maintenance scheme at this site had been delayed.
The Town Clerk reported that he and the new Town Clerk would be meeting with Area Engineer South, Mr Brian George, and his colleagues in the near future, firstly, to introduce the new Clerk but also to raise matters which the Council required to be discussed at future meetings. The Committee required the following but not exhaustive list to be discussed:-
• Highway structural maintenance scheme A383 Ashburton Road – Greenaway Road to Mile End Road;
• Town centre pedestrianisation and enhancement works;
• Consultant’s report on Coach Road;
• Possible traffic calming measures in Highweek Village;
• Possible removal of grass verges adjacent to bus stops.
115. LOCAL TRANSPORT FORUM
(a) The Committee noted report of meeting held on 18th April.
(b) Matters Arising.
The Chairman reported on representations made by residents in the Mile End Road and Applegarth Avenue areas concerning the apparent discontinuation of the ‘Hail and Ride’ scheme.
The Town Clerk had had correspondence with the Assistant Operations Manager of Stagecoach, Torquay and a copy of his reply had been circulated with the agenda.
Devon County Council Transport Department had been requested to comment on this subject, with a view to submitting a progress report at the next meeting of the Forum.
The Committee requested that a further letter be written to the Assistant Operations Manager of Stagecoach requesting a view for the Committee’s September meeting regarding the likely effects on bus services arising from the proposal for concessionary fares to become operational nationally.
Arising from paragraph 7 on page 3 of the Notes reference was made to the no. 174 bus operated by Country Buses which carried only 16 passengers. As this was a popular service the Committee requested the Clerk to write to Mrs Alison Ellison of Country Buses suggesting they either use larger buses or increase the frequency of the service.
The Committee noted that the next meeting of the Forum would be held on 26th October.
116. ROAD SAFETY AND CYCLING MATTERS.
Members raised the following items: -
The Chairman explained that he was pleased to report that Mr John Halliday of Devon County Council had attended the last meeting of the Cycle Group.
Councillor Purchase explained that he had successfully identified a source to provide cycling proficiency training in Newton Abbot.
117. 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.
It was noted that a brand new shelter was due to be erected on 13th August.
118. STREET NAMING AND NUMBERING.
Nil.
119 LATE CORRESPONDENCE
Nil.
120. DATE OF NEXT MEETING.
It was agreed that the next meeting of the Transportation Committee would be held on 26th September 2007.
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Chairman