Decision details

Date of Decision:

20 December 2021

Decision Maker:

(Including Job Title)

Simon Moss (Assistant Director – Planning, Regeneration and Transport)

Specific Delegation:

(If any)

Non-specific

Brief Description of Decision:

1.   That the Traffic Regulation Orders for the 7.5 tonne Environmental weight restriction on various roads in the Kimberworth area, as shown on drawing No 126/47/TT23 be approved and that the relevant orders required for their implementation be made.

Reasons for the Decision:

To enable the implementation of the 7.5 tonne Environmental weight restriction on various roads in the Kimberworth area.

The implementation of a 7.5t tonne environmental weight restriction on the A629 Wortley Road should achieve a reduction in NO_x levels and avoid the need to implement more severe restrictions.

Details of alternative options considered and rejected:

A less onerous 18 tonne gross vehicle weight restriction was considered and whilst this may be enough to achieve compliance with air quality standards in theory, in practice limitations of the transport model mean it is not possible to determine this with a high degree of confidence. Moreover, existing restrictions in the area are at the 7.5tonne level and in the interests of easing road user understanding it is considered advantageous to take a consistent approach.

The introduction of a width restriction of 6?-6? (2.0m) was considered. This would prohibit use by heavy goods vehicles and would authorise the use of physical obstructions to prevent access to large vehicles, so addressing the concerns of South Yorkshire Police (SYP) in respect of enforcement burden. However, this would also prohibit buses, which would have to be rerouted as It is not physically possible to provide a bus with the means of by-passing the width restriction. The likely disruption to bus services and passengers of this, and the potential for disruption to bus services to result in mode shift to car contrary to air quality objectives and is therefore considered unacceptable.

Where the decision is made under specific delegation from a decision-making body, the names of any member of the relevant body who has declared a conflict of interest in relation to the decision and name of the body granting the specific delegation and the date when it did so:

NA

Reports or parts of reports considered

The report of the Assistant Director, Planning, Regeneration & Transport - Traffic regulation Orders for the proposed 7.5 tonne Environmental weight restriction on various roads in the Kimberworth area