Agenda item

Further to Minute No. G72 of 2^nd December, 2013, a further report was submitted with regard to permitting cyclists to use the town centre Vehicle Restricted Area (VRA) and to extend the hours of access for loading/unloading.

When submitted to Cabinet on 13^th January, 2014 (Minute No. C164 refers), the Cabinet of the risk to pedestrians and parents with children, blind or partially signed and elderly people.

In order to address the above concerns, it was proposed that cyclists be allowed to access High Street on an experimental basis for a 12 months period with access restricted to the times that motor vehicles can access High Street for loading/unloading purposes.  This would enable an assessment to be made as to whether permitting cyclists in the town centre VRA caused any problems.  High Street was to be used for the experimental TRO as it was on the fringe of the town centre VRA and would be in accordance with the proposed Westgate to Clifton Park Cycle Route.

Permitting cyclists to cycle both ways on High Street would enable the implementation of the proposed Westgate to Clifton Park Cycle Route Phase 1 scheme (Minute No. G81 refers).  Should the Cycle Route be not implemented, the environmental improvements which complemented those made as part of the proposed Town Centre Heritage Improvement Scheme on High Street would not be delivered and, therefore, the environmental enhancement of this part of the town centre would be incomplete.

Should the experimental TRO on High Street prove to be successful, it was further proposed that cyclists be allowed to access the town centre VRA on Frederick Street.

Discussion ensued on the following issues:-

-          Proposed change to hours of access – once the access time had elapsed High Street would revert to being a fully pedestrianised area

-          The “fear” factor was not demonstrated in statistical evidence for the number of incidences of pedestrians being struck by cyclists

-          Signage to reflect the changes

-          Opportunity for environmental improvements to upgrade the existing paving adjacent to the Imperial Buildings to provide a high quality streetscape complementing the proposed Townscape Heritage Improvement works on the pedestrianised section of High Street

Resolved:-  (1)  That the proposed changes to allow cycling in the town centre Vehicle Restricted Area be revised to now permit cycling in both directions on High Street only.

(2)  That the change to hours of access for loading/unloading to the town centre Vehicle Restricted Area from 17.00 to 10.00 to 16.00 to 10.00 be implemented.

(3)  That the proposed changes to permit cyclists to use High Street in both directions between 16.00 and 10.00 be made on an experimental basis for a period of 12 months and during the experimental Traffic Regulation Order period monitoring be undertaken and liaison take place with interested groups on its operation and that objectors be informed of the revised proposal.

(4)  That the proposed Westgate to Clifton Park Cycle Route Phase 1, as reported to Cabinet Member on 13^th January, 2014 (Minute No. 81 refers) be implemented in full.

(5)  That a further report be submitted setting out the outcome of the monitoring of the experimental Traffic Regulation Order on High Street 3 months after implementation.