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Report to:
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Lead Member for
Transport & Environment
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Date of
meeting:
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18 July
2022
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By:
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Director of
Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title:
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Sea Road, Bexhill:
zebra crossing relocation
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Purpose:
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To consider responses
to the stakeholder and public consultations on the proposed
relocation of the zebra crossing on Sea Road in Bexhill and seek
approval to progress the scheme to detailed design and
construction.
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RECOMMENDATIONS: The
Lead Member is recommended to:
(1)
Note the comments
of the local consultation; and
(2)
Approve the
proposal for the relocation of the pedestrian crossing in Sea Road,
Bexhill as set out in this report with the scheme to be taken
forward to detailed design and construction as part of the 2022/23
Capital Programme for Local Transport Improvements
1
Background Information
1.1.
Through the County Council’s capital programme of local
transport improvements, proposals have been developed to improve
pedestrian safety on Sea Road in Bexhill. The proposals focus on
the relocation of the existing zebra crossing near the entrance to
Bexhill rail station to improve the environment for vulnerable
users crossing Sea Road and encourage a shift towards more
sustainable modes of transport.
1.2.
The scheme will contribute to the County Council’s priorities
relating to reducing carbon emissions, supporting sustainable
economic growth and recovery, and improving health and wellbeing.
2 Supporting
Information
2.
2.1.
The existing zebra crossing is located 5 metres south of the
junction of Endwell Road with the B2182 Sea Road, a route that
provides a north-south corridor from the A269 in Sidley village on
the northern outskirts of Bexhill-on-Sea to the seafront.
2.2.
Following inclusion in the capital programme of local transport
improvements in March 2019, a feasibility study was undertaken to
identify an appropriate location at which to relocate and improve
the current zebra crossing facility along Sea Road. The study was
informed by traffic, non-motorised user crossing movement and speed
data alongside a review of personal injury collisions in the area
to provide a detailed understanding of traffic and pedestrian
issues along the local highway network.
2.3.
The results of a study and pedestrian crossing assessment against
Government guidance fully supported the need for a controlled
pedestrian crossing at the site. However, safety concerns have been
highlighted regarding the close proximity of the crossing to the
Sea Road / Endwell Road junction. Accordingly, proposals were
developed to address these concerns which comprised;
·
Reposition the
existing Sea Road zebra crossing further south to be halfway
between Endwell Road and Jameson Road including dropped kerbs,
tactile parking and pedestrian guard rail on the eastern footpath.
The repositioned crossing would allow drivers exiting Endwell Road
to carry out a full turn manoeuvre before stopping (if required) at
the crossing, which is frequently utilised by pupils as they walk
to and from St. Richard’s Catholic College;
·
The loss of
approximately three ‘Pay & Display’ car parking
bays south of the crossing to necessitate the repositioning of the
crossing.
2.4.
A plan showing the proposed design options is included within
Appendix 1.
Future conversion to parallel
zebra crossing as part of Bexhill Cycle Network proposals
2.5.
Through the capital programme of local transport improvements, the
County Council is currently developing proposals for a new cycle route between Bexhill Station and the
existing National Cycle Network Route 2 (NCN2) along the seafront
linking to the Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park.
2.6.
The cycle route proposals are at an early stage of development and
would utilise the proposed relocated zebra crossing. In doing so,
the repositioned crossing would be constructed to enable its future
conversion to a parallel zebra crossing which will incorporate a
running lane for cyclists, to be used in parallel with the zebra
crossing. The proposed cycle route (including the section which
utilises the zebra crossing) is currently programmed for
consultation in late Winter 2022. The outcomes of the consultation
on the cycle route proposal and the recommended way forward will be
reported to a subsequent Lead Member decision making meeting.
Equalities Impact
Assessment
2.7.
An initial Equality Impact Assessment (EqIA) was carried out for
the proposed design option in order to consider the impact on
groups with protected characteristics. By carrying out the EqIA and
seeking feedback from stakeholder groups, potential impacts have
been identified and all potential actions to advance equality of
opportunity, eliminate discrimination and foster good relationships
have been documented.
2.8.
These impacts include overall benefits for pedestrians through the
improved crossing facilities. The relocated crossing will also be
positioned within a location which benefits from an extensive
footway, thus providing further assistance to wheelchair users.
This will allow wheelchair users to pass pedestrians in areas where
they previously could not.
2.9.
The EqIA also identified that people who are less mobile, have
balance problems, have hearing or visual impairments will be
encouraged and have more opportunities to walk and feel safer when
travelling within Bexhill town centre due to the proposed public
realm improvements, crossing facilities and widened footways. The
EqIA will remain a living document which will be updated at key
stages throughout the life of the scheme.
Stakeholder
Engagement
2.10.
Stakeholder consultation was undertaken between 19 May and 26 June
2020 with key stakeholder groups, which comprised the emergency
services, local cycle groups, disability groups, walking groups,
local bus company (Stagecoach), and members & officers of both
Rother District Council and East Sussex County Council. Of
the nine responses received, 78% supported or strongly supported
the proposals, with the remainder neither supporting or opposing
the scheme. The local County Council member, Councillor Hollidge,
has also confirmed his support for the scheme. A copy of the County
Council Stakeholder Engagement Response Report is attached for
further reference within Appendix 2.
Public Consultation
2.11.
A local public consultation was carried out between 25 February and
25 March 2022. As is standard practice, East Sussex Highways
ensured that people living and working within the area affected by
the relocation of the zebra crossing were aware of the proposals.
Leaflets were distributed to over 400 addresses in the vicinity of
the proposed scheme, with the consultation material made available
on the County Council’s Citizen Space webpage and promoted
through the local media, posters, letters/emails to ward members,
and to disability and access groups. A copy of the consultation
letter, plan and a map showing the extent of the consultation, is
contained in Appendix 3.
2.12.
A copy of the consultation summary report is provided in Appendix
4. There were a total of 31 direct responses, which equates to an
8% response rate. Typical survey response rates can lie anywhere in
the region between the 5% to 30% range, this response rate could be
classed as low however, given the nature of this type of scheme, it
is not unexpected.
2.13.
Overall, the responses received were generally positive with 67% of
respondents in favour of the proposed scheme. However, a total of
33% respondents opposed the design option. Those who did not
support the scheme felt that the zebra crossing should remain at
its current location given concerns for pedestrian safety based
upon how certain businesses currently operate in terms of their
delivery operations. In addition, other respondents highlighted the
loss of parking was also deemed unacceptable given the current
demand for spaces.
2.14.
As the proposals will necessitate changes to the parking
restrictions in the area, amendments will need to be made to the
current Traffic Regulation Order (TRO). These would be advertised
at a future date following the detailed design and prior to
construction. Any unresolved objections will need to be presented
to the County Council’s Planning Committee for their
determination.
3 Conclusion
and Reasons for Recommendations
3.
3.1.
The results from both the stakeholder and public consultation show
that there is overall support for the repositioning of the existing
Sea Road zebra crossing situated just south of Endwell Road to
further south, halfway between Endwell Road and Jameson
Road.
3.2.
The loss of any on street parking, as a result of the relocation of
the zebra crossing would be subject to the advertisement of a
change to the existing Traffic Regulation Order and any unresolved
objections would need to be reported and considered by the County
Council’s Planning Committee. The repositioned crossing would
also be constructed to enable its future conversion to a parallel
zebra crossing which will incorporate a running lane for cyclists,
to be used in parallel with the zebra crossing as part of proposals
being developed for a cycle route between Bexhill station and the
existing NCN2 route as well as the
Ravenside Retail and Leisure Park.
3.3.
Therefore, the Lead Member is recommended to approve the detailed
design and construction for the repositioning of the existing Sea
Road zebra crossing as part of the 2022/2023 Capital Programme for
Local Transport Improvements.
Director of Communities, Economy
and Transport
LOCAL
MEMBERS
Councillor
Hollidge
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS
None