Agenda and minutes

7.1       The Lead Member confirmed as a correct record the minutes of the meeting held on 21 June 2018.

8.1       Reports referred to in the minutes below are contained in the minute book.

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

9.1       The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport.  

9.2       Councillor Natalie Crabtree, of Burwash Parish Council, spoke as the Lead Petitioner to set out the Parish Council’s strong desire to address traffic issues in Burwash High Street.   

DECISIONS

9.3       The Lead Member RESOLVED to inform the petitioners that:

(1)        The footway is not wide enough to allow for strong and substantial bollard protection to be installed for the houses on the southern stretch of the pinch point;  

(2)        The introduction of a 20mph speed limit through the village, chicanes at either end of the village and the provision of pedestrian crossings in the village would not be a priority for the County Council at the present time;

(3)        The County Council would not seek to restrict the movement of HGV’s using the A265 through Burwash;

(4)        It is not appropriate for signs to be installed to warn generally of pedestrians and elderly people using the footways and crossing the road in the village or for signs to be erected to inform drivers not to drive on the footway; 

(5)        The proposed double yellow lines will help to reduce conflict at the pinch point reducing the likelihood of larger vehicles mounting the footway on the southern side of the road; 

(6)        The County Council  would have no objection in principle for more bus stops in safe places but these would need to be promoted by the bus operators(s) and the costs would need to be met from an external source or considered through a Community Match application; and   

(7)        Burwash Parish Council could consider a Feasibility Study at a cost of £500 to explore some of the options presented in the petition as the A265 through the village is not a current priority for the County Council.

Reasons

9.4       Appropriate improvements could be considered should an alternative source of funding become available or if an application through Community Match was successful. In order to determine what measures could be suitable in the village prior to a Community Match application, it is suggested that the Parish Council commissions a Feasibility Study at a cost of £500. This will help to identify possible improvements for further discussions and provide the Parish Council with an estimate of what they might cost to assist in their budget considerations. 

9.5       The Parish Council was encouraged to conduct speed surveys, to help determine the most effective measures that could be put in place, before the full Feasibility Study is commissioned.  The Parish Council was also advised to do a village survey, potentially in tandem with the Neighbourhood Plan consultation, to establish the levels of support for the various proposals put forward.

9.6       The Parish Council was offered the assistance of Traffic Safety officers in drafting the specifications of any Feasibility Study, to ensure that the most effective result is achieved.  

Report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport

10.1     The Lead Member considered a report by the Director of Communities, Economy and Transport. 

10.2     Ms Ania Sztopel spoke as the Lead Petitioner to re-affirm the severity of the problem of speeding in Stonestile Lane, and to query the accuracy of the speed survey data. 

DECISIONS

10.3     The Lead Member RESOLVED to advise the petitioners that (1) a 30mph speed limit on Stonestile Lane supported by traffic calming and traffic signs is not a priority for the County Council at the present time; and

(2) an application through the County Council’s Community Match scheme could be considered.

Reasons

10.4     Following the submission of the petition, a speed survey was carried out. The survey was conducted from 12 June to the 20 June 2018 and indicated average speeds of 30mph northbound and 31mph southbound.

10.5     The request for a 30mph speed limit and supporting traffic calming measures has been assessed to determine if it might be a priority for future consideration. The proposal did not meet the benchmark score to enable it to be taken forward at this time.

10.6     Whilst the introduction of a 30 mph speed limit with supporting traffic calming is not a priority, the Lead Petitioner was encouraged to discuss the issue with the local County Councillor, Hastings Borough Council and Westfield Parish Council to see if they might consider supporting an application through the Community Match Scheme.