MARGATE HIGH STREET - 20MPH SPEED LIMIT – Member Highway Fund Scheme

RESULTS OF CONSULTATION

 

To:                               Thanet Joint Transportation Board, 23rd November 2011

 

Main Portfolio Area:     KCC – Enterprise and Environment

 

By:                               Director of Highways, Kent County Council

 

Classification:              Unrestricted

 

Ward:                           Margate Central                       Division: Margate and Cliftonville

 

 

Summary:                   The report summarises the results of the consultation for a proposed extension of the existing 20mph speed limit in Margate High Street.

 

For Decision

 

 

1.0       Introduction and Background

 

1.1              Kent County Council (KCC), is proposing the introduction of an extended 20mph speed limit to include the upper and lower parts of Margate High Street.

 

1.2              Residents and business owners have requested that Margate High Street either be made 20mph for its whole length or that the upper part of the High Street is pedestrianised for a longer duration each day. The High Street is currently designated as a pedestrian zone from 10.00-16.00 (all other times entry for access only).

 

1.3              The principal scheme aim is to improve pedestrian safety and advise drivers that they need to maintain lower speeds in the busy pedestrian zone. To ascertain if a speeding issue is currently present, a speed survey is to be conducted in the Southern part of The High Street. It is hoped that the results from this survey will be available for the Thanet JTB on the 23rd November.

 

1.4              No recorded crashes have been identified in the upper section of Margate High Street (southern) in the last three years, and there is no notable crash record present in the lower part of The High Street (northern).

 

2.0       Summary of consultation response

 

2.1       A scheme proposal was prepared and a traffic regulation order (TRO) consultation was carried out at the end of October. The scheme proposal may be seen in Annex 1.

 

2.2              The consultation period ran for 3 weeks, from 30th October to 21st November 2011. Site notices were erected along Margate High Street and nearby roads and a newspaper advert was displayed in the Kent on Sunday. Additionally councillors and other statutory consultees were sent consultation packs via post.

 

2.3              Responses to this consultation will be updated verbally by the District Manager at this JTB.  

 

2.4              All of the consultation information was made available on the www.kent.gov.uk website, which included the opportunity to comment via an email feedback form. Other consultees directly contacted included Thanet District Council, the local District and County Councillors, the emergency services and bus companies.

 

2.5              A copy of the consultation responses can be viewed upon request.

 

3.0       Financial

 

3.1       The scheme will cost £2, 965 to implement. This will include the cost of signing the new speed limit and the removal of existing speed terminals signs at the junction of The High Street and New Street. Kent County Councillors Michael Jarvis and Chris Wells have chosen to use some of their Member Highway Fund allocation to progress and construct this scheme.

 

4.0       Conclusion

 

4.1.1        At the September JTB district councillors suggested a proposal to extend the times for excluding vehicles from the pedestrianised High Street. Primarily a decision needs to be reached as to whether members want to proceed with either:

 

4.1.2        An extended 20mph speed limit.

 

4.1.3        An extension of the current times for the prohibition of vehicular traffic in the High Street (additional information to be supplied by councillors). Members need to remember that the current times for prohibiting traffic allow for deliveries, to change these could be problematic for local businesses.

 

5.0       Recommendation

 

4.1.4        Based on the results of the TRO consultation and the Transport Survey it is recommended that the 20mph scheme proceed as outlined.

            

 

Contact Officer:

Ryan Shiel, Traffic Engineer   08458 247800

Reporting to:

Andy Corcoran, Traffic Schemes and Member Highway Fund Manager

 

Annex List

Annex 1

Scheme Proposal / Plan

 

 

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MARGATE HIGH STREET - 20MPH SPEED LIMIT – Member Highway Fund Scheme

Annex 1 – Scheme Proposal / Plan