Agenda item

Agenda item

Downs Road One-Way Scheme - Report on Consultation

 

The Committee are asked to consider and comment on objections to a traffic regulation order to remove the one way system in Down's Road, Dunstable, taking into account the results of a public consultation.

 

Minutes:

 

The Chairman invited four speakers to address the Committee in relation to the proposed removal of the one way system in Downs Road, Dunstable. The speakers against the proposals raised issues that in summary related to the following:-

·           The volume of cars using the road prior to the implementation of the one way system, described as a ‘rat run’ and the subsequent improvements to safety, pollution and quality of lives since the scheme was adopted.

·           That the one way system had the desired effect of dispersing traffic across the area the outcome of which was that the volume of cars was not centred on one road.

·           Concerns that residents from other areas were unaccepting of a compromise of shared traffic volumes.

·           That any decision to remove the one way system be delayed until a full traffic assessment had taken place, due in 2017 during the de-trunking of the A5.

·           Concerns that residents of Downs Road had not been informed of a recent public meeting.

·           That traffic camera data figures were misleading.

·           That cyclists and children had been vulnerable to dangerous driving in Downs Road prior to the one way system.

·           That the proposal to remove the one way system was based on a flawed report.

·           That the consultation had been too simplistic.

·           That funds be put to better use and improvements made on existing measures already in place.

 

The speaker in favour of the proposals raised issues that in summary related to the following:-

·           That there was universal support for the removal of the one way system in the areas surrounding Downs Road.

·           That there were no unsustainable traffic volumes in Dunstable, including Downs Road.

·           That the one way system had been designed to deter ‘rat runners’ but it hadn’t reduced the traffic within the wider area, only dispersed it to other roads.

·           Concerns at the suggestion to defer the decision until 2017.

·           That the Council take action based on the majority view.

 

In light of the comments the Ward Member for Dunstable Manshead acknowledged the valid concerns of the speakers, highlighting the current and future costs of any change and the impact of any decision on all residents.

 

The Ward Member for Dunstable Central voiced disappointment that costs had not been factored into the report and highlighted concerns that moving the volume of traffic from one road to others had not solved the problem, simply moved it elsewhere. In addition there was no evidence that the de-trunking of the A5 in 2017 would have any effect on traffic in the area.

 

The Executive Member for Regeneration informed the Committee that the Freight Strategy had recently been implemented which would alleviate heavy goods vehicles from the area with immediate effect. In addition the Directorate were evaluating particularly difficult areas, the intention being to introduce measures to relieve traffic further.

 

Members discussed the proposed recommendations and the impact each option could pose, clarifying the different choices available to them.

 

RECOMMENDED that the Chairman of the Traffic Management Committee defer any decision until after the de-trunking of the A5 and a full traffic assessment undertaken.

 

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