Councillor Tonge will respond to a range of community issues regarding highways, transport and car parking in the Community Area.
Minutes:
The Chairman introduced Peter Harris, Martin Rose and Councillor Tonge. He commented that he appreciated that some members of the community have had to wait a long time for a response to their community issue, however in some cases the issue had required further consultation and research or policy reviews from Wiltshire Council. The Area Board welcomed community issues and was pleased to work with partners and the community to try to find solutions.
Peter Harris, Principal Engineer Special Projects, provided information about residential parking schemes (priority parking on the highway). If the town wanted residential parking schemes to be considered, it was the responsibility of the Town Council to first identify suitable places for them. There was a need for substantial ground work to be completed by local people in conjunction with officer support. Councillor Tonge advised that the Parking Strategy appended to the Local Transport Plan was consulted regarding the process. The Town Council were holding an open meeting to discuss car parking on July 12.
With regards to Hudson Road, the request to convert a grass area into residents overspill parking could be costly and problematic due to the land being a former church yard. Any costs would fall to the Town Council and/or the Residents’ Association.
Decision
Councillor Killane would take forward the issue of overspill parking at Hudson Road with the Town Council.
Decision
Malmesbury Town Council and the Residents’ Association undertake survey work and analysis to identify local interest in residents parking schemes, with guidance provided by Wiltshire Council.
Martin Rose, Principal Highway Engineer, then spoke about the speed bumps in the town centre. He thanked the Town Council and Malmesbury and the Villages Community Area Partnership for their survey. He explained there had been a marked reduction in personal injury collision figures since the 20 mph zone and speed cushions were formally introduced in March 2000. In person he had observed the cushions and noted that problems were caused by drivers noticing the grey cushions at a late stage and then traversing them ‘off centre’.
The recommendations from the survey were then considered by the meeting. Martin Rose also put forward some other options:
· Remove the 20 mph zone and traffic calming and introduce a 20 mph ‘sign only’ limit.
· All angular cushions to be removed and replaced with humps with a flat profile extending across the full width of the road.
And then went on to recommend the following which would involve:
· Carriageway resurfacing adjacent to the cushions.
· Provision of solid white lines around the perimeter of the cushions and additional triangular markings on the cushions.
There was a show of hands within the room and 44 people voted for the decision below and 3 for the removal of the speed bumps.
Decision
In light of the personal injury collision data, speed bumps in Malmesbury town centre would be maintained and improvements made.
Councillor Tonge, Cabinet Representative for Highways and Transport, then responded to a range of community issues. Free parking at St Joseph’s School had been requested in order to drop off and collect children from school. Two schemes were in place in the county in Chippenham and Corsham. Their success would be analysed and a policy created by the end of the year. If the Area Board wished, a consultation could then be proposed.
Wiltshire Council had worked with local Chambers to ensure a more flexible approach to season tickets for use in the long stay car park, whereby they were linked to the premise rather than a specific vehicle.
Residents parking permits to use Station Road car park were available to residents of a limited number of streets only at present. This would be extended to a larger number of streets and Councillor Tonge looked to the Area Board to identify other streets that should take part.
Decision
The Town Council would pass their list of potential streets suitable for residents parking permits to the Area Board.