Background to the Scheme
Introduction
Town centre streets which have mixed traffic and diverse use have been identified as being among the least safe of urban roads in Great Britain.
The Department for Transport (DfT) has set up a national project to look at making town centre streets a safer and more pleasant environment. They invited bids for grants.
Warwickshire County Council submitted a bid for a scheme to improve road safety on the Parade, Victoria Terrace and Bath Street in Royal Leamington Spa which was successful.
Scheme Objectives
The scheme objectives are to:
- Reduce casualties.
- Provide greater safety and priority to pedestrians cyclists and public transport.
- Relocate road space for the benefit of vulnerable road users and public transport.
- Encourage trade.
- Fit in with the town's heritage.
- Be innovative.
The scheme could provide the opportunity to:
- Remove street clutter including some lengths of guard railing.
- Improve street lighting.
- Improve bus facilities.
- Reduce pedestrian and vehicle conflicts.
- Guide drivers to off-street parking.
- Relocate parking from the Parade to side streets.
- Provide more public open space.
- Improve safety and comfort for vulnerable road users such as pedestrians and cyclists.
Creating a safer and more pleasant environment for all.
Background
A report on the proposals was considered by Warwick Area Committee at its meeting on Tuesday 23rd March 2004.
The Committee agreed with the recommendation that a mini-roundabout be included in the scheme at the Clarendon Avenue/Kenilworth Road junction. The original programme for the scheme was to be Summer 2004. However, this would have had a major impact on the town's participation in the Britain in Bloom competition and its hosting of the Women's World Bowls Championships, so the main scheme will now be implemented from January to June 2005.
The Committee also agreed that revised Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO's), which were advertised in January 2004, be implemented. All of the TRO's associated with the scheme (except the 20mph speed limit - which will come into force when the main scheme is complete) will be introduced this Summer. Further details will be posted on this web page when they are available.
Scheme Development
Consultations were carried out on various options for the Safety Scheme in January 2003. The options were also on display at an exhibition in the Royal Priors shopping centre. A workshop was held in February 2003 to discuss the issues raised during the consultation. The responses of the consultees and the Workshop Facilitators report can be seen on the Traffic Management Options page.
The Project Team considered the comments and suggestions received and identified proposals for a scheme. The proposals were presented to a special, public, meeting of the Warwick Area Committee on Monday 2 June. The Committee agreed that formal consultations on the proposals and the associated traffic regulation orders (TRO's) be carried out. This took place in July 2003.
The proposals were well received with specific rather than general concerns. The various comments, suggestions and objections were considered at a further meeting of Warwick Area Committee held on 18 November. The Committee endorsed a slightly modified scheme to the one consulted on in July (subject to a review of the proposals for the Clarendon Avenue/Kenilworth Road junction). The Committee also agreed that most of the TRO’s be implemented and that some revised TRO’s be advertised. This took place in January 2004.
The scheme was approved by the County Council's Cabinet at its meeting on 8 January 2004 subject to further consideration by Warwick Area Committee of the proposals for the Clarendon Avenue/Kenilworth Road junction.
The situation at the Clarendon Avenue/Kenilworth Road junction was reviewed and a recommendation for a mini-roundabout was approved by Warwick Area Committee at its meeting on 23rd March 2004. The Committee also agreed that the revised TRO's be implemented as advertised.
The original programme for the main scheme was to be Summer 2004. However, this would have had a major impact on the town's participation in the Britain in Bloom competition and its hosting of the Women's World Bowls Championships. The latest programme is that some works will be carried out at the Dormer Place and Newbold Terrace junctions in May this year and in both Warwick Street and Regent Street during the Summer but, the main scheme will now be implemented from January to June 2005. All of the TRO's associated with the scheme (except the 20mph speed limit which will come into force when the main scheme is complete) will be introduced this Summer.
Working Groups Members and Ground Rules
A Working Group was established with representatives from local organisations to look at ways the scheme objectives could be achieved. The members and organisations represented on the Working Group are:
- Chamber of Trade
- CLARA - Central Leamington Residents Association
- County Councillor Andy Marshall
- Council of Disabled People
- Cycleways
- District Councillor Bob Crowther
- Leamington Town Council
- Living Streets (formally the Pedestrian Association)
- Old Town Business Association
- Stagecoach
- The Leamington Society
- Town Centre Manager
The Working Group agreed that the scheme must meet the following ground rules:
- Reduce casualties.
- Must give greater safety, priority and amenity to pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.
- Involve reallocation of road space for the benefit of pedestrians, cyclists and public transport.
- Be innovative.
- Be delivered to budget within the timescale (2003 and 2004).
- Have the support of representative groups and the general public.
- Fit in with the town's unique heritage and character and be in keeping with the conservation area.
- Encourage trade.
- Satisfy the needs of the area's residents.
- Go through the democratic processes of the County and District Councils with the final decision made by the County Council's Cabinet.
The fact that the organisations above took part in the discussions of the Group does not imply that any particular organisation supports all or any of the options that have been put forward. |