A254 Road Westwood: Consultation Results & Detailed Design

To: Thanet Joint Transportation Board, 25th September 2008

Main Portfolio Area: KCC – Environment, Highways and Waste

By: Head of Transport and Development, Highway Services

Classification: Unrestricted

Ward: All Division : All

Summary: In April 2008, Kent Highway Services (KHS) distributed consultation packs to local residents, businesses, key organisations and local District and County Councillors, regarding a proposed highway improvement scheme for the A254 Margate Road at Westwood. It is the intention of this report to inform Members of the consultation results and to seek approval to progress with an amended scheme.

For Information

1. Introduction

1.1 KHS are promoting an approved scheme to make improvements to the A254 Margate Road at Westwood. The scheme consulted upon essentially consisted of the widening of the carriageway between the superstores roundabout and the bus hub to 4 lanes (an additional lane for all vehicles in each direction). In addition the opportunity was taken to propose improvements for cyclists and pedestrians with the upgrade of an existing pelican crossing to a toucan crossing, the provision of pedestrian crossing islands and the provision of off road cycle facilities by promoting the existing footway as a shared use pedestrian and cycle path.

1.2 Through the planning process a significant sum of developer funding has been sought to make improvements to the existing road infrastructure in the vicinity of Westwood Cross to ease the impact it is having upon traffic. Some of these funds have been allocated to the A254 Margate Road improvements scheme. Additional funding has been approved through the Local Transport Plan.

1.3 The purpose of the consultation was to provide local residents, businesses and key organisations, including the emergency services, with input in to the detailed design. A number of responses were received including a petition against the use of pedestrian footways by cyclists. A file of the responses is provided at this meeting of the JTB for Members inspection.

2. Consultation Results

2.1 Consultation documents were sent to local residents and businesses along the A254 Margate Road between The Hare and Hounds traffic lights and the Westwood Cross/ Pierce Signs roundabout. In addition the three emergency services, Stagecoach in East Kent and other key organisations including SUSTRANS and the Thanet Cycle Forum all received a consultation pack.

2.2 In addition to the petition against the use of pedestrian footways by cyclists (which was signed by 143 residents) and the comments noted at the residents meeting (held on the 17 th April at St Marks Church), seven other letters were received by KHS in response to the consultation. No responses have been received from Kent Police, Kent Fire and Rescue Service or Kent Ambulance.

2.3 The results of the consultation have been summarised and considered, please see Annex 1.

2.4 Details of the design proposals have been modified to take into consideration where feasible the results of the consultation. The revised plans can be seen in Annex 2. Larger, coloured plans will be on display at the meeting on the 25 th September 2008.

3. Conclusion

3.1 Following the consultation process, amendments have been made to the scheme design through the detailed design process taking into consideration the views expressed through the consultation.

3.2 The main purpose of this scheme is to ease the impact of recent developments on traffic in the Westwood area by providing an extra lane in each direction between the bus hub and the superstores roundabout. Given the link between the developments and increased traffic generation in the Westwood area developer funding has been negotiated through the planning process to bring forward improvements to the local road infrastructure. No comments were received against the proposed road widening element of this scheme.

3.3 Whilst this scheme proposes an increase in capacity for motor vehicles on the A254 Margate Road, facilities for both pedestrians and cyclists are also proposed to complement the road widening to encourage more sustainable travel modes.

4. Recommendation

4.1 It is recommended that Members note the results of the consultation.

4.2 It is recommended that Members approve the revised drawings (B0621300-033-111, B0621300-033-112, B0621300-033-113 & B0621300-033-114) for construction.

Contact Officers:

Kelly Garrett Transport Planner 08458 247 800 (Thanet & )

Background Papers

Consultation responses are on display for Members Inspection Annex 1

Consultation Comment Response Concerns were received over vehicular The turning circles for vehicular access to/ access/ egress given proximity to the from driveways at proposed sites for proposed new islands. pedestrian refuges have been re-checked and can be accommodated. The slight extension of dropped kerbs at some accesses will assist such movements. It was suggested that KHS provide a full It is proposed to widen the carriageway at this bus lay-by by the bus depot. point to allow vehicles overtake stationary buses. The bus operator has informed that they would not like a lay-by in this location as re-joining the traffic may be difficult. A potential safety issue has been raised Jacobs Traffic Signals have been asked to concerning the Bus Hub signals. consider this potential issue when monitoring Pedestrians waiting to cross the these traffic lights. bound carriageway may assume they are free to cross when they see a red light holding right turning traffic. Traffic going ahead may still be on a green light.

It has been suggested that delay Jacobs Traffic Signals have been asked to sequences at Toucan crossings could consider this. be improved It has been suggested that on the There is insufficient width to provide 3 Margate Road arm of the Westwood approach lanes without altering the traffic roundabout, 3 lanes (a left, ahead and island. The alteration of this traffic island right) would assist those not going to would impact upon the ability of large vehicles Westwood Cross. In addition “Keep turning left from Westwood Road to Margate Clear” road markings were thought to Road. This can be considered in the future assist the operation of the roundabout. with any development on the Builders Centre site and proposed Westwood Road widening. It has been suggested that a second Discussions between KHS and Sainsbury’s access into Westwood Cross through are on going. Sainsbury’s would ease traffic levels at the Westwood roundabout & existing access. A resident of Highfield Road informed of There have been no reported personal injury the difficulty experienced in accessing crashes at this junction in the latest 3 years Margate Road from Highfield Road at KHS have data for [to 31/03/08]. present and safety concerns over the Highfield Road/ Margate Road/ Coxes Lane junctions.

The inclusion of a further crossing island This has been considered through the near to Coxes Lane was suggested as detailed design process. There are however a footfall between Coxes Lane and number of constraints including the two bus Highfield Road, particularly by school stops, vehicular accesses and the safety children, is relatively significant. This camera, which prevent a pedestrian refuge would also assist bus users. island being built in this location. The nearest feasible location is as already proposed by No. 419 Margate Road). A designated bus lane for Margate Road Two options were considered at the concept was suggested. design stage. Option 1 proposed an additional lane in each direction for bus priority. As this bus and taxi lane could be used by cyclists the footway would have reverted solely to pedestrian use. Option 2 promoted the second lane in each direction for all motor vehicle traffic with a shared cycleway/ footway on the path on both sides of the road. An earlier meeting of this JTB approved option 2 for further design and consultation due to the better technical performance it would achieve. It was suggested that KHS ought to be This is not feasible given the urban location, providing pedestrian bridges. limits of land within the control of the Highway Authority and the associated costs. There was a request for a Flyover. This is not feasible given the urban location, limits of land within the control of the Highway Authority and the associated costs. Concern was expressed regarding the KHS will avoid any construction during the run potential for “chaos” and delay during up to Christmas. construction.

It was asked if bus driver changes could It is proposed to widen the carriageway by the be made at the bus hub where buses bus depot to allow vehicles to overtake could wait without blocking/ holding up stationary buses. traffic.

It was suggested that the disused rail This is a desirable aim for KHS and has been line between Margate and Ramsgate be highlighted in the Thanet Cycling Plan. Land used for cycle use. ownership issues however make this a long term aim. The most contentious element of this This has been given much consideration improvement scheme has been the through the detailed design process. Given proposed shared use pedestrian and technical and safety standards and highway cycle way. The proposed shared use boundaries it has not been possible to simply facility was considered dangerous by provide an on road cycle lane for the whole local residents. A petition against this length of the scheme. It is possible to achieve has been received (and was reported to an advisory on-road cycle lane in both the 11 th June 2008 meeting of this JTB). directions between the Hare and Hounds It was considered however that if the traffic lights and No 412/ 435 Margate Road cycle path was to remain on the footway (by Invicta Motors). The section of footway it should be segregated and signed/ between the existing pelican crossing (by marked as such. Sainsbury’s/ Tesco) and No. 412 Margate Road is wide enough to accommodate a segregated pedestrian and cycle path. The cycle path would be two way keeping the North Eastern footway free of cycles. There is a short section within this, in front of Lidle, where it is not possible to segregate pedestrians from cycles due to the bus shelter. This short section is proposed to be shared. To negotiate the superstores roundabout a shared use pedestrian and cycle way is proposed. This will tie into the existing off-road facilities at Westwood Cross. This element however is still subject to land negotiations with Sainsbury’s and Tesco.

Annex 2