Fox Hill, Hillsborough and Sharrow Vale 20Mph Speed Limit Report
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Author/Lead Officers of Report: Simon Nelson & Matthew Lowe Tel: 0114 273 6176 Report of: Director of City Growth Report to: Cabinet Member for Transport and Development Date of Decision: 23 January 2020 Subject: Consultation response to the proposed introduction of 20mph speed limits in parts of the Fox Hill, Hillsborough and Sharrow Vale areas. Is this a Key Decision? If Yes, reason Key Decision:- Yes No - Expenditure and/or savings over £500,000 - Affects 2 or more Wards Which Cabinet Member Portfolio does this relate to? Transport and Development Which Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee does this relate to? Economic and Environmental Wellbeing Has an Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) been undertaken? Yes No If YES, what EIA reference number has it been given? 488 Does the report contain confidential or exempt information? Yes No If YES, give details as to whether the exemption applies to the full report / part of the report and/or appendices and complete below:- “The (report/appendix) is not for publication because it contains exempt information under Paragraph (insert relevant paragraph number) of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972 (as amended).” Purpose of Report: To report details of the consultation response to proposals to introduce 20mph speed limits in parts of Fox Hill, Hillsborough and Sharrow Vale, report the receipt of objections and set out the Council’s response. Form 2 – Executive Report July 2016 Recommendations: 7.1 Remove Brier Street, Keyworth Road and Roselle Street from the proposed Hillsborough 20mph speed limit. 7.2 Make the Fox Hill and Sharrow Vale 20mph Speed Limit Orders as advertised, and the Hillsborough 20mph Speed Limit Order as amended in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984. 7.3 Submit a proposal to affect the necessary works to introduce the proposed 20mph speed limit in accordance with the Capital Gateway Process. 7.4 Inform objectors accordingly. 7.5 Introduce the proposed 20mph speed limits. 7.6 Introduce part time, advisory, 20mph speed limits on Parkside Road outside Hillsborough Primary School Psalter Lane outside Clifford All Saints C of E Primary School. Background Papers: 20mph Research Study, Atkins, AECOM and University College London, published by the Department for Transport November 2018. Lead Officer to complete:- I have consulted the relevant departments Finance: Gaynor Saxton 24/12/2019 in respect of any relevant implications indicated on the Statutory and Council 1 Policy Checklist, and comments have Legal: Bob Power/Richard Cannon 9/1/2020 been incorporated / additional forms completed / EIA completed, where required. Equalities: Annemarie Johnston 09/12/2019 EMT member who approved 2 Edward Highfield submission: 3 Cabinet Member consulted: Councillor Robert Johnson I confirm that all necessary approval has been obtained in respect of the implications indicated on the Statutory and Council Policy Checklist and that the report has been approved for 4 submission to the Decision Maker by the EMT member indicated at 2. In addition, any additional forms have been completed and signed off as required at 1. Lead Officer Name: Job Title: Simon Nelson & Matthew Lowe Senior Engineers Date: 22 January 2020 Page 2 of 43 1. PROPOSAL 1.1 In February 2011, Full Council adopted a motion ‘To bring forward plans for city-wide 20mph limits on residential roads (excluding main roads)’. This led to the adoption of the Sheffield 20mph Speed Limit Strategy by the Cabinet Highways Committee on 8th March 2012, the long-term aim of which is to establish 20mph as the maximum appropriate speed in residential areas of Sheffield. Each speed limit is indicated by traffic signs and road markings only. They do not include any ‘physical’ traffic calming measures. To date 23 20mph areas have been completed. 1.2 The Strategy was updated on 8th January 2015, in part to better define how individual roads would be considered suitable for the introduction of a 20mph limit. Broadly speaking, residential roads on which average speeds are 24mph or below will automatically be considered suitable. The inclusion of roads with average speeds of between 24mph and 27mph will be considered on a case by case basis using current Department for Transport guidelines. Roads on which the average speed is above 27mph will not be included unless additional capital funding can be identified for appropriate traffic calming measures to help encourage lower speeds. 1.3 The Initial Business Case for the introduction of these 20mph speed limit in parts of Fox Hill, Hillsborough and Sharrow Vale was approved by the Transport Board on 22 May 2019. 1.4 This report details the consultation response to the introduction of these 20mph speed limits, and a part time, advisory 20mph speed limit on Parkside Road outside Hillsborough Primary school, reports the receipt of objections and sets out the Council’s response. 2. HOW DOES THIS DECISION CONTRIBUTE? 2.1 There is a proven relationship between motor vehicle speed and the number and severity of injury collisions. The Department for Transports’ 20mph Research Study (November 2018) found that the introduction of sign-only 20mph speed limits did not lead to a significant change in collisions in the short term but concluded that further data is required to determine the long term impact. Over the longer term it is anticipated that a gradual increase in compliance with the 20mph speed limit will lead to a reduction in collisions, helping to create safer communities. 2.2 These schemes represent a step towards influencing driver behaviour and establishing 20mph as the default maximum appropriate speed in residential areas. This will contribute to the delivery of: Policy 4 of the Sheffield City Region Transport Strategy 2018- 2040 (Make our streets healthy places where people feel safe) Page 3 of 43 The Council’s Transport Strategy (March 2019) A safer and more sustainable Sheffield (Sustainable safety, safe walking and cycling as standard ) the Fairness Commission’s recommendation for a 20mph speed limit on all residential roads in Sheffield. 3. HAS THERE BEEN ANY CONSULTATION? 3.1 The intention to introduce each 20mph speed limit has been advertised in the local press, street notices put up throughout each affected area and leaflets delivered to all affected properties inviting residents to comment on the proposals (see Appendix A). The Cabinet Member for Transport and Development, local Ward Members and Statutory Consultees have been informed about the proposals. 3.2 The number of people who contacted the Council to comment on each proposal is shown below: Response Leaflets Non- Support Object delivered committal Fox Hill 2100 18 5 2 Hillsborough 6500 102 2 5 Sharrow Vale 3100 55 6 1 Officers have replied in each case, answering questions and clarifying the proposals. A number of people took the opportunity to request highway works not directly related to the 20mph schemes. Each request has been forwarded as appropriate (Streets Ahead for maintenance issues, Parking Services for enforcement of waiting restrictions, Transport Planning for requests for new works etc.). There have been several requests for a 20mph limit to be introduced into areas not covered by these proposals. Each requestor has been informed that the Council will continue to prioritise the roll out of 20mph speed limit areas primarily by the number of collisions resulting in injury in a particular area and the amount of funding available. Fox Hill responses 3.3 All the comments received are reported in Appendix B. They include the support of the Principal of Fox Hill Primary School. Page 4 of 43 3.4 Cycle Sheffield have expressed their support for the new limit but requested the inclusion of Fox Hill Road, Cowper Avenue and Wilcox Road. Seven-day automated speed surveys have identified that average vehicle speed on these roads exceeds 27mph, the upper limit of the Council’s criteria for inclusion within a 20mph speed area. It is recommended that they retain their current 30mph speed limits. 3.5 Three people have asked for the introduction of the lower limit to be accompanied by physical traffic calming or other traffic management measures to help ensure motorists abide by the new limit. Traffic calming can be very effective in keeping vehicle speeds low and reducing the number and severity of accidents, but it is also extremely expensive. Cuts to funding from Central Government for transport related projects mean we can no longer afford such schemes. 3.6 One person has requested that the area be expanded to include Edge Lane where it meets Stubbing House Lane. “This lane is a “rat run” in the morning and evening, with drivers using it as a cut through to Oughtibridge. There is no footpath from the houses around Birley Hall towards Fox Hill until you get to Edge Close. There are dog walkers and children walking up and down this lane… I appreciate the cost of speed humps but think the stretch from Edge Well Crescent to the corner with Stubbing House Lane would help control traffic...” Officer comment: Edge Lane is not street-lit and is therefore currently subject to the national speed limit of 60mph. It was omitted from the scheme as it is primarily rural in character and the implementation of the Sheffield 20mph Speed Limit Strategy is expressly limited to an urban environment with no provision to roll out the lower limit into the rural parts of the city. A request to assess whether measures to assist people walking in this area could be considered has been submitted to the Transport Planning team. 3.7 Officers have received two objections: “I am concerned about the credibility/reason for 20mph. Has there been an increase in accidents or something else. The city is already over cluttered with signing and information on restrictions …Who has asked for this?” Officer comment: The Council policy is to introduce the 20mph speed limit in all suitable residential areas of the city irrespective of the accident record.