Committee and Date Item
Central Planning Committee
10th May 2012 7
Public
Shrewsbury Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme
Responsible Officer Samantha Tharme Email: Samantha.tharme@shropshire.gov.uk Telephone: 01743 255438
Summary
This report outlines proposals for the Shrewsbury Northern Gateway Enhancement scheme: Additional signal controlled pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities Wider pavements Conversion of footways to shared use for walking and cycling Changes to on-street parking on Chester Street Landscaping and lighting improvements Upgrade of existing traffic signals Resurfacing of road and pavements.
It is proposed to deliver the scheme entirely through external grant funding, from Growth Point (CLG funding), Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Connect2 (SUSTRANS) and developer contributions.
The Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme is a high profile project for Shropshire's county town. It offers significant opportunities to combine major improvements in the street scene with essential highways and signals maintenance and safer facilities for walking and cycling. The proposals have been developed with careful thought to traffic management and road safety as well as availability of budgets, plus consideration of ways to conserve and enhance the town's attractiveness to visitors and the local community.
A two-day public consultation event at the Gateway was well-attended and over 100 feedback forms were received during the consultation. The summary of feedback shows strong support for all the key proposals.
Recommendations
The Committee is recommended to:
Approve the full proposals for the Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme see plan in Appendix A 1030659-P-006A) and delivery of the scheme during the current financial year (2012/13.
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012
Report
BACKGROUND
1. The Northern Gateway area is a key access point for people entering Shrewsbury (whether by car, train, bus, on bike or on foot). On a typical weekday, over 2,000 journeys are made by foot and bicycle along Castle Foregate, 11,000 motor vehicles enter the town along this road and over 2,000 passengers use Shrewsbury Railway Station.
2. At street level, the Northern Gateway area is dominated by traffic. Overhead, the railway bridges block out the daylight and attract pigeons. Every day, thousands of people walk into town along Chester Street and Castle Foregate, yet there are only two formal crossing points provided (Cross Street and Castle Gates).
3. The traffic signals are outdated and can no longer meet today's standards or cope with traffic capacity. The road surface is becoming worn and pavements are in need of a 'tidy up'. The current condition of this area does little to complement some of Shrewsbury's finest buildings including the Station and Castle.
4. Buses and coaches are regularly delayed as they travel around the gyratory or when trying to pull out of bus stops on Castle Foregate. Further delays to all traffic in this area are caused when high vehicles become wedged in the Cross Street railway bridge, (approximately twenty times per year) and have to await recovery vehicles.
5. Shropshire Council reviewed these problems and considered over 30 different options for highway improvements. Six options were developed further however and after traffic modelling of these, a single option is now proposed containing a variety of measures. Options that have been considered but rejected due to traffic capacity, safety or other issues include:
two way flows on Castle Foregate; two way traffic flows on Chester Street; a reversal of traffic flow in Cross St; zebra crossings; mini roundabouts; and reduction in traffic lanes on Chester Street and Smithfield Road.
6. Landscaping works are an integral part of the Enhancement Scheme and improvements to lighting, street furniture and planting are included. These are being developed in more detail alongside the highway proposals.
7. The Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme forms part of other strategies for Shrewsbury, particularly the Shrewsbury Vision and Connect2 walking and cycling project.
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012 8. Shrewsbury was awarded Growth Point status in 2006, and given £6m for infrastructure projects and essential studies to support sustainable growth. The Shrewsbury Vision Regeneration framework establishes a clear strategy up to 2026. Within the overall Shrewsbury Vision, there is a comprehensive plan for the Northern corridor; to create a vibrant and distinct area that can act as a prime gateway.
9. Shrewsbury is also one of 79 places across the UK which receives Connect2 funding towards new infrastructure to encourage walking and cycling. The Northern Gateway is a key hub in Shrewsbury's Connect 2 network, connecting Welsh Bridge and Smithfield Road with traffic-free routes in north Shrewsbury.
PROPOSED SCHEME
10. The objectives of the Enhancement Scheme are to:
create a more welcoming environment as people arrive at Shrewsbury’s ‘Northern Gateway’ make it safer for people to cross the road; between the town centre, Shrewsbury Railway Station, Shrewsbury Mail Centre and the Gateway Centre provide more space for walking and cycling reduce delays to local and long distance bus services; and cut congestion (particularly on Coton Hill) by managing traffic flows
11. There are a number of key proposals (see consultation plan no 1030659- P-006A):
Key proposal 1: Junction of Castle Foregate, Cross Street and Howard Street new pedestrian and cycle crossing on all junction arms footways widened
Key proposal 2: Castle Foregate widening of both footways on Castle Foregate, providing shared space for pedestrians and cyclists bus/ taxi/ cycle lane is removed retaining two traffic lanes.
Key proposal 3: Castle Foregate (in front of Shrewsbury Railway Station) single bus stop is provided on Castle Foregate (merge of two existing) bus/ taxi/ lane removed new cycle lane - short link to junction
Key proposal 4: Junction of Castle Foregate, Castle Gates and Smithfield Road new pedestrian and cycle crossing on all junction arms
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012 Key proposal 5: Junction of Smithfield Road and Chester Street new bus stop space for landscape improvements. widened refuges at crossing of Smithfield Road
Key proposal 6: Chester Street (west) widened footway along the river side providing shared space for pedestrians and cyclists bus stop relocated and parking is retained changes to the traffic lanes allow merging
Key proposal 7: Chester Street (east) widened footway providing shared space for pedestrians and cyclists parking bays removed
Key proposal 8: Junction of Chester Street, Coton Hill and Cross Street new traffic signals junction with pedestrian and cycle crossing facilities on each arm bus stop on Coton Hill relocated
Key proposal 9: Streetscape improvements new street lighting provided around the whole of the gyratory, enhancing the look, feel and safety of the area architectural lighting of the railway bridges improvements to pavement quality
12. Following public consultation and a safety audit, some additional proposals are now included:
Landscaping and lighting. To help enhance the link of this area into the town centre, it is proposed to use Yorkstone paving on Castle Foregate for the length of the railway station frontage, as well as at the side of the junction of Chester Street. As an addition to the high quality paving trees could be planted and up-lighters installed to illuminate the area. All lighting is proposed to be new standard low energy use. Castle Gates (Smithfield Road to Meadow Place). The bus lane will be removed. The existing parking/ loading bay (west side) will become a two-way cycle track, shared use area, and a loading bay retained on the west side of the street. The start of the bus lane will be just south of the junction with Meadow Place. This is to reduce pedestrian and cycle conflict on the pavement between Smithfield Road and Meadow Place. It has been discussed with bus operators and is not expected to have significant impact on traffic as there is only a single lane leading into this section, and the bus lane will start just beyond Meadow Place, giving access to bus stops and retaining advantage to buses (taxis and cycles) at busy times on the critical stretch of Castle Gates.
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012 Advance bridge warning signs Vehicle activated signs, warning of the low bridge on Cross Street, will be installed on approaches to the town centre.
CONSULTATION
13.This proposal has been subject to a consultation exercise during March and April 2012. Consultees included local residents and businesses, bus operators, emergency services, local members (Shropshire Council and Shrewsbury Town Council) and Connect2/ Cycle Shrewsbury Steering Group.
14.During March and April 2012, various stakeholders were contacted to ask for their views on the proposals. The methods of consultation included:
Full details on Shropshire Council and Cycle Shrewsbury websites plus information on BBC online, Shropshire Star and Shrewsbury Civic Society websites Plans on display at the Gateway Centre, Guildhall, Shirehall. This included a two day, staffed exhibition at the Gateway, 21-22 March Fliers, letters and e-mails to adjacent residents and businesses, stakeholders, Shropshire Council members and officers Shropshire Council newsroom item, followed by coverage in Shropshire Star, Shrewsbury Chronicle, BBC Midlands Today and BBC Radio Shropshire Discussions at Shrewsbury Town Council Planning Committee and Connect2/ Cycle Shrewsbury Project Group (see background papers for minutes of these meetings)
15.103 feedback forms have been received. About 75% of respondents were Shrewsbury residents. Over 90% of people thought that this area needs improvement. The key proposals were very well-supported with over 80% supporting key proposals 1, 3, 4, 5, 8 and 9 and over 70% supporting key proposals 2, 6 and 7. The majority of respondents also gave additional comments. Full analysis of these responses is included in a report, available as a background paper.
16.In addition to the feedback forms, comments (see appendix B for summary) were received from:
Shrewsbury Business Chamber Morris Lubricants West Mercia Police Shrewsbury Town Centre Residents Association Arriva Shrewsbury Access Group Shropshire Fire Service Local resident Cyclists Touring Club
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012
17.In developing this scheme, Shropshire Council officers met with representatives from Network Rail, Arriva Trains Wales and Arriva buses. These organisations have been supportive of the proposals and suggested some improvements to the road layout.
18.The main consultation issues are described below, together with proposed actions.
Consultation issues Proposed actions
Pedestrian crossings - The new and improved crossing opportunities comments that improvements to are a key element of this scheme. No further the pedestrian crossings in this crossings proposed as scheme design area were long overdue. Some considered comprehensive for this junction. asked for additional facilities; for pedestrians crossing at the corner of Chester Street and Smithfield Road; for pedestrians crossing Castle Foregate near Cross Street to improve access to the Railway Station.
Shared use – concerns about In general, the preferred provision for cycling in sharing of the footway by town centre streets is on the carriageway, but pedestrians and cyclists. the Chester Street gyratory is a busy and complex junction with difficult lane manoeuvres Many respondents wished for a which are particularly intimidating for cycling. clear delineation between space for pedestrians and cyclists. The footway widening will increase the space available and reduce the potential of conflicts between cyclists and pedestrians. Delineation between pedestrians and cyclists is not considered appropriate because of the varying widths of the pavement. Work undertaken so far indicates that this arrangement can work well, and monitoring of use once completed will be undertaken.
It is expected that many confident cyclists will remain on the carriageway as the new signal controls provided better for them through the junction.
Cycle provision – concern that The Enhancement Scheme is a combination of this is prioritised to the detriment improvements, with a particular objective of of other users making it safer for walking and cycling, in line with wider Council priorities. Improvements to vehicle flow should also be seen as a result of new linked traffic signals.
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012 Traffic flows – suggestions that These new signals will link in with signals at traffic flows in the town centre Frankwell, Welsh Bridge, Raven Meadows and should be considered holistically. Berwick Road, which will allow better co- Including one suggestion that town ordination and control of town centre traffic in centre should be closed to through the future. traffic. Further medium/long term changes in the town centre are under consideration and will not be precluded by this work, which is considered important for this area of town in the short term.
Traffic congestion – concerns The proposals are considered the optimum that new signals by the Gateway layout for keeping traffic moving around the would increase congestion on town. Traffic modelling has shown that the Coton Hill and/or create delays to single lane from Coton Hill and new signals has buses using the gyratory route a neutral effect on congestion. Linked signals towards Ditherington/ bus station will allow for better control and should improve flow particularly from Coton Hill.
Signing of the low bridge – Given that the bridge strikes are so frequent suggestions for improved advance and cause major disruption to traffic and cost to signing public transport operators and businesses, Shropshire Council is now looking at vehicle activated signs on approaches to the town centre
Detailed design issues – These will be included in further design work, amendments requested included wherever feasible. dedicated disabled bays and dropped kerbs and changes to kerb lines to make it easier to manoeuvre longer vehicles
SCHEME COSTS AND FUNDING
19.The construction of the Shrewsbury Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme is currently estimated to cost £1.6m.
20.If approved the scheme will be delivered entirely through external grant funding, from Growth Point (CLG funding), Local Sustainable Transport Fund, Connect2 (SUSTRANS and Big Lottery) and developer contributions (already agreed). Some of the funding is limited to being spent in financial year 2012/13.
TIMESCALE
21.If the proposals are approved, the Northern Gateway Enhancement Scheme will go out to tender and will need to commence on site this autumn (Autumn to November 2012) and continue next winter (January
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438 Central Planning Committee – 10th May 2012 to March 2013) in order to reduce disruption to the public and comply with timescales for funding.
22.Traffic sensitive work would be carried out at night under temporary traffic management.
Decision(s)
List of Background Papers (This MUST be completed for all reports, but does not include items containing exempt or confidential information) Consultation Summary Report April 2012 Minutes of meetings Connect 2 project Group. Consultation feedback. Human Rights Act Appraisal No significant impacts The scheme provides improved access for people with disabilities, including wider pavements and improved access to the Railway Station. Environmental Appraisal This project contributes to encouraging more walking and cycling and use of public transport in Shrewsbury. Risk Management Appraisal Public liability relating to use of the completed works will be the responsibility of Shropshire Council. Community / Consultations Appraisal The current proposals have been subject to stakeholder consultation. Cabinet Member: Councillor Simon Jones Local Member: Councillor Andrew Bannerman Appendices A. Plan no 1030659-P-006A B. Comments
Contact Samantha Tharme on 01743 255438