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Agenda Item No: 8 (a) Wolverhampton City Council OPEN EXECUTIVE DECISION ITEM (AMBER) Cabinet/ Cabinet Panel CABINET Date 16.07. 2008 Portfolio REGENERATION AND ENTERPRISE COUNCILLOR MRS BRADLEY Originating Service Group(s) REGENERATION AND ENVIRONMENT Contact Officer(s)/ STEVE BOYES Telephone Number(s) EXT 5400 Title/Subject Matter A449 STAFFORD ROAD RED ROUTE - PILOT SCHEME REVIEW ____________________________________________________________________________ 1.0 RECOMMENDATION 1.1 In consideration of the review of the A449 Stafford Road Red Route, and taking into account the views and advice of the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel, Cabinet is invited to recommend either: i. That the A449 Stafford Road Red Route Orders be allowed to lapse at the end of the experimental period ii. That the A449 Stafford Road Red Route Orders be made permanent subject to the provision of further measures to mitigate adverse impacts 2.0 PURPOSE of REPORT 2.1 To enable the Cabinet to give consideration to the manner in which the Red Route has operated during its pilot period and to agree a way forward. 3.0 BACKGROUND 3.1 A full description of the background to the Red Route scheme is given in the attached report (Appendix 1) that was considered by the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel on 30th June 2008. A copy of an extract of the draft minutes of the Sustainable Communities Scrutiny Panel on 30th June is also attached as Appendix 2. 3.2 In summary, Red Routes are one of a package of measures recommended by the West Midlands Area Multi Modal Study (WMAMMS); this study was commissioned to consider the future of transport across the West Midlands conurbation for the ensuing 30 years. In order to determine whether the experience of Red Routes in London could be reproduced in the West Midlands, three Red Route demonstration projects were selected to go forward 3.3 The A449 Stafford Road Red Route was one of the three demonstration projects in the West Midlands. Stafford Road was selected as it is congested, is located on a major growth corridor with i54 at the northern end and the City Centre to the south, and has a wide range of conditions along its length including a local shopping centre. A449 red route review 8A.doc 1 14/07/2008 3.4 The following considerations shaped the design of the Stafford Road Red Route scheme: ¾ To improve journey times along the route ¾ To better manage the traffic on A449 (this is specifically relevant to the duties imposed on the City Council under the Traffic Management Act) ¾ To provide a better control of this strategic route to enable us to manage the impacts of i54 and other major developments as they come on line in the future ¾ To limit the amount of disruption along the corridor at peak times and congestion- prone locations to enable more efficient use of carriageway space ¾ To review and improve locations and operation of crossings, as to minimise impact on traffic and improve accessibility ¾ To improve pedestrian movement, safety and cycle accessibility through side road entry treatments ¾ To support the economic vitality of the Three Tuns shopping centre 3.5 The Stafford Road Red Route was subsequently implemented on 12th March 2007 after a wide ranging consultation process that included a scrutiny review by the former Regenerating Wolverhampton Scrutiny Panel on 2nd September 2003. 3.6 Authority to implement the scheme was granted at the Regenerating Wolverhampton Cabinet Team on 3 October 2003. In accordance with the conditions attached to the authority to implement, the scheme has been reviewed and the findings are set out below. 3.7 On 30th June 2008 the Sustainable Communities resolved (draft):- That it be recommended to the Cabinet:- (a) That the A449 Stafford Road Red Route be made permanent. (b) That monitoring of performance of the Red Route continues, and that further measures to mitigate adverse impacts be subject to approval by the Cabinet member for Regeneration and Enterprise and the Director for Sustainable Communities. (c) That surveys be undertaken of the users of Stafford Road Red Route on their levels of satisfaction with the measures introduced. 3.7.1 The Experimental Order for the Red Route lapses at midnight on the 11 September 2008. If it is to be • Allowed to lapse then no further action is necessary • Made permanent then the Council’s intention needs to be advertised at least 10 days before 11 September 2008. 4. REPORT DETAIL 4.1 Operational assessment. Table 1 summarises some of the main issues arsing from the Pilot scheme. A449 red route review 8A.doc 2 14/07/2008 4.2 Key points from the Table are:- Car journey times were reduced by between 16% southbound in the morning peak period and by 22% northbound in the evening peak period Bus journey times were reduced by 14% southbound in the morning peak period Whilst too early to be definitive, road safety performance in other schemes has improved. With the introduction of specific road safety measures here, safety is expected to improve 4.3 Public responses In total we received 61 written representations are currently held on file. Of these • 13 are in favour of the Red Route with 48 against • 58 of the representations are from residents whilst • 3 are from business interests. 4.4 Key issues The following key issues were raised by the above responses and during consultations • Residents o concerns about restricted on-street parking in the vicinity of their properties; • Traders o Concerns about the effect on trade of restrictions on customer parking. 30% more managers now feel parking facilities in the area to be poor or very poor compared with the ‘before’ surveys Managers are now more aware of the parking and loading regulations close to their store. More managers feel that these regulations and the enforcement of them are having a negative effect on their business. • General o There would also appear to be a degree of confusion about precisely what is permitted under the Red Route controls. 4.5 Actions already taken to address impacts 4.5.1 During both the consultation period and following implementation, many detailed changes have been made to the scheme in order to try and address the concerns of residents and traders. For example, • road markings were amended together with • a corresponding relaxation of controls to minimise inconvenience to residents and to support traders • Additional off street parking spaces were created • Improved pedestrian crossing facilities were implemented 4.6 Conclusions 4.6.1 In reaching a decision, the operational benefits achieved need to be balanced against the concerns of both residents and traders A449 red route review 8A.doc 3 14/07/2008 4.6.2 If the Red Route Order is allowed to lapse then Members need to be mindful of the following:- The cost of removing the red lines and associated signs, and of restoring the previous yellow line waiting restrictions is estimated to be £150,000. It may have adverse implications • for other local and regional strategies and projects. • if the Department for Transport were to require a re-payment of all or part of the funding provided for our Stafford Road Pilot Scheme. If Members wish to rescind the Red Route they may still wish to undertake the following actions to address residents’ and traders’ concerns: • Address effect of restricted parking in front of residential premises. o Consideration could be given to allowing parking in the footway area in locations where this would be of benefit and where the vehicle could be wholly accommodated within the footway area whilst retaining a minimum of 1.8 metres for pedestrians. o Some sections of the route where stopping restrictions apply ‘at any time’ could be converted to peak period restrictions. • Address availability of parking in shopping areas. o The signing of off street car parks would be reviewed and improved as necessary o The scope to provide further off street parking at Three Tuns could be explored. There is potential to add up to 50 further spaces at the rear of the shops (inbound) and up to 8 spaces at the front of the shops (It should be noted that the land in question is in private ownership and the co-operation of landowners/occupiers would therefore be needed to enable this potential to be realised.) 4.6.3 It the Red Route is to be retained then the following action would be need to be considered in addition to those identified above:- • Address confusion about what the Red Route controls permit. Residents have complained of not fully understanding precisely what is permitted and what is not. To address this: o A major re-publicisation of the Red Route could be mounted at an early date. This would comprise the following elements: information leaflets would be delivered to every frontage property A series of exhibitions would be mounted at various locations along the route. Media briefings would be arranged. 5.0 Financial Implications 5.1 There is no current financial provision to cover the estimated cost of removing the Red Route and restoring the previous restrictions (£150,000). Compensatory savings would need to be identified in other areas of the approved budgets if this option were to proceed. A449 red route review 8A.doc 4 14/07/2008 5.2 The costs associated with the further actions to address impacts identified in the report have yet to be quantified. Once again, resources would have to be identified 6.0 Equalities Implications 6.1 The Red Route is intended to improve accessibility to and between key sites and locations for all groups.

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