Putney Road Project Consultation Report
Total Page:16
File Type:pdf, Size:1020Kb
Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C Leicester City Council Consultation Report Putney Road Project (National Productivity Investment Fund) Version 4.0 July 2018 Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 1 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C Contents: 1. Introduction 3 1.1. Purpose of this document 3 1.2. Background 3 2. Consultation 4 2.1. Overview 4 2.1.1. Scope of consultation 4 2.2. Communication 4 2.3. Exhibitions 5 3. Responses 6 3.1. Summary 6 3.1.1. Online consultation 6 3.1.2. Aylestone Leisure Centre 7 3.1.3. Email 7 3.1.4. Drop in exhibitions 7 3.2. Results 8 3.2.1. Themes 9 3.3. Support 12 3.4. Opposition 12 3.4.1. Putney Road Say No 12 3.4.2. Other responses 13 ANNEX A – Consultation response form 15 ANNEX B – Leicester City Council Press Release 18 ANNEX C – Leaflet 20 ANNEX D – Leaflet distribution map 22 ANNEX E – Letters sent to key stakeholders 23 ANNEX F – Frequently Asked Questions 25 Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 2 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C 1. Introduction 1.1. Purpose of this document The purpose of this document is to provide a summary of the public consultation exercise carried out as part of the Putney Road Project. 1.2. Background The scope of the scheme is to open Putney Road West at the junction of Aylestone Road and Saffron Lane and amend the one way system around Commercial Square to create a two way link between Aylestone Road and Welford Road. The objectives of the scheme are to Reduce congestion and improve air quality on the central ring road and the surrounding areas, including the narrow residential streets that run east to west between Aylestone Road and London Road. Improve vehicle travel times in the area. Increase productivity by improving access for local residents, businesses and education institutions. Improve facilities for walkers and cyclists along the length of Putney Road, making it easier for people to use sustainable modes of transport. Support development opportunities for the Freemen’s Common industrial estate. This is in line with the National Productivity Investment Fund’s objectives of removing barriers to productivity such as congestion and unlocking economic development and job creation opportunities. Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 3 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C 2. Consultation 2.1. Overview The public consultation was launched on Friday 2nd March and ran until Sunday 29th April. Respondents were asked for some basic information such as how they use the area and the postcode of where they live/work, followed by how the scheme will affect them. The full consultation response form can be found in Annex A. Respondents were able to complete the consultation either online at consultations.leicester.gov.uk or on paper at a drop in exhibition or Aylestone Leisure Centre (see 2.2). The email account major-transport- [email protected] was also available for people to submit their comments. 2.1.1. Scope of consultation The scope of the consultation was to inform local residents of the Council’s intention to open Putney Road, and gauge how it will affect how people’s travel in the area. 2.2. Communication A communication plan was created for the consultation. A press release was issued at the start of the consultation, the text of this can be found in Annex B, and 3,500 leaflets were distributed around the area. The leaflet and the distribution area can be found in Annexes C & D respectively. A Frequently Asked Questions list was also prepared and can be found in Annex F. Letters were sent to key stakeholders including: Leicester City Football Club Leicester Football Club (Leicester Tigers) British Gas E.ON National Grid Wyggeston College Emergency Services Leicestershire Police Leicestershire Fire & Rescue Service East Midlands Ambulance Service Bus Operators Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 4 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C Arriva First Centrebus Kinchbus Stagecoach The content of the letters can be found in Annex E. Officers also attended a number of ward community meetings before and during the consultation: Castle Ward Community Meeting – 21st November 2017 City Hall, 115 Charles Street, Leicester, LE1 1FZ Castle Ward Community Meeting – 13th February 2018 St John the Baptist Parish Centre, Clarendon Park Road, Leicester, LE2 3AD Saffron Ward Community Meeting – 8th March 2018 Aylestone Leisure Centre, 2 Knighton Lane East, Leicester, LE2 6LU At the request of Cllrs Cutkelvin & Shelton a display board was set up in the foyer of Aylestone Leisure Centre for the duration of the consultation. The board was staffed by officers two hours a week. 2.3. Exhibitions A number of drop in exhibitions were held around the area to allow people to talk to officers about the scheme. These were held on the following dates: Geeta Bhavan, 70 Clarendon Park Road, LE2 3AD Tuesday 13th March, 5.30-7.30pm Saffron Resources Centre, 432 Saffron Lane, LE2 6SB Thursday 15th March, 11am-4pm Big Shed Conferences, 93 Commercial Square, LE2 7SJ Tuesday 20th March, 4.30-6.30pm Tuesday 27th March, 9.30am-12.30pm Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 5 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C 3. Responses 3.1. Summary There were 291 responses in total to the consultation via all media. While it is possible that those who sent emails also participated in the online consultation, for the purpose of identifying trends (see 3.2) all responses will be treated as unique. Overall, 25.4% of the responses were positive, 60.1% were negative, and 14.4% were neutral (see 3.2). 3.1.1. Online consultation There were 239 responses in total to the online consultation. The charts below summarises the number of responses to the consultation. Date No. of responses (cumulative) 12th March 67 th 19 March 111 26th March 129 2nd April 132 th 9 April 136 16th April 148 23rd April 177 th 30 April 239 Table showing the number of responses after each week Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 6 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C Number of responses (per week) 80 70 60 50 40 Number of responses 30 20 10 0 12th 19th 26th 2nd 9th 16th 23rd 30th March March March April April Apri April April Graph showing the number of consultation responses per week The trend in the number of responses received is unsurprising. It is expected that the most intense times for consultations are when it first begins and when it is just about to end. Another explanation for the increase in responses in the final days of the consultation is a group whose members helped to co-ordinate the campaign against the scheme (see 3.4) held a meeting a few days before the deadline. 3.1.2. Aylestone Leisure Centre 26 people responded using the paper forms at Aylestone Leisure Centre. 3.1.3. Email 26 unique emails were received by the Council. 21 of these were to provide comments on the scheme, while five were to request more information. Three of the emails were sent after the consultation deadline. Nevertheless these are included in this report. 3.1.4. Drop in exhibitions The drop in exhibitions were less well attended, with the main event in Clarendon Park only being attended by 10 people. Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 7 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C 3.2. Results The tables below summarise the overall support and opposition to the scheme. The following assumptions have been made: Responses which were either balanced, or off topic/unclear have been categorised as ‘neutral’. A number of respondents opposed the scheme because of their opposition to the Evesham Road link and believe if they stop the Putney Road scheme they can stop the Evesham Road link. These have been categorised as ‘negative’. Eight respondents misinterpreted the consultation as a consultation for the Evesham Road link (it is possible the number is higher). These responses have been categorised as ‘neutral’. Positive Negative Neutral Total Online 63 146 30 239 Email 1 17 8 26 Paper (ALC) 10 12 4 26 Total 74 175 42 291 Table showing breakdown of consultation responses Consultation results (291 responses) 14.4% 25.4% Positive (74) Negative (175) Neutral (42) 60.1% Graph showing share of consultation responses Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 8 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C Map showing location of positive and negative responses within Leicester and Leicestershire 3.2.1. Themes A clear number of themes emerged in the consultation responses. Of those who opposed the scheme: 95 people were opposed to it based on increased traffic on Victoria Park Road/the Clarendon Park area. This concern stems from the fact that those who live in the area already believe Victoria Park Road to be significantly congested during peak times, hence is unable to take any additional traffic. Any increase in traffic will use the Clarendon Park area to ‘rat run’. Respondents also drew attention to the fact that the area is largely residential and has several education institutions. 89 people were opposed to it based on increased air pollution. Further to the point above, respondents were worried that any increase in traffic would result in worse air quality and more disbenefits to residents’ health (both overall as it is a scheme to benefit car users, and specifically where they live). Putney Road Consultation Report v4.0 Page 9 of 28 Leicester City Council PDT/C301696/C 83 people were opposed to it because it will increase traffic flow in the area and lead to more congestion.