HIW/21/50
East Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee 23 July 2021
Sidmouth Traffic Management Plan
Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste
Please note that the following recommendations are subject to consideration and determination by the Committee before taking effect.
Recommendation: It is recommended that the proposals for restrictions on motor vehicles and restrictions on waiting in Sidmouth town centre as detailed in Appendix I to this report are implemented as advertised.
1. Summary
This report is to consider the submissions to the statutory consultation on the restrictions proposed in Sidmouth town centre, as part of the Traffic Management Plan programme.
2. Background
In early 2020, a temporary Covid emergency scheme was imposed in Sidmouth town centre to aid social distancing and prioritise road space for pedestrians and cyclists. Access for motor vehicles was restricted. Following this the Town Council and Chamber of Commerce asked that the restrictions be made permanent as they had improved the character and amenity of the town centre by reducing vehicular traffic. Officers consulted the relevant local County Councillor/Chair and Vice Chair and proposals to make the restriction permanent, in a modified form, were advertised in June/July 2021.
A summary of the proposals advertised can be found in Appendix I and the associated plans have been attached as Appendix II to this report.
3. Consultations/Representations
Details of the objections received to these proposals, and the County Council’s response and recommendations are shown in Appendix III to this report.
4. Financial Considerations
The total costs of the scheme will be funded by the Central Government Covid grant, provided the scheme is approved and a meaningful start to implementing the works is commenced before the end of September.
5. Legal Considerations
The lawful implications and consequences of the proposal have been considered and taken into account in the preparation of this report.
When making a Traffic Regulation Order it is the County Council’s responsibility to ensure that all relevant legislation is complied with. This includes Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 that states that it is the duty of a local authority, so far as practicable, secures the expeditious, convenient and safe movement of traffic and provision of parking facilities. It is considered that the proposals comply with Section 122 of the Act as they practically secure the safe and expeditious movement of traffic.
6. Environmental Impact Considerations (Including Climate Change)
The proposals are intended to reduce through traffic, rationalise on street parking and improve mobility and access within the district and are designed to:
• Enable enforcement to be undertaken efficiently. • Encourage commuters to make more sustainable travel choices e.g. Car Share, Public Transport, Walking and Cycling. • Assist pedestrians and other vulnerable road users by giving them higher priority on the highway.
The Environmental effects of the scheme are therefore positive.
7. Equality Considerations
There are not considered to be any equality issues associated with the proposals. The impact will therefore be neutral.
8. Risk Management Considerations
No risks have been identified.
9. Public Health Impact
The proposal will reduce traffic flows and congestion in the restricted areas, with potential improvements to air quality and road safety.
10. Reasons for Recommendations
The Town Council and Chamber of Commerce asked that the temporary Covid emergency scheme in Sidmouth town centre be made permanent as it has improved the character and amenity of the town centre by reducing vehicular traffic.
Meg Booth Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste
Electoral Division: Sidmouth
Local Government Act 1972: List of Background Papers
Contact for enquiries: Simon Garner
Room No: M8, Great Moor House, Bittern Road, Exeter
Tel No: 0345 155 1004
Background Paper Date File Ref.
Nil
sg140721edh sc/cr/Sidmouth Traffic Management Plan 05 150721
Appendix I To HIW/21/50
Details of Proposals Advertised
Councillor Plan Reference Location Parish/Town Proposals Statement of Reasons Stuart ENV5890/5975 Sidmouth Sidmouth Prohibition To improve road Hughes Town of motor safety and the Centre vehicles and character/amenity prohibition of the town centre. of waiting. Appendix II NA1 To HIW/21/50 12
67 Woodberry House DO NOT SCALE 70
63 NL2 KEY
Library 11 Angel Little Mead NA1 NA1 CODE RESTRICTION TYPE EXISTING PROPOSED
NO WAITING 61 Lodge NA1 NA1 NO WAITING AT ANY TIME NA1 Shelsley House NW1 NO WAITING 10AM-6PM NW3 NO WAITING 8AM-6PM NA1 1 NW4 NO WAITING AT ANY TIME Stand 2 4 NA1 EXCEPT TAXIS 3 RIVERSIDE ROAD Blackmore Field NO LOADING 8 10 Amb NL1 NO LOADING AT ANY TIME
52 MILL STREET Church NA1 NL2 NO LOADING 9AM-5PM Sta LIMITED WAITING NA1 RIVERSIDE
L Twrs LW1 LIMITED WAITING MON-SAT
LW2 Wynde West
Bank 5 10AM-6PM 1 HOUR NO RETURN 39 Posts 43 to 40 WITHIN 1 HOUR LW2 LIMITED WAITING MON-SAT Tennis Courts Car Park 10AM-6PM 30 MINUTES NO Car Park RETURN WITHIN 30 MINUTES NA1 NA1 LW3 LIMITED WAITING 8AM-8PM 30
55 48 NL2 38 MINUTES NO RETURN WITHIN 1 Hall HOUR (EXEMPTION FOR
Sports Pavilion 44 RESIDENTS ZONE A PERMIT 1 HOLDERS) 49 LOADING ONLY 5 5 LO1 LOADING ONLY AT ANY TIME
River Sid LO2 LOADING ONLY 9AM-6PM Hall NA1 40 47 DISABLED BAYS
45 NW3 DB1 DISABLED BADGE HOLDERS 39
5 ONLY AT ANY TIME 11 DB2 DISABLED BADGE HOLDERS Cecil Riverside House Church Path ONLY MON-SAT 10AM-6PM 39
The Blackmore 1 MAXIMUM STAY 2 HOURS NO 6 PH Terrace LW2 RETURN WITHIN 2 HOURS RUSSEL STREET DB3 DISABLED BADGE HOLDERS Coronation ONLY MAXIMUM STAY 3 HOURS
YORK STREET
9 Sunset NO RETURN WITHIN 6 HOURS 44
1 ROSELANDS 7 Sports Pavilion CormorantNL1 Cottage OTHER RESTRICTIONS Coburg Gardens BO2 BUSES ONLY 8AM-5PM MAX STAY
1 HOUR NO RETURN WITHIN 1
CurlewNA1 Cottage 36 Tarn
HOUR 8 LW2 Tarn Wearfield BO3 BUSES ONLY 8AM-5PM MAX STAY The Old Chancel Pleasure NW1
1 to 6 4 30 MINUTES NO RETURN WITHIN 1 NA1 3 Flats HOUR
6 LO1
33
The Grooms 2 PO1 PERMIT HOLDERS ONLY FOR
Ground 1 LO1 NL1 Weir THE CHURCH FS DB1 PRIVATE HIGHWAY PEDESTRIAN CROSSING
NA1 4 32 PROHIBITION OF VEHICLES NA1 Holmes Court 46
NL1 NA1 PEDESTRIAN ZONE
2 PROHIBITION OF ALL VEHICLES 15
HEYDONS LANE HIGH STREET AT ANY TIME EXCEPT PERMIT 1 NA1 HOLDERS AND GOOD VEHICLES Bowling Green NW4 PEDESTRIAN ZONE 4 PROHIBITION OF MOTOR
NA1 NA1 1
Car Park NA147 VEHICLES AT ANY TIME EXCEPT NA1 LO1 PERMIT HOLDERS AND GOOD The Bays VEHICLES LO1 30 NA1 TEMPORARY PROHIBITION OF 1 THROUGH TRAFFIC AND NL1 2 PARKING Olinda Cott 11AM - 5PM NL1 Play Area PEDESTRIAN ZONE Lennards PROHIBITION OF MOTOR COBURG ROAD NA1 NA1 VEHICLES AT ANY TIME EXCEPT NA1 6 FOR ACCESS Amyatt's Court 7 to 1
COBURG TERRACE
10 Terrace
NL1 54 56
4 22 Lakes Ct 24
NA1 2 Trumps
21 10
LW1 Court
6 1 7 1 NA1 23
Barton 2 20 Tourist
Ho
18 to Information Aurora PH
20 LO2 1 Centre
Lych Gate
40 31a 7 NA1 AMYATT'S TERRACE
Hall PH North Garth 1 1 NA1 Court AMEND OLD FORE STREET 5 NA1 Church Recreation PEDESTRIAN ZONE TO BE EAST STREET NA1 Mus 'PROHIBITION OF MOTOR 15 Swimming
REMOVE LIMITED VEHICLES' TO ALLOW 6 to 3 DB2 NA1 Ground WAITING BAY AND CYCLING LW1 34 Pool PO1 INSTALL PERMIT BAYS 14 NA1
NA1 4 12 NA1 Anchor NA1 LW2 War Putting Green NA1 Meml Inn (PH) NA1 FORE STREET LW2 AMEND COVID RESTRICTIONS NW1 TO 'PROHIBITION OF ALL
10 NW1 VEHICLES EXCEPT FOR OLD FORE STREET NW1
ACCESS (PEDESTRIAN ZONE)'
Club CHURCH STREET NA1 11 1 Stone NA1 9
HAM LANE NA1 Car Park REMOVE LIMITED THE TRIANGLE WAITING BAY AND NA1 7
LW1 Royal London 6 INSTALL 'LOADING ONLY ESS
1 Car Park
NA1 AT ANY TIME' BAY Market 5 LW2 NA1 NA1 NA1 CONVERT DISABLED BAY NA1 House NA1 LW3 Harston TO BE 'DISABLED BADGE
NL1 HOLDERS ONLY MAXIMUM
LO1 NA1 3 NW4 5 Barton DB2 STAY 3 HOURS NO RETURN DB3 Court
WITHIN 6 HOURS' 1 to 18 Court 2 NL1 NEW STREET 4 NL1
NA1
LW2 Tudor Mews NA1
5 Club
3a NA1 3 Selleys Yard YORK STREET NA1 Bk NL1
DB3 NA1 6 NA1 Pipits NA1 FORTFIELD TERRACE NL1 Tudor House DB2 THE TRIANGLE 28 to Masons Cottage CONVERT DISABLED BAY NA1 34 TO BE 'DISABLED BADGE LW2 5 4 Curzon House HOLDERS ONLY MAXIMUM DOVE LANE NL1 PW STAY 3 HOURS NO RETURN NA1 CHAPEL STREET WITHIN 6 HOURS' NA1 LO1 Trinity Court 14 to 32 23 1 to 12 AG PK to REMOVE LIMITED EXISTING LIMITED NA1 12 WAITING BAY AND Faulkner NA1 27 WAITING BAYS TO BE INSTALL 'LOADING ONLY Royal Wyndham Court Abbeyfield RETURNED TO USE DRAWING STATUS: Verandah Cottage AT ANY TIME' BAY S2 - FOR INFORMATION Court 1 to 6 Hotel
Sports Pavilion Western NA1 York
4 Court 1 to 18 Hotel 6
Court 1 Bedford 7 22 10 Hotel LW2
20 KINGS LANE NA1
18 LW2
8 NA1
14 8 21 BO2
5 Kittiwake Cottage
10
9 St Peters Court NA1
19 NL1
NA1 7 6
9 15 Hotel 1st Floor Keble House, Southernhay Gardens, Southernhay East, Exeter, EX1 1NT, UK
11 3 Hotel
2 17 T+ 44 (0) 1392 267 599
Elizabeth
to 13 wsp.com
Bedford Flats 6 16 Bath NA1 1 12 CLIENT: to Devoran 5 Hotel House
Kingswood Hotel
1 PH NA1 NA1 Hotel PROJECT: TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT Sussex Riviera THE ESPLANADE House 70072139 STATION ROAD BO3
Bedford NL1 TITLE: Hotel NL1 SIDMOUTH RESIDENTS PARKING SCHEME NA1 NA1 TOWN CENTER PROPOSALS
NL1 SCALE @ A0: CHECKED: APPROVED: Car Park 1:500 AG PK PROJECT No: DESIGNED: DRAWN: DATE: 70072139 JM JM Febuary 21
DRAWING No: REV: 70072139-WSP-GEN-SID-002-S2 P01
NA1 Contains Ordnance Survey data. c WSP UK Ltd © Crown copyright and database rights 2021. 100019783. File name C:\USERS\UKJMM900\DESKTOP\SIDMOUTH\WORKING DRAWINGS\70072139-WSP-GEN-SID-001-S2.DWG, printed on 11 May 2021 12:47:51, 2021 11 May DRAWINGS\70072139-WSP-GEN-SID-001-S2.DWG,C:\USERS\UKJMM900\DESKTOP\SIDMOUTH\WORKING Joshua Mullen, name File on printed by Appendix III To HIW/21/50
Summary of Submissions
Plan ENV5890/5975 – Sidmouth Town Centre 21 respondents – Town Council, Chamber of Commerce, Residents and Business Owners of Sidmouth Devon County Council Comment Response Support Reason for Proposal • Sidmouth Chamber of Commerce would like to record its support for the The proposal is to improve road safety by reducing proposal and advised that no members the volume of traffic in streets which are narrow, made objections or proposed are often without footways and which generate alternative views. significant pedestrian flows, while allowing access • Sidmouth Parish Church fully support to parking spaces for those who require it. It will the proposal for permit parking for improve the character and amenity of the local area church visitors outside their premises. and make the town centre more attractive for • 3 residents stated their full support for pedestrians, particularly the older and younger the proposals. road users. • 6 residents were broadly supportive It will reduce traffic congestion and potentially but objected to cyclists being permitted improve air quality and the character of the to use pedestrianised areas, Environment. particularly Old Fore St, on safety grounds. Officer Comments
Objection The proposals have not generated any significant • 2 residents formally object, but actually opposition. support the scheme apart from allowing any exemption for cyclists. The most contentious issue is whether to allow blue badge holders and taxis exemptions to enter the Suggestion restricted zone to park in designated bays. • Sidmouth Town Council support the proposal but not the exemption for It is appreciated that a significant number of blue taxis or blue badge holders, which badge holders may enter the restricted zone should remain in the locations made looking for a parking space, but in reality taking available for the duration of the Covid away the blue badge bays will not change that. emergency restrictions. They also call That is because by law they can park anywhere for the closure of Old Fore Street to (except where loading is banned) provided it is safe vehicles at its junction with the to do so. Even if we remove all the blue badge Esplanade. bays they would still have a right to access the • Deans Taxis support the proposal but zone to look for somewhere to park. By providing suggest all spaces in New Street are bays for them we are at least directing them to park made into taxi bays, and other taxi in the safest and least inconvenient places, so spaces elsewhere converted to blue really this is the best option and it does not actually badge bays. affect the number of badge holders who can enter the restricted zone. • 1 resident agrees with the comments
of the Town Council Taxis are less of an issue because there are • 2 residents made the point that in the obviously fewer of them. It is considered the points event of roads being closed the raised by residents are fair, especially for elderly restrictions would have to be eased to people who depend on taxis, and it is allow vehicles out of town. recommended the rank returns to its former • 2 residents called for more position. consultation. • 1 resident requested waiting There have been some suggestions to alter the restrictions in Riverside Road. locations of blue badge, loading or taxis bays, though different ideas have been put forward. • 1 resident asked for the access roads Changing the proposals would mean to Lennards Court to be included in the re-advertising, which would risk losing the budget, scheme but did not specify exactly and would force the removal of the temporary what was being asked for. restrictions in the intervening period. Phase 2 of the • 1 resident suggested limiting the traffic scheme will allow potential amendments to be restriction to between 11am and 5 pm considered once the initial scheme is secured. and thought pedestrian footfall would reduce as people might not realise The other contentious issue is the proposal to allow there were shops in the restricted cyclists an exemption to ride along streets which area. are clearly ‘pedestrianised’ in the minds of the • 1 resident requested improved bus public. This is not considered a crucial aspect of services and infrastructure, lower the scheme. Some cyclists do ride along Old Fore speed limits, one-way roads. St and there is no record of any injury collisions as • 1 resident suggested amendments to a result. Enforcement of this restriction is not a some loading areas. police priority. Encouraging cycling is a County Other policy, but it is not considered that maintaining the • 3 residents raised technical questions prohibition on Old Fore Street is a major about rights of access. inconvenience for cyclists, as the alternative roads • Prior to the advertising of these are safe for them. However, as motor vehicles are proposals we have received some allowed to drive along the roads for access and observations during the Covid loading it is not considered that allowing cyclists is emergency regarding the temporary a significant extra risk. scheme, which are relevant to this proposal. Comments included: 1. the unsuitability of the temporary taxi rank because people were forced to stand and wait while exposed to the wind and rain, and it forces them to walk further from the shops, often with heavy bags, 2. blue badge holders unable to use local shops because parking spaces were too far away.
Recommendation - Implement as advertised.