Agenda item

To consider the preferred option preliminary design for Milton Road along with the strategic outline business case as a basis for public consultation to facilitate the final preliminary design and outline business case.

The Joint Assembly considered the report which set out the preferred option design for Milton Road which met the original objectives of the scheme and took into account the considerable public engagement that had taken place.

Joint Assembly members were broadly supportive of the overall design and approach being recommended to the Executive Board for Milton Road. In addition to this the Joint Assembly supported the further exploration of a Traffic Regulation Order to be part of the plans and proposals going forward for Milton Road, in order to prevent verge parking.

Anne Hamill, Michael Page, Barbara Taylor and Maureen Mace were invited to ask their questions. Nick Flynn and Erik de Visser were unable to attend to ask their questions. Details of the questions and a summary of the response are provided in Appendix A to the minutes.

JocelynneScutt, Chair of the Milton Road Local Liaison Forum, was invited to address the Assembly and made the following points:

·         The Milton Road LLF was generally pleased with the plans coming forward for Milton Road. Ms Scutt paid tribute to the residents, residents’ associations, Camcyle and the GCP and County Council officers and consultants for their work on the scheme.

·         General appreciation was expressed for the plans and the importance of consultation with local residents was emphasised.

·         There were still some concerns regarding the scheme, which were:

o   Concern regarding crossings; there was a wish for a crossing at Downhams Lane. An issue regarding the Westbrook Centre was highlighted and it was requested that attention be paid to this.

o   The length of bus lanes.

o   Floating bus stops in relation to the elderly and people with disabilities.

o   Issues with the positioning of bus stops

o   Buses failing to stop

o   A request had been put to Andy Campbell of Stagecoach to pay attention to the B bus on Histon Road.

o   The protection of verges.

o   The LLF wanted to work closely with GCP officers on residents parking.

It was felt that there had been a real recognition of the importance of public consultation regarding the Milton Road scheme.

The Greater Cambridge Partnership Transport Director presented the report, which set out the preferred option design for Milton Road. This met the original objectives of the scheme and took into account the considerable public engagement that had taken place. The Joint Assembly was informed that:

·         The technical work on the Downham Lane proposal was ongoing.

·         The removal of residents parking would form part of the public consultation.

·         The existing bus lane was being reduced in size. Additional lanes were going to be on the outward bound side. This was to improve bus services which would still be needed after the introduction of the CAM Metro.

Joint Assembly members discussed the report and made the following points:

·         Councillor Price pointed out that Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to prevent parking on verges, had been successful in other areas such as Kings Hedges. A TRO for Milton Road had recently been applied for, but had been unsuccessful. Councillor Price suggested that a TRO should be part of the plans and proposals going forward for Milton Road, to ensure there was no parking on verges.

·         Councillor Bick raised concern regarding the absence of sufficient crossing points along Milton Road, which exaggerated the separation of the community across the road and did not provide enough crossing points for cyclists to enable them to use the directional cycle lanes. It was felt that due to the lack of crossings, the project did not achieve as much for cyclists and pedestrians as it could.

·         Councillor Massey queried how cyclists having to give right of way to pedestrians on the 3m shared use pavement referred to in paragraph 3.14 of the report, would be managed. In response to this the Transport Director pointed out that all road users had a responsibility to respect each other and that the vast majority were respectful.

Joint Assembly members supported the suggestion of a Traffic Regulation Order forming part of the plans and proposals for Milton Road going forward.