Issue - meetings

The Area Committee received a verbal report from the County Council’s Cycling Projects Team Leader on various transport projects in the South Area.

 

1)    Fulbourn Road

a.   a City Deal funded scheme

b.   detailed design was being finalised

c.   work was planned to start in September

d.   the scheme consisted of raised/hybrid cycle lanes on both sides from the Robin Hood to ARM and a wide, shared use path from ARM to Yarrow Road

e.   officers had recently met Cllrs Ashton and Dryden on site to discuss

f.     contact officer Grant.Weller@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

 

2)    Queen Edith’s Way and Fendon Road roundabout

a.   a County Council S106 funded scheme

b.   County Council’s Environment and Economy Committee had resolved on 10th November 2016 to approve:

                                 i.    the implementation of a Dutch style roundabout at Queen Edith’s Way/Mowbray Road/Fendon Road junction; and

                                ii.    further public engagement with residents and stakeholders on improvements for walking and cycling in Queen Edith’s Way

c.   a detailed design for the roundabout was being developed

d.   workshops were planned for Queen Edith’s Way

e.   the matter would go back to the Economy & Environment Committee once a design had been developed for Queen Edith’s Way itself

f.     contact officer Grant Weller

 

The County Councillor for Queen Edith’s welcomed the design work being carried out, and asked when the scheme would be completed.  The Cycling Projects Team Leader said that this was the UK’s first Dutch-style roundabout, and it was being developed with a Dutch consultancy firm.  It would be ideal if the Queen Edith’s Way scheme could be approved, so that the roundabout and the road feeding into and out of it could be of the same high standard.

 

3)    Trumpington Road outside the Botanic Gardens

a.   funded through Department for Transport (DfT) Cycle City Ambition

b.   works were progressing well

c.   the local stakeholder group had met regularly throughout the scheme

d.   upcoming tasks included relocating street lights, completion of new floating bus stop, and the surfacing and installation of new raised/hybrid cycle lane.

e.   contact officer Stuart.Rushby@cambridgeshire.gov.uk  

 

One of the Councillors for Trumpington congratulated all responsible for this scheme, which had not suffered from the same difficulties and lack of information as the Hills Road scheme.  He asked why there seemed currently to be a pause in the work.

 

The Team Leader said that it had been possible to keep traffic flowing by removing parking.  He thanked the Botanic Gardens for their help and understanding throughout the work, and for accommodating stakeholder meetings.  It would not be possible to lay the final surface and finish the scheme until work to move street lights had been completed.

 

4)    Robin Hood junction

a.   an S106 funded scheme

b.   being managed by the Traffic Signals Team

c.   discussions and design deliberations ongoing around the exit from Cherry Hinton High Street to ascertain whether this would  be a two-lane or a one-lane exit. Cycle lanes and pedestrian facilities to be incorporated, but would require additional land

d.      Contact officer Richard.Ling@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

 

One of the Cherry Hinton Councillors said that he had thought that agreement had already been reached on the junction, following a site visit in 2016.  The Cycling Projects Team Leader replied that he believed this had been for a single-lane exit with cycle and pedestrian crossing, which had given rise to concern at the possible impact on bus journey times.  The Traffic Signals team were talking to the City Open Spaces team to see whether a strip of land could be obtained on the corner.  The member pointed out that this land was on a green where trees had already been planted; he had thought the problem could be resolved without the loss of valuable green space.  The Team Leader referred members to the link officer for further information.

 

5)    Two-way cycling in one-way streets

a.   scheme was funded through DfT Cycle City Ambition and affected Trumpington

b.   Cambridge City Joint Area Committee (CJAC) on 24th January 2017 had resolved:

                                 i.    to support the advertising of Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) in order to allow two-way cycling on the following streets:

- Coronation Street (west of junction with Panton Street)

- Norwich Street

- Union Road

- Brookside

                                ii.    to agree not to progress any changes to the following streets:

- Panton Street

- St Eligius Street

c.   the next step would be to advertise the TROs and take any objections back to CJAC

d.   contact officer Clare.Rankin@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

 

6)    Hills Road/Addenbrooke's

a.   a City Deal funded scheme

b.   work had started in January; four-way lights were currently in place

c.   reply sent to Chair’s letter following last SAC, acknowledging that the County Council should have told Cherry Hinton and Trumpington Councillors about the road closure in advance; Queen Edith’s Councillors had been informed six days before the SAC

d.   proposal for next stage of traffic management was being finalised, with the objective of developing a solution that minimised impacts on traffic and residents

                                 i.    duration would be less than five months, starting in early June

                                ii.    engagement had been taking place with bus operators, the ambulance service, and other stakeholders, including a stakeholder group which had met recently and would continue to meet through the works

                               iii.    all SAC Councillors would be contacted shortly, once the plans had been finalised

e.   contact officer Grant Weller

 

Members drew attention to problems which had been experiences with the reliability of the lights on this scheme.  The Cycling Projects Team Leader said that, because the lights were radio controlled, the cause was believed to be connected with Addenbrooke's.  The problem was occurring in the evenings, and a hard-wired solution was being sought.

 

Members welcomed the reduction of time to complete the work, and sought assurance that it would not last 24/7, and would not affect both directions at once.  The Team Leader said that a solution was being sought in consultation with the traffic signals team and the bus companies, and would be announced once plans had been finalised.

 

Wendy Blythe said that the planting at bus stops on Hills Road had been very well received, and asked whether something similar might be possible on Trumpington Road.  The Team Leader said that contact had been made with the guerrilla groundsman who had planted up some of the area near the Botanic Gardens with a view to developing green ends to the bus stops.

 

7)    Cherry Hinton Road

a.   an S106 funded scheme

b.   seeking to improve the length from Hills Road to Perne Road for walking and cycling. There was some funding for the Perne Road/Cherry Hinton Road roundabout

c.   initial surveys of traffic and parking had been undertaken

d.   stakeholder workshops would be taking place

e.   public consultation was planned for September

f.     contact officer Stuart Rushby.

 

8)    Greenways

a.   City Deal funded, though also potential for S106 funding

b.   12 new or improved direct, attractive routes linking South Cambridgeshire to the city, to encourage more people to commute by bike

c.   four of the routes run through South Area

d.   funding has been allocated initially to develop the schemes

e.   ‘Planning for Real’ events were being planned

f.     currently prioritising which routes to take forward first

g.   contact officer Simon.Manville@cambridgeshire.gov.uk

h.   see plan attached as Appendix A for details

 

In reply to comments on the scheme, members noted that parking had been lost by putting the building compound on the road rather than on green space.  There was an approved scheme for the west side of Trumpington Road; the widening would be into the road, not the common, and there was further scope to look again at cycling improvements.  One member drew attention to the difficulty experienced by pedestrians in dodging cyclists on pavements; anything that could be done to improve this would be much appreciated.

 

The Chair thanked the Cycling Projects Team Leader for attending the meeting and for his excellent reporting.