Issue - meetings

(i) Queen Edith’s Way
(ii) Fendon Road Roundabout

The Committee received presentations from Cambridgeshire County Council Officers regarding Cycle Safety projects.

 

Fendon Road / Queen Edith's Way / Mowbray Road improvement plans

 

Grant Weller (Project Manager) gave an update on the Fendon Road / Queen Edith's Way / Mowbray Road improvement plans and consultations to-date.

 

     i.        Work was due to begin on constructing the new layout for the Fendon Road / Queen Edith's Way / Mowbray Road roundabout on Monday 9 September 2019. 

    ii.        Work would involve the installation of a new Dutch-style roundabout to improve safety in the area, by giving priority to pedestrians and cyclists over motorists.

   iii.        One of the key elements is a change in carriageway width, designed to influence slower approach and departure speeds, thereby reducing the speed of drivers.

  iv.        Pedestrians would be provided with zebra crossings on each of the four roundabout entry / exit arms and on the crossing points over the cycle paths.

      v.            Cyclists would be given their own cycle path, in contrasting red tarmac, to give them priority over motor vehicles.

  vi.        Unfortunately, Stagecoach had been unable to send a representative to provide an update on bus services in the area.

 

 

Further consultations and information events were planned as follows:

·         Thursday 29 August 2019, 12.00pm to 2.00pm, Addenbrookes Concourse

·         Monday 2 September 2019, 5.30pm to 7.30pm, Netherhall School

·         Wednesday 4 September 2019, 3.30pm to 6.30pm, St James C of E Church, Wulfstan Way.

 

The Officers invited question from Members of the Committee and the public as follows:

 

1.     Would parking restrictions be introduced to Nightingale Avenue?

 

Parking would be restricted to allow diverted buses access.

2.     Local residents suggested that the consultation had been too little and too late. Where would traffic heading for Addenbrooke’s Hospital go? Where would the displaced vehicles park? Why would the work take 29 weeks? Had alternative, shorter road closures been considered?

Further information events and letter drops were planned and an information / publicity campaign would keep the public informed.

3.     How common were the planned roundabouts across Europe?

Currently around 4,000 roundabouts of this style were in use in Holland and more were planned.

4.     Had the team considered postponing the work until the start of next year’s school summer holidays?

The work was timed to allow completion next April when  evenings would be lighter. This would allow the public to get used to the new arrangement before the winter months.

5.     Many elderly people lived in the Queen Edith’s Way area. How would they get to the hospital for appointments?

There would be disruption and the Citi 2 bus route would not be going to the hospital while the work was being completed. Passengers would need to change buses to complete the journey.

6.     Could shuttle buses be provided?

That would be an operational issue for Stagecoach to consider.

7.     Mill Road has seen an improvement in air quality since the road had been closed to through traffic. Would air quality in this area be monitored to see if a similar improvement was noted?

There were plans to monitor the air quality during the works.

Action Point: Councillor Thornburrow undertook to investigate the use of air monitors during the road closures.

8.     The proposed left hand turn onto Hills Road would cause a conflict with the existing traffic lights.

This would be discussed with the Signals team.

9.     The proposals would result in the closure of Queen Edith’s Way as a though route. If this was not done the project delivery time would be extended by 8 weeks. Had consultations offered that as an option? Had the impact on the local economy been taken into account?

This option had been rejected as it would require 3 way signals and would add to predicted congestion.

10. Why had the first day of the new school year been selected as the start date for the project?

There was no convenient time for the project.

11. Why had such a complex roundabout been selected?

The design was considered the safest for cyclists. The haulage industry experts and public transport providers had been consulted.

12. There had been problems with contractors on previous projects. What measures would be in place for on-going consultation during the construction phase?

The Officer undertook to take this comment back to the Project team.

Mike Davies (County Council Cycling Projects: Team Leader) stated that the contractor was one of the best and considerable pre-construction work had been completed.

13. Where will cars that normally park in Nightingale Avenue find alternative parking?

Parking has been a problem in this area for some time and the only long term solution would be residents’ parking.

14. Drivers will be unfamiliar with Dutch style roundabouts. How will this be addressed?

Public information would be circulated.

15. How would a stranger to Cambridge know what to do when faced with an unfamiliar road layout?

This would be an on-going communication matter. Good design and clear signage is an important factor.

Queen Edith’s Way

Vanessa Kelly (Senior Project Officer) gave an update on the Queen Edith's Way improvement plans and consultations todate. 

     i.        Consultation had been undertaken in 2015 and 2016.

    ii.        Those consultations had highlighted the priorities for the area and had focused attention on the schools in the area.

   iii.        Work was on-going to map journeys.

  iv.        Aim was to reduce car trips and car speed.

   v.        There would be workshops for students and families in the near future.

  vi.        Once design option had been agreed, wider consultations would follow.

The Officers invited question from Members of the Committee and the public as follows:

1.   The focus appears to have changed from accessibility to broader road safety matters.

The initial consultation work had shown that up to 80% of drivers fail to observe the 20 mph limit and with additional housing expected in the area, other road safety options were being explored.

 

2.   Both the carriageway and pavement of Queen Edith’s Way had been in a poor condition for years. Members of the public might question why there had been no funding available for repairs whilst major projects could be delivered.

 

There had been concerns over road safety in an area so frequently used by school children. However, it was hoped that funding for resurfacing would be found.

 

3.   Why install a cycle lane when the area already had 20 mph speed restrictions?

 

Cycle lanes would narrow the carriageway and this would slow the traffic down. The current wide road encouraged drivers to ignore the speed limit.

 

4.   The public were confused by the different funding streams and needed to know where the money was coming from when projects were proposed.

 

5.   Could courtesy cameras, that told drivers how fast they were going, be considered for Queen Edith’s Way.

 

6.   Could Church End be considered for similar speed reduction works?

 

The County Council hoped to look at the wider area to understand traffic flows. Proposed junctions for land north of Cherry Hinton were poor and it was hoped that these could be improved and would be funded by the developer.