BOROUGH OF POOLE

CANFORD CLIFFS AND PENN HILL AREA COMMITTEE

14THJULY 2010

The Meeting commenced at 7pm and concluded at 8.15pm

Present:

Councillor Parker (Chairman)

Councillors Mrs Deas, Mrs Haines and Sorton

Also attending:

Councillor Leverett

Officers attending:

Steve Cattle, Legal and Democratic Services

Steve Dean, Transportation Services

Members of the public present:Approximately 18

CCPH07.10APOLOGIES FOR ABSENCE

Apologies for absence received from Councillors Ms Atkinson and Mrs Dion.

CCPH08.10DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Councillor Mrs Haines declared a personal interest in M.CCPH06.10 as she had acted as a Ward Councillor in facilitating the request for trees in Haven Road.

CCPH09.10MINUTES

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 19th May 2010, having been previously circulated, be confirmed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

CCPH10.10OBJECTIONS TO TRAFFIC REGULATION ORDER – WARREN ROAD AND HARDY ROAD

Steve Dean, Transportation Services, reported that the following Orders had been advertised:

  • Hardy Road, Warren Road – Resident Parking Scheme, and
  • Alexandra Road, Woking Road, Edward Road, Richmond Road and Loch Road – relaxation of hours of operation of waiting restrictions

Representations had been received in response to the formal advertisement for Hardy Road and Warren Road and these were detailed in the Report. No representations had been received in respect of the Alexandra Road, Woking Road, Edward Road, Richmond Road and Loch Road Order and this could be made as advertised.

RESOLVED that:

(i)The Orders for Warren Road and Hardy Road be made as advertised; and

(ii)The Orders for Alexandra Road, Woking Road, Edward Road, Richmond Road and Loch Road be made as advertised.

CCPH11.10TRAFFIC PANEL AND TRANSPORTATION PROGRAMME

Steve Dean, Transportation Services, submitted a report on behalf of the Head of Transportation Services informing the Committee of the Traffic Panel’s recommendations and decisions that had now been taken under delegated powers and for consideration of the Transportation Programme for this Financial Year.

The Traffic Panel had met on 16th June 2010 and discussed the following items:

  • Martello Park – review of yellow lines – the recommendation was to impose no waiting at any time restrictions in Martello Park and Buccleuch Road.
  • Pinecliff Road/The Avenue – review of waiting and loading restrictions – the recommendation was to impose “no waiting at any time” restrictions in Pinecliff Road/The Avenue/Western Road and Beach Road.
  • Penn Hill Avenue – the recommendation had been to convert the taxi rank in Penn Hill Avenue to a disabled space 8pm – 6pm and taxis only 6pm – 8am.

No objections had been raised to the panel’s recommendations and they had been approved under delegated powers.

The Meeting was advised that at its Meeting on 24th March 2010 this Area Committee had included the following items in its Programme for this Financial Year:

Warren Road, Hardy Road – resident parking exemption / £1,000
Woking Road, Alexandra Road, Edward Road – Relaxation of single yellow lines to apply 8am-6pm Mon-Fri / £1,500
Removal of Controlled Parking Zone signs / £500
Total / £3,000

This left approximately £2,180.00 unallocated for the current year. It was suggested that the following items were approved for implementation in the current year’s Programme:

Martello Park/Buccleuch Road/Pinecliff Avenue/The Avenue/Beach Road and Western Road - review of parking restrictions / £1,300
Penn Hill Avenue – daytime disabled bay / £800
Total / £2,100

A Resident drew attention to the dangerous conditions at the roundabout at Kingsbridge Road/Osbourne Road etc and the fact that the roundabout markings were now in need of maintenance and asked whether the above Programme would affect this work.

Steve Dean responded by stating that the money for maintenance work came from a different budget and therefore the above Programme would not affect any works which were needed at the roundabout.

The same Resident drew attention to the situation at the Roundabout and the large number of articulated vehicles which caused problems in view of the very narrow width of the roads at this location. The markings were in need of maintenance and she stated that something needed to be done urgently as vehicles were speeding as they approached the roundabout, causing a dangerous situation.

A further Resident drew attention to the fact that works had been carried out on Penn Hill Avenue which meant that the road was now narrower and they were forced into Woodside Road which was even narrower and this was barely wide enough for the large number of heavy goods vehicles which were using the road. It was suggested that Woodside Road be made one way to help this situation.

Residents also suggested that the Council should restrict heavy goods vehicles on Woodside Road or impose weight restrictions.

Steve Dean, Transportation Services, stated that the Roundabout was created some years ago for safety reasons and the Council was currently considering the request for a crossing at this point.

A Resident felt that this was a safety issue which should be resolved urgently and drew attention to the fact that a large number of coaches were now using Penn Hill Avenue/Woodside Road and it was inappropriate for them to do so.

A further Resident stated that local people were concerned at the traffic situation in the Woodside Road area and he drew attention to a particular problem which he experienced whilst riding his bicycle and this had caused him to have the expectation that every other person on the road was going to do something stupid at this roundabout. There were no roundabout signs warning drivers as they approached the location.

The Chairman felt that it was important to report back to the Area Committee with options for improvements at the roundabout in Woodside Road to make it safer and that a safety assessment should also be undertaken.

RESOLVED that:

(i)The Traffic Panel recommendations be noted;

(ii)The proposals for Martello Park, Pinecliff Road, The Avenue and Penn Hill Avenue be approved for implementation as part of this year’s Transportation Programme, totalling £2,100

(iii)Officers be asked to report to the next meeting of the Area Committee on options for improving safety at the Woodside Road roundabout.

CCPH12.10TREES IN HAVEN ROAD

Steve Dean, Transportation Services, presented a report on behalf of the Head of Transportation Services regarding a suggestion that trees be planted in Haven Road in the Canford Cliffs shopping area. The Council had been approached by a representative of the Branksome Park and Canford Cliffs Residents Association with a suggestion that funding could be made available to plant four trees in the shopping centre in Haven Road. The four suggested locations were shown on a plan which was submitted to the Meeting.

Three of the trees could be located on existing footway and one tree would need to be located on a kerbed footway extension and this would inevitably involve the loss of a parking space.

The Meeting was advised that there were practical problems associated with introducing and maintaining trees in the highway and the most obvious problem was finding a location where trees could be planted without compromising underground mains and equipment.

The only way of establishing the exact location of the underground equipment was to excavate trial holes. If the Committee felt that it would like to assist this exercise, it could fund this investigation so that the fund-raisers would know whether their proposal was feasible. A contribution of £700 would fund a day’s worth of excavation.

Councillor Mrs Haines stated that the Area Committee was being asked to approve funding for investigatory trial holes and the trees themselves were being funded by the Residents’ Association. Some traders in Canford Cliffs were concerned about the siting of the trees in Haven Road.

Councillor Mrs Deas confirmed that she had also contacted a trader who had not been consulted on this proposal and he was upset about the idea, especially as one car parking space would be lost. She also felt that the Committee should think twice about spending £700 during the current economic climate and that the proposal should be put on hold.

Councillor Sorton stated that an offer had been made by the Residents’ Association to improve the environment and he agreed that there were arguments on both sides and the question was whether the provision of four trees was better than losing one parking space.

Residents raised the following issues:

A trader had stated that this was not a good idea and that no consultation had been carried out. Due to Government cuts this was not essential and that all budgets should be clawed back for use by the Council for essential services. There were also long term issues of maintenance and leaf fall etc.

  • The Secretary of The Traders’ Association stated that there had been no advance warning of this proposal and that the Association was not happy about the idea. A suggestion was put forward that instead of trees in the footway, that shrubs could be planted in pots which would save them being put into the ground.
  • An old photograph of Haven Road was shown to the Meeting which had ten or twelve trees along its length but these had been cut down all except one which remained. The photographs could be used to help find the right position for the trees but there were also real concerns about vision and visibility, especially in view of the large number of vehicles which used Haven Road in the Summer.

If there was no problem of obscuring the sight lines at junctions along Haven Road, then there was no problem with the proposal.

  • Mr Sprackling, on behalf of the Residents’ Association, stated that the key mover of the proposal had been unable to attend tonight’s meeting but he agreed that trees did have an effect on calming traffic. Bournemouth Borough Council had recently planted palm trees in a road in the Town Centre and other towns and cities, such as London, had provided trees to improve the environment. There was also guidance encouraging tree planting in urban areas. Whilst he agreed that there was not 100% backing to the idea, it would improve the visual aspects in the road and felt that the idea should be explored.

The Meeting was advised that the Residents’ Association would be asked if it would fund the excavation work and suggested that the matter be deferred for this discussion to take place.

Councillor Sorton felt that it was a pity to let the opportunity slip by.

RESOLVED that the proposal to plant trees in Haven Road be deferred to the next Meeting.

CCPH13.10OPEN FORUM

The following items of interest/concern were raised:

  • The Chairman stated that the Leader of the Council was in attendance at the Meeting and drew attention to the recent Echo article which had given the impression that there were to be cuts of £29million in the Council’s budget but he emphasised that this was not the case and that the figure which had been quoted in the newspaper was only relevant if no action was taken by the Council over the next three years.

The Leader of the Council, Councillor Leverett, stated that the best possible estimates had been made relating to the shortfall in funding and funding gap of £29 million was one scenario if no steps were taken by the Council. £13/14 million had been identified now as possible savings etc; but the problem was the shortfall on what was needed in 2012/13. Various statements had been made by the Government which indicated that there would be a shortfall in funding and that these were very serious issues. The Council had to consider how it delivered Services in the future and when the results of the Comprehensive Spending Review were known later in the year there would be a need to consider priorities, protect the vulnerable and protect frontline services.

  • A Resident stated that Area Committee Members were visiting Footpath Number 82 in the near future and drew attention to the razor wire which had been erected on the footpath without planning permission. He asked Ward Councillors to look at this when they visited the site as he felt that razor wire at this location was totally inappropriate.
  • A Resident asked what progress had been made with regard to the proposed play area at Canford Cliffs?

Steve Cattle, Legal & Democratic Services responded on behalf of Leisure Services by stating that the proposed Play Area at Canford Cliffs was included in the 2011/12 Business Plan because, whilst the Year 2 Playbuilder Scheme was underway, Leisure Services did not have the capacity to develop further play areas, apart from a new one at Wallisdown Recreation Ground. The Playbuilder funding situation was yet to be resolved and if Leisure Services did not have to delivery all 11 Playbuilder Year 2 sites then it might be possible to bring this particular project forward.

Councillor Sorton wished to sound a note of caution as it was impossible to know what was going to happen in the future, especially due to the forthcoming Comprehensive Spending Review and it was impossible to make promises on future Schemes at this moment.

A Resident hoped the Ward Councillors would encourage Officers to ensure that this Scheme was proceeded with as soon as possible.

  • A Resident asked whether the Head of Planning and Regeneration Services was making a presentation at the next Meeting on planning issues?

The Chairman stated that he hoped a presentation could be made on the Core Strategy and Site Specific Allocations for the Canford Cliffs and Penn Hill Area.

  • A Resident drew attention to the work undertaken by the Residents’ Community Group. He had received correspondence from Councillor Gillard which indicated that many residents were unaware of this work.

The Meeting was advised that the work of the Residents’ Community Group was widely publicised and minutes of itsMeetings were available on the Website, so residents had access to this information and therefore it was untrue to say that no-one knew.

Councillor Mrs Haines also drew attention to the fact that an Annual Meeting of the Community Group was held at which an Annual Report was presented on the work of the Group and this had been very positive and progress had clearly been made.

The Chairman agreed that a great deal of work had been carried out by this Group and felt that possibly more could be done with regard to communication to get the information more widely available in the Community.

A Resident felt that there was no prominent information available about Residents’ Associations and he wondered how many residents were actually in Residents’ Associations. He had not seen a great deal of publicity about joining such Groups.

Other Residents felt that there was already a great deal of information available on Residents’ Associations via Websites, Notice Boards and in Libraries, publicising various events and meetings in different areas. It was felt that there was a need for more notice boards to be available in local areas to communicate with residents. LocalSafer Neighbourhood Teams (SNTs) should also be asked to provide information boards.

  • A Resident drew attention to the fact that the Notice Board at Alexandra Park had not yet been replaced.

Steve Cattle undertook to advise Leisure Services of this requirement.

  • A Resident drew attention to the recent works in Penn Hill Avenue and, whilst he felt that the road surface was now improved, he could not understand the point of narrowing the road. Furthermore, turning right into roads such as Spur Hill Avenue stopped the cars now, which then queued, whereas before there was ample room for traffic to still proceed even if vehicles were turning right. Cars were now allowed to park on the whole length of the south side of the road and this was causing him real problems accessing from his property onto Penn Hill Avenue as he could not see oncoming traffic. He felt that this was more dangerous than before. He could not understand why there was a cycle lane on Penn Hill Avenue and asked whether this was really needed?

Roads in the Woodside Road area were very narrow and he felt that there was now too much traffic going through these small residential roads and he could not understand why more traffic was using the Penn Hill Avenue route.

Councillor Sorton responded by stating that traffic was increasing on the roads in the area, especially on Bournemouth Road and the decision was taken that Penn Hill Avenue should be a Prime Transport Corridor.

Councillor Mrs Deas drew attention to some of the cycle lanes which had parking on the inside and this had caused her a problem recently when a driver had opened their car door as she was riding her bicycle past.