Agenda and minutes

Resolved

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate & Culture approved for approval be given for the changes to Country Parks fees and charges from 1 April 2023, as set out in the Appendix.

Resolved

The Portfolio Holder for Environment, Climate & Culture approves for approval be given for the changes to waste fees and charges from 1 April 2023, as set out in the Appendix to this report.

Resolved

That the Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property gives approval to the addition of the following s278 fully developer-funded highway improvement schemes to the Capital Programme for 2022/23:

a) A3400, Stratford Road, Shipston-on-Stour - Ellen Badger Hospital – widening access and relocation of pedestrian island of approximate value £80,000

b) C7 Tamworth Road, Wood End Land East of Islington Farm - construction of new access, footpath and road of approximate value £80,000

Mr Guy Ferguson made the following statement:

“If we look at what the scheme was designed to do, there were two main aims of the scheme, as noted in the report under point 2.3 in the report: ‘to prohibit misuse of the right hand turn of junction at Station Road and Warwick Road’, ‘to allow the creation of a pedestrianized area for local businesses to utilise, creating a small park let’.

So, I've looked at both those points in terms starting first of all with the misuse of the turning. The report notes that the scheme has reduced the number of near misses and collisions and has no environmental impact. Unfortunately, from my position, the problem with both these points is quite simply the conclusion being drawn, is impossible to justify. In terms of near misses, it states reduction, but it's unclear whether this means no accidents; and presumably if not, then you draw it's been a failure, but correlation does not imply causation. The report does not mention once the reduction of the 20mph speed limit that was reduced from 30mph along that stretch of the Warwick Road, that was implemented at the same time. Claiming the road closure has reduced accidents, is for me to equally claim the 20mph restriction has caused these, is completely unprovable.

As the environmental impacts, if you displace traffic from the main non-residential through road, onto residential roads, wholly unsuitable for the purpose, then you're shifting exhaust fumes to residents from shopping areas. I further add that in terms of residents of Central Kenilworth Association, who make representations on behalf of central Kenworth residents, they wrote to the Council in May 2022, and they received response to nine months later. There has been no risk assessment on the additional safety risk of Station Road being closed, in light of pedestrian being knocked over by reversing lorry.

A decision is being made on an assessment, after this decision is being made. It's like operating on a patient before you've diagnosed the condition. It needs a full assessment. There appears to be no assessment of extra traffic, especially HGV's, through Abbey and Car Park, which is wholly undesigned for the traffic. Kenworth Town Council and Warwickshire County Council have reported no extra problems apparently, but this assumes no complaints means there's no issues. Again, it needs a full assessment. There's been no assessment whether a light controlled junction could be fitted at this point to prevent the right term being made; again, there's been no assessment in light of so little information.

How can a reasonable decision be made today? I'd further add there's no data on traffic displacement in the report. There's massive displacement to other roads.

People who want to turn out right of Station Road are now being forced onto Waverley and Priory Roads. I live there, you get too many vehicles down there at the same stage. It seems to suggest that driving out of Station Road on to Warwick Road  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

Councillor Keith Kondakor (Nuneaton and Bedworth Borough Council) made the following statement:

“First, I need to say we're massively in support of this crossing and it's a really busy area and all the routes tend to come into this point. Rectory Drive is quite a big drive coming into the side and we've got the park on your side really supporting the crossing. But unfortunately, it's not been designed to take account of all the cyclists going down there. Warwickshire County Council has a plan as you see on one of your maps to have a cycle route down from Bedworth to Coventry which mostly goes through backstreets but has to come out on the Coventry Road for about 100 yards, where this crossing is going to be.

I'm pleased officers have had a change of heart and you're going to move the control box to the crossing off the pavement on that side. But it's a very long stretch where cyclists are on the carriageway. You've got the central refuge and then a very narrow pavement on the east side. So, this hadn't been designed to take account of the future cycling route and the island in the middle is a real problem for cyclists; because of the layout, we're really in a long funnel with the traffic behind us, which is incredibly unhelpful.

What we'd like is actually for the refuge to go in the middle and effectively have a space, then for the road to be redesigned when the cycle lane comes in, so you'll have to remap it. So, we do far better if we design it, so we haven't built a central island, which we then have to demolish in a year's time. So, I'm happy with the having this crossing, but can we please have one that's just a signal on either pavement and then we can just move them when we need to for the cycle lane and then it's also safer so that cyclists don't get that HGV behind you for a long while; because there's this island in the middle of very busy route.

I'm really, really pleased that Warwickshire is looking at Bedworth to Coventry cycle route, particularly with all the jobs at the RECO. People are going to cycle to Coventry and Bedworth into the RECO on Baynton Road. The industrial estate is going to be really busy for cyclists, it already is, and we just haven't had the cycle safety audits and the planning for the cyclists to go at the same time as the crossing.

So, I’m happy for the principal of the crossing, but can we please have the design tweaks to make it future proofed? Thank you very much.”

Councillor Bhagwant Pandher (Warwickshire County Council and the local member) said that this scheme started a couple of years ago. The cycling route is a separate issue, and a puffin crossing was needed on Rectory Drive for pedestrians, especially children and dog walkers. The local member  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Resolved

That the Portfolio Holder for Education approves the school term and holiday dates for the 2024/25 academic year as set out in the published report.

To consider passing the following resolution:

‘That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.’

Resolved

That members of the public be excluded from the meeting for the items mentioned below on the grounds that their presence would involve the disclosure of exempt information as defined in paragraph 7 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Local Government Act 1972.

Resolved

The recommendations were approved as set out in the report.