Agenda item

Paul Taylor (Delivery Lead – Forestry & Minorworks) summarised the following points:

• Nine councillors will implement 20mph with their delegated budgets since April 2021
• These schemes were all different geographically and design wise as they needed to be bespoke
• A pilot scheme for the Highways Community Action Fund (HCAF) will be implemented in Henley in Arden and was due to go out for consultation
• Bridge End in Warwick was in the consultation stage of the 20mph scheme
• Signs and road markings were a cheaper alternative to getting 20mph limits installed
• The costs for all the planned schemes still needed to be determined

In response to Councillor Sinclair, Paul Taylor agreed to provide the cost estimates for each scheme and that its impact should be monitored too. They try to determine costs before consultation to see if they are affordable; there was no set criteria to see how lessons were learnt from the scheme.   

Scott Tompkins noted that these were very different schemes to the ones reported in the Transport Evaluation item. 

Paul Taylor clarified that speed surveys were done before a 20mph was planned to see if they were needed; they had to look at scheme viability versus the statistics of the scheme’s need.  

Paul Taylor concurred with Councillor Chilvers that speed surveys needed to be done before a traffic calming scheme was implemented so ensure that a scheme was worth implementing.  

In response to Councillor D Humphreys, Paul Taylor clarified that the New Arbury blanket approach for a 20mph scheme was an example provided to the 20mph Limits TFG to show the cost and not something planned for installation.  

Councillor D Humphreys said that he would like to know what could be done instead for residents in the area. 

Following a question from Councillor Sinclair, Paul Taylor said that parameters like speed could be measured. The purpose of a speed reduction scheme would need to be measured by the relevant survey e.g. a speed reduction one or pedestrian count one.  

Following a point from Councillor Fradgley, Paul Taylor stated that a popular 20mph limit at the consultation would be quicker to implement.  

In response to Councillor Baxter-Payne, Paul Taylor stated that signs alone rarely reduced car speeds so physical traffic calming measures would be needed.  

In response to Councillor Chilvers, Scott Tompkins confirmed that the Henley in Arden HCAF 20mph limit was in its development stage and more may be trialled after. A report will be brought to Cabinet which will set up a fund for the HCAF to enable easier rollout for this year.  

Councillor Sinclair suggested that this item come back to the committee in 12 months to show the successes/failings of the implemented schemes. Paul Taylor said that full surveys normally take three to five years so they would need to do a short traffic survey for this. Scott Tompkins added that implementing these schemes took between 12-18 months due to construction and legalities.    

In response to the Chair, Paul Taylor said that in the informal consultation, local residents and businesses were contacted for feedback to the design could be finalised before a TRO is sent out with a formal consultation. 

Following a supplementary from the Chair, Paul Taylor confirmed that local sat nav data was available, but it was always sent to the Council out of date, so speed surveys were always done before 20mph limits were implemented.