(i) Request for Removal and (ii) Request to Retain

abc
Public report
Cabinet Member Report
Cabinet Member (City Services) 11 December 2012
Name of Cabinet Member:
Cabinet Member (City Services) – Councillor Harvard
Director Approving Submission of the report:
Director of City Services and Development
Ward(s) affected:
Earlsdon and Cheylesmore
Title:
Two Petitions – request for the removal of the Stoney Road Bus Gate
request to retain the Stoney Road Bus Gate
Is this a key decision?
No
Executive Summary:
In April 2012 a bus gate was installed on Stoney Road. The introduction of the bus gate in effect
reduces the volume of traffic able to travel on Stoney Road in a southwest bound direction
(towards Leamington Road).
Two petitions have been received:
A petition of 147 signatures requesting the removal of the bus gate. The petition is to be
presented by Councillor Foster.
A petition of 44 signatures registering support for the bus gate and requesting it is retained. The
petition is to be presented by Councillor O'Boyle.
In accordance with the City Council's procedure for dealing with petitions, those relating to traffic
management are heard by the Cabinet Member (City Services).
Recommendations:
The Cabinet Member is recommended to:
1. Note the issues raised by the petitioners
2. Endorse that further traffic monitoring is undertaken with a further report in 6 months
detailing the results

List of Appendices included:
Appendix A -
Appendix B -
Location plan showing location of bus gate/lane
Copy of petition requesting removal of bus gate, copy of petition advising of
support for the bus gate and requesting it is retained and copy of previous
petition supporting the installation of bus gate
Other useful documents:
Planning Committee Report 6, 24 March 2011 and Planning Application No. OUT/2011/0036
Cabinet Member (City Services) meeting 14 June 2011, Report - Proposed Traffic Regulation
Order prohibiting right turn in to and out of Michaelmas Road
Cabinet Member (City Services) meeting 13 December 2011, Report - Proposed Traffic
Regulation Orders creating Bus Lane on Stoney Road and 20mph Speed Limit
Cabinet Member (City Services) meeting 27 March 2012, Report – Objection to proposed
modification to Traffic Regulation Order relating to Bus Gate on Stoney Road
Copies of reports available at moderngov.coventry.gov.uk
Has it or will it be considered by Scrutiny?
No
Has it, or will it be considered by any other Council Committee, Advisory Panel or other
body?
No
Will this report go to Council?
No
2

Report title:
Two Petitions – request for the removal of the Stoney Road Bus Gate
request to retain the Stoney Road Bus Gate
1. Context (or background)
1.1 A bus gate was installed on Stoney Road in April 2012.
1.2 Two petitions have been received:
A petition of 147 signatures requesting the removal of the bus gate, highlighting congestion
and the changes petitioners have had to make to their routes as concerns. The petition is to
be presented by Councillor Foster.
A petition of 44 signatures registering support for the bus gate and requesting it is retained.
The petition is to be presented by Councillor O'Boyle
1.3 In accordance with the City Council's procedure for dealing with petitions, those relating to
traffic management are heard by the Cabinet Member (City Services).
2. Options considered and recommended proposal
2.1 One petition requests the removal of the bus gate on Stoney Road and advises that:
'Residents strongly object to the recently created Bus Lane. It has given rise to
frustrating problems for the residents living in close proximity of this bus lane in that we
are now unable to drive to the ring road without having to take unnecessarily much
longer and very congested highways. This bus lane has not added any positive benefits
for the public at large nor for the local residents.'
The full petition is detailed in Appendix B.
2.2 The other petition advises of support for the Bus Gate and requests that it remains in place.
The full petition is detailed in Appendix B.
2.3 The introduction of the 'bus gate' on Stoney Road in effect reduces the volume of traffic able
to travel in a southwest bound direction (towards Leamington Road). It is enforced by the
City Council using a CCTV camera
2.4 The options considered in response to the issues raised in the petition are:
i) To retain the bus gate and continue to monitor the effects on traffic.
ii) To remove the bus gate
Any proposed change in regard to the bus gate requires a change to the Traffic Regulation
Order and an associated legal procedure has to be followed (see 5.2).
2.5 To retain the bus gate and continue to monitor the effects on traffic
The bus gate came into operation on 16 April 2012. Traffic counts were undertaken prior to
the introduction of the bus gate and after its installation.
3

Concerns have been raised by drivers and bus operators regarding the additional traffic on
Warwick Road causing delays both on Warwick Road and at Ring Road Junction 6.
However, in addition to the bus gate there have been a number of changes to road layouts
and this may result in some drivers changing their routes.
Due to the number of changes in the area and the relatively short period of time since the
installation of the bus gate it is proposed that further monitoring, in the form of traffic counts,
is undertaken, this includes additional counts on surrounding roads such as Quinton Road.
2.6 To remove the bus gate now.
It is considered that more monitoring is required before a decision can be made in regard to
the removal of the bus gate.
2.7 The recommended proposal is to not to remove the bus gate but to undertake further
monitoring.
3. Results of consultation undertaken
3.1 The proposed Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) relating to the bus gate/lane on Stoney Road
was advertised in the Coventry Telegraph on 13 October 2011. Notices were also placed on
street in the vicinity of the proposals. In addition letters were hand delivered to premises
within Stoney Road and the area bounded by and including Michaelmas Road, Stoney Road,
Humphrey Burton's Road and Warwick Road. Letters were also sent to other various
consultees. The responses received were:
17 objections,
18 letters of support,
231 signature petition supporting the ‘bus gate’ proposal
1 letter from West Midlands Fire Service advising they had no objection to the proposals.
3.2 No consultation has been undertaken on any of the options in this report.
4. Timetable for implementing this decision
4.1 If approved additional traffic counts will be undertaken and reported back in 6 months.
5. Comments from Director of Finance and Legal Services
5.1 Financial implications
The additional traffic counts will be funded from existing budgets.
5.2 Legal implications.
The Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 allows the Council to make a Traffic Order in the
interests of preserving or improving the amenities of an area provided it has given due
consideration to the effect of such an order.
In accordance with Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, when considering
whether it would be expedient to make a traffic order the Council is under a duty to have
regard to and balance various potentially conflicting factors e.g. the convenient and safe
movement of traffic (including pedestrians), adequate parking, improving or preserving local
amenity, air quality and/or public transport provision.
There is an obligation under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to advertise our intention
to make Traffic Orders and to inform various stakeholders, including the Police and the
4

public. The Authority is obliged to consider any representations received. If representations
are received these are considered by the Cabinet Member (City Services).
The 1984 Act provides that once a Traffic Order has been made it may only be challenged
further via the High Court on a point of law (i.e. that the Order does not comply with the Act
for some reason).
The same considerations as detailed above apply equally where a traffic order is varied or
revoked.
6. Other implications
6.1 How will this contribute to achievement of the Council's key objectives / corporate
priorities (corporate plan/scorecard) / organisational blueprint / LAA (or Coventry
SCS)?
The bus gate was one of a number of measures proposed to mitigate against and protect
residents from the potential traffic management issues arising from the Friargate
development.
The introduction of new businesses and developments within Coventry contribute to the City
Council's core aim of a prosperous Coventry, making Coventry an attractive and enjoyable
place to be, encouraging a creative, active and vibrant City. A City that works for jobs and
growth.
6.2 How is risk being managed?
The impact and likelihood of risk is managed through the monthly Friargate Project Board
which consists of both senior council managers and senior representatives of the developer.
The Residents Liaison Group is kept informed through the attendance of both council officers
and representatives of the developer.
6.3 What is the impact on the organisation?
None
6.4 Equalities / EIA
The Council has taken due consideration to the Equality Act 2010 and the Disability
Discrimination Act 1995. Section 20(3) of the Equality Act 2010 states: "..where a provision,
criterion or practice of [the Council] puts a disabled person at a substantial disadvantage in
relation to a relevant matter in comparison with persons who are not disabled [the Council is
required] to take such steps as it is reasonable to have to take to avoid the disadvantage." In
this matter, the Council does not feel that the existing scheme puts any disabled person at a
"substantial disadvantage" in comparison to if the bus gate was removed.
6.5 Implications for (or impact on) the environment
None
6.6 Implications for partner organisations?
None
Report author(s):
5

Name and job title:
Caron Archer, Senior Engineer (Traffic Management)
Shirley Reynolds, Team Manager (Traffic and Road Safety)
Directorate:
City Services and Development
Tel and email contact:
024 7683 2062 caron.archer@coventry.gov.uk
024 7683 2107 shirley.reynolds@coventry.gov.uk
Enquiries should be directed to the above person.
Contributor/approver
name
Title
Directorate or
organisation
Contributors:
Colin Knight
Paul Boulton
Liz Knight
Assistant Director
Planning,
Transport &
Highways
Group Manager
(Traffic &
Transportation)
Governance
Services Officer
City Services &
Development
Directorate
City Services &
Development
Directorate
Customer and
Workforce
Services
Jas Bilen HR Manager Customer and
Workforce
Services
Barry Butterworth
Other members
Senior Projects
Manager (Major
Projects)
City Services &
Development
Directorate
Names of approvers for
submission: (officers and
members)
Finance: Mark Williams Lead Accountant Finance and
Legal
Legal: Clarissa Evans
Member: Councillor
Harvard
Commercial Team
Manager
Cabinet Member
(City Services)
Finance and
Legal
Date doc
sent out
Date response
received or
approved
22.11.2012 27.11.2012
22.11.2012 27.11.2012
22.11.2012 26.11.2012
22.11.2012 22.11.2012
22.11.2012 22.11.2012
22.11.2012 28.11.2012
22.11.2012 30.11.2012
22.11.2012 27.11.2012
This report is published on the council's website:
moderngov.coventry.gov.uk
6

Appendix A - Location plan showing location of Bus Lane
7

Appendix B – Copy of Petitions
Petition requesting removal of bus gate (current)
Petition in support of bus gate (current)
8

Petition supporting installation of bus gate (received prior to installation of bus gate)
9