Minutes:
The Head of Placemaking, Housing, Highways and Flooding and the Group Engineer (Highways and Flooding) provided a verbal report.
· Pavement Parking: A survey has provided evidence that pavement parking creates danger to pedestrians, particular problems for wheelchair or mobility aide users, those with sight impairment and parents with pushchairs with a backdrop of Active Travel that encourages walking. Highway Code rule 244 was explained. Police have power to enforce and the local authority has civil enforcement powers for 7.5 ton+ and HGVs, or where a specific restriction is in place.
Welsh Government has taken steps that from July 2022, pavement parking will be a civil parking offence in Wales, with civil enforcement being the remit of local authorities incurring a Parking Contravention Notice. Local authorities can make Traffic Regulation Orders to designate areas where pavement parking is permitted. Work will be undertaken with County Councillors and Town/Community Councils to identify streets where pavement parking is necessary; proposals will be consulted upon.
Members commented that in many narrow streets there is limited parking and no space to allow parking on pavements, so Policing would be difficult. It was confirmed that the first step is to identify such streets and engage with the County and town/community councillors. It was agreed that engagement with members of the public, residents (e.g. to park on their drives/in garages) and businesses will be key. The scale of the task was acknowledged. Members were reminded that residents can be issued with permits to park in Council car parks.
A Member asked about areas where there are former council homes with no off street parking and questioned if the housing associations etc. could address this. It was speculated that there may be an increase in requests for front garden parking and housing associations could be asked to engage with tenants about this. This may be an option to investigate further.
· 20MPH: A Wales 20mph Task Force was set up in May 2019 with a final report published in July 2020. The proposals for 20mph are to save lives and encourage walking and cycling. Within current legislation, it is difficult to introduce 20mph limits. Welsh Government wishes to introduce a default 20mph limit on roads (mainly where there are street lights). It was explained how the authority and partners will implement the speed limit. The target date for introduction is April 2023.
It was noted that MCC has expressed an interest in participating in a pilot study.
A Member asked if it will be easier to introduce 20mph in rural settlements where there are often no pavements or street lighting. Using the current legislation, if speed is assessed around 30mph the police/authority would consider introducing physical measures to reduce speeds to acceptable levels. The new legislation will be 20mph default where it is now 30mph.
Members asked about the B4245 and asked about enforcement of speed limits. It was confirmed that Go Safe is the primary mechanism for enforcement, but education and encouragement to drive at lower speeds will be essential.
A Group Member recalled plans for traffic orders in town centres to be introduced by Summer 2020 that required a 20mph speed limit on roads off the B4245 and asked if these measures are in force. It was added that there has been no signage or communication with members of the public or publicity. It was commented that there has been no progress in making the road safer and it was noted that there are offers from the community to work with the Council. It was responded regarding the 20mph speed limits that the traffic orders were linked to the COVID response (Unlocking the Towns) and are relevant to all the towns. It was explained that this is a large piece of work to achieve especially in terms of legal processes. Capita has been engaged to assist with this work. It was confirmed that the traffic orders are not yet in force. Working with the community on the B4245 would be welcomed. It was queried if a separate meeting on the B4245 is needed.
A Member asked if “Your Speed” indicators would be effective on the B4245.
The cost of introducing a 20mph default was questioned.
Officers were thanked for their contributions.