Agenda and minutes

Apologies for absence were received from Kent County Councillor D P Murphy and Mr R S Walkden (Dover Town Council).

It was noted that Mr C Warriner (Dover Town Council) had been appointed as substitute Member for Mr R S Walkden (Dover Town Council).

To receive any declarations of interest from Members in respect of business to be transacted on the agenda.

There were no declarations of interest made by Members.

To confirm the attached Minutes of the meeting of the Committee held on 15 June 2017.

The Minutes of the meeting held on 15 June 2017 were approved as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

To consider the attached report of the Head of Transportation, Kent County Council.

The Dover District Manager introduced the report on the proposed speed limit reduction for Alkham Road, Temple Ewell. The intention of the works was to improve facilities to encourage visitors to Kearsney Abbey and Russell Gardens following a successful bid by Dover District Council for lottery funding to regenerate the parks.

The first phase of works had already been completed and the second phase included proposals for a reduction of the speed limit on Alkham Road from 50mph to 40mph in order to create a 634 metre ‘buffer’ speed limit zone for vehicles approaching the parks from the Folkestone area. A 30mph speed limit was already in force near the junction with Abbey Road.

Members were advised that several respondents to the proposals, including Alkham Parish Council, had advocated a wider area for speed limit controls but this had been rejected as it was not supported by crash data and did not meet standards set by national guidance.

RESOLVED:       (a)     That it be agreed that Kent County Council investigate the placement of the speed limit terminal signs and, if found feasible, amend and re-advertise the Traffic Regulation Order.

                             (b)     That it be agreed to change to the speed limit as advertised if investigations find that the terminal sign cannot be moved.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets presented the report on the proposed residents’ parking schemes in Dover.

Members were advised that residents in Laureston Place and Victoria Park had requested a residents’ parking scheme be implemented to cover their roads. The parking demand in the vicinity had increased, particularly since the closure of the Russell Street Car Park which formed part of the St James’s development site. It was suggested that the scheme could potentially be based on an extension to the existing Zone F, which included sections of adjacent streets such as Castle Hill Road, Eastbrook Place and St. James’s Street.

RESOLVED:       (a)     That it be agreed that a consultation be undertaken with the residents in the Laureston Place, Victoria Park and Priory Hill areas of Dover to see if there was sufficient support for the introduction of residents’ parking schemes.

                            (b)     That the outcome of the consultation be brought back before the Dover Joint Transportation Board at a future meeting to determine whether or not the schemes should proceed to the next stage of being formally advertised prior to making any final recommendations.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets presented the report on the lorry parking prohibition for Coombe Valley Road, Dover.

Members were advised that lorry parking prohibitions for Hawkesbury Street, Dover and Poulton Close, Dover had come into force on 20 March 2017. Since that date, the following changes to the pattern lorry parking in the area had been observed:

·         Hawkesbury Street, Dover

Prior to implementation of the restrictions, vehicles would typically park from late afternoon onwards. While lorries had continued to park along the restricted section it had been noticed that they were now arriving later (c.10pm) in what was thought was an attempt to avoid the evening parking patrols.

·         Poulton Close, Dover

Prior to the implementation of the restrictions there were typically between 6-12 lorries parked during the day on weekdays with a significant increase in parking overnight and on weekends. Numbers had now noticeably reduced with only one or two lorries being parked over the weekends and with almost none during the day in the week. However, lorry parking on the unrestricted section of Poulton Close (nearest to Holmestone Road) remained heavy.

Parking Services continued to make regular patrols across the District to monitor lorry parking and take appropriate enforcement action.

The Director of Environment and Corporate Assets asked Members to consider whether lorry parking controls should be extended to Barwick Road, Coombe Valley Road (between Randolph Road and Edgar Road) and Folkestone Road, Dover (between Elms Vale Road and Shakespeare Road).

Members expressed concerns over the impact of lay-by closures on lorry parking in the town and the need for a districtwide solution.

RESOLVED:     (a)   That the proposals to extend lorry parking prohibition controls to a section of Coombe Valley Road, Dover (between Randolph Road and Edgar Road), Barwick Road, Dover and Folkestone Road, Dover (section between Elms Vale Road and Shakespeare Road) be agreed and the proposals be formally advertised.

                          (b)   That officers write to Highways England and Charlie Elphicke, MP for Dover to express concern about the closure of lay-bys.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Highways and Transportation, Kent County Council.

The Dover District Manager (Kent Highways) presented the Highway Works Programme 2017/18. The report provided an update and summarised the schemes that had been included within the programme for 2017/18.

The report covered the following areas:

·         Footway and Carriageway Improvement Schemes

·         Drainage Repairs & Improvements

·         Street Lighting

·         Transportation and Safety Schemes

·         Developer Funded Works

·         Public Rights Of Way (PROW)

·         Bridge Works

·         Traffic Systems

·         Combined Member Fund

In response to questions from Members the Dover District Manager advised the following about the work programme:

·         That the King Street, Sandwich kerb buildout and bollard works had been undertaken to protect a building but the hatchings on approach would be reviewed following an accident.

·         That the Cannon Street consultation was currently at the outline stage.

·         That the refurbishment of the traffic signal controlled junction at the A256 Crabble Hill and Crabble Road, Dover would be undertaken.

·         That consideration was being given to putting a bid together to remove the A256 Toll Bridge roundabout at Willow Bank.

·         That in respect of rural road works, the contractor undertaking the surfacing should do a letter drop on Kent County Council’s behalf in advance of the road closure. It was difficult to say without referring to specific works if access for residents would still be permitted where a road was closed.  

RESOLVED:       That report and the identified schemes approved for construction in 2017/18 be noted.

It was moved by Councillor A Friend, duly seconded and

RESOLVED:     That, under Section 100(A)(4) of the Local Government Act 1972, the public be excluded from the meeting for the remainder of the business on the grounds that the item to be considered involves the likely discussion of exempt information as defined in paragraphs 1 and 2 of Part 1 of Schedule 12A of the Act.

To consider the attached report of the Director of Environment and Corporate Assets.

The Highways and Parking Team Leader presented the report on applications for Disabled Persons’ Parking Bays.

RESOLVED: (a)   That Application A be approved and, subject to no objections being received during the consultation process, it be sealed by Kent County Council with a view to the disabled persons’ parking bays being installed thereafter.

(b)   That it be noted that, subject to no objections being received during the consultation process, Applications B to I be sealed by Kent County Council with a view to the disabled persons’ parking bays being installed thereafter.

(c)   That Application J be approved and, subject to no objections being received during the consultation process, it be sealed by Kent County Council with a view to the disabled persons’ parking bays being installed thereafter. 

(d) That Items K to Q to remove the disabled persons’ parking bays that were no longer required by the applicants from the highway be noted.         

(e)   That the decision to refuse items R to V that do not meet the disabled persons’ parking bay criteria be noted.