To:                              Maidstone Joint Transportation Board

By:                              Tim Read, Head of Transportation

Date:                          23rd January 2013

Subject:                    Marigold Way, One Way Traffic Order

Classification:         For Decision

Summary: To inform members of the outcome of the recent public consultation regarding the proposed One Way Traffic Order on a section of Marigold Way and ask Members to decide whether to proceed with the proposals.

 

Introduction

 

Due to local congestion, especially at peak times, many motorists tend to use access routes into Maidstone Hospital together with Marigold Way in order to bypass sections of Hermitage Lane.

 

Residents of the estate have been pursuing this issue for a number of years, due to the fact that this request has not been deemed safety critical it has not received funding from Kent County Council’s Safety Critical budget. Residents approached Mr Daley and Mr Robertson for funding, and secured a commitment from their Member Highway Fund.

 

Marigold Way is an estate road serving residential properties, the speed limit of Marigold Way is 30Mph by means of a system of street lighting.

 

There is a footway on Marigold Way allowing access to the Children’s Play Area

 

Proposal

 

Kent County Council at the request of the County Member, undertook a consultation proposing to install a One Way Traffic Order on a short section of the route, the intention is to stop through traffic using the route together with:-

 

1)    Avoiding danger to persons or other traffic using the road

2)    Preserving the character of the road especially suitable for walking on the footway

 

I attached proposed drawings at the bottom of this report identifying the proposals.

 

Responses to the public notices

 

An advert was placed in the Kent on Sunday and notices erected on site.

 

Responses from the public

 

No formal objections were received from members of the public in relation to the proposed scheme as shown in Appendix A.

 

Police Response

 

Kent Police have strongly objected to the proposal, given the fact that the proposal is so short, it is felt that drivers will ignore and regularly abuse the restrictions.

 

Given the location of the proposals it is felt that motorists will not see the restrictions until already committed into Marigold Way.

 

Kent Police request that a One Way Order of such short length be made self enforcing, this is to reduce the amount of enforcement needed on site by Police personnel.         

 

Discussion

 

The proposal is short in length, and the Highway Authority recognises the difficulty for the police to enforce. This may render the highway less safe for all users if breaches of the restriction are prevalent.

 

The short length was necessary to reduce the likely negative impact on residents accessing their homes.

 

Kent County Council can install advance signage to ensure that the restriction is conspicuous from the main road.

 

No appropriate solution could be found to make this restriction self enforcing.

 

There have been no recorded personal injury crashes at this location in the last three year period. Kent County Council can not state that the proposals will statistically improve road safety in the area.

 

The environmental impact of a No Entry Scheme will result in approximately 4 additional signs installed on Marigold Way inclusive of the proposed terminal points.

 

 

 

Recommendation

 

Whilst less through traffic on this residential estate would be desirable, the proposals are likely to put an enormous burden on the police to enforce.

 

The short length of the restriction is likely to result in constant breaches of the restriction which would be a detriment to road safety at this location, as pedestrians and other road users may come across opposing traffic unexpectedly.

 

The short restriction may also result in increased speeds through the restriction.

 

It is the recommendation of the Officer that this scheme is not installed.          

           

Conclusion

 

Members are asked to decide whether to implement the proposed One Way Traffic Order.

 

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Appendices: Drawings of Proposals

 

Contact officer: Ben Hilden

 

Tel: 08458 247800

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix 1 – Drawings of Proposals