Decision details

This was considered by Council on 16^th January 2014.  Full details of the resolution will be available in the minutes, once published.

An officer briefing note had been circulated for this item and is available on the Minute book and attached electronically to the minutes.

The Council considered a motion from the Conservative group.

On a motion from Councillor Anthony Clarke, seconded by Councillor Brian Webber, it was

RESOLVED that

This Council:

·  Notes that the Council has announced that it is due to implement an experimental bus lane running eastbound on Dorchester Street from the 20^th January which will be operational seven days a week from 10am to 6pm each day for a period of up to 18 months, with a view to this experimental order becoming permanent.

·  Notes the concerns of residents over the Dorchester Street bus gate and the likely impact of displaced traffic on nearby roads.

·  Notes that the Council’s traffic assessment suggests that up to 160 vehicles an hour could be displaced onto the A36 Pulteney Road at peak times, with up to 130 displaced onto North Parade.

·  Is concerned by the lack of clearly defined objectives in relation to the Dorchester Street bus gate by which the success of the trial can be judged, as well as the lack of clarity over what monitoring of traffic movements and journey times will take place during the trial period.

·  Is concerned that the Dorchester Street bus gate trial is not being implemented as part of a wider traffic management strategy and prior to the publication of the draft Transport Strategy by Mott Macdonald.

·  Is concerned that the Dorchester Street bus gate trial is taking place at the same time as a number of other traffic projects are due to take place, including the three month closure by the Highways Agency of the A36 as well as the Rossiter Road/Widcombe Parade works.

Therefore Council resolves:

1.  To request the Cabinet instruct Officers to limit the trial period for the Dorchester Street bus lane to a maximum of six months, with the trial to be paused during the period of the Rossiter Road/Widcombe Parade road works if this work commences before the end of the trial period.

2.  To request that Cabinet publish a set of measurable objectives against which the success or otherwise of the Dorchester Street bus lane trial can be judged.

3.  To request that Cabinet instruct Officers to undertake detailed monitoring of the impact of the Dorchester Street bus lane on nearby roads during the trial period, including the amount of displaced traffic, pollution levels and journey times on nearby roads.

4.  To request that at the end of the trial period the Cabinet report back to Full Council the findings of the experimental bus lane, including its impact on displaced traffic and its success or otherwise when measured against the objectives mentioned in (2) above, before deciding whether to make the bus lane permanent.

[Notes

1.  An amendment moved by Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor Paul Crossley, which noted various points rather than expressing concern and proposed that the criteria for judging success and the detailed monitoring of impact be published and for consideration of restrictions being removed when major works would be taking place on alternative routes was lost with 27 Councillors voting in favour and 33 Councillors voting against.

2.   The original motion was carried with 33 Councillors voting in favour, 23 Councillors voting against and 4 Councillors abstaining.]