Issue - meetings

The Council, together with its West of England partners, was one of only four city regions to be successful in being awarded £1,165,891 from the DfT Cycle City Ambition Fund. The Fund aims to remove barriers to cyclists and improve the public realm for pedestrians. This report seeks approval to accept the funding from the DfT to develop and implement the Seven Dials Scheme following consultation and satisfactory completion of statutory Traffic Regulation Order processes

Councillor Eleanor Jackson congratulated officers on winning the award.  She asked Cabinet if some of the funds might be used to place signage at a particular spot on the cycle track near Radstock, where users of the track had sometimes been confused.

Councillor Caroline Roberts agreed to bear in mind the comments made by Councillor Jackson.  She said that the proposals were asking Cabinet to accept £58K match funded so as to make very welcome improvements to the Seven Dials area.  She moved the proposals.

Councillor David Dixon agreed with the remarks of Councillor Jackson about the need for signage on the cycle track in Radstock and said he felt the signage should be provided soon.  He referred to the proposals moved by Councillor Roberts and said he thought that a £58K investment to get a £1.2M return was excellent news.  He felt that the Seven Dials was a very interesting place and the proposed development would make it even better.  He seconded the proposal.

On a motion from Councillor Caroline Roberts, seconded by Councillor David Dixon, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To ACCEPT the DfT Cycle City Ambition grant to develop the Seven Dials concept scheme and associated contraflow cycle facilities in Saw Close, Monmouth Street, Westgate Buildings, Lower Borough Walls, New Street and Avon Street into a detailed scheme following consultation;

(2) To DELEGATE authority to the Strategic Director for Place in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Transport to approve and implement a detailed design following consultation and approval of £58,000 match funding by Council; and

(3) To NOTE that implementation of the scheme will be subject to successful completion of statutory processes, including Traffic Regulation Orders and Cycle Track Orders.