Agenda item

Cabinet will be asked to select their preferred option for Orange Grove/Terrace Walk, to form basis of subsequent TRO process and to delegate authority for the development and delivery of the High St/Northumberland Place scheme to Strategic Director of Development and Major Projects, in consultation with Cabinet Member Sustainable Development.

Councillor Brian Webber in a statement commended the Cabinet for making so many decisions in public.  He welcomed the fact that Cabinet were tackling the Bath High Street issues.  He acknowledged that the Orange Grove decision would be a difficult one, but felt that Option 3 would only be a temporary solution which would not solve the coach parking problem.

Rob Hollingdale (Bath Taxi Association) made a statement appealing to Cabinet not to allow coaches to tail back in Orange Grove.  He said he had collected over 5000 signatures in favour of retaining the taxi rank in Orange Grove.

Paul Thomas (Bath Taxi Association) made a statement in which he explained that allowing large numbers of people to queue at the student bus stop would result in bad behaviour which would be out of sight of the marshals.

Derek Noble (Empire Owners Association) in a statement welcomed the consultation.  He observed that coaches, taxis and buses jostled for space at Orange Grove.  He felt that the solution would be to provide a coach park.  He favoured Option 2 in the short term, but emphasised the important role played by taxi marshals in ensuring good behaviour.

Councillor Tim Warren welcomed the project but did not express a preferred option.  He gave credit to previous Cabinet members Charles Gerrish and Colin Darracott for their hard work leading up to this point.  He observed however that there were not enough pedestrian crossings in the vicinity.

Adrian, a trader in Orange Grove, appealed to Cabinet to remember that the traders were dependent on the visitors who arrived by coach.

Annette Martin, a trader in Orange Grove, felt that the traders had not been adequately consulted over the proposals and asked to be given a copy of the consultation procedure.

A number of taxi drivers made short ad hoc statements in favour of retaining the taxi rank in Orange Grove.

Juliet, a trader in Orange Grove, felt that Orange Grove was an ideal dropping off point for coaches, who could then drive off to a coach park (possibly Avon Street).  The loss of footfall if coaches were banned would be critical for local traders.

Councillor Cherry Beath introduced the report.  She thanked all those who had contributed to the debate, including those who had responded to the consultation.  She felt that the public realm improvements would enhance the pedestrian experience and that this would itself produce improved trading conditions in Orange Grove.  She responded to Councillor Warren’s comments about pedestrian crossings by observing that there was an improved crossing place in the plans.  She acknowledged that the improvements would have to take place as a long term programme but was determined that there should be an overarching strategy in place.

Councillor Roger Symonds thanked Councillor Webber for his remarks.  He stressed that the High Street project must not be delayed further and reminded Cabinet that the 3 options had been the subject of consultation since May.  He explained that he preferred Option 1, under which coaches would drop off at Terrace Walk and would enter and exit the city via North Parade, so there would be no need for coaches to drive round the Guildhall searching for a stopping place.  He moved a proposal that Option 1 would be the preferred option, subject to a statutory Traffic Regulation Order advertisement and consultation, with a final decision on the TRO to be taken in due course by Single Member decision.  He explained that proposals for a possible coach park had not yet been finalised, and he intended to make progress on this during 2012.

Councillor Tim Ball felt that it was appalling that coaches were allowed to park outside listed buildings and that large numbers of passengers were alighting onto such narrow pavements.  He seconded the motion.

Councillor David Dixon said that he had visited the site at different times of the day and described the scene as chaos.  He felt that moving the coaches round the corner would not decrease the number of visitors to the city.  He favoured Option 1 and felt it was the best long term solution.  He promised to consider the number of taxi ranks in the future.

Councillor David Bellotti emphasised the need to consider the long-term aims for the area.  The intention was to pedestrianize the whole of the centre, in due course, and the council had been slower off the mark than many other towns and cities.  He was concerned that the present situation meant that there was a real possibility of a road traffic accident.  He stressed that removing coaches from Orange Grove would only be the first step towards full pedestrianisation in due course.

On a motion from Councillor Roger Symonds, seconded by Councillor Tim Ball, it was

RESOLVED (unanimously)

(1) To AGREE that the preferred option for Orange Grove/Terrace Walk (from the three options presented in the report) is OPTION 1: Taxi rank in front of Orange Grove (in front of shops) and 2 right-hand door tourist coach bays in terrace Walk;

(2) To NOTE that this option will subsequently be the subject of a Traffic Regulation Order report to the Cabinet Member for Transport to be determined under the Single Member Decision process;

(3) To DELEGATE authority for the final development and delivery of the detailed scheme for High Street and Northumberland Place to the Strategic Director (Development and Major Projects), in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Sustainable Development.