Agenda item

This item is to: 

(a) Receive any new petitions: to receive any new petitions.

(b) Consider reports on petitions previously received. 

1. An extension/amendment to existing speed limit and extent of the road safety scheme in Seaton Sluice. 

Extend current 30 mph past the properties at Seafield Mews to look at a range of traffic calming measures including the potential to relocate the fixed camera speed site further to the north as the current location is potentially affected by the signalised control crossing point (to the Astley Arms Public House) which was installed after the speed camera. 

Seafield Mews has no calming features.  Improve the crossing point at Seafield Mews and improve safety with traffic calming measures. 

(c) Receive any updates on petitions for which a report was previously   considered: any updates will be verbally reported at the meeting.

This item was to: 

1. Receive any new petitions:  No new petitions had been received. 

2. Consider reports on petitions previously received:  Petition requesting an extension/amendment to the existing speed limit and extent of the road safety scheme in Seaton Sluice. 

Neil Snowdon, Principle Programme Officer (Highways) and Robin McCartney Infrastructure Manager, Technical Services were in attendance. 

Members were informed that preliminary design work was currently being progressed by the Design Team to look at a range of potential solutions.  Once the preliminary design work had been completed this would be shared with the Ward Councillor.  This would also include speed surveys which had not been carried out since 2013. 

As the lead petitioner Mrs Margaret Murray was unable to attend the meeting, Councillor Ferguson asked the following questions/comments on behalf of the petitioner:- 

1. When would the speed survey start and end and would the conclusion be published? 

2. How was a speed survey is conducted, as drivers’ behaviours are different when it is obvious that a measure is being conducted and not necessarily a true reflection ? 

3. Since the work at North Tyneside and the speed restrictions carried out by North Tyneside Council has made road safety worse all through Seaton Sluice. 

4. Speed reductions could not be done by encouragement, speed reductions have to be implanted with consequences. 

5. The splitter island you say is not a pedestrian refuge is used by a lot of people to cross the road, as at certain times of the day, it cannot be crossed. 

6. Speed camera relocation – that particular camera has not worked for at least 10 years and local people know this, how many people received a speeding penalty for that camera? 

7. I am shocked that the police have raised no concerns about the speed on the road. 

8. Living on that stretch of the road after the camera is like living on a racing circuit. 

9. If reliable evidence is required, then put down the speed straps to gather this information before someone is killed. 

10. Ideally, average speed cameras should be placed from the Delaval Arms to the start of the 60 mile limit after Seafield Mews. 

Mr Snowdon responded that the speed survey would be completed in a couple of months and added to the list of requests and the speed survey carried out by placing strips on the road.  Since the work at North Tyneside might have made road safety worse, the splitter island was used by a lot of people.  The survey would show how many people used it.   

The pedestrian crossing affected the operation of the speed cameras and the police were aware that the route was regularly used by boy racers.  Speed enforcement was carried out by speed camera van. 

As soon as the feasibility study was ready that information would be shared. 

In response to a comment regarding the use of speed humps, Mr McCartney stated that a whole range of options had been considered. 

RESOLVED that the content of the report be noted including the issues raised and a new speed survey be undertaken as part of the A193 Links Road preliminary design work study and a copy of the study be provided to the local Ward Councillor on its completion.