Agenda item

          The Board considered a report of the Strategic Director Policy and Resources, which informed Members of a petition requesting that steps be taken to reduce the volume and weight of heavy industrial traffic travelling along South Parade, Weston Point, Runcorn. The petition had been signed by 21 residents and cites damage to properties, dangers to pedestrians, obstruction, increasing volumes of traffic, noise and pollution.

          Members were advised that the sites generating the highest traffic movements affecting South Parade were Ineos Salt Works and the Energy From Waste (EfW) construction site, together with the Merseyside Gateway Port (previously Weston Docks), which was now operated by Stobart’s.

          Traditionally, these sites had been accessed from South Parade via either Picow Farm Road and Sandy Lane or Bankes Lane junctions on the Weston Point Expressway. This had resulted in industrial traffic travelling down both Sandy Lane and Bankes Lane/South Parade. However, Ineos had constructed a new access road, Barlow Way from Picow Farm Road which together with a new internal site roadway system provided access to both the Salt Works and the EfW sites from Picow Farm Road. Temporary signing for the EfW site had been erected on the Weston Point Expressway on both the north and south bound approaches.

          In addition Ineos had also approached the Council with a view to funding replacement permanent signing on the Weston Point Expressway, to direct both Salt Works and EfW traffic to use the Picow Farm Road junction, thus avoiding travelling via either Sandy Lane or Bankes Lane/South Parade. However, HGV traffic continued to access these sites via Bakes Lane and South Parade as it was not prohibited to do so. The roads could physically accommodate this traffic and SatNav systems show Bankes Lane as the shortest route, particularly for vehicles approaching from M56.

          With regard to access to Mersey Gateway Port, this would need to remain off the junction of South Parade and Sandy Lane for the foreseeable future. A possible solution to reduce traffic on these road was to extend Barlow Way so that it could provide a new connection to the Port. However, no funding had been identified for this proposal and until this was found traffic for the Port would need to continue to use South Parade and/or Sandy Lane. The Council was continuing to facilitate meetings between all parties (Ineos and Stobart’s) involved to try to find a solution.

          It was noted that both Ineos and Stobart’s had issued instructions to drivers to use the signed routes and in the case of Stobart’s they had requested drivers not to arrive before the Port opened at 7.00 a.m. In addition, Ineos had issues maps to their hauliers and report drivers to their employers if they did not follow the correct routes. Further, a sign had been erected on South Road (former access to Salt Works) advising that there was no access to the Salt Works. Ineos had also installed temporary blocks to deter traffic from turning right towards Sandy Lane.

          It had been suggested that traffic leaving the Port be signed along Sandy Lane, to discourage use of South Parade. It was recognised that this was an option but this would not be enforceable and could result in objections from the residents of Sandy Lane; and may not be followed due to drivers following SatNav rather than direction signs. This needed to be investigated further together with possible amendments to the carriageway markings to encourage drivers to take the most appropriate route.

          It was reported that the possibility of reducing the speed limit in the vicinity of the residential properties had also been suggested, but this would require the support of the Police. The Police had previously confirmed that they would not enforce 20 mph limits as they should, in their view, be self enforcing through design of the horizontal and vertical alignment. This option could not be progressed further at the present time.

          RESOLVED: That

          1)       the re-signing of routes to the industrial sites from the Weston Point Expressway, both existing and planned, be endorsed;

          2)       a time limited weight restriction on South Parade and Sandy Lane between Bankes Lane and Picow Farm Road be deferred to allow a review of the other measures to be deployed;

          3)       the existing waiting restrictions on South Parade and Sandy Lane be reviewed to discourage parking of HGVs near the houses together with the direction signs and carriageway markings for traffic leaving the Mersey Gateway Port;

          4)       the Council arranges for discussions to resume between Ineos and Stobart’s regarding alternative accesses to Mersey Gateway Port; and

          5)       the petition be noted and the lead petitioner be informed of the decisions of the Policy and Performance Board.