Agenda item

            The Board was advised that a petition had been received, signed by 27 persons highlighting traffic issues, associated with renovation works to Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge, that were affecting Halton Station Road, Runcorn. It was noted that the Bridge was outside of the Halton Borough boundary and was the responsibility of Cheshire West and Chester Council (CWaC).

 

            In order to renovate and carry out essential repair work to the Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge (SWSB) which was over the Weaver Navigation Canal, CWaC last year installed a temporary bridge next to the existing crossing. Work on installing this temporary bridge commenced in May 2013. Towards the end of August 2013, it then closed the SWSB to traffic to allow its contractor unrestricted access to the bridge and use of the temporary bridge commenced.

 

            In addition, to improve traffic flow through the temporary crossing, CWaC implemented restrictions at the junction of the A56 Chester Road with the A557 Clifton Road, immediately east of the swing bridge. The restrictions had prevented east-bound traffic from travelling directly along the A56 Chester Road through Sutton Weaver as it would have done previously. All traffic had instead been required to travel north along the A557 Clifton Road into Halton, around the south roundabout of M56 motorway Junction 12, with east bound/Sutton Weaver Village bound traffic then being required to travel back along Clifton Road before re-joining the A56 Chester Road adjacent to the SWSB. These arrangements indicated that this diversion would be necessary for the duration of the works which was anticipated to end in autumn 2014.

 

            Whilst this had simplified and accelerated traffic flows in the area of the bridge throughout the period of the renovation works, not all of the re-routed traffic had followed the signed diversion route. Some continued to choose to take what was effectively a short cut by either turning right off Clifton Road into Halton Station Road or follow the diversion to a point on Clifton Road where they could then turn left into Halton Station Road and then travel along that road and onwards to Beechwood or Sutton Weaver via Wood Lane. This had generated an unanticipated increase in traffic flows along Halton Station Road which was a narrow, one way, traffic calmed road that was also subject to a weight restriction.

 

            The petition received from residents of Halton Station Road highlighted a number of concerns about the diversion and its impacts as follows:-

 

·         lack of consultation and notification on the traffic diversions by both CWaC and Halton Borough Council;

·         extra volume of traffic using Halton Station Road, including heavy goods vehicles in contravention of the existing vehicle weight restriction on the route.

·         excessive speed of traffic, despite physical traffic calming in Halton Station Road;

·         vehicles being driven partly on the footways of Halton Station Road to avoid traffic calming features; and

·         concerns that CWaC may wish to make the temporary traffic routing permanent when the bridge works were complete.

 

            Members were advised CWaC had in place a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order which supported the diversion route that had been established, but it was not clear as to whether consultation was undertaken by CWaC with residents of Halton Station Road. As it was not Halton Borough Council’s Scheme, it did not undertake any consultation. However, Officers from Halton Borough Council had been in regular contact with Halton Station Road residents since the problems associated with the bridge diversion were highlighted. A meeting had taken place in September 2013, once the bridge works started and the traffic diversions were in place, there was little that could be done on a practical level to mitigate the problems subsequently experienced.

 

      It was noted that the need for this diversion was felt to be reasonable on the grounds that it was meant to be for a 12 month period only and as it avoided a total closure of the route that would have, in turn, necessitated a diversion via either the M56 or A49 Acton Bridge. In addition, Officers had contacted Cheshire Police and requested that it provide enforcement of the vehicle weight restriction on Halton Station Road. Residents had also been encouraged to contact the Police over this and other observed traffic issues. Officers had also spoken to the On-Duty Manager at the Holiday Inn about the use of the road by HGVs and she agreed to e-mail the delivery companies to remind them of the weight restrictions and speed limit on Halton Station Road. The manager had also informed the Police and requested that they enforce the weight restriction.

 

            It was also noted that a traffic count/survey of speeds that was taken once the diversions were underway, recorded few vehicles exceeding the speed limit. However, this did not necessarily mean that the traffic speeds could not be perceived as a possible road safety issue, bearing in mind the characteristics of the road. With regard to the request for temporary traffic cones, following consultation with the residents it was confirmed that it was actually bollards which were being sought to prevent vehicles being driven on the footways so as to partially avoid the traffic calming measures. Unfortunately, the footways of Halton Station Road were too narrow to permit the installation of bollards and this had been explained to residents. Bus companies had also been contacted to request them not to use Halton Station Road.

 

            Although the completion date for the works was not set, it was believed that the SWSB repairs would be completed in the Autumn of this year. Therefore, whilst the works should now be of a finite duration, it was likely that residents would continue to be inconvenienced. Although no formal approach had yet been made by CWaC to Halton Borough Council, it was understood that CWaC was now considering making the temporary arrangements permanent. It would appear that CWaC had held local meetings recently to discuss a range of traffic issues in that area of CWaC including the possibility of making the bridge diversion layout permanent, but unfortunately neither Halton Borough Council nor residents of Halton Station Road were aware of this possible opportunity to raise their concerns. It was therefore recommended that the Board supports submission of a formal objection by the Council to CWaC in response to any proposal to make this temporary arrangement permanent.

 

            In accordance with Standing Order No.34 (9), the following public question was submitted to the Board by Mr Whitlow, Station Road, Runcorn by email:

 

“We the residents of Halton Station Road Runcorn are extremely concerned by the size, width, weight and speed that traffic is going up the road blatantly avoiding speed bumps. We have and are enduring visible damage by way of pathway damage (Cars hopping up to avoid speed bump) the wall outside No.1 and No 8 have significant cracks up the front walls coupled with damage to parked cars (visitors). The visible damage is a grave concern of ours as is the weight of coaches, heavy plant and trucks using this B- Road as an access point, we believe that weight restrictions were enforced in Halton Station Road previously for good reason (previous 3.5T limit. There is a large number of houses that are not built on unorthodox foundations and footings thus the vibration and weight distribution has cause the notable damage as mentioned above however we know feel that our properties are now at the detriment to this unreasonable traffic flow. We demand HBC send out a structural surveyor to give us some clarity and assurance that our homes are not suffering the same damage as the exterior garden walls etc. We are extremely pragmatic about keeping a safe and transparent community thus will attend this meeting accordingly”.

 

            In response Officers advised the Board that Halton Station Road was a classified B-road with an environmental weight restriction in place. The weight restriction was intended to prevent heavy through traffic using the route but there was no structural requirement for the weight restriction. HGVs and similar heavy vehicles are not prevented from entering the area but the weight restriction was intended to prevent use of the road purely as a through route: to use it HGVs should have business within the restriction area.

 

            The enforcement of the weight restriction was the responsibility of Cheshire Police, and they have been asked to give the area attention to this but the Police have their own operational priorities and they cannot be routinely present. The footpaths of Halton Station Road were too narrow to allow the fitting of bollards without rendering them too narrow for use by those in wheelchairs or with pushchairs.

 

            The Council does not normally carry out structural surveys of properties.  It would arrange for the walls adjacent to the footpath to be checked.

 

            Arising from the discussion, Councillor Logan addressed the Committee on behalf of residents and commented on:

 

·         the lack of consultation for Halton Station Road residents by CWaC, future processes should be transparent and not exclusive to CWaC residents;

·         impact on the environment at Halton Station Road and cracks in properties needed to be checked as they were evident;

·         psychological impact on residents as their quality of life has changed with HGV’s regularly using the road;

·         how have CWaC measured that traffic has improved?

·         Halton Station Road could become a cul-de-sac in future.

 

Further, Councillor C Loftus, Ward Councillor for Halton Station Road, also commented on the vibrations caused by speed bumps, police not deeming the road a priority to enforce vehicle weight restrictions, drivers using the pavement to avoid speed bumps and the need for a cul-de-sac.

 

In response the Board was advised that there would be implications for other road users with regard to the introduction of a cul-de-sac at Halton Station Road and it was agreed that the proposal would be investigated if the Temporary Traffic Order became permanent.

 

Arising from the discussion, a Member sought clarification on if proposals by CWaC to make the Temporary Traffic Order into a Permanent Traffic Order needed planning permission. It was agreed that a response would be provided.

 

      RESOLVED: That the Board:

 

      (1)       notes that Officers have contacted Cheshire West and Chester Council on behalf of Halton Station Road residents, setting out the problems its traffic diversions are causing;

 

      (2)       notes that Officers have also contacted Cheshire Police requesting that it provides enforcement of the existing vehicle weight restriction on Halton Station Road; and

 

      (3)       endorse the proposal to formally object to any proposal by Cheshire West and Chester Council to make permanent the present temporary traffic arrangements in the area of Sutton Weaver Swing Bridge/Clifton Road.