PET(4)-01-12 p16g
Petitions Committee
Date: 10 January 2012
Time: 10:30 –
11:00
Title: Evidence Paper to
the Petition Committee on Petitions P-03-144
Shared Spaces, P-03-162 Llanspyddid and P-03-261 Local
Solutions to Newtown Traffic Congestion and P-04-319
Newtown
Traffic
Introduction
This paper provides information
and updates the Committee regarding three petitions; P-03-144 on
Shared Space, P-03-162 on Road Safety in Llanspyddid and P-03-261
on Local Solutions to Newtown Traffic Congestion.
P-03-144 GUIDE DOGS FOR THE
BLIND – SHARED SPACE
- In June 2008 the Guide Dogs for
the Blind submitted a petition asking the National Assembly for
Wales to lay specific responsibilities on local authorities to be
aware of their duties under the Disability Discrimination Act and
Disability Equality Duty, and comply with them by not creating town
centres, high streets and residential streets with shared surfaces
that discriminate against blind and partially sighted and other
disabled people, effectively excluding them from the street
environment.
- The petition has been kept open
by the Committee pending the publication of Local Transport Note
1/11 – Shared Space – by the Department of Transport.
This was published in October and focuses on shared space in high
street environments and it places particular emphasis on
stakeholder engagement and inclusive design.
- This Local Transport Note is a
guidance document for local authorities in England and other
practitioners involved in the planning, design and provision of
shared space streets. Its development was informed by a
two-year research project in which a wide range of interested
parties was involved, including the Guide Dogs for the
Blind
- In 2009, the Department for
Transport published an appraisal report on shared space. It
concludes that shared space schemes, including those with shared
surfaces, as implemented in the UK have no more casualties than
conventional layouts, or that particular groups, including disabled
people, are injured more frequently following their
introduction.
- Further research was carried out
to build on the appraisal report and develop the guidance.
This included a number of case studies of existing shared space
streets.
- The guidance has not been
formally adopted by the Welsh Government as there are some
important differences in the statutory equality provisions for
Wales which need to be determined before we can endorse this advice
note. Work on this is ongoing.
- Until more evidence is
forthcoming on the effects of the shared space schemes already
implemented across the UK, the Welsh Government will not be
developing such schemes on roads within our jurisdiction. We
would expect local authorities to take full account of the needs of
all stakeholders, especially vulnerable road users, in taking these
schemes forward on their own roads.
P-03-162 – Residents of
Llanspyddid - Road Safety in Llanspyddid
- In November 2008 Residents of
Llanspyddid submitted a petition asking the Welsh Assembly
Government to improve road safety in the village of Llanspyddid,
Brecon, Powys through implementation of traffic calming measures
such as a reduction in the current speed limit, improved roadside
lighting and improved signage on the A40.
- Following the
concerns raised by the community the Welsh Government undertook the
Raglan – Llandovery Trunk Road A40 Llanspyddid Preliminary
Investigations study which reviewed the trunk road environment
through the village to determine if measures were required in
accordance with highway authority guideline to improve
safety. A
copy of the report was submitted to the Petition Committee in
October 2011.
- The report recommended that
there should be on the trunk road visually enhanced junction
signing and lining, yellow backed junction ahead warning signs with
“reduce speed now” plates and ARAF/SLOW road markings
on a red patch 100 metres from the junction with the side
road.
- This work was completed in 2011.
Road conditions will be monitored to assess the outcome of these
improvements and to identify if further measures are
required.
- The need for improved lighting
was considered as part of this study. The accident data available
for Llanspyddid did not indicate any specific road safety issues
related to night-time collisions or lighting, therefore the study
did not recommend changes to lighting.
P-03-261 Local Solutions to
Newtown Traffic Congestion
- In January 2010, Garry Saady, a
resident of Newtown, submitted a petition of 37 signatures calling
for the National Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to
defer a decision on the proposed bypass of Newtown until it has
developed and trialled a set of sustainable measures in the town
itself to address traffic congestion.
- In March 2010, the Petitions
Committee considered an update to this petition as the petitioner
had submitted additional information. In May 2010, the then
Minister responded to the Petition Committee in detail to the
specific points raised by the petitioner.
- The preferred route was
announced on 13 October 2010.
- Subject to the successful
completion of the statutory consent procedures and the availability
of finance construction is programmed to start late 2014/early
2015.
P-04-319 Newtown
Traffic
- In June 2011, Paul Pavia
submitted a petition of 10 signatures calling upon the National
Assembly for Wales to urge the Welsh Government to:
a)
Install a roundabout
at the Kerry Road junction and, if flow
improves, reinstate a permanent roundabout.
b)
Issue an early start date for
construction of a Newtown Bypass and for works to be fast-tracked
through to completion.
- In June,
the Petitions Committee wrote to the Minister for Local Government
and Communities asking for comments. The Minister responded
in July 2011 with a letter outlining the concerns about reinstating
a roundabout at the Kerry road junction.
- Subject to the successful
completion of the statutory consent procedures, and the
availability of finance construction, the bypass is programmed to
start late
2014/early 2015.