Issue - meetings

(a)       That the proposals set out in Appendix A of the report be noted; and

(b)       That the comments of the Committee on the proposals be presented within the final Cabinet report. 

The Head of Assets and Transportation introduced the report to inform Members of the conclusions of the speed limit review covering the ‘A class’ and ‘B class’ road network within the Authority. 

He detailed the background to the report explaining that initial proposals were presented to the Committee in November 2012.  It was agreed that following consultation with local Members and Town & Community Councils, the findings would be reported back to Committee for comment before being submitted to Cabinet for consideration.  He advised that any approved changes would require the support of the North Wales Police, and would also be subject to full statutory consultation to meet the requirements of the procedures for introducing Traffic Regulation Orders.  The Deputy Leader and Cabinet Member for Environment said that the review had given Members the opportunity to comment on the proposals and that further comments made at this meeting would be considered by Cabinet. 

Councillor Chris Dolphin welcomed the report and thanked the Deputy Leader & Cabinet Member for Environment and the officers for their work on the issue.  He referred to proposal 17 for the A5026 in Lloc and said that he felt that a 40 mile per hour (mph) speed limit would be supported if a footway was considered for the remainder of the road.  The Director of Environment said that the suggestion would be considered but added that resources needed to be prioritised. 

Councillor Ray Hughes also welcomed the report and thanked officers for the proposals for speed limits in his ward.  Councillor Cindy Hinds referred to proposal 1 for the A5104 in Pontblyddyn and said that a reduction to 40mph had been requested as the road was dangerous due to the difficult exit out of Stryt Issa onto the A5104.  The Head of Assets and Transportation felt that this would be too slow a speed for the road and advised that the proposals would reduce the limit from the current 60mph to 50mph.  He added that the whole of the route had been assessed which had resulted in the proposed reduction in the speed limit to 50mph.  The Traffic Services Manager concurred that 40mph was too low a speed for all of the route and advised that signs could be erected to address the individual hazards on the road.  The Chairman suggested that further information on the decision to not reduce the speed limit to 40mph be forwarded to Councillors Hinds and Hughes.  In response to the comments made, the Director of Environment said that officers worked closely with the Traffic Police and considered accident statistics and other issues before making a recommendation for the speed limit for the section of road. 

Councillor David Evans queried whether a timetable was in place to carry out the proposed changes.  The Director of Environment responded that the guidance had indicated that any changes should be implemented by 31 December 2014 but it had been agreed that the new speed limits would be in place by 31 March 2015.  Work would  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14