Agenda item

Decision number:

Decision:

111/2013

The Cabinet agreed:

1.               That Medway Council systematically de-clutters its public spaces on a case-by-case basis and in association with future maintenance work or new capital and developer initiated schemes. That all Ward Members are consulted before the removal of any street furniture in their wards as part of the de-cluttering programme.

That an overarching Streetscape Manual, supported by policies relating to street furniture, traffic signs and road markings, would guide this process and these policies be tested as part of a pilot de-cluttering scheme in Strood Town Centre.

Streetscape Manual

2.       That the Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture develops a Streetscape Manual to ensure a consistent and coordinated approach to the design, management and maintenance of our public spaces.  The Streetscape Manual would include policies relating to street furniture, traffic signs and road markings.

Street furniture

3.               That a Pedestrian Guardrail Policy for Medway be developed and implemented. Prior to the implementation of this policy, pedestrian guardrail assessments should be undertaken in accordance with Transport for London’s ‘Guidance on the Assessment of Pedestrian Guardrail’, May 2012.

The Integrated Transport team within the Regeneration, Community and Culture Directorate to lead on proposals to retain or remove pedestrian guardrails.

A record of all street furniture removed, will be recorded in CONFIRM (the Council’s Asset Management System), so that collision monitoring can continue at sites where street furniture is removed.

4.               That sections of bollards and railings be removed on a case-by-case basis. Where parking restrictions exist bollards should not be required and it is recommended that they be removed. At locations where there is an absence of parking restrictions, the introduction of specific verge parking restrictions should be considered to control parking at these locations. If bollards are required at certain locations then these should be of a consistent type.

5.               That authorisation is obtained from the Department for Transport for all manufacturer types so to be able to replace the base-lit traffic bollards with either self-righting unlit retro reflective bollards or self-righting solar powered bollards.

6.               That the Director of Regeneration, Community and Culture investigate the potential for reducing the number of lamp columns on Medway’s streets by adopting a more cost effective and sustainable lighting system, and installing traffic signals on lighting columns at certain locations, whilst not decreasing lighting levels in Medway.

7.               That a policy on ‘A’ Boards, tables and chairs, and shop front displays be developed, that balances the needs of businesses and the public’s expectation of an unobstructed highway.

Signage and Road Markings

8.       A Signage Policy for Medway be developed and implemented, incorporating:

a)     a review of destination signage;

b)     the removal of warning signs unless there are genuine hazards that would not be readily apparent to the driver without the sign;

c)     a review of existing Traffic Regulation Orders;

d)     a risk-based analysis and individual site assessment undertaken when considering placing only one of the safety critical signs, such as ‘No Entry’ where it may still be appropriate to place two terminal signs;

e)     consideration of the spacing of repeater signs in their relation to other repeater and terminal signs;

f)       consideration be given to placing repeaters on ‘major roads’ within 100m of ‘minor road’ junctions that have a lower speed restriction and that the lower speed limit terminal signs on the ‘minor road’ be removed.

g)     only terminal speed limit signs on principal roads should be lit;

h)     that the size of signs be reduced where applicable

i)        worded and diagrammatical markings, such as ‘Keep Clear’ and ‘Slow’, should be assessed to establish if there is a need for their retention;

j)        an assessment of hatchings for each island;

k)     A review of the condition and legality of waiting lines;

l)        The use of yellow line markings to No.310 (primrose) or No.353 (deep cream) with a 50mm width should be considered in all conservation areas to minimise impact.

m)   a 75mm size line be used for all routes with a speed limit of 40mph or less, which are outside the conservation areas.

n)     ‘At Any Time’ plates be removed on a case-by-case basis as they no longer require restriction plates unless there are loading restrictions

o)     the “x” height for all street nameplates for junctions off the Primary Routes should be 90mm in height.  Otherwise for all the other routes within a study area that an “x” height of 75mm be adopted.

9.       A tourist signing policy be developed based on TA 93/04 ‘Traffic Signs to Tourist Attractions and Facilities in England: Guidance for Tourist Signing - General Introduction’, that is mindful of Medway Council’s bid for World Heritage Status for Chatham Dockyard and its defences. Decisions to be made after consultation with tourism destinations within Medway.

Quality Assessment Process

10.          The following methodology be used as part of the assessment on any maintenance work or new capital scheme:

That experienced officers from traffic/road safety and highways maintenance, together with an officer with a design background walk roads in any study recording and commenting on:

·                    All forms of road signing including road markings.

·                    The feasibility of rationalising signs thereby reducing sign numbers.

·                    The appropriateness of existing signs and whether they supported the existing traffic regulation orders on site.

·                    The material of the existing signs.

·                    The condition and size of existing signs.

·                    The location of each item of street furniture or marking.

·                    Whether there would be any safety implications if the street furniture or markings were removed.

·                    Whether additional furniture or signs are appropriate.

·                    The requirements for existing guardrail.

·                    Whether street lighting could be reduced and improved, with the assistance of a street lighting engineer.

Additionally, when items at crossing locations have been identified for removal that discussion should be undertaken with relevant groups representing the visually and mobility impaired.

The study should also include:

·                    Litter bins; condition, location and need.

·                    Bus shelters; location and condition.

·                    Bollards and other similar street furniture.

·                    Traffic Islands, condition and comments on the crossing locations.

All information be recorded on data sheets, including a decision / recommendation for each individual item of street furniture. The results of the on-site surveys can then be collated and formalised with relevant photographs inserted to provide a readable spread sheet, which identified each item of street furniture, material, location, condition and whether the sign was required or could be reduced in size.

Pilot Scheme

11.          Prior to the final approval of the Streetscape Manual, Pedestrian Guardrail Policy, Signage Policy and Street Furniture Policy that a pilot scheme, funded via the Local Transport Plan, be undertaken in Strood High Street from Gun Lane to Station Road. This pilot will be used to inform the final manual and policies.

12.       Recognising that the quality of the streetscene was not solely within the purview of the Council that local businesses within the pilot area be advised of the de-cluttering pilot and encouraged to review their shop fronts and advertising during the course of this process.