Present:

Devon County Council:

Councillors Black, Brazil, Croad, Day, Hart, Hawkins and Pennington

South Hams District Council:

Councillor Hannaford

Apologies:

Councillor Mumford (DCC)

*42 Election of Chairman

Councillor Croad was elected Chairman for the ensuing year.

*43 Election of Vice-Chairman

Councillor Hawkins was elected Vice-Chairman for the ensuing year.

*44 Minutes

RESOLVED that the minutes of the meeting held 15 April 2011 be signed as a correct record.

*45 Totnes Residents Parking Scheme (Minute *37/15 April 2011)

The Committee considered a report by the Head of Highways Traffic Management (HTM/11/9 - text only | pdf HTM/11/9) reviewing the Totnes Residents Parking Scheme (RPS) as requested at its previous meeting.

At its meeting in July 2010, the Committee, in response to representations that the original RPS had not taken into account displacement or the requirements of commuters, workers and visitors in the town, had agreed that discussions should take place with interested parties on ways in which it might be improved. In December 2010 the Committee had agreed that the scheme should be revised to provide for shared use parking bays that could be used by residents with valid permits without restriction and by other car users for a limited period. The Committee had approved the formulation of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to introduce these measures and allow for amendment of the RPS during the following 18 months. At its meeting on 15 April 2011 the Committee had supported proposed changes to the experimental TRO to improve clarity and enforcement (noting that it would also include the proposed RPS for Copland Meadows) and had asked for the Totnes RPS to be reviewed.

The report set out:

the findings of further monitoring following the introduction of the shared use bays which showed that:

- the new shared use bays were not in demand from visitors/shoppers to the same level that was anticipated

- acceptable car park capacity was available for most of the week with the exception of car parks within the immediate vicinity of the town centre on peak days only (Friday and Saturday)

- however on these days when the car parks and on-street pay and display in Fore Street/High Street were close to capacity, there were still numerous spaces available in the new shared use bays, nor was there a noticeable increase in vehicles using the car park locations further out from the town centre such as Longmarsh

feedback from the public and other stakeholders, and proposals relating to worker/commuter permits

changes implemented to the experimental TRO to improve clarity and enforcement.

The report stated that comments received since the implementation of the original RPS had been taken into account along with the findings of the monitoring in order to provide a considered scheme which had addressed the majority of the knock on effects and had greater clarity to users.

Correspondence from Philip and Hazel Strange of 3 Eiffel Place, Maudlin Road, Totnes was circulated to Committee members before the meeting.

Mr Nicholls, a resident of Copland Meadows, and Mr Riddle attended and spoke under the Council s Public Participation scheme.

A motion moved by Councillor Hannaford and seconded by Councillor Pennington that the Totnes RPS should be reconsidered by the Committee to enable full democratic participation by both members and the wider public was lost.

It was MOVED by Councillor Black, SECONDED by Councillor Hawkins and

RESOLVED that the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order scheme be made permanent and the Traffic Order made and sealed.

*46 Demolition and Reconstruction of Dry Bridge A38 (Item Requested by Councillor Pennington under Standing Order 23(2)

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager referred to issues raised by Councillor Pennington relating to Dry Bridge, Rattery (where serious structural defects had been found) which had been the subject of the following question by him at the Council Meeting on 28 July 2011:

Will the Cabinet Member for Highways and Transportation agree that Devon County Council should and must strongly press the Highways Agency and the Secretary of State for Transport to provide essential funding for the re-construction of Dry Bridge A38 following the likely demolition of the existing bridge as failure not to reconstruct will have serious consequences for road safety, business interests and environmental sustainability .

and reported that the Cabinet Member for Highways Transportation had replied as follows:

The Highways Agency have recently held a meeting with local parish councillors to discuss their proposals relating to Dry Bridge because of the severe deterioration of the structure. One of their options is to not replace it. The removal of the bridge will have a local impact as it carries a local unclassified road. There is strong opposition from parish councillors and landowners affected, which was made very clear to the Highways Agency at the meeting. As a consequence the Highways Agency are reviewing the options that are available for the resolution of this problem which will include the financial implications. The County Council will be assessing this information, when received, before coming to a decision on its view as Local Highway Authority on the proposal. However in view of the strength of feelings represented at the meeting the Highways Agency agreed to postpone the consultation on the demolition to carry out this review .

Councillor Pennington and Mrs Barbara Palk, Vice-Chairman of Rattery Parish Council (under the Council s Public Participation procedures), spoke to emphasise the consequences of the bridge not being replaced. A particular concern related to the increased use of the A38 by farm traffic.

It was MOVED by Councillor Pennington, SECONDED by Councillor Hawkins and

RESOLVED that the Cabinet be made aware of the strength of local feeling regarding the need for the Highways Agency to replace Dry Bridge following its likely demolition in view of the serious consequences for road safety, business interests and environmental sustainability of failure to reconstruct.

*47 Local Bus Services: X64 and 164 - Exeter - Totnes - Kingsbridge, and 111/X81 - Dartmouth - Totnes - Marldon - Torquay (Items Requested under Standing Order 23(2))

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reported on issues raised by Councillors Brazil and Hawkins relating to changes in the above local bus services.

To set the scene, the Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager reminded the Committee that the County Council had approved a reduction to the 2011/12 public transport budget of 1.35m on 17 February 2011, and that to achieve this a programme of supported bus service reductions was required. Rather than totally removing less well-used routes, the County Council had adopted an approach of: (a) ending subsidised services operating primarily for pupils not entitled to school transport; (b) cutting less well used leisure services; (c) thinning out or reducing the number of buses on routes rather than cutting routes completely.

The Neighbourhood Highway Group Manager then commented on:

changes to Service X64 which now operated only between Exeter and Totnes rather than as a through service between Exeter and Kingsbridge, with a separate Service 164 operating between Kingsbridge and Totnes, resulting in an annual saving of 68,800

the position on connections from Service 164 from Totnes

the replacement of Service 111 by commercial Service X81 and the locations no longer served: Dittisham and Blackawton; Torquay Grammar Schools; Berry Pomeroy and Marldon and Torbay Hospital

the position regarding improvements to both services which would incur additional costs that could not be accommodated within the budget and, in the case of Services 111/X81, would be inconsistent with the County Council s approach to the reduced budget.

Councillor Brazil outlined his concerns which were focused on the difficulty of passengers using Services X64 and 164 in making connections for ongoing journeys when reaching Totnes, and especially the daily situation whereby passengers on the X64 faced a 11/2 hour wait in Totnes for a connection to Kingsbridge due to Service 164 between Totnes and Kingsbridge leaving two minutes before the arrival of Service X64 at Totnes. Councillor Hawkins explained his concerns about the replacement of Service 111 by Service X81 which included the effect on connections at Totnes and a reduced service to Torbay Hospital.

Councillor Rufus Gilbert, South Hams District Council, Amanda Bloomer, Manageress at Kingsbridge Information Centre and Rachel Fawcett, X64 and 164 service user attended and spoke under the Council s Public Participation procedures to highlight their concerns about the service changes.

It was MOVED by Councillor Brazil, SECONDED by Councillor Pennington and

RESOLVED

(a) that the Cabinet be asked to support better co-ordination of bus service timetabling within the market towns of the South Hams and between the South Hams and Exeter, to include recognition of the importance of Totnes s hub role in the local network, and to facilitate the use of public transport by commuters and tourists and access to local hospitals;

(b) that the Transport Co-ordination Service Manager be invited to the next meeting of the Committee in December 2011.

*48 Dates for Future Meetings

The Committee noted that meetings had been arranged for the following dates:

2 December 2011

20 April 2012

(both Fridays, 9.30am at Follaton House, Totnes)

*DENOTES DELEGATED MATTER WITH POWER TO ACT

The meeting started at 9.30am and finished at 11.10am.

The Minutes of the South Hams Highways Traffic Orders Committee are published on the County Council s Website at:-