Agenda and minutes

Minutes of the meeting held on 11 July 2022, previously circulated.

RESOLVED that the Minutes of the Meeting held on 11 July 2022 be signed as a correct record.

Items which in the opinion of the Chairman should be considered at the meeting as matters of urgency.  

No item was raised as a matter of urgency.

Presentation by the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport

Link to Councillors’ Dashboard Landing: Councillor Dashboard Landing Page - Power BI

Link to public webpages:       Collision & Casualty Data - Roads and transport (devon.gov.uk)

The Committee received a presentation by the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport on a website dashboard which provided detailed information on road casualty data in Devon at Devon-wide, District/Parish/Town Council and electoral division levels.

The Dashboard information was available via:

Link to Councillors’ Dashboard Landing:

Councillor Dashboard Landing Page - Power BI

Link to public webpages:

Collision & Casualty Data - Roads and transport (devon.gov.uk)

Members’ questions and discussion points with the Officers included:

•      the useful resource available for County Council Members and a request that it be made available also to the non-County Council Members of this

Committee;

•      the dashboard showed official published collision data up to the end of the previous calendar year;

•      new data was published on the dashboard in July the following year after a verification process with the Department for Transport;

•      there was a delay in receiving serious/fatal accident records pending investigation by the Police (usually 2 - 4 weeks or more in certain cases); and fatal/serious collisions were also routinely investigated by specialist officers contracted by the County Council; and for details Members should contact the Officers (email: rshelp@devon.gov.uk);

•      the legal duty if involved in an accident with a vehicle where there was either injury or damage to property, was to stop and give your name and address to anyone who reasonably required it; and if details were not  exchanged, to report the collision to the police (within 24 hours). This could now be reported online in Devon and Cornwall;  

•      confirmation that most accidents were on the main arterial routes; and

•      consideration to more easily readable and accessible fonts (size and colour).

The Chair thanked the Officers for the informative presentation. 

Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport to report on the outcome of the site meeting held in September 2022 and action going forward.

(Councillor P Reid (Chair, Mary Tavy Parish Council) attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this item in support of a referral to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport).

The local Traffic Engineer reported on actions taken subsequent to the site visit held in September with the Chair and Vice Chair and Parish and District Council representatives on a proposal to reduce the speed limit on the approach to Mary Tavy on the A386.  A formal request with the support of the Chair and local Parish Council would be submitted to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport to authorise an exception to the DoT Standard to reduce the speed limit along the approach to the junction from 60mph - 40 mph.

The Committee noted the position.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/57), attached

(Councillors P Sanders and J McInnes declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of their membership of the Dartmoor National Park Authority (as County Council appointees).

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/57) on a proposed new multi-use trail between Clearbrook and Roborough along the A386 corridor being developed by the County Council.  The A386 Tavistock to Plymouth Corridor Study (2018) identified an opportunity to improve active travel along the A386 corridor and the Council’s Cycling and Multi-Use Trail Strategy set out the ambition for a new link to complete provision between Tavistock and the northern growth area of Plymouth, connecting to new development and providing improved access to Dartmoor.  This new route, in combination with existing infrastructure between Yelverton and Clearbrook, would complete a missing link in the existing Multi-Use Trail Network and open up sustainable access between communities, employment, health, and leisure opportunities along the A386 corridor.

The Report made recommendations to proceed with a preferred route for the trail, identified through ongoing feasibility work in conjunction with findings from a public consultation held in Spring 2022.

Members’ discussion point with the Officers included:

·         the need for further consultation on the detail of the new adapted route which would be carried out;

·         the need to promote cycling and divert cyclists away from the A386,  noting that some cyclists would continue to use the Road, and

·         the marginal increase in distance with the proposed multi-use trail and noting the increased safety, decreased vehicle pollution and pleasant rural outlook on the Trail.     

It was MOVED by Councillor P Sanders, SECONDED by Councillor J McInnes and

RESOLVED

(a) that the preliminary design for the preferred multi use trail route between Clearbrook and Roborough shown on Appendix 1 of the Report be approved; and

(b) that the land acquisition by agreement and a planning application for the preferred multi-use trail route between Clearbrook and Roborough shown on Appendix 1 be progressed.

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/58), attached

(Councillors P Sanders and J McInnes declared a personal interest in this matter by virtue of their membership of the Dartmoor National Park Authority (as County Council appointees).

(Councillor T Pearce attended in accordance with Standing Order 25 and spoke to this is so far as it related to Lydford Car Park and additional facilities) 

The Committee considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/58) on the results of the statutory consultation on the proposed traffic regulation order (TRO) for pay & display in a number of Dartmoor National Park Authority (DNPA) car parks (Site Plans attached to the Report).

In October 2021, Dartmoor National Park Authority had agreed to implement charges in a number of their car parks within the National Park and had requested the County Council’s support to introduce a Traffic Regulation Order to formalise the charges under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 (RTRA).  This legislation allowed the County Council to make a Traffic Regulation Order on the National Park land at the request of the DNPA and allow enforcement if it was considered necessary. 

The Report detailed the outcome of the consultations made from 30 June to 21 July 2022.

The details of enforcement and implementation were a matter for the DNPA and if necessary subject to agreement with the County Council.  

It was MOVED by Councillor P Sanders, SECONDED by Councillor D Sellis  and

RESOLVED 

(a) that the results of the consultation be noted;

(b) that the proposals for Meldon Reservoir, Postbridge and Princetown Car Parks be implemented as advertised;

(c) that the proposal for Lydford Car Park be modified and implemented as detailed in section 3 of this Report; and

(d) that the proposal for Brent or Car Park be delegated to the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Local Member and this Committee’s Vice Chair.

(N.B. In accordance with Standing Order 32(4) Councillor J McInnes requested that his abstention from the vote and the decision taken be recorded)

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/59), attached

The Committee noted the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport (CET/22/59) on actions taken under delegated powers.

4 April 2023 (Okehampton), 31 July (Tavistock), 7 November (Okehampton) and 27 March 2024

Details are available here: Browse meetings - West Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Democracy in Devon

4 April 2023 (Okehampton), 31 July (Tavistock), 7 November (Okehampton) and 27 March 2024

Details available here: Browse meetings - West Devon Highways and Traffic Orders Committee - Democracy in Devon