The Cabinet (at its meeting on 13 April 2016) noted that the South Hams HATOC had, at its meeting on 1 April 2016 (Minute 55), considered a further request from the Parish Council and local residents for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on roads in Marldon Parish; this matter having previously been considered in November 2015 when it had been deferred pending the findings of the interim Department for Transport report on the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits and zones and the subsequent review of the Council’s policy on local speed limits. That guidance had been expected to be published in 2016 but was now anticipated in 2017.
The Cabinet Member for Highways Management & Flood Prevention indicated his intention to visit the area with local councillors and assess the situation for himself prior to consideration of any definitive course of action.
It was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Clatworthy, and
RESOLVED that, while sympathising with the concerns of the local community and recognising that taking any action in advance of the publication by the Department for Transport of its Report on the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits and zones and the incorporation of any consequential changes to legislation in the Council’s policy may be premature, consideration of this matter be deferred pending the Cabinet Members inspection and a further report, acknowledging also that the matter may in any event be revisited once the Government’s Review had been concluded.
As an update, the Cabinet Member was reporting the outcome of his visit to the Cabinet on 13 July, therefore a verbal update would be provided at the South Hams meeting.
Minutes:
The Chairman, having exercised his discretion and in the spirit of the County Council’s Public Participation rules and with the consent of the Committee, invited Mrs D Sutton (representative of Marldon Speed Reduction Group (MRSG)) to speak on this issue.
The Cabinet had noted that the South Hams HATOC had, at its meeting on 1 April 2016 (Minute 55), considered a further request from the Parish Council and local residents for the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on roads in Marldon Parish; this matter having previously been considered in November 2015 when it had been deferred pending the findings of the interim Department for Transport report on the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits and zones and the subsequent review of the Council’s policy on local speed limits. That guidance had been expected to be published in 2016 but was now anticipated in 2017.
The Cabinet Member for Highways Management & Flood Prevention had, at the Cabinet meeting, indicated his intention to visit the area with local councillors and assess the situation for himself prior to consideration of any definitive course of action.
The Cabinet had RESOLVED that, ‘while sympathising with the concerns of the local community and recognising that taking any action in advance of the publication by the Department for Transport of its Report on the effectiveness of 20mph speed limits and zones and the incorporation of any consequential changes to legislation in the Council’s policy may be premature, consideration of this matter be deferred pending the Cabinet Members inspection and a further report, acknowledging also that the matter may in any event be revisited once the Government’s Review had been concluded’.
The Cabinet Member had undertaken the site visit and had reported his findings to Cabinet on 13 July 2016.
The Chairman of the HATOC gave an update on the recommendations made at the Cabinet meeting, which included not approving the request to depart from Council Policy and introduce a blanket 20mph speed limit zone in the Marldon Parish, but following the receipt of Governments’ advice on 20mph speed limits, a review of the County Council’s policy on local speed limits would be undertaken. Furthermore, the Head of Service and Highway Officers had been asked to work with Marldon Parish Council to conduct a survey of all posted 30mph signage in the Marldon area and to arrange with local landowners the removal of vegetation that was obscuring signs; and also to investigate the potential for putting signs near the entrance of the children’s play area on Tor Field, Marldon to warn of the possible presence of children/pedestrians in the road.
Members discussed the various traffic calming measures that were available and also noted the Cabinets intention to make representations to the Department for Transport expressing the Council’s disappointment at the continuing delay in publication of the DfT's revised guidance on 20mph limits; and also that they would be urging Devon MPs to exert pressure on the DfT for early publication.
RESOLVED that the Committee note the views of the Cabinet in relation to its consideration of a 20 MPH speed limit for Marldon, as outlined above.