Agenda item

Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment & Transport CET/22/4) outlining proposals for Permanent Road Layout Changes in Magdalen Road, Exeter, attached.

The Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee are due to consider the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders at their meeting on the 6 June 2022 - Agenda for Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee on Monday, 6th June, 2022, 10.30 am - Democracy in Devon.

An Impact Assessment is also attached for the attention of Members at the meeting and can also be found at - https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/magdalen-road-changes/

RESOLVED

(a) that the design and construction of permanent road layout changes on

Magdalen Road, Exeter (plan no. 70073648-WSP-CON-100-DR-02 P07 in

Appendix 1) with an estimated cost of £900,000 be approved, noting that the

Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee had approved the relevant

Traffic Regulation Orders at its meeting on the 6 June 2022; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in

consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and relevant

local member be given delegated authority, to make minor variations to the

scheme as required.

(Councillors Adams and Whitton attended in accordance with Standing Order 25(2) and spoke to this item).

The Cabinet considered the Report of the Director of Climate Change, Environment & Transport CET/22/4) which outlined proposals for Permanent Road Layout Changes in Magdalen Road, Exeter, circulated prior to the meeting in accordance with regulation 7(4) of the Local Authorities (Executive Arrangements) (Meetings and Access to Information) (England) Regulations 2012.

In June 2020, Magdalen Road, Exeter had temporarily been made one-way westbound, with a contra-flow (eastbound) cycleway and widened footway to support social distancing. Following public consultation and monitoring of the impacts of the temporary scheme, the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee (HATOC) resolved to progress permanent restrictions on the road.

This also complemented changes elsewhere on the E9 route, on Wonford Road, Dryden Road and Ludwell Lane, to create quieter roads for walking and cycling.

The proposal was outlined in section three of the Report and in plan no. 70073648-WSP-CON-100-DR-02 P07 in Appendix 1. The permanent scheme would be constructed to:

·         Restrict vehicular traffic to one-way westbound on Magdalen Road, between the junctions with College Road and Denmark Road, with contra-flow (eastbound) cycling permitted;

·         Introduce a restricted parking zone to ban all parking and loading outside of the following marked bays:

o   Existing limited waiting parking bays on the southern side of Magdalen Road, which will be widened as part of the scheme, resulting in the loss of two spaces;

o   Three new loading-only bays on the northern side of Magdalen Road, incorporated into the widened footway.

·         Introduce a raised hump uncontrolled crossing point on Denmark Road, at its junction with Magdalen Road;

·         Alter the existing zebra crossing on Magdalen Road to match the new highway alignment.

It was also proposed to make a number of improvements to the public realm, including the introduction of planters and additional cycle parking.

Following the implementation of the permanent scheme for Magdalen Road, it was proposed to trial an extension of the one-way system to the junction with Fairpark Road.

Section 5 of the Report outlined the outcome of the public consultation, with over 1,500 responses received. It also referenced the role of the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee in considering the feedback and then the further consultation during February 2022, with feedback invited from local traders, the St Leonards Neighbourhood Association and the resident with vehicular access from Magdalen Road.

The scheme was well-aligned with a range of actions within the Strategic Plan, insofar as it would prioritise walking and cycling over vehicular traffic, and therefore encourage more people to walk and cycle.

An Impact Assessment was also circulated with the agenda for the attention of Members at the meeting and could also be found at - https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/magdalen-road-changes/. This highlighted

the potential for the scheme to particularly advance equality of opportunity for those without access to a car, by virtue of the scheme giving enhanced priority to pedestrians and cyclists.

The potential benefits of the permanent scheme exceeded those of the existing temporary scheme, as it would enable the footway widening to be formalised and the public realm to be enhanced. The potential adverse impacts were similar to those of the temporary scheme, which had been reduced as far as practicable, e.g. permitting westbound vehicular traffic on Magdalen Road and thus maintaining access to businesses for those reliant on the car.

In summary, the proposal would build upon the Council’s encouragement of active travel in response to the COVID-19 pandemic and enable people to maintain behavioural changes in the longer-term.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management said he welcomed the proposals, which built upon the Ludwell Lane, Dryden Road and Wonford Road schemes to complete the 5km E9 strategic cycle route and added that local support for the scheme was reaffirmed by the approval of the Traffic Regulation Orders at the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee of 6 June 2022.

The matter having been debated and the options and/or alternatives and other relevant factors (e.g. financial, sustainability (including carbon impact), risk management, equality and legal considerations and Public Health impact) set out in the Director’s Report and/or referred to above having been considered:

it was MOVED by Councillor Hughes, SECONDED by Councillor Hart, and

RESOLVED

(a) that the design and construction of permanent road layout changes on Magdalen Road, Exeter (plan no. 70073648-WSP-CON-100-DR-02 P07 in Appendix 1) with an estimated cost of £900,000 be approved, noting that the Exeter Highways and Traffic Orders Committee had approved the relevant Traffic Regulation Orders at its meeting on the 6 June 2022; and

(b) that the Director of Climate Change, Environment and Transport in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Highway Management and relevant local member be given delegated authority, to make minor variations to the scheme as required.

(NB: The Impact Assessment referred to above may be viewed alongside Minutes of this meeting and at https://www.devon.gov.uk/impact/magdalen-road-changes/).