ECCLESHALL PARISH COUNCIL – TRAFFIC MANAGEMENT COMMITTEE – Wednesday, October 2^nd 2024

 DRAFT

A meeting of the Traffic Management Committee was held on Wednesday, October 2^nd at Eccleshall Community Centre at 8.00pm, following a meeting of the Planning Committee.

Present were:-

Councillor P. Jones (Chair)                              Councillor S. Perren

Councillor D. Hall                                               Councillor R. Langford

Councillor G. Dale                                              Councillor A. Reid

Councillor C. Wilkins                                         Councillor M. Gosling

Councillor C. Ryan-Bloor

Mrs S. J. Worden (Clerk)

No members of the public.

1).    Apologies:-

Apologies were received from Cllrs. Hill and Taylor.

2).   Minutes of the meeting held on Wednesday, July 3^rd, 2024:-

The minutes, which had previously been noted by the Council were agreed and signed.

3).  To receive any feedback from the working group in relation to the project to build a vision for our town centre over the next 10-20 years, including parking and traffic flows, cycling and paths, the High Street as a destination as well as a part of local service infrastructure

The working group is planning to meet on the 22^nd October, venue to be confirmed. Cllr. Hall requested removal from the working group membership.

Cllr. Taylor has met with the Carter-Motley family to ask for their consideration in providing a piece of land for a car park and is aiming to bring feedback to the working group meeting.

4).   Staffordshire County Council Highways meeting:

• Proposed refurbishment of lighting at the pedestrian crossing and to consider if lighting cowls are required:

County Council Highways will be fitting the new lights without cowls in the first instance and are happy to review this should there be any issues with light pollution to the properties of local residents. It was noted that this still may not resolve the lack of visibility to vehicles approaching the crossing from the Stone Road during the daytime.

• Feedback from the site meeting with Staffordshire County Council officers – other items. The minimum price for a feasibility study has been advised as £2,500, a reduction of £500. There is no scope for further reduction due to the preparation work required to put together the study. This reduced cost is possible if one or two items were removed from the scope, but there has not yet been formal detailed confirmation of what would be included in the study. Members undertook a discussion with regards to the current parking issues. Points included issues with too many traders parking all day on the High Street and reducing availability for visitor parking; whether an area of reduced parking time (monitored) would help in the turnover of cars or just push parking further up the street and the needs of High St. residents for on street parking. It was noted that if land to the rear of the High Street was made available for parking, the ground conditions would mean that there would be considerable cost in making the ground suitable for a car park and would require investment by Stafford Borough Council. Cllr. Reid has prepared a draft report on the findings of the parking survey which will be brought to the Town Centre Vision working group to be finalised before circulating to the town centre businesses and made available to residents. As there were many questions raised in the discussion for consideration by the working group, which may result in different needs for a feasibility study, it was agreed to put this proposal on hold until it was clarified whether it would be beneficial.

5).   To receive a report on the speed indication device data

Members were provided with a report that summarises the impact of the SIDS on speed of traffic. It allows for some comparison between vehicle speed when approaching the device (speed visible) and when driving away from the device (no speed visible). There were some investigations that could be undertaken to drill down to the efficacy of the units at various locations, but on balance, members were happy to retain the current rota. However, it was agreed it would be beneficial to purchase an additional unit to enable a SID to be placed at either end of the Croxton and Slindon locations at the same time, to see if this has a further impact on speed reduction. The purchase of an additional device will be included in next year’s budget.

6).   1^st Eccleshall 1^st Yarnfield Beavers Community Impact Badge:

The committee were asked to judge twenty-five speed awareness posters submitted by the local beaver groups as part of their Community Impact Badge. The committee enjoyed looking at the posters and the winning poster by Ruby K will be made into a sign by the beaver group to be displayed near to Eccleshall Scout Hut. Six runners up posters were also chosen for display in the parish noticeboards, designed by Jen K, William, Rupert, Elliot, Penny, and Seth. Well done to all those who took part.

7).   To consider future activities and agree a budget for the financial year 2025/26:

Members were asked to consider future projects that will feed into the budget preparations for 2024/25. This will include the earlier proposal to purchase an additional speed indication device.

8).   Correspondence

No correspondence was received.

9).   Items for the next meeting

Any items for the next meeting can be forwarded to the Clerk. Members noted concerns regarding the build up of silt and weeds in gutters that are adding to flood issues and it was agreed that the Clerk would arrange another meeting with SCC highways officers where ongoing concerns can be raised.

10).  Date of next meeting:- 8^th January 2025, following a meeting of the planning committee

There being no further business, the Chairman declared the meeting closed at 9.00pm.