Agenda, decisions and minutes

The agenda and reports associated with this minute can be found at:-

https://committees.aberdeencity.gov.uk/ieListDocuments.aspx?CId=484&MId=4358&Ver=4

Please note that if any changes are made to this minute at the point of approval, these will be outlined in the subsequent minute and this document will not be retrospectively altered.

We the undersigned petition the Committee to build cycle paths for children who go to Ferryhill Primary school to allow them to cycle to and from school safely.

Justification

Children who go to Ferryhill Primary school in Aberdeen would like to cycle to and from school safely. Currently they have to cycle on roads with cars and trucks. Please build dedicated cycle paths that are not shared with motor vehicles or pedestrians.
We would like Aberdeen City Council to build a dedicated cycle path on Bon Accord St, a very busy road with lots of fast-moving traffic, including trucks. We would also like Caledonian Place, Whinhill Rd, Fonthill Rd, Springbank Terrace, Willowbank Rd, and Great Southern Rd to have separated cycle paths.
Children who cycle to school receive health and well-being benefits as a result of the physical activity. Aberdeen city also benefits through reduced pollution and traffic congestion around schools. Spending on cycling infrastructure returns more to the community than it costs to build.

The Committee had before it the following young person’s petition which had been submitted by Daniel and Elizabeth Martin, and was supported by Rachel Martin –

‘We the undersigned petition the council to build cycle paths for children who go to Ferryhill Primary school to allow them to cycle to and from school safely.

The Convener explained the process and invited the petitioners, Rachel, Daniel and Elizabeth Martin to present their case to the Committee.

Rachel Martin explained that not a lot of primary school children bike to school due to safety concerns and they wanted to see safer routes built for children who can then bike to school in a safe manner.  Rachel provided the Committee with a PowerPoint presentation which highlighted the situation in the Netherlands, where they built designated cycle lanes for cyclists to use.  The paths were built in 1973 following the deaths of 450 children due to cycling accidents.  Rachel noted that the Netherlands were in the same position as Aberdeen in 1973 and started to build cycle paths from scratch.

Rachel concluded by highlighting the health benefits of children cycling and advised that it would take a decade or more to see the benefits of the cycle paths.

Members then asked the Petitioner a number of questions regarding the petition whereby it was noted that a very small amount of school children currently cycle to school and the Petitioner highlighted that ideally cyclists would have their own space and not a shared space.

Members then asked officers present a number of questions whereby it was noted that the city centre masterplan was due to investigate cycle paths in the city centre however this was still to take place.  The Diamond Bridge which was opened in June 2016 was built with a designated cycling lane and it was highlighted that the best time to build cycling lanes is at the development/building stage.

The Committee resolved:-

to agree that the matter be referred for consideration at the Communities, Housing & Infrastructure Committee in August, to investigate whether officers should undertake a feasibility study to look at options on improving cycling within the area with the scope and source of funding for the feasibility study to be considered.

We the undersigned, petition the Council to give consideration to provide a crossing refuge on North Deeside Road near the junction of Abbotshall Road and Westerton Road.

Justification

The volume of traffic at significant times of the day is high, and the staggered junction adds to congestion making it difficult to cross safely. The elderly, disabled and parents with buggies and toddlers are all bus users, and this is a growing problem as the traffic through Cults increases.

The Committee had before it the following petition which had been submitted by Mrs Margaret Forbes –

“We the undersigned, petition the Council to give consideration to provide a crossing refuge on North Deeside Road near the junction of Abbotshall Road and Westerton Road.

The Convener explained the process and invited the Lead Petition Margaret Forbes to present her case to the Committee.

Mrs Forbes explained that she had previously submitted a petition in regards to this issue and since that time the road had become even more congested.  Mrs Forbes highlighted her concerns for public safety and noted that pedestrians either have to walk 300m or 170m to cross safely and people who were not so fit were finding it difficult to walk the distance in order to use the crossings.

Members then asked the Petitioner a number of questions regarding the petition.

Members then asked Vycki Ritson, Team Leader, Traffic Management and Road Safety, a number of questions in regards to the petition, whereby it was noted that the traffic flow modelling which had been undertaken on the AWPR highlighted that there would be a decrease in traffic on North Deeside Road once the AWPR was complete.  Vycki also explained that an island should be 2metres wide and that there may be a lack of space within this area for an island.  It was also noted that weekly requests are received from members of the public in regards to islands and officers work to review where the islands are most needed.  Vycki also advised that there was a nationally designed formula that was used when looking at potential islands.

The Convener moved that

No further action is taken in order to ensure that a precedent was not set across the city.

Councillor Boulton moved as amendment, seconded by Councillor Malik, that

A report be submitted to the Communities, Housing & Infrastructure Committee providing information on the feasibility and costs of providing a refuge crossing on North Deeside Road.

Councillor Imrie’s motion failed to attract a seconder and therefore was not put to the vote.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to agree that a report be submitted to the Communities, Housing & Infrastructure Committee providing information on the feasibility and costs of providing a refuge crossing on North Deeside Road; and

(ii)        to request that officers provide members with copies of the surveys previously carried out on North Deeside Road.

We the undersigned petition the council to respectfully request that Aberdeen City Council reviews the speed limit along Lower Gray Street, a route widely used by older people and by young children attending Broomhill School. Currently the other roads in close proximity to the school to Broomhill School have a 20mph limit whilst lower Gray Street is 30mph. Members and friends of Lower Gray Street Neighbourhood Watch Group.

Justification

Aside from the improving the safety to pedestrians and cyclists there will be health and well-being benefits as a result of reduced speed limit from 30 mph to 20mph such as reduced noise and pollution.

Friends of LGSNHW have for a number of years have been in dialogue with the council and council memebers to introduce a reduction in the speed limit to enhance the safety of Gray street and the surrounding area by reducing the speed limit along Lower Gray street and have undertaken a petition to demonstrate the level of support to the proposal.

The Committee had before it the following petition, which was submitted by the lead petitioner, Mr James Harper –

“We the undersigned petition the council to respectfully request that they review the speed limits along lower Gray Street, a route widely used by older people and by young children attending Broomhill School.  Currently the other roads in close proximity to the school to Broomhill School have a 20MPH limit whilst lower Gray Street is 30MPH.

The Convener explained the process and invited the lead petitioner Mr James Harper to present his case to the Committee.  Mr Harper was also supported by Eileen and Alex Leslie.

Mr Harper explained that they would like to see the lower part of Gray Street reduced from a 30 to 20MPH zone and the proposal represents value to the local community.  He explained that traffic calming measures had been introduced previously however advised that Gray Street was frequently used as a through road from Anderson Drive with vast amounts of HGV’s using the road.  Mr Harper explained that by reducing the limit it would increase the cycle and pedestrian usage on Gray Street.  Mr Harper advised that there was a survey carried out in 2014 and the outcome highlighted 200 vehicles used Gray Street at peak times with 2% being HGV’s.  Mr Harper also intimated that the main goal of the neighbourhood watch was to ensure no accidents occur and they had engaged with the Council in regards to user safety for many years.

Mrs Eileen Leslie also spoke in regards to the petition and explained that there had been a huge increase in the amount of traffic and the speed of vehicles in Gray Street.  Mrs Leslie highlighted her concern for people’s safety with many young families living in the area and noted that an increase in HGV’s using Gray Street as a rat run, which had resulted in damage to her property due to the vibrations of the vehicles.

Members then asked the Petitioner a number of questions regarding the petition.

Members then asked Vycki Ritson, Team Leader, Traffic Management and Road Safety, a number of questions in regards to the petition, whereby it was noted that a two week study had previously been carried out on Gray Street, which was a longer timeframe than normal for surveys and it was possible to split the speed limit on a road with a section being less than the other section, as is the case on Broomhill Road.

The Committee resolved:-

(i)         to agree that officers continue the ongoing review of Gray Street and the surrounding area, and report any proposed changes to the speed limit to a future Communities, Housing and Infrastructure Committee within the Small Scale Traffic Management report; and

(ii)        to investigate whether it would be possible to extend the mandatory 20MPH to all other neighbouring streets.

The Committee had before it the minute of the previous meeting of 20 April 2016 for approval.

The Committee resolved:-

 to approve the minute as a correct record, subject to the amendment of a typing mistake in regards to Councillor Samarai.

- COUNCILLOR CLAIRE IMRIE, Convener