Agenda item

(A)       In terms of Standing Order 10(2), and as agreed at the beginning of the meeting (see article 1 above), the Committee received a deputation from Mr Kinnear in relation to the above-named report.

Mr Kinnear advised that he was representing the views of both Ashley and Broomhill Community Council and Ashley Road School Parent Teacher Association (PTA). He highlighted the long standing concern of the Community Council, PTA and residents of the health and safety risk to pedestrians, in particular children, from the vast number of HGVs using Broomhill Road, which was very narrow. Mr Kinnear supported the proposal to introduce an ‘except for access’ weight or width restriction on Broomhill, as sought by Councillor Yuill’s motion, to alleviate the current problem.

Mr Kinnear then went through various sections in the report during which he posed a number of questions regarding the validity of the content.

Members asked questions of Mr Kinnear and thanked him for his contribution.

(B)       The Committee then received a deputation from Mrs Rasmussen.

Mrs Rasmussen advised that she was a long term resident of Broomhill Road; that she was a guide dog user; a member of a number of disability groups; and was a grandmother of eleven children who she had cared for regularly from her home on Broomhill Road. Given this, Mrs Rasmussen explained she was able to speak on behalf of a number of sections of the population, all of whom, she felt were negatively impacted on as a result of the high volume of HGVs using Broomhill Road.

Mrs Rasmussen provided the Committee with a detailed account of incidents on Broomhill Road with HGVs that she had either directly been involved in, or had witnessed. She emphasised her concern for pedestrian safety on Broomhill Road whilst HGVs continued to use this route on a regular basis. Mrs Rasmussen also brought the Committee’s attention to a number of statements within the report which she questioned the validity of.

Finally, she advised that she supported the introduction of an ‘except for access’ weight or width restriction being introduced on Broomhill Road.

Members thanked Mrs Rasmussen for her contribution.

(C)       With reference to article 12 of the minute of the meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee of 13 September, 2011, the Committee had before it a report by the Director of Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure regarding the following motion which had been submitted by Councillor Yuill:-

            “That, given the ongoing difficulties caused by HGVs using Broomhill Road as a through route, Council instructs officers to report to the appropriate Committee on the introduction of an “except for access” weight or width restriction on some or all of the Broomhill Road between Holburn Street and South Anderson Drive.”

The report recommended:-

that given the strategic importance of Broomhill Road within the road network and hierarchy, the Committee agree that a width or weight restriction would not be appropriate.

The Committee resolved:-

to request officers to explore other options available, not excluding the introduction of an “except for access” width and/or weight restriction, to address the concerns of residents on Broomhill Road, and to report back to a future meeting of the Enterprise, Planning and Infrastructure Committee on these options, as well as the implications of the introduction of each.