Agenda item

Councillor Jem Duducu attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition.  Councillors Teji Barnes and Michael White were present as Field End Road also ran through Cavendish Ward.  Councillor Allan Kauffman had emailed comments in support of the petition which were read out at the meeting. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• The size, weight and speed of HGV lorries (particularly Ocado vehicles) travelling along Field End Road were causing residents' doors and windows to rattle and were detrimental to the properties and road;
• The noise and vibrations meant that some residents were experiencing difficulty sleeping;
• Petitioners had recorded Ocado vehicles travelling along Field End Road at 2.57am, 3.09am, 3.30am and 4.20am on one day and it appeared that Ocado was not adhering to its vehicular movement schedule;
• There had been an incident involving an Ocado lorry which had collided with the central island in Field End Road;
• Many children attending Field End School and individuals using the recreation ground increased the volume of traffic and parked vehicles along Field End Road.  Although the parked cars caused traffic to slow, by the time that the HGVs reached Field End School the road was straight, there were no real obstacles and their speed generally increased;
• It was noted that residents from one side of Field End Road were not as affected by the HGVs as the vehicles were returning empty on that side of the road so therefore placing less pressure on the road and properties;
• It was suggested that it would be unfair to divert the HGVs to another area and therefore petitioners were requesting that the ban on lorries at certain times of night be retained and enforced;
• Councillor Kauffman had stated in his written submission that the route taken by Ocado lorries was contrary to the planned route for HGV transport which therefore gave rise to noise complaints.  As she would be absent, Councillor Kelly had echoed Councillor Kauffman's comments and support of the petitioners;
• Councillor White expressed sympathy with residents from Field End Road and other areas of the Borough with similar experience.  He suggested that consideration be given to the provision of sound barriers and a slight change to the road layout to reduce traffic speed.  However, residents advised that there was already a service road with trees in place but that these had offered little protection, particularly in relation to the vibrations;
• Councillor Barnes agreed with the suggestion to review the road layout to reduce the speed of traffic; and
• Although Councillor Duducu suggested that consideration be given to the use of speed guns, residents had contacted the police but no further action had been taken.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  He noted that Ocado did not appear to be sticking to its agreed schedule.  Undertaking a speed survey would provide the Council with data in relation to the types of vehicles travelling along Field End Road as well as the time and speed of the movement.  These surveys were undertaken by an independent contractor. 

Councillor Burrows advised that a speed survey would be commissioned in Field End Road and was likely to be undertaken in the next couple of months and the results discussed with Ocado.  Ward Councillors would be advised of the timing for the survey so that they could liaise with residents. 

When talking about resurfacing the road with a quiet surface, it was noted that a stretch of the road had already been resurfaced.  Consideration could be given to resurfacing the rest of the road.

RESOLVED:  Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    listened to their concerns regarding the social problems being created by the passage of Large Goods Vehicles (LGVs) during the night and their request to restrict or ban this LGV traffic during night-time hours.

2.    asked officers to undertake a 24/7 traffic volume and speed survey, with the location of the survey to be agreed with petitioners.

3.    asked officers to consider the petitioners' suggestions, undertake further considerations and report back to him.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

To give the Cabinet Member the opportunity to discuss in detail the petitioners' concerns.  To investigate in further detail the request by petitioners.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

Options were discussed with the petitioners.