East End Consultation Workshop

Transcription

1 East End Consultation Workshop The Workshop was held in the East End Community Resource Centre on Thursday 30 th October Attendees included local business representatives, Ward Councillors, residents associations and some people from the local residential community. A total of 11 members of the public attended the workshop. After a brief presentation they were then divided into 3 groups and given the opportunity to discuss the options for transport improvements in the East End. The evening was highly successful and we would like to extend our thanks to all those who participated. The main issues highlighted during the Workshop are summarised below. It is important to note that these are the comments of individuals and do not always represent the views of the whole group. Comments / Issues / Suggestions Laira Bridge Is there any possibility for a new crossing over the Plym, stretching from Pomphlett Roundabout to Finnigan Rd (access to TR2) Question regarding the lifespan of the existing bridge and whether any surveys have been completed Use the railway bridge as a route for walkers / cyclists (cheaper than bridge for car traffic) need to consider location e.g. issues of levels / access etc Suspension bridge would be a gateway to the City / East End Don t agree with taking lanes from cars for public transport, but generally agree that the extra space created by walkers / cyclists moving to a new bridge could be utilised. Don t think people would vote for a purely public transport scheme Response from the Eastern Corridor Project Team A new bridge crossing (south of the existing Laira Bridge) will be This will not be considered as part of the Major Scheme Bid due to the cost of the basic improvements This is already being This scheme will include all types of transport improvements Is it possible to cantilever the existing bridge? This is already being

2 Would welcome moving pedestrians and cyclists off the bridge there are serious safety concerns with cyclists on the road Concern over whether the bridge is really fit for purpose Divided opinion about imposing a charge on the bridge. What would this money be used for? Public transport? Reduce the speed limit on the bridge (and through to the city centre) Heles Terrace Link Road Bring link road further east to keep travelling out of the East End completely bridge structure? What would the south junction be? Straight? Staggered? Roundabout? Playing field is well used and has been upgraded. Do not want to lose it. Access to the field at present is difficult so improvement would be welcomed Nb. There is still planning permission for a retail site in this location. The scheme could improve access here which might otherwise be poor. Very much welcome the removal of traffic from Heles Terrace which is currently congested, busy and noisy. The Heles Terrace pedestrian bridge isn t easily accessible; therefore, elderly residents can t even cross their own road. Noise pollution and road safety concerns (recurring issue of safe crossing). Is there any opportunity to include public realm improvements? Embankment Road Flood risk pumping station is below the tide line. The widening of Laira Bridge is already being Assessments of both bridges are ongoing This might be as part of the additional bridge study This idea has been in the Eastern Gateway Study and will not be pursued The type of junction is currently under investigation It is likely that some of the field may be lost in order to accommodate the new link road. Access will be improved and this is currently under investigation This is already being This will not be considered as part of the Major Scheme Bid but the MSB will increase potential to improve the area Issues of flood risk are currently under investigation Northern route recurring issue of community severance Consensus that reduced traffic flow is needed Options to reduce

3 on Embankment Rd importance of public transport etc. traffic on Embankment Rd are being Recognition that the problem is where can this traffic go? Cattedown Roundabout Flyover not popular lots of opposition other junction improvements are being Opportunity for more trees / green space Concerns over pedestrians walking from the East End into the City Centre. Issue of timing and how pedestrians might be diverted need for a convenient and safe route. Disabled access raised as a significant issue along with the ageing local community should be considered in terms of pedestrian access. Gdynia Way Issues of pedestrian crossings will form part of the investigation into configuration of the roundabout This will be considered Concern about accidents on Gdynia Way Pedestrians on Gdynia Way need to be excluded There are currently problems with grid locking from people coming in to the East End There needs to be some consideration of flood issues. When Gdynia Way is flooded, traffic is sent through Heles Terrace which causes huge problems Concerns over whether it is possible to have an additional lane (particularly under the bridges) Noise is a real problem and will be made worse by an additional lane A Green Bridge over Gdynia Way was a popular suggestion Southern Route Junction Concern about access to Cattedown business and business in Embankment Rd local access to the community is a significant issue At 4pm there is a queue on Finnigan Rd otherwise, this road is little used. There is a lot Preliminary investigations suggest an additional lane is possible further study will be undertaken. Due to financial constraints, this will not be considered as

4 of road in the southern area at the moment that is little used Don t think overall capacity (total number of lanes) in the area should be reduced Sceptical that cars would use the southern route as it is a longer distance can t see how the route could not involve traffic lights Concern about traffic then using Sutton Rd This will be Contaminated land issues Junctions at Shapters Rd, Gdynia Way & Barbican Approach Very concerned about safety at the junction A route through Barbican Approach suggested, however, car park traffic piles back through Gdynia Way in the Summer Improvements to Sutton Road are required Again the issue of the flyover raised not a popular idea. Noise at Home Sweet Home Terrace would increase if the traffic were raised. Differences of opinion regarding cyclists. Some felt cyclists should just use the road while others felt there should be as much segregation from traffic as possible Need foot access from the residential area to Warner Village at the moment it is a very long diversion to cross the road. The existing foot bridges are not good for pedestrians particularly the elderly and disabled It would be a shame to impair in any way the good development here (Cattedown Rd Urban Village) Exeter Street Can t really see anything that can be done here would like to bypass but realise that this is not really feasilble. The carriageway here should be narrowed There are no facilities for cycling Is there scope for use of the central reservation? Sutton Rd is not being considered as a major traffic route This option is not being progressed at this time Connectivity is an issue to be addressed Exeter St improvements are being What about a road to rail vehicle? This will not be taken forward Sutton Road Need to remember the Coxside community linkages feeling that they have been forgotten / ignored (didn t feature in the Sutton Harbour AAP) This is outside the scope of the Major Problems of Sutton Road being used as a rat

5 run The junction here identified as a real problem issue of articulated petrol tankers etc Additional Comments - Northern Route Getting rid of the railway line on Tothill will have an impact on the community, although there could be potential use of the railway without objection if utilising the existing rail Good idea but due to cost implications, this is not being taken forward at this time lines Feel that this is generally a good option but there are houses being built next to it in close proximity It would destroy the local community Knighton Rd / Community Centre If it is not possible to get traffic to the southern route due to the Assessment of Land Use around Major Hazard Sites this may be the next best option - Buses The issue of buses was a recurring problem. There was general agreement that public transport was an important part of the scheme and support for options to increase the use of public transport. However, some problems were highlighted Noise and pollution of buses seemed to be the biggest issue Inappropriate buses e.g. too big, too old etc The new HQPT will introduce a new fleet of buses It would be possible to greatly improve the noise issues through simple road re-surfacing This will be The price of bus fares also raised as a significant issue general consensus that if you want to encourage people to use public transport, the prices need to be brought down Plymouth City Council can not determine the price of bus fares - Traffic Management Recurring consensus that local priorities need to be considered Home Zones are what the residents of the East End want: - Space - Separation of traffic from pedestrians / cyclists - Landscaping - Discouraging rat runs - Enforcement of Traffic Orders Traffic Management will be considered as This will not be considered as part of the Major Scheme Bid

6 Elliott Road there are concerns that there are no measures to discourage rat running. The roads here are very wide and are dangerous for pedestrians Slow traffic down by reducing the speed limit along the route - Freight Management Strategy Problem of traffic coming in and out of the industrial belt Would like to ban freight from Embankment Rd and Gdynia Way Biggest issue would be that of enforcement - Community Issues Need to create a greater sense of worth and cohesion for the residential community (community identity) Need protection and enhancements for the community how can they access them? Planning and Regeneration Comments Concern that moving pedestrians and cyclists off Laira Bridge onto the former railway bridge would create an inconvenient / indirect route requiring people on the south side to negotiate crossing the Billacombe / Laira roads and disadvantaging / deterring walkers and cyclists Need to improve pedestrian links west from the East End Community Village. The proposed pedestrian bridge link from the Community Village to St John s Rd should be provided as concerns about the existing bridge adjacent to Cattedown roundabout being inconvenient and inaccessible for wheelchairs and pushchairs Traffic Management will be considered as Traffic Management will be considered as This may be taken forward as the initial step for routing freight appropriately in Plymouth Initial investigations suggest that it will be possible to retain the footway and cycle path on the south side of Laira Bridge while also introducing the new footway and cycle way on the old rail bridge.