Issue - meetings

This report informs members of the Highways Committee of a petition received from some of residents of Regal Way, Kenton regarding the poor condition of the pavements from Westward Way to Shaftesbury Avenue, following the programmed upgrade of Regal Way from Westward Way to Preston Hill. Petitioners would like the Council to upgrade the entire length of Regal Way, rather than only the section prioritised in the 2012/13 programme. The petition contains in excess of 50 signatures, and Committee is asked to consider the request and the response by the Head of Transportation.

(i)         that the petition and the issues raised be noted;

(ii)        that it be noted that the Highways Major Works programme was approved by the Executive on 23 April 2012;

(iii)       that the methodology used to determine which streets are prioritised and the reasons why the whole of Regal Way was not included be noted;

(iv)       that the decision not to include the whole of the footway in Regal Way in this year’s highways programme be confirmed;

(v)        that it be noted that the condition of the section of footway in Regal Way from Westward Way to Shaftesbury Avenue will be included in the next annual condition survey for consideration to be included in a future programme and that the Council will continue to maintain this footway in a safe condition, in accordance with the Council’s intervention levels.

Councillor Kansagra spoke on behalf of Councillors Colwill and BM Patel in supporting the views of some local residents in Regal Way who had petitioned the Council for the pavements along the whole length of the road to be upgraded.  Whilst understanding the rationale used to prioritise highway repairs, he asked whether, if the condition survey had treated the whole of Regal Way as one section, it would have scored high enough to be included in this year’s programme.  If not, he urged that the remaining length of Regal Way be included in next year’s programme because where the upgraded length joined the length not upgraded it created an unsightly street scene.

David McKibbin, Interim Head of Highways and Transportation introduced the report submitted which responded to the points raised in the petition.  He drew attention to how the extremely limited funds available for footpath upgrades were allocated following a rigorous assessment of priority areas within the borough.  If the whole of Regal Way was now to be upgraded this would approximately double the amount spent on the footway and funds for other schemes of a higher priority would consequently have to be withdrawn.  In answer to a question from a member of the committee, David McKibbin confirmed that following inspection of the length of Regal Way between Westward Way and Shaftesbury Avenue, a number of potential trip hazards had been repaired.

RESOLVED:

(i)         that the petition and the issues raised be noted;

(ii)        that it be noted that the Highways Major Works programme was approved by the Executive on 23 April 2012;

(iii)       that the methodology used to determine which streets are prioritised and the reasons why the whole of Regal Way was not included be noted;

(iv)       that the decision not to include the whole of the footway in Regal Way in this year’s highways programme be confirmed;

(v)        that it be noted that the condition of the section of footway in Regal Way from Westward Way to Shaftesbury Avenue will be included in the next annual condition survey for consideration to be included in a future programme and that the Council will continue to maintain this footway in a safe condition, in accordance with the Council’s intervention levels.