Agenda item
Tubbs Road Councillor Call for Action - Recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee
At its meeting on 8th December 2009, the Overview and Scrutiny Committee considered the councillor call for action (CCfA) submitted by Councillor Powney in relation to the traffic issues at Tubbs Road, Kensal Green Ward. Details of the CCfA are included as an appendix to this report. The councillor call for action was made to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee because Councillor Powney wanted members to consider recommending solutions that would:
- Reduce traffic congestion, in what is a narrow, largely residential street.
- Reduce the air pollution, associated with the large volume of traffic.
- Allay concerns about road safety.
Full details of the discussion at the Overview and Scrutiny Committee meeting, and a previous site visit to Tubbs Road are included in this report. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee agrees with Councillor Powney and local residents that the Council should see if measures can be taken to reduce traffic congestion in Tubbs Road, but also appreciates there is not a straightforward solution to the traffic problems in the area. The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has made a number of recommendations on this issue which it hopes will be given full consideration by the Highways Committee. Of upmost importance to the Overview and Scrutiny Committee is that residents are involved in developing solutions to the traffic issues in the area.
Decision:
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the concerns of residents of Tubbs Road and Nightingale Road in relation to traffic conditions in those roads be noted;
(ii) that it be noted that officers are currently undertaking work on an Area Based Scheme (ABS) for Harlesden, which if progressed, would improve the quality of the public realm in Harlesden and could address parking and traffic issues;
(iii) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to write to the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Kensal Green ward members to confirm that the scope of the Harlesden ABS includes development of proposals to address the issues identified by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the possible introduction of banned turns and furthermore will include engagement with residents of Tubbs Road, Nightingale Road and adjacent streets to determine their preferred solutions;
(iv) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to (a) undertake a review of the signage relating to the width restriction signage and make appropriate improvements; (b) install signage to direct drivers to the A40 via Scrubs Lane (A219); and (c) contact map providers with a view to ensuring that the Tubbs Road width restriction is identified on maps and satellite navigation systems; and
(v) that the request for re-phasing the signals at the western end of Tubbs Road so as to avoid queuing in this road be acknowledged but it be noted that this is likely to encourage traffic to use Tubbs Road and that the Head of Transportation be instructed to work with Transport for London to ensure that any future changes to those signals do not increase queues in Tubbs Road.
Minutes:
Members had before them a report with recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee who had considered the councillor call for action that had been submitted by Councillor Powney.
Councillor Jones addressed the Committee as the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee. She stated that there were no easy solutions to the traffic problems in the Tubbs Road area, however the Overview and Scrutiny Committee had made a number of recommendations to this Committee to improve the situation. This included de-classifying Tubbs Road as an ‘A’ road, although it was acknowledged that this was outside the Council’s authority and would require submissions to the Department for Transport. It was felt a de-classification would reduce the volume of traffic and the damage that it had done to street furniture, with the problem exacerbated by the narrowness of Tubbs Road. Councillor Jones then drew Members’ attention to the recommendations as set out in the report.
Councillor Thomas, a ward councillor for the area concerned, stated that the volume of traffic had long been an issue and he asserted that Tubbs Road had the slowest moving traffic for an ‘A’ road in the entire country. He felt the situation would not improve until Tubbs Road was declassified as an ‘A’ road and he urged that the Council lobby the Department for Transport and Transport for London (TfL) for this to be undertaken.
Councillor Powney, who had submitted the councillor call for action and was a ward councillor for the area, reiterated support for the recommendations from the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and he suggested that banning right turns out of Furness Road into the High Street and adding signage would be particularly useful, whilst informing satellite navigation companies of the narrowness of Tubbs Road would be at no cost to the Council. He stressed that the volume of traffic and the resulting pollution were the largest concerns.
Members noted a written statement circulated by Beatrice Barleon prepared on behalf of local residents.
Councillor Detre spoke on behalf of Councillor Joseph, a ward councillor for the area concerned. Members heard that Councillor Joseph had attended a site visit with residents, officers and other councillors and had observed significant levels of traffic. Although there had been some improvements as a result of the introduction of a CPZ in the area, problems remained and measures were necessary to address the volume of traffic. Councillor Wharton enquired whether satellite navigation companies could be informed of the narrowness of Tubbs Road immediately.
In reply, Irfan Malik confirmed that satellite companies could be provided information about the narrowness of Tubbs Road immediately. He then drew Members’ attention to the set of recommendations circulated at the meeting in response to those made by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee.
The Chair acknowledged the concerns of residents and councillors and stated that action would be taken where possible to address the high volume of traffic.
Members then agreed to the recommendations proposed by Irfan Malik.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that the concerns of residents of Tubbs Road and Nightingale Road in relation to traffic conditions in those roads be noted;
(ii) that it be noted that officers are currently undertaking work on an Area Based Scheme (ABS) for Harlesden, which if progressed, would improve the quality of the public realm in Harlesden and could address parking and traffic issues;
(iii) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to write to the Chair of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and Kensal Green ward members to confirm that the scope of the Harlesden ABS includes development of proposals to address the issues identified by the Overview and Scrutiny Committee, including the possible introduction of banned turns and furthermore will include engagement with residents of Tubbs Road, Nightingale Road and adjacent streets to determine their preferred solutions;
(iv) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to (a) undertake a review of the signage relating to the width restriction signage and make appropriate improvements; (b) install signage to direct drivers to the A40 via Scrubs Lane (A219); and (c) contact map providers with a view to ensuring that the Tubbs Road width restriction is identified on maps and satellite navigation systems; and
(v) that the request for re-phasing the signals at the western end of Tubbs Road so as to avoid queuing in this road be acknowledged but it be noted that this is likely to encourage traffic to use Tubbs Road and that the Head of Transportation be instructed to work with Transport for London to ensure that any future changes to those signals do not increase queues in Tubbs Road.
Supporting documents: