Minutes of the Highways Committee Meeting

12 August 2020, 7.00pm

Held via Zoom

 

Present:           Cllr John Last (Chairman)

                        Cllr David Bailey

                        Cllr Lesley Hill

                        Cllr Tony Cooper

                        Cllr Phil Harle

                        Cllr David Morsley

                        Cllr Colin Ginger

                        County Cllr Russ Rainger

                        Mr Mark Nichols – Suffolk Highways

                        Mrs Caroline Rinder (Deputy Town Clerk)

 

Mrs Rinder welcomed and introduced Mark Nichols, Community Liaison Engineer to the meeting.

 

           

Action

1.     APPOINTMENT OF COMMITTEE CHAIRMAN

 

It was proposed by Cllr Cooper, seconded by Cllr Hill and agreed to appoint Cllr Last as Chairman for the coming year.

 

 

2.     PUBLIC FORUM

 

No questions were raised.

 

 

3.     APOLOGIES

 

No apologies were received.

 

 

4.     MINUTES OF THE MEETING HELD 11 FEBRUARY 2020

 

It was proposed by Cllr Hill, seconded by Cllr Bailey and agreed that the minutes were a true record.  

 

 

5.     MATTERS ARISING

 

Recent Flooding Issues – County Cllr Rainger advised the flooding issues at the Aldringham Parrott had been addressed and some of the major works completed, however the water coming off the farmland is still to be investigated.

 

Dropped Kerb on the Junction of Crown Street/Sizewell Road – Work completed.

 

Entrance to New Housing Development at Old Gas Works, Carr Avenue - A letter had been sent to Planning Enforcement requesting the developer honour their obligations with regards to the visibility splay and vegetation issues.  Cllr Bailey commented that all the vegetation had been cut back and the visibility was good.  Mrs Rinder will check this has been done.

 

 

 

Station Road Crossing Chevron Sign – Work completed.  Cllr Ginger raised concerns that the sign was too high.  Mr Nichols will check the height regulations and feedback.  Cllr Hill suggested a review of the safety issues at the crossing and this will be on the next agenda in November for discussion.

 

Victory Road Recreation Ground Corner Railings with Haylings Road - Further to a discussion at the June Council meeting, it had been agreed to take no further action.

 

Seaward Avenue Grass Verges – Letters had been sent to all residents of Seaward Avenue and Arnhem Road to discourage parking on the grass verges.  Mrs Rinder will ask Flagship to reinstate the ‘no parking’ signs on the grassed areas.

 

New Traffic Light Timings at White Horse and High Street/Cross Street – The timings had been adjusted and it was a noted improvement. 

 

Waterloo Avenue/Saxmundham Road Resurfacing – Resurfacing was scheduled for 21 August, but notification received today that it has been put back until October and no reason why.  Concerns were raised that some businesses had not received a letter regarding the road closure.  Mr Nichols will investigate. 

 

Lime Tree Avenue – Letters had been sent to several occupiers due to a report motorists were driving over the grassed verge illegally to reach their property.  Cllr Harle to inform the resident if they wished to apply for a dropped kerb to request permission from Flagship and to the apply to Highways directly.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

CR

 

 

 

 

Highways

 

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Highways

 

 

 

 

PH

6.     PEDESTRIAN CROSSING ON ALDEBURGH ROAD - CIL BID UPDATE

 

Mrs Rinder confirmed Council had agreed, in principle, to proceed with this project and is awaiting a quote from Highways for a feasibility study, which would include pedestrian and road traffic surveys.  The cost of this would be around £2,000.  County Cllr Rainger agreed to support some of the cost of this study from his Highways budget.  Cllr Bailey suggested these surveys be done when the schools are open as this is the busiest time.  Mr Nichols will chase the Local Highways Budget Team for the quote.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highways

7.     HIGH STREET BUS STOP

 

Mrs Rinder confirmed no costs had been received for a clearway for bus stop markings.  Mr Nichols will chase this up.  He also explained unless you have a Road Traffic Order, even with markings, motorists could still park in the layby.   County Cllr Rainger advised he could fund the markings from his Highways budget.  Cllr Cooper queried the low spot at the bus stop opposite where a large rain puddle collects.  This has been investigated before but no further action taken.  County Cllr Rainger will challenge this and see if something can be done.

 

 

 

 

 

           

 

 

Highways

 

 

 

 

RR

8.     SIGNS TO ST MARGARET’S CHURCH UPDATE

 

Mrs Rinder advised no costs had been received for the signs.  These signs were to be placed on the existing signage board near the White Horse pub and also on the signage board on Park Hill.  County Cllr Rainger is funding these signs from his Highways budget.  Mr Nichols will chase.

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highways

9.     CIVIL PARKING ENFORCEMENT

 

Cllr Bailey queried how often the Inspectors are coming to Leiston and if fines have been issued.  Cllr Cooper confirmed a number of fines had been issued and would circulate up to date information on Leiston to everyone.  Cllr Last suggested inviting the CPE Manager to a future Council meeting to give a presentation and Mrs Rinder will action.  Cllr Hill felt the uniform looked sinister and Cllr Cooper agreed as a number of complaints had been received.  Cllr Morsley asked if a monthly report could be presented at Council.  It was noted that anyone can report parking issues on the East Suffolk website.

 

 

 

 

 

TC

 

CR

10.  ASHFIELD DRIVE RESURFACING

 

Cllr Harle raised concerns on the condition of the roads and pavements in Ashfield Drive and the estate as a whole.  Mr Nichols confirmed this is in the forward work programme for surface dressing (stone chips) but no date.   

 

 

11.  HAYLINGS ROAD/KINGS ROAD DRAINAGE GULLEYS

 

Cllr Last commented that the new road surface in Kings Road was much better but was disappointed that the gulleys had not been repaired and vegetation cleaned out at the same time.  The gulleys in Haylings Road are also in need of repair.  Cllr Harle has reported these issues again on the reporting tool.  Cllr Last was concerned on a health and safety point of view, especially for cyclists, and asked for an Engineer to assess again.  Mr Nichols will action.  Cllr Hill advised some of the drains in Paradise Place had asphalt in them from the resurfacing.

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Highways

12.  FUTURE PLANNED HIGHWAYS WORKS

 

Crown Street resurfacing is scheduled for 17-19 September and Westward Ho is due for surfacing dressing later this year.  Waterloo Avenue/Saxmundham Road has now been put back to October.

 

 

13.  ANY OTHER BUSINESS

 

Vehicle Parking at Sizewell Beach

Cllr Bailey raised concerns regarding a missing sign to the beach area to stop vehicles going onto the beach.  Mrs Rinder will action with East Suffolk Council.

 

Flooding on Sizewell Gap Road

Cllr Harle advised there had been some flooding problems by the pylons along the Sizewell Gap Road.  PH to report on the reporting tool.

 

 

 

Dropped Kerb in Red House Lane

County Cllr Rainger commented that a resident was not happy with the advice received from Highways for a dropped kerb, due to a telegraph pole issue. 

 

Byway at Sizewell

Concerns had been raised by a resident regarding large mounds of dirt along the byway towards Thorpeness which prevented cars going on the verge and was this intentional.  County Cllr Rainger will investigate.

 

Car Parking Opposite the Leisure Centre Entrance­

Cllr Last raised on behalf of Cllr Levermore that vehicles parking here could cause problems in the future for buses/cars entering the leisure centre car park.  Yellow lining would require a Road Traffic Order which is expensive and not feasible.  Cllr Cooper suggested notifying the Police as they deal with dangerous parking.  Mrs Rinder had already suggested to Cllr Levermore to report on the CPE website for an Inspector to check and monitor.

 

Cycle Path to Sizewell

Cllr Last raised on behalf of Cllr Levermore overhanging trees and vegetation along the cycle path which are causing problems for pedestrians and cyclists alike.  Cllr Harle also commented that the path is very uneven in places.  Mrs Rinder had already advised Cllr Levermore to report these issues on the Highways reporting tool.

 

 

 

 

 

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14.  DATE OF NEXT MEETING

 

Date of the next meeting is Tuesday 10 November 2020, 7.00pm.

 

 

 

 

 

Meeting closed at 9.00pm