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A decision made (18/09/2006) regarding Urban Task Force: Traffic calming and environmental improvements, Kensington Place, St. Helier.

Subject:	Urban Task Force: Traffic calming and environmental improvements, Kensington Place, St Helier
Decision Reference:	MD-PE-2006-0082	Exempt clause(s):		none
Type of Report (oral or written):	Written/ oral	Person Giving Report (if oral):		Kevin Pilley: Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Telephone or e-mail meeting	n/a	Report File ref:		1/01/13/20/10
Written Report Title:	WR - Urban Task Force: Traffic calming and environmental improvements, Kensington Place, St Helier	Written report – Author:		Kevin Pilley: Assistant Director (Policy and Projects)
Decision(s): The Minister, jointly with the Minister for Transport and Technical Services, and in consultation with the Connetable of St Helier, determined that: 1. the scheme, as illustrated on drawing number KPIS/101 rev E should not be progressed as a basis for consultation with stakeholders; 2. a revised scheme, involving temporary works only at the northern end of the street, should be undertaken and implemented, as illustrated on drawing number KPIS/101 rev F, subject to the agreement of the Parish of St Helier to maintain the planters; 3. the expenditure of up to £11,000, is approved, from the Urban Renewal vote, to implement the temporary works.
Reason(s) for decision: Ministers did not support the implementation of the scheme, as proposed and costed on the basis that; · traffic levels now are similar to what they were in 1979; · traffic speed is not excessive; · there is considerable change and/or potential change in the area, the impact of which upon Kensington Place is not yet clear. These potential changes relate to the extension of Patriotic Street MSCP; private car park developments at the Roberts Garage site; in addition to a variety of preliminary proposals from the Grand Hotel. On the basis of the above, Ministers were concerned that expenditure of larger amounts of public monies was not sufficiently warranted, particularly when the longevity of these changes, having regard to other change in the area, was not clear. Ministers were, however, minded to support the implementation of temporary works (such as the installation of movable planters) in the northern end of the street, at lesser cost, which could be used to create a chicane and to protect parking/loading areas as well as providing some environmental improvements.
Action required: 1. Subject to the agreement of the Parish of St Helier to undertake the maintenance of the four planters in Kensington Place, to implement the scheme;
Signature: (Minister/ Assistant Minister)			Date of Decision: 18 September 2006

Kensington Place, St. Helier - Traffic calming.

		Item No:
		Date:

PLANNING AND ENVIRONMENT

Urban Task Force

TRAFFIC CALMING AND ENVIRONMENTAL IMPROVEMENTS

KENSINGTON PLACE, ST HELIER

Purpose of the Report

The purpose of this report is for the Ministers for Planning and Environment and Transport and Technical Services to consider, in consultation with the Connetable of St Helier and Chairman of the Urban Task Force, Simon Crowcroft, a draft proposal to undertake traffic calming and environmental improvement works in Kensington Place, St Helier.

Having regard to the draft proposal, the purpose of the report is for the Ministers to;

 determine whether to progress the scheme to consultation, and if minded to progress;

 determine the form of the scheme to be consulted upon;

 authorise the establishment of a preliminary budget for the scheme and the expenditure of monies to undertake consultation.

Background

The Urban Task Force has tasked the St Helier Project Group to deliver a series of urban improvements during 2006.

Kensington Place, whilst outwith St Helier town centre, is an important destination area for both residents and visitors within the context of St Helier as a whole. The area has a concentration of restaurants, cafes and hotels and has a distinct physical character. It is thus considered to be an important part of the ‘tourism offer’ in St Helier and contributes to leisure and night-time activity of the town.

Business in the area has been concerned for some time at the use of Kensington Place as a ‘rat-run’ resulting in an increased volume of vehicles using this route to access the Town Ring Road. Recent planning approvals for additional car parking in the locality and the proposals to increase the capacity of Patriotic Street multi-storey car park have the potential to further increase trip generation in the locality. It is also suggested that vehicles travel at excessive speed along this route (data from speed counters should be available at the meeting). There is no reported accident data available for the area, however, these aspects have the potential to prejudice highway safety and also detract from the uses in the locality and the area’s character.

Discussion

A proposal (as set out on drawing number KPIS/101 rev E) has been developed which seeks to discourage the use of this route as a ‘rat-run’ and to calm the speed of traffic. The scheme also seeks to enhance the quality of the area through the introduction of tree planting.

The essential basis of the scheme is the introduction of a series of vertical and horizontal changes in the carriageway (ramps and chicanes) which should serve to prevent vehicles travelling at high speed and which may make the route less attractive as a through-route. The ramps are achieved through the introduction of two table-tops and the chicanes by the introduction of trees in the ground, where services permit, and the arrangement of on-street parking. It is also proposed to introduce a coloured surface dressing in some sections of the street (on the table-tops and adjacent chicanes) to further calm traffic by changing the character of the road.

It is proposed to introduce up to nine trees into the street, which should provide movement and colour which is presently absent. Existing bollards in the street will be removed and only where necessary, replaced by new stainless steel bollards of the type used in all other Street Life Programme schemes.

Consultation

The proposed scheme raises a number of issues that need to be brought to the attention of specific stakeholders and those with an interest in the area generally.

Whilst the proposal has been developed through the St Helier Project Group, of which the Parish of St Helier has representation, there is a need to consider the implications of the proposal for any extension of the Resident’s Parking Zones proposed by the parish and formal consultation should thus take place with the Roads Committee. This should also include the matter of ongoing maintenance of any tree planting.

The introduction of vertical ramps can be problematic for emergency services and can lead to nuisance issues for adjacent residents: the issue of design is important in this respect to ameliorate problems for both.

In addition to the specific consultation outlined above, and consultation with residential and commercial interest in Kensington Place, the proposal should also be consulted upon through the Communications Unit database of 300 consultees.

Timescale

Subject to securing an endorsement to proceed to consultation, the following preliminary timescale and budgetary provision is proposed.

Milestone	Timescale
Consultation with stakeholders.	July - August
Assessment and consideration of feedback	September
Implementation	October - December

Budget

A preliminary cost estimate to enable the establishment of a budget for this scheme is set out below.

Item	Cost
Main contract (labour, plant, materials and contingency)	46,000
Tree planting (incl infrastructure)	10,000
Design and management fees	4,800
Construction management fees	4,000
Consultation (advertising)	3,000
Total	67,800

There are sufficient resources within the Minister for Planning and Environment’s Urban Renewal Vote to fund this work.

Recommendation

On the basis of the above, it is recommended that;

1. the scheme, as illustrated on drawing number KPIS/101 rev E is approved as a basis for consultation with stakeholders;

2. endorsement is given to the establishment of a preliminary budget of £67,800 from the Urban Renewal vote to progress this work to consultation, and;

3. the indicative timescale is noted and endorsed.

Reason(s) for Decision

The scheme accords with the objectives of the Urban Task Force and the draft scheme is approved as a basis for consultation to provide stakeholders with an opportunity to comment upon it.

Action Required

1. Undertake consultation with stakeholders;

Written by:	Kevin Pilley Assistant Director: Planning and Building Services

Approved by:	Peter Thorne Director: Planning and Building Services

Endorsed by:	Dave St George Manager: Transport Policy

Attachments:

Appendix 1: plan of consultation scheme (KPIS/101 rev E)

1/01/13/20/10

27 June 2006