Agenda item

The Committee received a report of the Director of the Built Environment detailing the options available to mitigate the noise disturbance in Cloth Fair, following two resolutions for which had been received from the Grand Court of Wardmote in May 2015 and again in 2016. The Chairman advised that the consideration of bollard removal would not be considered as part of this report but would be reviewed separately.

The Committee was advised that officers had made progress to resolve the noise complaints as quickly as possible and a range of highway proposals had been investigated and consulted on and approval was now being sought to proceed with an experimental scheme to reduce or mitigate the noise disturbance.

The Committee was further advised that officers considered that the overnight point road closure (and associated extension of the two-way traffic operation) was the best option to discourage overnight parking or idling, as the closure would make the street a less convenient place to stop.

In response to a question the Director of the Built Environment advised that the overnight point road closure would be enforced by retractable bollards or a gate to physically prevent through access. However as the street was still open, there was no guarantee that this proposal would be fully successful. It was therefore proposed to introduce these measures on an experimental basis and if this was found to be successful, it could then be made permanent.

A Member commented that lawful users of the road would be punished by restricted late access because others were causing a nuisance by idling their engines and legitimate businesses should not suffer as the result of the actions of others.

Members raised a number of questions in relation to enforcement options, the consultation results, traffic flow and survey data, exactly what constituted statutory noise nuisance and the process in relation to the reporting protocol for this particular Wardmote. Officers set out that the road in question was a local access road and therefore was not suitable for rat running traffic. Further that the double yellow lining option might cause difficulties for some residents and guest parking as well as for users of the church. It was further explained that it would be difficult to enforce illegal parking unless there was a constant CEO present.

Arising from the discussion the Sub-Committee considered that the option of installing double yellow lines to prohibit parking required further exploration and consultation.

RESOLVED – That the report be deferred for Officer’s further alternative recommendations.