Agenda item

Report of the Director of the Built Environment

The Sub Committee considered a report of the Director of the Built Environment concerning the Beech Street Transportation and Public Realm Project. The report updated Members on the progress of the project, requested an increase in the project budget and sought Member decisions on amendments to the scheme. The Director of the Built Environment introduced the report, updating Members on the scheme so far and outlining the proposals for consideration.

The Sub Committee then proceeded to discuss the proposals. A Member raised the issue of crime in the Beech Street tunnel following a recent incident and whether the scheme’s consequent decrease in traffic may lead to an increase in crime. The Member also asked about liaison between the Department of the Built Environment and the Road Safety team at City of London Police. The City of London Police representative present advised that the incident in question was a popular form of theft. Officers would discuss about how this could be mitigated in the area but were not aware of any further incidents of this type. The Director of the Built Environment added the Beech Street Working Group included representative from the Police, as was the case for most schemes.

A Member advised that they supported the recommendations for modifications to the scheme and reported issues with deliveries and signage as well as enforcement for motorcycles in the Golden Lane area. Members also asked for clarification on air quality and reported communications and messaging issues. The Director of the Built Environment responded that officers had observed a solution for delivery vehicles by U-turning on Silk Street, and would look into the issues around motorcycles. Camera enforcement was not recommended at this time due to the low number of compliant vehicles, but could be introduced later. The Director of the Built Environment confirmed that NOx was the central focus for measuring air quality rather than small particles.

The Director of the Built Environment advised that the issues relating to signage would be rectified to minimise confusion, and consultation with Barbican residents had been undertaken on messaging. Improvements to communications were underway and officers were looking at strengthening messaging across various mediums to reinforce availability to all vehicles. A Member suggested that officers also ensure advice given by satnavs was up to date.

A Member commented that it was important to implement modifications to the scheme in a phased way, for instance by improving the central reservation before improving signage so as not to entice contravention of the scheme. In response to a question from a Member regarding recent litigation in respect of the scheme, the Director of the Built Environment advised that the hearing had concluded during the previous week, but additional information had been requested and a decision was expected within a month.

RESOLVED – That the Streets & Walkways Sub Committee:

1. Approve an increase in the project budget of £200,000 to cover:

• the estimated additional staff costs (£160k);

• the estimated additional fees (£40k)

2. Approve the purchase of a spare enforcement camera (from the existing budget);

3. Approve a revised Costed Risk Provision (CRP) up to a total of £260,000 (Appendix 2) to account for the currently identified risks;

4. Delegate authority to the Director of the Built Environment, in consultation with the Chamberlain to:

• draw down the costed risk provision if risks become issues

• make any adjustments between elements of the approved budget, provided the total approved budget is not exceeded

5. Agree a decision, in principle [and subject to Recommendation 6], on whether to implement four modifications to the experimental scheme which have been requested by residents and the Barbican Association, these are:

a)    Creating two gaps in the Beech Street central reservation to allow vehicles accessing Lauderdale Place forecourt and the Shakespeare House / Defoe House car park to travel eastbound and perform a right-hand turn (recommended) (£50k)

b)    Note the request for residents who have car parking spaces around Beech Street to be exempted from the ETO so that they may drive through Beech Street in any vehicle, and instruct officers to undertake a feasibility study to explore the legal, statutory, operational framework and cost implications of such a permitting regime (recommended) (£20k)

c)    Note that reopening the southern end of Golden Lane (in both directions) at the junction with Beech Street to zero emission vehicles was not recommended at this stage; and

d)    Note that creating a gap in the central reservation on Aldersgate Street to allow vehicles accessing the Lauderdale Tower underground car park to travel northbound and perform a right-hand turn was not recommended at this stage.

6. Note that any decision to make the proposed modification/s is subject to a road safety audit, consultation with the Chief Officer of City Police and the applicable statutory notice arrangements; and

7. Delegate authority to the Director of the Built Environment to consider the safety audit/s; response of the Police and responses to the publication of the proposals, and subject to such consideration, to make the modification/s if deemed appropriate.