Agenda item

Report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment.

Members considered a report of the Interim Executive Director, Environment concerning details of the potential improvements to Ironmonger Lane as requested by Members at the last meeting.

An Officer stated that there had been discussion at the last sub-committee meeting around the options for potentially opening Old Jewry in a southbound direction and Members indicated support for Option 2 - the southbound reopening of Old Jewry at all times and then pausing any work on potential improvements whilst conducting an experimental traffic order around the reopening.  The Officer stated that there had also been discussion at the meeting about the potential for Ironmonger Lane. Officers were asked to consider how the two schemes might link and whether there was merit in looking at them together. The Officer stated that Officers had concluded that Ironmonger Lane was unlikely to be an alternative route to most of the people currently using Old Jewry as they were not on the same desire lines. Whilst this could change due to routes available to people walking in the area when the new route through a development on Frederick’s Place, Officers did not consider the projects to be linked and suggested that if Members chose to proceed with Option 2A, this scheme would be taken forward separately to any improvements to Ironmonger Lane. Members were informed that some of these improvements would come forward as part of a Section 278.

In response to a Member’s question, an Officer stated that the timeframes for the scheme were as outlined in the Officer report to the previous sub-committee meeting and Officers would provide these to the Member.

A Member commented that Ironmonger Lane was scheduled to reopen in July 2024 and asked whether it was appropriate to open it at this point if it would then be substantially closed shortly afterwards. An Officer stated that it was currently closed for construction activity and it was possible it might be needed for longer for fit out works. The Officer stated that he considered it appropriate to allow the street to open up first before the consideration of time restrictions. He added that this could be dealt with separately from Old Jewry. The Officer added that the number of vehicles that previously used the street was minimal so there would be a minimal impact if there was a closure to implement in due course a scheme to improve and enhance the street.

A Member commented that the pavements on Ironmonger Lane were very narrow. She stated that any project should make it more pedestrian friendly. An Officer stated that Officers proposed to extend the scope of the Section 278 project to raise the carriageway and potentially introduce pedestrian zone restrictions and there would be a report on this to a future meeting of the sub-committee. He added that there would need to be a bid for funding as it was not a funded project and funding would need to be secured before a project could proceed.

RESOLVED – That Members of the Sub-Committee

1.        Confirm the decision to proceed with Option 2a, as indicated at the January meeting of this Sub Committee, to initiate a traffic experiment to reopen Old Jewry to all traffic in a southbound direction, at all times; and pause any work on potential improvements until the conclusion of the experiment; and

2.        Note that, subject to a successful funding bid, the scope of the project to deliver the s278 for Dauntsey House will be expanded to incorporate improvements along the length of Ironmonger Lane, including a potential pedestrian zone.