Agenda item

The Cabinet considered a report of the Director of Environment and Transport concerning the Public Inquiry into Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) facilitating the Loughborough Town Centre Pedestrianisation Trial held on 12 and 13 January 2016 and proposals to make these permanent.  A copy of the report, marked ‘6’, is filed with these minutes.

Members noted that since the report had been circulated the Planning Inspectorate’s report had been received and he had recommended that both the Experimental TROs be made permanent.  He had also made comments with regard to cycling provision, bus shelters, and enforcement of TROs.  The recommendations to the Cabinet had been amended to reflect this.

RESOLVED:

(a)       That the representations presented at the Public Inquiry and the Director’s response as attached as Appendix A to the report be noted;

(b)       That the recommendations of the Inspector arising from the Public Inquiry be welcomed;

(c)       That the Council’s commitment to a package of remedial measures in support of Loughborough town centre bus services, which facilitated the withdrawal of the two objections from Kinchbus and Arriva, be noted;

(d)       That the Director of Environment and Transport, in consultation with the County Solicitor, be authorised to make permanent the provisions of the existing Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders;

(e)       That the comments made by the Inspector with regard to cycling provision, bus shelters, and enforcement of Traffic Regulation Orders be noted and that the Director of Environment and Transport be requested to take measures as necessary to address these.

(KEY DECISION)

REASONS FOR DECISION:

The Public Inquiry was triggered by three statutory objections, two of which were subsequently withdrawn. The remaining statutory objection was considered by an Inspector on 12-13 January, along with additional representations that were made following the Council’s decision to proceed with the making permanent of the pedestrianisation trial.  

The pedestrianisation trial has been implemented using three experimental TROs (ETROs) which will expire on 30 April.  It is necessary to allow sufficient time to make permanent Orders to ensure that an appropriate traffic management scheme is in place when the ETROs expire.

The Inspector’s report, received on 23 February, recommended that the ETROs which were the subject of the Inquiry were were made permanent. The Inspector made some comments on other matters (i.e. outside of his formal recommendations) and it may be appropriate to take measures to address these.