To consider the following petition requiring debate:

We the undersigned (519 signatories) petition the council to create a 20 mph zone for the whole of New Street, between the junctions with Regent Road and The Downs.

Residents and pedestrian users of New Street (including visitors to the town centre and Altrincham Grammar School girls) feel strongly that the speed limit needs to be reduced on New Street to keep children and adults safe.

There is likely to be an increase of traffic at the bottom of New Street when the new carpark on the corner of Regent Road / New Street will open next year and the two housing schemes either side of New Street will be occupied.

The upper part of New Street is a very narrow residential street with houses on both sides. Pedestrians use both sides of the street (and often walk in the centre of the road), though a raised pavement exists on only one side, and the Council has recognised this special nature by installing speed restriction measures (bollards, and speed hump). A 20 mph zone is a logical extension to this restriction to enforce the intent of the measures already taken – which continue to be ignored by drivers who use New Street as a rat run through to The Downs and towards Hale. 30 mph, as per the current speed limit, is too fast for a road of this nature, and more often than not drivers go at a higher speed. Over the years there have been multiple near collisions between cars and pedestrians, and leaving the driveways of the houses on the left in the upper part where cars regularly drive on the pavement at speed is extremely dangerous.

Please reduce the speed limit and implement appropriate signage warning drivers.

Note: In accordance with the Council’s Petition Scheme, a petition containing more than 500 signatures will be debated by the Council. The petition organiser will be given five minutes to present the petition and then it will be discussed by the Council for a maximum of 15 minutes.

Lead Petitioners, Mr Moberly and Mrs Padmore, introduced the following petition which had received 519 signatures from addresses within the Borough.

“We petition the council to create a 20mph zone for the whole of New Street, between the junctions with Regent Road and The Downs. Residents and pedestrian users of New Street (including visitors to the town centre and Altrincham Grammar School girls) feel strongly that the speed limit needs to be reduced on New Street to keep children and adults safe.

There is likely to be an increase of traffic at the bottom of New Street when the new carpark on the corner of Regent Road / New Street will open next year and the two housing schemes either side of New Street will be occupied.

The upper part of New Street is a very narrow residential street with houses on both sides. Pedestrians use both sides of the street (and often walk in the centre of the road), though a raised pavement exists on only one side, and the Council has recognised this special nature by installing speed restriction measures (bollards, and speed hump).

A 20 mph zone is a logical extension to this restriction to enforce the intent of the measures already taken – which continue to be ignored by drivers who use New Street as a rat run through to The Downs and towards Hale. 30 mph, as per the current speed limit, is too fast for a road of this nature, and more often than not drivers go at a higher speed. Over the years there have been multiple near collisions between cars and pedestrians, and leaving the driveways of the houses on the left in the upper part where cars regularly drive on the pavement at speed is extremely dangerous.

Please reduce the speed limit and implement appropriate signage warning drivers.”

In presenting the petition, Mr Moberly spoke about how despite the road being C19 width road much of the Traffic was C21 (heavy vehicles). Mr Moberly drew Council Member’s attention to a photograph provided, which was to demonstrate that the road’s infrastructure was not adequate to deal with C21 vehicles travelling at 30mph or more.  Mr Moberly noted the Councils actions so far and stated that a 20mph was the logical extension to the existing restrictions.

Mr Moberly spoke of many near collisions on the unraised side of the road and the risks residents faced when exiting their driveways, which would increase as developments in the surrounding area would lead to an increased level of traffic on the road. Mr Moberly concluded by stating that the introduction of a 20mph speed limit on the road would have environmental as well as public safety benefits, noting the national trend towards introducing 20mph zones, and asking that New Street have a 20mph speed limit.

Mrs Padmore spoke of the experience of her and her family and the risks they faced when using their car or when they entered/exited their property on foot. Mrs Padmore informed Council Members of the panic and anxiety caused by the speed of traffic traveling down New Street. Mrs Padmore concluded by informing Council Members that children used the street on their route to and from school each day and of the other vulnerable groups who were put at risk due to the speed of traffic on the road.

Councillor Adshead, Executive Member for Environmental Services, thanked the petitioners for attending the meeting and for submitting the petition.  Councillor Adshead stated that a written copy of the full response would be provided following the meeting. Councillor Adshead was aware that an assessment of the road had been carried out and the outcomes of the review would be used when considering what actions to be taken going froward.

Councillor Adshead added that many applications were received annually and measures would be implemented in the areas where the greatest benefits for public safety were identified.  Councillor Adshead then gave an overview of the assessment criteria used and the various actions which could be taken, including the introduction of 20mph zones. The review had shown that the average speed of vehicles on New Street and the surrounding area was around 20mph. Councillor Adshead concluded by stating that New Street had been added to the list of areas to be considered for a 20mph speed limit as part of the capital programme.

Councillor Morgan welcomed the petition and thanked the petitioners on behalf of the Conservative group and asked that the Executive to go further and implement a 20mph assumption on all residential streets within the Borough.

Councillor Newgrosh welcomed the petition and thanked the petitioners on behalf of the Liberal Democrat Group. Councillor Newgrosh was also in favour of having a 20mph speed limit for all residential roads in the borough and reminded Council Members that the Liberal Democrats had raised a motion previously to do so.

Councillor Coggins spoke on behalf of the Green Party and welcomed the petition and sympathised with the lead petitioners about the issues faced on New Street. Councillor Coggins stated there were many people across the borough who wanted a 20mph speed limit in their areas. Councillor Coggins brought the costs of the current solutions on New Street to Council Members attention. Councillor Coggins concluded by stating the Green Party’s support bring in a blanket 20mph speed limit in all residential areas across the boroughs rather than performing 4-5 reviews annually.

The Leader thanked the lead petitioners for submitting the petition. The Leader echoed the Executive Member for Environmental Services point that New Street would be considered as part of the Council’s works as part of the capital programme each year. The Leader noted that the average speed when the road had been surveyed was just over 20 mph. The Leader stated that the changes brought in could not stop those who ignored them and a 20 MPH speed limit would also not stop those individuals from breaking the law. This was not to say that New Street would not be selected to have a 20mph speed limit but that the measures taken had to be part of a wider approach to traffic management by the Council. The Leader concluded by asking the petitioners to contact him if there was an identification that many people were driving above the speed limit on New Street so he could address it with GMP.