Agenda and decisions

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport and Sustainable Development, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution do hereby:

Authorise the making of the Traffic Regulation Order below, in the modified form, as set out in the report:

City of Salford (Chapel Street, Salford) (Prohibition of U-Turn, right turn and left turn

with exemption for cyclists) Order 2022

The Reasons are:

That the necessary action be taken under the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 to advertise the intention to make the Traffic Orders to introduce: ‘City of Salford (Chapel Street, Salford) (Prohibition of U-Turn, right turn and left turn with exemption for cyclists) Order 2022’ to create safer environment for pedestrians and cyclists in the area and to compliment a scheme on New Bailey Street increasing reliability of the bus services.

Options considered and rejected were:

The development of the scheme has been informed by traffic modelling of the junction carried by Transport for Greater Manchester to assess the likely impact of the scheme on traffic at the junction.  The modelling compared the modelled traffic conditions associated with the current layout with those that would result from the preferred layout. Options have also been considered as part of design discussions with TfGM’s Urban Traffic Control (UTC) team.

A number of options were explored and appraised which resulted in a preferred option to be progressed to design and implementation. This included consideration of the key physical and programme constraints relating to physical constraints within the envelope of the junction and timing of other works taking place on the wider traffic network and works being carried out by Network Rail and developers in the vicinity of New Bailey Street. It also reviewed the design against national cycle infrastructure design standards (Local Transport Note LTN 1/20).

During the meeting the option of not introducing the prohibition of left turn onto Bloom Street was considered, however it was pointed out that that this would have a significant impact on the ability of the scheme to meet its stated objectives. Without the introduction of a left turn ban, there would be a reduction in provision for pedestrians and public realm improvements with a narrower footway and longer crossing distances. The layout would maintain the safety risk for cyclists as the dangerous left ‘hook’ manoeuvre would still exist. In addition, the signal timings would need to be revisited which would impact on the operational efficiency of the junction and journey times for public transport on Salford’s key bus corridor.  

The source of funding is:

Growth Deal 2 funding and secured S106 contributions

Assessment of Risk:

The restrictions will be signed in accordance with the Traffic Signs Manual and Traffic Sign Regulations and General Directions. (TSRGD 2016).

Legal Advice obtained: 

The Council, by virtue of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 can introduce orders to manage traffic. Where Traffic Regulation Orders are required, they should not give rise to any particular legal implications  ...  view the full decision text for item 3a

Salford City Council - Record of Decision

I, Councillor McCusker, Lead Member for Planning, Transport & Sustainable Development, in exercise of the powers contained within the Council Constitution, do hereby:

Approve the Crash Barrier Investment Programme 2022/23

The Reasons are: To facilitate continuous improvement of the highway crash barrier installations as part of the defined Network Recovery Plan

Options considered and rejected were: No other options were considered for this report.

Assessment of Risk:  Medium – It is important that the existing highway crash barriers are inspected, repaired and replaced when appropriate in order to ensure the continued safety of the travelling public.

The source of funding is: Approved Highways Investment Capital Programme for 2022/23 (general unsupported borrowing).

Legal Advice obtained: Tony Hatton Principal Solicitor, 219 6323 and Azra Furheen, Legal Services, 0161 234 4173

Section 39 of the Road Traffic Act 1988 imposes a duty upon the City Council to:

i)             prepare and carry out a programme of measures designed to promote road safety and may make contributions towards the cost of measures for promoting road safety taken by other authorities or bodies.

ii)            carry out studies into accidents arising out of the use of vehicles on roads or part of roads, other than trunk roads, within their area and must, in the light of those studies, take such measures as appear to the authority to be appropriate to prevent such accidents, including the dissemination of information and advice relating to the use of the roads, the giving of practical training to road users or any class or description of road users, the construction, improvement, maintenance or repair of roads for which they are the highway authority and other measures taken in the exercise of their powers for controlling, protecting or assisting the movement of traffic on roads.

If studies support the installation of the crash barriers in order to improve road safety then installation of such barriers would mitigate any liability on the part of the local authority for failing in its duty of care to implement measures designed to prevent or reduce accidents, provided those barriers comply with and have been installed in accordance with all regulatory requirements.

Finally, s.41 of the Highways Act 1980 (‘the Act’) places upon highway authorities the duty to ‘maintain’ those highways that are maintainable at the public expense. The Act defines ‘maintenance’ as including repair for the purposes of the Act.  The said highways should be in a fit state to accommodate the ordinary traffic which passes or may be expected to pass along them, which would include the maintenance of crash barriers where studies have indicated that these should be installed to improve highway safety.

When commissioning contracts for the procurement of goods, services or works the City Council must comply with the requirements of the Public Contracts Regulations 2015, as well as its own Contractual Standing Orders (CSO’s) and Financial Regulations as set out in the Constitution.

Depending on the value of the works to be  ...  view the full decision text for item 3b

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