Agenda item

There are two petitions referred from Chipping Barnet Residents Forum, as detailed in the report.

At the meeting of Chipping Barnet Residents Forum, held on 22 March 2017, the following petitions were referred to this Committee for consideration:

1.    Proposal to Reduce Speed Limit from 30mph to 20 mph on Barnet Lane, N20 for Safety Reasons due to Excessive Speeding

The Chairman welcomed Mr Hanison, Lead Petitioner, to the meeting and invited him to speak for up to 3 minutes.

Mr Hanison highlighted that speeding was the main concern for local residents and also requested that a ‘stop line’ be installed at the top of Barnet Lane.

The Chairman thanked Mr Hanison for presenting details of the petition and emphasised the need to ensure the Committee was given all relevant information before deciding the most appropriate next steps..This was best achieved by carrying out a speed and accident survey of the road.

The Commissioning Director for Environment explained that for a 20mph scheme to even be considered the neighbouring school would have to have a travel plan in place, but as the Totteridge Acadamy  is a secondary school but they do not have a travel plan. The Commissioning Director further stated that a 20mph limit would require the installation of physical traffic calming measures to effectively slow traffic which would need to be agreed with local Ward councillors.

RESOLVED that

(a)  A speed survey, costing up to £500 be agreed, with a report back to the next meeting (if results are available by the July meeting);

(b)  A stop line at the top end of Barnet Lane costing up to £1,500 be agreed;

(c)  The Head Teacher and the Chairman of Governors from the local school was be contacted to ascertain if they would be willing to consider implementing a travel plan.

ACTION: COMMISIONING DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENT

2.    Adopt a 20mph Speed Limit in Hadley Green and Hadley Highstone

The Chairman invited Mrs Holly, Lead Petitioner, to the meeting and invited her to speak for up to 3 minutes.

Mrs Holly highlighted that the current speed warning signs were having no impact at all and that there was not a safe crossing point.

The Chairman stated that as with the previous petition for a 20mph limit these were technically contrary to Council policy unless adjacent to a school which Hadley Green and Hadley Highstone were not. 

Mrs Holly added that speeding buses were a particular concern and agreed to supply evidence of buses speeding so that this matter could be pursued with TFL.

Finally, it was agreed that it would be advantageous for Highways Officers to meet local residents on site to look at the problems and possible solutions.

RESOLVED that

(a)  it was agreed that Highways Officers to meet local residents on site to look at the problem and possible solutions;

(b)  funding up to £1,500 was agreed for a speed survey and accident survey;

(c)  the issue of the road being near enough to local schools and if the schools are in possession of travel plans is to be investigated to allow consideration of a 20 mph speed limit;

(d)  the issue of buses speeding, be pursued with TFL.

(e)  a report back is to be submitted for a future meeting of this Committee.

ACTION: COMMISSIONING DIRECTOR ENVIRONMENT