Agenda item

            The Board was advised that a petition had been received requesting a car park be built, extra parking spaces be provided and road widening take place at Gorsewood Road/St. Martins Lane, Murdishaw in the area of the central “square” adjacent to the Health Centre, St. Martins R.C. Primary School and Gorsewood Primary School. The petition was signed by 351 persons and contained a drawing prepared by the lead petitioner setting out the areas in question.

            Members were advised that at school opening and closing times the Gorsewood Road/St. Martins Lane route, which gave access to the Health Centre and two primary schools adjacent to the central Gorsewood Road “square”, did become extremely busy and traffic had to proceed through the route at low speeds. It was noted that there were inadequate parking spaces available for the number of drivers wishing to reach the schools. However, over the five years 2006 to 2010, there were no reported road traffic accidents resulting in injury on Gorsewood Road or St. Martins Lane. It was also noted that the Council promoted sustainable modes of transport to schools and continued to seek ways of increasing the proportion of children who chose to walk, cycle and use public transport. Increasing the volume of parking available and otherwise facilitating car transport to schools would be contrary to this approach.

            In response to the request for construction of a new parking area it was noted that the area in question was not in the ownership of the Council but was owned by Liverpool Housing Trust. The Trust had been sent a copy of the petition and other associated information to enable them to consider the request. A verbal response had been received indicating the Trust was not in a position to finance construction of a new car park.

            Further, in response to the request for an extension of existing car parking to provide extra spaces, it was noted that the areas were not in the ownership of the Council but were owned by Liverpool Housing Trust or Halton and St. Helens Primary Care Trust. Both organisations had been sent copies of the petition and a verbal response had been received indicating neither was in a position to finance construction of new parking spaces.

            A similar response had been received from Halton and St. Helens Primary Care Trust in response to the request for carriageway widening. However, the Trust had agreed to cut back vegetation on the corner to improve sight lines across the corner.

            Whilst the central square at the junction with St. Martin’s Lane and Gorsewood Road did become extremely congested at school opening and closing times, it was not felt that the carriageway needed widening as the current traffic system operated acceptably with the intended narrowness of the route serving to restrict the vehicle speeds. The option of making Gorsewood Road/St. Martins Lane route one-way had been investigated and consultation had been undertaken with Cheshire Police and Ward Councillors. The proposals did not prove acceptable because it would have caused inconvenience to a large number of residents, could create congestion at the Gorsewood Road/Murdishaw Avenue or St. Martins Lane/Aldersgate Avenue junctions and removal of the likelihood of oncoming traffic would have led to an increase in traffic speeds.

            Arising from the discussion the Board requested that:

-       Officers write again to the landowners LHT and Halton and St Helens PCT to obtain a written response to the petitioners requests;

-       Officers contact the Police regarding the issues raised by the petitioners;

-       Officers contact school Headteachers/Governors to ensure they continue to support School Travel Plans and the action plans contained within them area carried through and updated as necessary.

            RESOLVED: That

            (1)       the petitioners’ request for car park to be built, extra car parking spaces to be provided and for road widening to take place at Gorsewood Road/St. Martins Lane, Murdishaw in the area of the central “square” adjacent to the Murdishaw Health Centre be refused, as the areas in question were not in the ownership of the Council; and

            (2)       the lead petitioner be informed accordingly.