1
Under reference to item 12 of the Minute of the meeting of the Audit, Scrutiny and Petitions Board held on 28 November 2016, there was submitted a report by the Director of Finance & Resources relative to the petition on traffic concerns on Newmains Road, Paisley, submitted by Mrs Lang. The Petitioner had previously advised that she was unable to attend the meeting due to work commitments but that she would appreciate a police presence with or without hi viz vests, to act as a deterrent.
The Petition had been considered at the meeting of the former Audit, Scrutiny and Petitions Board held on 28 November 2016 when it had been agreed that consideration of the petition be continued pending further discussions with Police Scotland. The petition was then considered at the meeting of this Board held on 7 June 2017 when it was agreed that the matter be continued further to allow Police Scotland to provide further comment on the issue.
The Head of Amenity Services had previously advised that he was aware of speeding complaints on Newmains Road, Renfrew. Speed measurements had been carried out previously on this length of road and average speeds were recorded up to 27mph. An accident analysis had been carried out which showed no evidence of any injury accidents in the latest three-year period. There had not been an injury accident on Newmains Road since 2012.
The Head of Amenity Services advised that the results from the Driver Feedback Signs (DFS) that had been out in January 2016 showed an 85% speed at 32mph, indicating there was unlikely to be a speeding issue. The Head of Amenity Services further advised that it would not be normal practice to put DFS signs out again for a couple of years unless there was a major development.
Following the meeting of this Board held on 7 June 2017 Police Scotland advised the Transportation Manager that traffic police had been out on Newmains Road from 8 August until 31 August 2017 and no speeding issue had been identified.
At the meeting of this Board held on 30 August 2017, the Board agreed that consideration of the petition be continued to a future meeting and that the Board be advised of the findings of Police Scotland in relation to the petitioner’s traffic concerns.
The Head of Amenity Services advised that following the traffic police observations, Police Scotland had indicated that they had not identified any speeding issues on Newmains Road. However, they also indicated that because no suitable place could be identified for their equipment, observations had been carried out by officers standing at the roadside in high visibility jackets. They would have been very visible to drivers and it is possible that this would have affected driver behaviour at that time.
The Head of Amenity Services further advised that without evidence of speeding or accident statistics (no recorded injury accident in the last three years) there was currently no justification for implementing any speed reduction measures however as Police Scotland had indicated there may be a speeding problem, the Council would install the driver feedback signs to monitor vehicle speeds for a second time.
DECIDED:
(a) That consideration of the Petition be continued;
(b) That driver feedback signs (DFS) be installed on Newmains Road, Renfrew for a period of two weeks in November, 2017; and
(c) That a report on the findings in relation to these signs be submitted to a future meeting of this Board.