Emergency access worry over road width
vehicles if there are cars parked along the street.
One objector to the proposal told PKC: “This road is one of the two access points to a proposed 64 house development, the other being in Northfield Road. Even if only half the residents use this entrance/ exit there will be a significant increase in traffic flow, particularly at peak periods resulting in congestion on a stretch of single track road with no passing place.
“This stretch of road will also be used for access to the development by public service vehicles, many of which are large trucks, such as ambulances, fire engines and refuse vehicles. Should an ambulance or fire engine require access to the development rapidly in an emergency such a road could cause delay with resultant safety implications.”
However a report signed off by PKC’s head of planning and development David Littlejohn says its transport planning team thinks the latest design for the access road is “acceptable” and recommends councillors approve it.
The report says: “The initial 2008 permission was approved with only one vehicular access, with a second possible vehicular access to the north via Northfield Road indicatively shown, but not part of the permission. At the time, it was envisaged that Hall Road was to be the sole means of accessing the site and therefore a two lane road was required.
“The applicant has since secured a second vehicular access into the residential development via Northfield Road, and detailed planning permission for that access as well as a revised layout has been approved by the council.
“The securing of a second vehicular access at the opposite end of the development is considered to be a significant justification for accepting a reduction in width of a section of the extended Hall Road. Upon completion, residents’ and visitors traffic movements will be split between the two access points and traffic thereafter dispersed onto other local roads.”
It adds: “As with many sections of narrow roads, upon completion a localised traffic flow priority system will be introduced for the reduced width stretch of road with vehicles travelling east having priority.
“Eastwards priority will reduce the potential for vehicles to be idling outside existing properties (on Hall Road), and will take into account the better visibility of approaching vehicles when travelling west once they are approaching the priority area.
“The applicant has agreed to this approach, and a condition will clarify the location of appropriate signage and associated road markings.”
The report and its recommendation is scheduled to be considered by the council’s planning committee next Wednesday.