The meeting held by the Cabinet Member for City Services of Coventry Council on Monday 17 June 2024 focused on addressing objections to the Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme and reviewing petitions received by the council. Key decisions were made regarding traffic regulation orders and the implementation of various traffic calming measures in Earlsdon.

Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme

The Cabinet Member reviewed a report concerning objections to Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) and notices of intent related to the Earlsdon Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme. The scheme aims to improve the balance between traffic needs and local residents' quality of life. The report indicated that 55 objections from 31 individuals had been received following two rounds of public consultation.

The proposed measures included:

• Albany Road toucan crossing and associated cycle track designation
• Area-wide 20mph Zone with supporting traffic calming measures
• Beechwood Avenue traffic calming scheme including parking restrictions and landscaping
• Broadway and Spencer Road traffic calming measures
• Earlsdon Street zebra crossing and associated parking changes
• Exemption for cycles to existing and proposed No Entry points and One Way streets
• Introduction of West Midlands Cycle Hire docks in Earlsdon Avenue North and Warwick Street
• Pavement widening on Earlsdon Avenue North and South, with associated parking restrictions and landscaping
• Point closures in Arden Street and Shaftesbury Road, with associated parking restrictions
• Point no entry in Stoneleigh Avenue at the junction with Kenilworth Road, with associated parking restrictions

The report also proposed not implementing certain elements, such as the point no entry in Warwick Street and changes to parking restrictions in Warwick Street and Moor Street.

Objectors raised concerns about increased traffic on Moor Street and Clarendon Street, the necessity of additional pedestrian crossings, and the potential adverse effects on air quality and house prices. In response, the Cabinet Member agreed to provide data on speeding, air quality, traffic density, and accident numbers to the objectors.

Councillor Dr L Kelly, an Earlsdon Ward Councillor, supported the scheme, highlighting the extensive consultations and potential improvements to residents' quality of life, including air quality.

The Cabinet Member resolved to:

1. Consider all objections to the proposed waiting restrictions, traffic orders, and raised tables.
2. Approve the non-implementation of the proposed shortening of waiting restrictions on Clarendon Street.
3. Approve the non-implementation of the proposed No Entry TRO on Warwick Street.
4. Approve the non-implementation of the proposed changes to waiting restrictions on Warwick Street.
5. Approve the non-implementation of the proposed changes to waiting restrictions on Moor Street.
6. Approve the non-implementation of the proposed daytime taxi ranks on Earlsdon Street, with a revised proposal to be advertised in the future.
7. Approve the implementation of the advertised proposals, subject to the above recommendations.

Petitions Determined by Letter and Petitions Deferred Pending Further Investigations

The Cabinet Member considered a report on petitions received relating to the portfolio of the Cabinet Member for City Services. The report outlined how officers proposed to respond to these petitions, in line with amendments to the Petitions Scheme approved in June 2015. These amendments allow for petitions to be dealt with by letter without being formally presented in a report to a Cabinet Member meeting.

The Cabinet Member endorsed the actions being taken by officers as set out in Section 2 and Appendix A of the report in response to the petitions received.