Purpose

The proposal is part of a wider project to provide a toucan
crossing on Manchester Road as part of National Cycle Route 6
improvements.

The traffic regulations on Manchester Road have previously been
advertised. However, additional traffic regulation orders on Church
Avenue are required following a scheme update as a consequence of
engagement with Active Travel England.

The proposed marked priority full set back crossing will create a
safer crossing facility for pedestrians and cyclists.

The proposal to introduce No Waiting at any Time restrictions aim
to create a safer crossing facility for pedestrians and
cyclists.

Without the No Waiting at Any Time restrictions, vehicles will park
within the visibility zone of the crossing point. Provision of the
parking restrictions reduces the risk of a collision.

Consultations
Formal consultation was carried out between 24 May-2024 and 21
June-2024 which included advertising in the local press and notices
being displayed on site. Divisional county councillors were
consulted along with the council's usual consultees and the
consultation documents posted on the council's website.

Comments
During the consultation period one response was received from the
Parochial Church Council of St John's Church Baxenden objecting to
the proposal to extend the No Waiting at Any Time (double yellow
lines) on Church Avenue for the following reasons:

• The effect of the proposal would be that 3-4 parking spaces
outside the church would be permanently lost.
• That several church members, who because of age or
disability, would struggle to use the other parking options, of
further down Church Avenue, or on the car park across from the
village club. That community users of the church, usually in the
evenings, face the same issues, with not all of them having a Blue
Badge.
• That the greatest pedestrian activity is from around
8am-9am, and 3pm-5.30pm, when children and parents go to and from
the school. Therefore they believe that as the No Waiting Monday to
Saturday 8am-6pm (single yellow line) covers these time of
pedestrian activity the double yellow lines do not seem to be
justified.
The objector also comments that there is a steel guard rail in the
footway opposite the proposed priority crossing, which narrows the
footway. Therefore suggests that pedestrians may not want to cross
at this point.

Officer's Response
The proposals on Church Avenue form part of a wider scheme which
includes a traffic signal-controlled pedestrian and cyclist
crossing on Manchester Road.

The proposed priority crossing for pedestrians and cyclists is four
meters wide and is set back from the main road junction to allow a
vehicle to give way without causing an obstruction.

The existing double yellow lines on the north west side are
proposed to be lengthened by 6.5 metres which is roughly one
parking space. The existing double yellow lines on the south east
side are proposed to be lengthened by 13 metres which is roughly
two parking spaces.

The proposed double yellow line extensions are to help provide
clear visibility between drivers and crossing users. The
prohibition of waiting at any time is proposed to help create a
safer environment for vulnerable road users at all times.

Blue badge holders can continue to park safely on Church
Avenue.

The guardrail on the southeast footway is proposed to be removed as
part of the scheme.

Content

Peter Bell, Regulation and
Enforcement Manager, took the decision, following consultation with
the cabinet member and consideration of the objections report and
officer comments, to approve the proposal.