Warwickshire County Council's Portfolio Holder and Leader Decisions meeting addressed highway improvements and a bus shelter contract. Councillor George Finch, Deputy Leader of the Council, standing in for the Portfolio Holder for Transport and Planning, approved a road hump and segregated cycle track in Kenilworth. Councillor Stephen Shaw, Portfolio Holder for Finance and Property, approved a new bus shelter advertising and maintenance contract and a highway scheme in Rugby.

A4071/Parkfield Road Junction, Rugby

Councillor Stephen Shaw approved the addition of a section 278 ¹ highway scheme to the capital programme for the A4071/Parkfield Rd Junction in Rugby, valued at £981,700.

The scheme, funded by Total Developments (NW) Limited, includes:

• Modifications to the existing 'bellmouth' access to facilitate HGV movements from Western Relief Road (A4071) into the new Parkfield Business Park development.
• Construction of new pedestrian crossing facilities on the A4071 and widening of the existing footway to create a cycleway/footway route to link to the development.

The council will collect construction project management, supervision, and inspection fees in advance of the works. The developer is responsible for any unforeseen changes, delays, or overruns and must provide a bond or cash security of 150% of the works' value until completion.

Bus shelter advertising and maintenance contract

Councillor Stephen Shaw gave permission to procure a new contract for advertising and maintenance of Warwickshire County Council's bus shelters, estimated at £2.1 million over the contract period.

The council owns around 300 bus shelters across Warwickshire. The new contract, to be let in accordance with the Procurement Act 2023, aims to generate revenue through advertising to offset maintenance costs and provide income for the council. The contract will run for 10 years, with an optional 5-year extension based on performance. It is expected to include:

• Cleaning and maintenance of all council-owned bus shelters.
• Replacement of shelters reaching the end of their serviceable life.
• Exploration of innovative options like green or living roof shelters.
• Expansion of digital and paper advertising panels, with a target of at least 50 digital and 100 paper panels within the first five years.

The contractor will assume responsibility for the planning process and non-domestic rates ², and provide 24/7 responses to call-outs. The council anticipates savings of at least £10,000, with potential savings as high as £79,000, and will use any income surplus for infrastructure improvements.

Glasshouse Lane & Heyville Croft, Kenilworth – Proposed Road Hump and Segregated Cycle Track

Councillor George Finch approved the installation of a road hump and a segregated cycle track on Glasshouse Lane and Heyville Croft in Kenilworth.

The decision was made to:

• Install a road hump in the form of a raised junction hump, incorporating a priority crossing for pedestrians and cyclists, on Heyville Croft at its junction with Glasshouse Lane.
• Install a segregated cycle track for cyclists only, adjacent to the footway/relocated footway/carriageway on Glasshouse Lane.

The scheme aims to provide a continuous crossing facility for pedestrians and cyclists and improve safety.

The council consulted with Warwickshire Police, Warwickshire Fire and Rescue Service, ambulance services, and organisations representing highway users. Warwickshire Police raised concerns about the lack of adequate signs, which were addressed by adding additional road warning signs.

One objection was received, citing concerns about sight lines, the location of the cycle route, and the effectiveness of road humps. The council addressed these concerns by stating that the road is being realigned to improve sight lines, that there is an uncontrolled crossing in the plans for the cycle route to Rocky Lane, and that more road humps on Glasshouse Lane are not feasible due to use of the road by buses and emergency vehicles.

An Equality Impact Assessment (EIA) was conducted, and the scheme was designed to mitigate impact on anyone who may be affected, for example, give way markings have been added in advance of the road humps, and tactile paving has been provided to eliminate any confusion and conflicts between drivers and partially sighted users.