Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest. 

To consider and approve the minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2019.

The minutes of the meeting held on 25 November 2019 were approved and signed by the Chairman subject to the following amendment:

Minute item 10 refers to Royal Military Road, this should be Royal Military Avenue and Military Road.

Update notes from previous meeting:

Sea Wall, Dymchurch – There is an all year parking restriction (DYL) at this area as agreed with Dymchurch Parish Council.  Other parts of Dymchurch are covered by part year restrictions. 

Cherry Garden Avenue – there have been various incidences where lorries have hit the traffic lights at this junction.  There seems to be constant confusion at this junction.  It may be that CCTV needs to be monitored and evaluated to check safety aspects.  James Bowen referred this onto Damien Cocks (KCC) who believes the problem to be driver error.  A suggestion to install removable railings at the traffic lights has been made     

Councillor Whybrow raised the question of allocation of items to the Highway Works Programme, siting an example of the TRO planned at Prospect Road in Hythe.  He reiterated the HWP should include ‘works in the pipeline’ rather than just ‘works completed’.

Report JTB/19/06 is by the F&HDC Highway Engineer to the Joint Transportation Board.

Report JTB/19/06 by the Folkestone & Hythe District Council Highway Engineer was presented to members. 

During the year parking restrictions had been proposed to the council.  The report outlined the areas where restrictions would help to improve traffic flow, safety margins and resolve parking problems. 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report JTB/19/06.

Report JTB/19/07 updates members on the identified schemes approved for construction.

Report JTB/19/07 updated members on the identified schemes approved for construction. 

Members noted the following: 

·         Appendix B – Drainage.  Stockham Lane at Swingfield.  This lane was closed for some time, James Bowen will provide an update. 

·         Appendix C- Street lighting.  At Castle Hill Avenue there are two lamps to be replaced.  Mr Bowen to look into this.  

·         Hammonds Corner – funding could be looked at from EDF (Dungeness Power Station) and Lydd Airport. 

·         Dover Hill (Folkestone to Capel) – speed reduction in place to 40mph and a suggestion made to add in a cycle lane, the arrester bed improvements include drainage works to prevent flooding.  Councillor Whybrow has asked to see the designs and plans which Mr Bowen will arrange. 

·         Installation of maintenance bays.  These are funded by lane rental at a county wide level.  Members agreed that this information should be publicised as public perception is that general road improvements are more important.  It was suggested a briefing note is provided to members. 

·         Cycle Routes – further schemes are awaiting funding.  It was noted that previous phases were funded by S106 monies, however new funding sources now need to be identified.  Phase 5 from Nickolls Road to Dymchurch Redoubt runs alongside MOD land and the Army have requested acoustic fencing for this phase at an approximate cost of £1M.  

·         Ashley Avenue, Cheriton – new entrance to private housing development with removal of DYL.  Paul Thompson advised this is due for consultation in March 2020. 

·         Appendix I – Combined member grant programme update.  Dunes Road, redesign of traffic island, funding is in place.  This junction redesign will help greatly with all bus turnings.  Stade Street, West Parade, St Leonards Road, Portland Road and surrounding side roads in Hythe – installation of 20mph zone, Councillor Whybrow confirmed funding provided by Hythe Town Council from CIL monies. 

RESOLVED:

To receive and note report JTB/19/07.

Prior to the closure of this meeting, members made the following comments: 

-       An email has been received from a resident to Cllr Mrs Ann Berry regarding cyclists riding dangerously from Links Way to Cherry Gardens. 

-       The junction at Weymouth Road and Richmond Street in Cheriton was reported as dangerous due to inconsiderate parking and lack of vision. 

-       Looking outside of the district the new Junction 10a in Ashford is problematical, with poor signage, inadequate lighting, indirect access to the William Harvey Hospital and confusing exits to A20 and M20.  Mr Bowen remarked that this junction is the responsibility of Highways England. 

On a final note, members congratulated staff at KCC along with multi-agency partners in dealing with the severe storms recently encountered.  Mr Bowen elaborated that staff have been working extremely hard dealing with fallen trees, road traffic accidents and flooding, as well as many other issues due to the weather.