Following extended informal consultation with residents, businesses and other stakeholders,this report seeks authorisation to propose Traffic Regulation Orders (TRO’s) and other measures subject to formal consultation/notification, for a scheme to improve cycle access to Hereford city centre from the east via St Owen Street. The following regulations and measures are proposed:

·      To introduce a One way street except cycles south-eastbound on St Peter’s Square (west arm) and St Owen Street from Union Street to Bath Street.

·      To introduce a One way street except cycles on Mill Street southbound from its junction with St Owen Street to its junction with Cantilupe Street

·      To introduce an updated Bus only restriction on the eastern arm of St Peter’s Square from its junction with Union Street to its junction with St Owen Street

·      A rearrangement of the waiting, parking and loading restrictions on the north-west section of St Owen Street and around its junction with Cantilupe Street and Mill Street.

·      To install vertical traffic calming in the form of two flat top tables as informal crossings on St Owen Street and a raised table at the junction of St Owen Street with Cantilupe Street/St Ethelbert Street.

·      To designate a section of footway as shared use on the north-western side of the junction of St Owen Street and Mill Street. Also as part of the extended footway design, to redesign the traffic signal controlled crossing approaching the junction with Bath Street south-eastwards from St Owen Street, to include a pedestrian call and display.

That:

(a)    the advertising of a Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) proposing movement restriction changes in St Owen Street, St Peter’s Square, Mill Street and Green Street (as shown on the TRO Plan at Appendix 2) be approved;

(b)    the proposing of a TRO to advertise new arrangements of waiting, loading and parking restrictions in Cantilupe Street, St Owen Street, St Peter’s Square and Mill Street (as shown on the TRO Plan at Appendix 3) be approved;

(c)    notification and consultation over the provision of vertical traffic calming measures, in St Owen Street and at its junction with Cantilupe Street / Ethelbert Street (as shown on the Traffic Calming Plan at Appendix 4) be approved;

(d)    notification and consultation over the shared footway designation with a proposed change to the pedestrian crossing facility at the junction of Bath Street, Mill Street and St Owen Street (see Appendix 2) be approved; and

(e)    in the absence of any unresolved objections, the making of the Traffic Orders be approved;  and

(f)     subject to recommendation e above being implemented installation and/or amendment of traffic signs (including road markings) and associated engineering measures up to a value of £235,000 be approved.

1.         Whilst the council as the highway authority may decide to implement, defer or withdraw any proposals, these measures are part of an integrated scheme design that would not be effective, if introduced in part, thus:

·      Cycles may only access St Owen Street, from the east, with the proposed movement restriction changes.

·      Safer cycle and pedestrian movements also require traffic calming measures to help reduce vehicle speeds compliant with a 20mph speed limit.  

·      The revised road alignment to accommodate cycles and remove echelon parking requires a rearrangement and retention of waiting, loading and parking restrictions on St Owen Street and around its accesses from Mill Street and Cantilupe Street / St Ethelbert Street. Access to the relocated bus parking bay, also requires the prohibition of driving order for the eastern arm of St Peter’s Square to be updated to allow access to all buses.

2.         Otherwise, any other substantive changes to the proposals would require an alternative scheme design or for the scheme to be withdrawn.