The Project Manager (Major Capital Programme Team, KCC) introduced the report which provided updates on the A249 Junction Improvement Schemes at Key Street and Grovehurst Road, Sittingbourne.

The Chair invited questions from Members and points raised included:

Key Street Roundabout

·         What was happening to the land to the north of Chestnut Street and the A249?;

·         how would people be able to access the Tudor Rose, Chestnut Street, Borden?;

·         would pedestrian lighting be installed on the controlled crossing?;

·         astounded that the pedestrian crossing across the slip road would not be lit or controlled;

·         thanked the officer for the report and KCC for securing the funding for the improvements and requested a six monthly update report on progress;

·         had every faith that the planners at KCC had both pedestrian and driver interests to ensure that both could use the roundabout in a safe manner without hold-ups;

·         what would be the route for cyclists heading north up Chestnut Street and would the proposed footway be shared footway/cycleway?;

·         would there be crossings to enable cyclists to cross the roundabout?; and

·         was there anything that could be done to improve the desired line across the last piece of verge as it was a long detour, and could the road be narrowed to allow more room for the footway/cycleway?;

In response the Project Manager said that there was no proposal for pedestrian lighting on the controlled crossings which would be standard tactile crossings, he added that there was no intention to encourage pedestrians to cross the slip road, the design was for pedestrians to walk up Chestnut Street past The Tudor Rose and cross on the east side of Chestnut Street and then across the access road into the new development.  He agreed to circulate to Members of the Board details of how vehicles could access The Tudor Rose as it was not intended to isolate that venue.  The piece of land referred to north of Chestnut Street was probably going to landscaped by the developer. 

The Project Manager advised that the footway on the east side of Chestnut Street would be a combined footway/cycleway.  He said the intention was that cyclists travelling up Chestnut Street towards Key Street would be on the existing Chestnut Street as they approached the roundabout and there was a footway/cycleway all the way through the housing development and footway/cycleway provisions around the whole of Key Street.  He agreed to confirm the footway/cycleway widths.

Grovehurst Road Roundabout

KCC Mike Whiting said that often too many traffic lights led to traffic congestion.  The roundabout at Key Street was a good example of how traffic flow worked well on a roundabout with only two of sets of traffic lights at the correct location points. The Grovehurst Roundabout would work better with two sets of traffic lights, one controlling the off-slip northbound off the A249 and one controlling the south slip off the A249.

KCC Andy Booth agreed that only two sets of traffic lights were required.  The biggest issue would be tail backs onto the A249 southbound end and northbound during peak times.

Councillor Alastair Gould said he would be in favour of the traffic lights remaining to give pedestrians and cyclists a chance.

The Project Manager confirmed that traffic lights were planned on the northbound exit slip road, and southbound exit slip road and there would be four sets of lights on the roundabout.  The pedestrian desire line would be controlled by the traffic lights system.

In response to comments about having only two sets of traffic lights, the Project Manager said this was a much larger gyratory roundabout than the current one at Stockbury, with adequate queue lengths.  He considered the proposals put forward were the best solution for the site.  The Project Manager agreed to explore the options put forward in respect of reducing the amount of traffic lights and update members of the JTB as soon as possible.

Resolved:

(1)       That the report be noted.