North Somerset Moors Quiet Lanes Network – Initial Proposal Withdrawn
Update posted 8th April 2021
In the late afternoon of the 7th April, NSC posted this statement on their website:
Council allows more time to develop quiet rural lanes proposals
4:11pm – 07 April 2021
North Somerset Council is withdrawing plans to introduce a new Traffic Regulation Order on parts of the local rural lanes network to provide residents and road users with more opportunities to help shape the ‘quiet rural lanes’ proposals.
The proposals intend to make country lanes safer and more attractive for all who enjoy them, encouraging users to consider one another and take extra care to share the roads whether they’re on foot, in the saddle or behind the wheel.
These proposals would maintain normal access for local residents and support the economic recovery of local business by improving access for tourists and customers. It is hoped that the reduction in traffic would also help to protect the character, environment and biodiversity in sites of special scientific interest (SSSI) surrounding the rural lanes.
Cllr James Tonkin, North Somerset Council’s executive member for planning, highways and transport, said: “Last week, the council invited residents to respond to plans to reduce volumes of traffic on rural roads using a Traffic Regulation Order. In this instance, we have not provided our communities with enough information about the objectives of the ‘quiet rural lanes’ proposals, and so the Traffic Regulation Order has caused understandable concern.
“This is not how we usually engage with our communities and we are sorry that, on this occasion, we’ve not provided the necessary information or context in advance of notices going up.
“So far, we have received a broad range of both positive and negative responses to the proposals. This has demonstrated and reiterated the importance of local views in taking them forward. As such, we are withdrawing the Traffic Regulation Order so we can offer a more inclusive and comprehensive package of engagement.
“We want to get it right on the ‘quiet rural lanes’ project and to do that we need to have the community with us and not against us. In putting residents at the forefront of our approach, that is exactly what we strive to do.”
The council will now develop new plans to engage with residents on the implementation of the Government funded ‘rural quiet lanes’ proposals. These plans will include a range of forums where local people can respond, for example webinar and Q&A sessions like those currently scheduled for the other schemes promoting Active Travel in North Somerset. The council will share details of the opportunities for community involvement in the coming days.
We await further developments
Steve Dixon, Clerk, Kingston Seymour Parish Council
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First posted 1st April 2021 by Steve Dixon, Parish Clerk
We have received notification from North Somerset Council, that they are considering the implementation of traffic restrictions on the lanes that lie between Clevedon, Yatton and Nailsea.
Formal comments must be lodged – in the written form described in the Notice of Intent – to NSC by the 30th April 2021.
There are four main documents:
Statement of Reasons. This outlines why NSC consider this action to be necessary. Link to Statement of Reasons (PDF opens in a new window)
Plan of Proposed Affected Lanes (large data file, may take some time to load). Link to Plan of Proposed Affected Lanes (PDF opens in a new window)
Draft Traffic Regulation Order which describes what restrictions could be applied. Link to Draft Order (PDF opens in a new window)
Notice of Intent. Formal notice document which also describes how comments must be submitted. Link to Notice of Intent (PDF opens in a new window)
There are no other documents in the public domain although the NSC website does carry some material about the overall strategies for travel and climate change of which this is part.
Unlike some consultations which provide an online portal, for this one, written submissions are required. As stated on the Notice of Intent, the rules for acceptable submissions are:
Should you wish to make any observations on this proposal (whether you support or object the proposal) you should make them in writing to the Director of Development and Environment at the address below, or the email address below quoting the reference ATF2/RL/310321 by 5pm on 30th April 2021
Any objections must specify the grounds on which they are made.
Please note that all representations received may be considered in public by the District Council and that the substance of any representation together with the name and address of the person making it could become available for public inspection.
Town Hall
Weston-super-Mare
BS23 1UJ
Tel No (01934) 888888
Email [email protected]
Dated : 31st March 2021
The Parish Council will be making a submission but the strength of opinion is likely to be enhanced by the number of valid individual submissions made – either for or against – so please do consider your position and send your individual submissions in the formal way described.