To receive declarations of personal and prejudicial interest (if any) from Members/Officers in accordance with the provisions of the Members’ Code of Conduct adopted by Council from 1 September 2008.

None.

The Chairperson welcomed all those present to the meeting, and the necessary introductions were made.

He then read out for the benefit of those present, the procedure that would be followed at today’s meeting, commencing with the Highways Officers presenting their report.

The Legal Officer made a point of clarification, namely that the Panel would today consider both the case for the Highway Authority and the objector, and in turn then make a decision in respect of the matter that was before them, after weighing up the evidence before them both in the report, and anything further given verbally at the meeting.

The Traffic and Transportation Manager confirmed, that the purpose of the report, was to seek a resolution to the formal objection received in relation to the proposal to introduce a One-Way traffic system on Crescent Road, Sarn.

By way of background information, he advised those present that a statutory public notice in respect of the proposed closure of the existing Brynmenyn Primary School and the establishment of a new school to serve its traditional catchment area, was published on 25 June 2015. This proposal had been subject to the approval of Cabinet.

As part of the above proposals, planning consent was then granted on 30 September 2016, subject to a number of Conditions being attached to such consent.

Paragraph 3.5 of the report outlined Condition 19 of the above consent, which was as follows:-

“No development shall commence until details of the extended access road into the school site from the junction with the access to Coleg Cymunedol y Dderwen and improvements to the Heol yr Ysgol/Bryn Road and Heol Cwrdy/Heol Canola junctions have been submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The development shall be constructed in accordance with the approved details, and the school shall not be brought into beneficial occupation, until the improvement works have been implemented.

Reason: In the interests of the safety and free flow of traffic.”

The Traffic and Transportation Manager advised that the purpose of this Condition, was to improve the strategic junctions to the school, in order to improve the free flow of traffic and pedestrian safety at those junctions. The junction that was relevant for the Appeals Panel to consider, was the one located at Heol Cwrdy/Heol Canola, Sarn, he added.

He then advised that in order to comply with the above planning consent Condition, a variety of configurations were considered, and the final scheme proposed at the junction of Heol Cwrdy, Heol Canola, Heol Ganol and Bryncoch Road, would include traffic signals to control traffic, together with pedestrian crossing facilities. In order to facilitate the safe operating of the traffic signals, it was proposed that a one-way-system be implemented on the eastern end of Crescent Road, from its junction with Heol Ganol to its junction with Heol Ynysawdre, south east to west (Appendix A1 to the report referred).

The Traffic and Transportation Manager stated that there was no requirement to consult on the placing  ...  view the full minutes text for item 18.