Issue - meetings

Graham Rusling, Public Rights of Way & Access Manager, was in attendance for this item)

(1)       The Cabinet Committee received a report from the Cabinet Member and Corporate Director about making permanent the experimental scheme of Traffic Regulation (Traffic Prohibition) on Byways Open To All Traffic (BOATs) at Holly Hill, near Snodland following the experimental scheme which had been in operation for over 12 months.

(2)       The Cabinet Member introduced the report, reporting that it was a straightforward case of making a successful trial a permanent order.

(3)       Mr Rusling spoke to the item and reported the following information to Members:

(i)        That some objections had been received to the order and these would be given due consideration by the Cabinet Member on deliberation of the decision.  The objections reflected a feeling within the vehicular using community that traffic orders penalised the majority for the misdemeanours of the minority.

(ii)       That although those misusing the area were a minority, they were a significant minority.  The area the scheme had targeted had been severely damaged owing to misuse and in the twelve month closure it had been completely transformed and restored.

(iii)      A permit scheme was now in operation and users had to agree to a set of Terms and Conditions when they joined the scheme.  If users did not abide by the T&Cs their permits were revoked.  Two access by permit schemes for BOATs were already in place at Bredhurst and Lenham and the three schemes had been amalgamated and the scheme was now run at a cost of approx £10 per week.  Permits were not given to offenders.

(iv)      The scheme also included routes in Medway and officers in both authorities had worked closely to ensure a sensible and effective solution which transcended local authority boundaries.

(v)       The scheme was dependent largely on barriers for successful enforcement and therefore a large police presence was not required to make the scheme a success.

(4)     In response to comments raised and questions received the Committee received the following further information:

(i)        The scheme relied on those people in receipt of permits abiding by the terms and conditions of that permit and as yet no permit user had transgressed.

(ii)      That in the future reports such as this one would be accompanied by illustrations of the site and any damage suffered.

(5)     Members requested a more definitive paper be brought to a future meeting with a view to rolling out the scheme.

(6)       It was RESOLVED that: the proposed decision of the Cabinet Member to make permanent the experimental scheme of traffic regulation at Holly Hillbe endorsed.