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Response by Head of Service: Dear Councillor Danny, Thank you for your question regarding the A489 new footway scheme in Churchstoke. The scheme is not yet fully complete, as the final road lining works have not been undertaken. As a result, the Council does not consider that it is currently possible to make a fully informed assessment of the completed scheme's operational performance. Once all works have been completed, an independent review of the scheme will be undertaken. This review will assess the impact of the changes introduced and consider how the revised highway layout is operating in practice. In response to your specific questions: 1. Has a review of the operational safety of the scheme been undertaken since it became operational? As the scheme has not yet been fully completed, a post-completion review has not yet been undertaken. An independent review will be carried out once the remaining works, including the final road markings, have been completed. 2. Have Stage 1, Stage 2 and Stage 3 Road Safety Audits been completed? Road Safety Audits would not normally be undertaken for a footway scheme of this nature on an existing county highway and, consequently, no Stage 1 or Stage 2 Road Safety Audits have been undertaken. The independent review, whilst this is not a formal Stage 3 Road Safety Audit, it will consider similar issues to those examined through a formal road safety audit process 3. Is a Stage 4 Road Safety Audit or other post-implementation monitoring planned? A review at stage 4 would be normally undertaken if recorded collisions occur within the 12 months of the scheme opening. Since this is not a scheme where formal Auditing was necessary, an equivalent independent review will be undertaken if appropriate. 4. Have any complaints, safety concerns, near misses or incidents been reported? The Council has received one complaint from a resident concerning the narrowed carriageway. This related to a reported near miss involving a vehicle driving along the footway. No other complaints of this nature have been reported. 5. Has any collision data been recorded or reviewed? A review of available collision data indicates that there have been no recorded personal injury collisions within the scheme area during the latest five-year period of available data. 6. What evidence does the Council rely upon in determining that the layout is operating safely? The design was informed by recognised highway design guidance, including the Department for Transport's Manual for Streets. This guidance indicates that a carriageway width of approximately 5.5 metres is generally sufficient to accommodate two HGVs passing each other, subject to appropriate consideration of bends and vehicle tracking requirements. Vehicle tracking assessments were undertaken during the design process and indicated that standard vehicles can pass through the location, although under tighter conditions than existed previously. The intention of the narrowed carriageway is to reduce vehicle speeds and encourage more appropriate driver behaviour. The Council also notes that the current road markings are not yet in their final position. The existing centre line is offset, resulting in unequal lane widths. Once the final lining works have been completed and the centre line relocated to its intended position, a more accurate assessment of driver behaviour and road operation can be made. The scheme has also been designed in accordance with Welsh Government Active Travel guidance. This guidance does not require a separation strip between carriageway and footway on roads subject to a 30mph speed limit. The footway has been constructed to a width of approximately 2 metres, providing space for pedestrians to maintain separation from the carriageway edge. 7. Will relevant reports be made available to Members? As no Road Safety Audits have been undertaken, there are no Stage 1, Stage 2 or Stage 3 audit reports or Designer's Response Reports available. The Council intends to undertake an independent post-completion review once the scheme is fully completed, and the findings of that review will inform any future consideration of the scheme's operation, The outcome will be communicated with the Local Member directly. In conclusion, whilst concerns raised by residents and road users are acknowledged, the Council's position is that the scheme remains incomplete. The final road lining works form an important part of the overall design and are necessary before a meaningful post-implementation assessment can be undertaken. Following completion of those works, an independent review will be carried out and the outcome will help inform any further consideration of the scheme's operation and performance. Yours sincerely, Councillor Jackie Charlton Cabinet Member for a Greener Powys
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