Issue - meetings

The Cabinet considered a report which provided options along with recommendations on measures which were introduced in response to the Covid-19 pandemic in Carmarthen, Llanelli and Ammanford town centres.

Cabinet Members noted that a public and business consultation exercise was undertaken between the 16^th November 2020 and the 4^th January 2021 which was undertaken online due to covid restrictions. The main findings were summarised with the full report of the consultation appended to the report.

It was reported that many of the public realm changes were underpinned through legal orders drafted on either a temporary or experimental basis which were valid for up to 18 months from the start of August 2020 with the following changes within the town centres being implemented:-

· Speed Limits – Temporary Orders

· Parking changes –Experimental Orders

· Prohibition of Driving and Access – Temporary Orders

Speed Limits – Temporary Orders: Traffic management interventions of reduced speed limit to 20mph offer long term road safety and active travel benefits and were in line with the proposed Welsh Government legislation for 20mph speed limits in urban areas.  The report recommended that the current temporary speed limit orders, due to expire in January 2022, be made permanent through the statutory Traffic Regulation Order process as stated in schedule 1 within the report.

Parking changes –Experimental Orders:  A number of parking area changes had proven particularly successful, and the report suggested that these be made permanent, listed in Schedule 2 of the report. Whereas others that had been less successful and should be removed. Listed in Schedule 3 of the report. 

Prohibition of Driving and Access – Temporary Orders:  The report outlined options in relation to Traffic Management (Access Only) and Pedestrianisation.

UNANIMOUSLY RESOLVED that:

15.1  the speed limits set out in Schedule 1 be promoted as permanent speed limits.

15.2 the parking areas set out in Schedule 2 as Experimental Orders be confirmed as permanent, and Traffic Regulation Orders created accordingly.

15.3 the parking areas in Carmarthen be effectively removed as set out in Schedule 3.

15.4 the temporary ‘Access Only’ traffic order on Water Street, Carmarthen be promoted as permanent and enforced.

15.5 the pedestrianisation measures in Carmarthen and Llanelli town centres be removed as no longer necessary for covid related reasons (Option 2).

Prior to closing the meeting, with the Chairs consent, Councillor Tremlett announced that on Wednesday, 8^th September, 2021 the County Council and Delta Wellbeing had jointly been awarded the Silver award in the Innovation category for the Connect Programme at the Public Sector Transformation Awards ceremony held in London.  The Leader, on behalf of the Cabinet expressed congratulations to the team.”