Council over-rules objections on bid to tackle rat running in Victoria Park area

By John Baron

A new scheme to tackle rat running and reduce the number of road accidents in the Victoria Park area of Bramley has moved a step closer to reality.

Council documents released this week showed that Leeds council highways chiefs have over-ruled objections to permanently block some through roads in the area in a bid to slow down traffic.

Following a series of car crashes in the area, the council’s highways officers have been looking to push the scheme forward to tackle rat running and speeding on streets between Broad Lane and Raynville Road in Bramley.

A council report said 699 local residents were written to with details of the proposals, which attracted six comments in support and six objections.

Those in favour said the scheme will make residents lives’ more pleasant and safer by reducing rat running, speeding and crashes.

Objectors were concerned about some journeys being longer, ambulances taking longer and traffic increasing on main roads in an already congested area.

The council report added: “Research on similar schemes show they reduce overall traffic levels, pollution and collisions and encourage more walking. Traffic levels within the residential area reduce, with little change on the boundary roads.

“There have been several significant collisions with casualties in the Victoria Park area that this scheme would reduce the likelihood of happening in the future.

“The proposals were drawn up following sustained requests from local residents to address these issues. The ward members have been extensively consulted with and are supportive.”

The council report over-ruled the six objections, allowing the scheme to go ahead. They say Broad Lane will still be accessible, though some car journeys will be longer and add they are also investigating the possibility of introducing pedestrian crossings on Broad Lane and Raynville Road.

Traffic levels on Wyther Lane and Kirkstall Bridge will be monitored, amid concerns that the closures would increase traffic congestion elsewhere.

Proposals include:

1. No Waiting at Any Time on:

1. Kirkstall Avenue, Bramley (both sides); from a point 1.5m south of Abbey Avenue, in a northerly direction for 7.5m.
2. Kirkstall Mount, Bramley (both sides); from a point 11m south of Victoria Park Grove, in a southerly direction for 5m.
3. Lancastre Grove, Bramley (both sides); from a point 9m north of Victoria Park Grove, in a northerly direction for 6m.
4. Victoria Park Avenue, Bramley (both sides); from a point 23.5m east of its junction with Lancastre Grove, in aneasterly direction for 5m.
5. Victoria Park Avenue, Bramley (north side); from a point 62m east of its junction with Abbey Terrace, in an easterlydirection, up to and across its termination
6. Victoria Park Grove, Bramley (south side); from a point 13.5m west of Lancastre Grove, in an easterly direction for5m

2. A Prohibition of All Motor Vehicles (at all times) on:

1. Kirkstall Avenue, Bramley; from a point 1.5m south of Abbey Avenue, in a northerly direction for 7.5m.
2. Kirkstall Mount, Bramley; from its junction with Victoria Park Grove, in a southerly direction for 11.5m
3. Lancastre Grove, Bramley; from a point 0.5m south of Victoria Park Grove, in a northerly distance for 1 0m
4. Victoria Park Avenue, Bramley; from a point 1.5m east of Lancastre Avenue, in a westerly direction for 19.5m.
5. Victoria Park Grove, Bramley; from a point 1.5m west of Lancastre Grove; in an easterly direction for 15m.

The full council report can be read in full here.

More details on the scheme can be found here. 

WLD has previously reported on traffic issues here. Local resident Paul Chatterton had been campaigning for action to make Victoria Park Avenue, at the junction with Lancastre Grove, safer following a number of collisions and near misses on the road.