Minutes of Broomhill Central and Nether Edge Area Panel 10 January 2008

 

 

Present:    Councillors Ali Qadar (Chair), Jillian Creasy, Jean Cromar, Colin France, Shaffaq Mohammed, Paul Scriven and Janice Sidebottom.

                     

Representatives of Panel Partners

Marie May - Sheffield Hallam University

Sargeant Murty Awan     )

PCSO Dale Garner         ) -            South Yorkshire Police

Hilary Taylor-Firth - Sheffield 50+

                                                                     

City Council Officers

Eddie Sherwood - Lead Manager

Lucy Moffatt - Area Action Officer

Dave Whitley   )

Ben Benest     ) - Development Services

John Turner    - Committee Secretariat

                                                                     

    There were approximately 30 local residents and representatives from local community groups in attendance.

……………….

 

                                   Action

Apologies for absence were received from Councillors Bernard Little and Pat White.          

                                             

       The Area Panel welcomed Eddie Sherwood, the newly appointed Lead Manager, and who was attending his first meeting of the Panel.

                                             

          Andrew Paley, JRP Associates (representing their clients - David Wilson Homes and Sheffield Hallam University) gave a presentation on the proposed redevelopment of the Hallam University Psalter Lane campus.  He reported that the proposed development comprised approximately 90 residential units, which would predominantly be family housing, with some two-bedroomed apartments.  It was proposed that whilst the former Bluecoat School building would be maintained, all other buildings on the site would be demolished.  It was also proposed that, with the exception of a very small number, all existing trees on the site would be maintained. 

       Mr. Paley referred to plans of the proposed layout and reported on the design concept and site opportunities and constraints with regard to the development, indicating that the layout and design would blend in with the local landscape and the existing design of surrounding properties.  He reported that there would be ample parking within the development and that the layout would make it easy for residents and visitors to walk and cycle to and from the site.

     In terms of timescales, it was hoped that an application for planning permission would be submitted to the City Council around mid-March, 2008, which would hopefully be determined by June, 2008, resulting in the purchase of the site at the end of September, with construction commencing in October, 2008, being completed in approximately three and a half years.   

  Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-   

                                             

·        A firm of landscape architects had been involved throughout the design process and, whilst it may not be clear on the present plans, the proposed garden areas for the family housing were considered to be of a suitable size.  There would also be a large communal garden area at the front of the former Bluecoat School building.  Car parking spaces would be made available for each property and there would also be an additional area designated for visitor parking.  It was considered that this would reduce any potential congestion, caused by parking, on surrounding streets.        

·  Consideration had been given to the sustainability of the development. Discussions had been held with the City Council and would also be held with Sheffield Hallam University and David Wilson Homes to look at what sustainable elements could be incorporated. These proposals would also be considered and, if appropriate,  developed further, as part of the planning process.  The possibility of constructing water permeable hard-standing areas for parking, as suggested at the meeting, would be discussed.  The developers would be looking to achieve a reduced carbon development.

·  The amount of social housing and consideration for older and disabled residents would be included in negotiations with the City Council and any comments, as part of the consultation, would be taken into consideration.                    

·        Whilst a traffic-free development would be welcomed, it would be very difficult as people had a high dependency on their cars.

·      Further to initial discussions with Highways Officers, detailed discussions would be held, as part of the planning process, on the highway implications of the development.  There would be no vehicular access on Psalter Lane as this would be considered too dangerous. 

·                The developers would consider using local suppliers when purchasing materials for the development.

·    In terms of leisure/play facilities on the site, there would be a grassed courtyard area in front of the former Bluecoat School building and the developers would be looking at plans to site play facilities for young children in a suitable area on the site.  

· There would be no separate storage facilities for bicycles as the garages would be large enough to store them.

·  Consideration would be given to the provision of some form of recycling facility on the site.              

·  Whilst there could be up to a maximum of 180 cars on the site, as part of the development, this could actually represent a reduction as compared to the previous use on the site.  It was also considered that, as the majority of the development would comprise family housing, this could result in car journeys being more evenly spread out during the day, therefore reducing the likelihood of congestion at specific times.          

·  Consideration would be given to the provision of a communal meeting area for residents, although such areas were usually only provided, due to viability issues, as part of much larger developments.                  

·   Every effort would be made to maintain the general goodwill expressed by the majority of residents towards the proposed development throughout the planning process.  It was the intention of the developers to consider all issues raised at this meeting and at other consultation events, and to keep local residents fully informed of the plans as they progress.  The developers and/or their representatives would be happy to attend a further Area Panel meeting to discuss the development, following the submission of the application for planning permission. 

·    There was an e-mail address, with links to websites, via  Hallam University, which provided updates on the progress of the development, and the Panel's Link Officer from the University distributed cards containing the link and a contact telephone number.       

· Although the former Bluecoat School building was not listed, any internal alterations required would be undertaken sympathetically and every effort would be made to retain the building in its present form.

· The layout of the development would require the felling of approximately six to eight trees, but there were plans to plant more than this amount in other areas of the site.       

·   A full traffic impact assessment would be undertaken as part of the planning process.      

                                             

       The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses provided;     

(b) requested that arrangements be made for the developers and/or their representatives to attend a further Area Panel meeting, following the submission of the application for planning permission; and  Area Co-ordinator/Marie May

    (c) thanked Mr. Paley and his colleagues for the presentation now made and for responding to the questions and comments.  

                                             

David Whitley provided an update on the operation and feedback regarding the Sharrowvale Parking Permit Scheme, implemented on 1st October, 2007, and enforced with effect from 22nd October, 2007.           

  He reported that the feedback from residents had generally been very positive, with the majority of the problems highlighted being on the periphery of the boundary.  Particular issues had been identified on Hunter House Road and Junction Road, as well as on a number of roads off London Road, and concerns had been raised by traders on Sharrowvale Road regarding a drop in footfall in that area.  Representations had also been received from some residents of Priory Road and Sitwell Road, who, although not included in the scheme, were experiencing problems of people blocking their drives. It was planned that the Council would write to these residents offering H-markings across their drives.         

  Members of the public raised questions and made comments, and the following responses were provided:-   

                                             

·         Officers would investigate the representations made by a resident of Osbourne Road regarding the yellow lines on the bend outside his property, of which he had made to the Council at the end of November, but had not yet received a response.

· A number of roads to the West of Junction Road, including Hunter House Road, Hunter Hill Road, Pinner Road, Guest Road, Stretton Road, Penrhn Road, Roach Road and Fulmer Road, had not been included in the scheme as a result of the large number of objections from residents on those roads as part of the initial consultation.  Officers were now aware that some residents were experiencing problems and had raised issues with the Council.  All residents of these roads would be re-consulted as part of the review of the scheme to be undertaken in March, 2008.

·            It was appreciated that there were problems regarding dangerous or illegal parking in the area and any appropriate enforcement action would be undertaken by the Parking Wardens or the Police. Particular problems had been identified outside the Banner Cross Public House, Ecclesall Road and, following a request by the Police, the Council had repainted the lines outside the pub.  There had also been a number of accidents in the Hunter's Bar area, particularly at the junction of Fulmer Road and Hunter Hill Road, as a result of dangerous parking, and a need for double yellow lines on this and a number of other dangerous junctions in that area had been identified.    

·    In terms of enforcement, the Council was about to employ a further 12 Parking Wardens City-wide, a number of whom could be employed to work late evenings in the Ecclesall Road area.  The telephone number for Parking Services was 2736255 and, following a request made at this meeting, officers would investigate the possibility of including this  number on the documentation sent out in connection with the consultation as part of the review of the scheme.  It was important that local residents informed Parking Services of specific issues in their neighbourhoods.                

· Officers were monitoring the scheme using a variety of methods, including bus patronage and traffic count data.  However, it would be difficult to prove that any increase in bus patronage or decrease in traffic would have come about as a direct result of a reduction in people commuting.  Officers were investigating this issue and information would be published after the scheme had been in operation for a year.         

·    In terms of feedback regarding residents and traders on Sharrowvale Road, there had been a mixed response.  Officers were investigating requests for a number of short-stay free bays for shoppers in this area.     

·         Officers believed the car park on Alderson Road (maximum two hour stay) should make it easier for people to visit the shops on London Road.          

·  With regard to complaints of displacement in the Priory Road area, the Council would consult households in the wider area, outside the boundary, as part of the review.         

·                The Council’s Local Transport Plan and associated Congestion Delivery Plan (both written jointly with partners across South Yorkshire) actively looked at ways of how car use could be managed and reduced.  In addition to this, the South Yorkshire Passenger Transport Executive (SYPTE) was one of only two such Executives looking at having a more direct involvement in the running of local bus services.     

·         Officers would investigate the request made by the Sheffield General Cemetery Trust, for a reduction in the cost of parking permits for charities.     

· Officers were considering the requests made by one or two shops on Ecclesall Road, for the waiting times in respect of a number of bays to be increased to longer than four hours.   Although officers were not looking at extending the potential stay time on bays on Ecclesall Road itself, they were considering providing longer stay bays within the wider Sharrowvale scheme, some of which would be suitable for Ecclesall Road shoppers.    

· It was hoped that the increase in the number of cameras enforcing traffic restrictions at major road junctions and bus/tram gates, such as on Savile Street/Wicker, would continue.  There were plans to install such cameras on Glossop Road and the request made at this meeting, for cameras on Boston Street, had already been programmed.

·    The site of the Gilders car showroom at the junction of Psalter Lane and Ecclesall Road South had been considered by Council officers and the SYPTE as a potential Park and Ride facility, but its very large commercial value may make it unaffordable for such usage.  In addition, the cost of providing access to/from the Psalter Lane/Ecclesall Road South junction could also prove prohibitively expensive.  Therefore, there are concerns about the deliverability of this site.  

                                             

The following comment was also made:-

                                             

· There was a need for either cameras or a pedestrian crossing on the stretch of Psalter Lane, between Brincliffe Hill and Kingfield Road, on the grounds that the volume and speed of traffic made it very difficult for people to cross on that stretch of road.            

                                             

       The Area Panel (a) noted the information now reported, together with the responses provided; and                     

    (b) thanked David Whitley for the presentation now made and for responding to the questions and comments.  

                                             

The Area Co-ordinator submitted a report containing information on (a) applications from the Area Panel’s Small Community Chest 2007/08, (b) the newly appointed Lead Manager for the Area Panel, (c) the Area Panel New Year’s Honours, (d) the latest position regarding Staveley Road Gardens, (e) a number of issues raised by the Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group (NENG) over the last six months, (f) the next Area Panel Roadshow, (g) feedback on two petitions submitted to the Council regarding issues within the Panel’s area and (h) the Tree Renewal Strategy for the area.      

The Area Panel (i) noted the contents of the report now circulated; and              

(ii) approved the allocation, from its Small Community Chest 2007/08, of (A) £250 to the Nether Edge Neighbourhood Group (NENG), on behalf of the Friends of Chelsea Park, for the purchase of wild meadow plants for Chelsea Park, (B) £300 (£150 to cover the purchase of plants/seeds/additional food and cooking equipment and £150 to cover 15 hours of specialist tutor time) to the Broomhall Centre Homework Club and (C) £250 to Sharrow Parent Action for Kids (SPARK) to purchase plants and shrubs for community planting events.         

                                             

       The Area Panel (a) received the notes of the Area Panel Roadshow held on 2nd October, 2007, and (b) approved the minutes of its meeting held on 1st November, 2007.           

       The Area Panel received a petition containing 105 signatures from residents requesting the installation of a pedestrian crossing or traffic island on Psalter Lane, at an appropriate location between Clifford Road and Sharrow Lane, as the volume and speed of traffic made it difficult for the many pedestrians, which included school children and pensioners, to cross the road.            

       The Area Panel noted receipt of the petition and agreed that it be reported to the City Council at its meeting to be held on Wednesday, 6th February, 2008.    Committee Secretariat

                                             

       The Area Panel received the Rolling Action Checklist from meetings held up to 1st November, 2007.       The Area Action Officer reported that the works to the entrance/exit to Chelsea Park, on Brincliffe Edge Road, had been identified as a priority for the 2008/09 financial year.       The Area Panel noted the contents of the Checklist, together with the additional information now reported.

                     

            It was noted that (a) the next Area Panel Roadshow will be held on Tuesday, 19th February, 2008, from 4.00 p.m. to 7.00 p.m. at Broomhill Methodist Church, and (b) the next meeting of the Area Panel will be held on Thursday, 6th March, 2008 from 6.30 p.m. to 8.30 p.m. at the Quaker Meeting House, St. James’ Street.