West Moseley Traffic Reduction Scheme – withdrawn

Earlier today the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment, Cllr Majid Mahmood made the decision to end the consultation into the West Moseley Traffic Reduction Scheme and not to proceed with the trial.

Issues such as volume of traffic, speeding, dangerous driving and parking are regularly brought to my attention and have a huge negative impact on our communities. I have supported residents and schools in their campaigns for road safety measures and increased enforcement and I have shared their frustration when they fail to get any commitment to address their concerns, either due to lack of funds or out of date policies and priorities and when previously agreed schemes have been later cancelled. I have submitted at least six petitions, taken two successful road safety motions to council to change policy and contributed to a scrutiny enquiry into the council response to road safety and enforcement.

This is why, together with Councillor Jenkins, I was supportive of the councils request to take this scheme to residents in a consultation, as their views and feedback are extremely important to me. I tried to explain the rationale behind the scheme and its aims and benefits, of which I was also supportive, to enable a more informed decision to be made.

I have carefully listened and responded in full to the large amount of feedback received over the first two weeks of the consultation.

Although I have had some very positive responses, the vast majority of feedback  is that people feel traffic will be displaced causing congestion to other roads and driving routes will be longer and more difficult.

I have also taken into account the representations made by the parents of pupils at Special Educational Needs (SEN) schools in Queensbridge Road concerning the impact on childrens’ travel arrangements. I think they raise valid concerns and more time should be taken to consult and consider their needs.

The Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO), if implemented would have run for 12 months from the end of April.  This will coincide with works at the entrance to Kings Heath Train station, followed by extensive works at Moseley Train Station, lasting well into the summer, followed by  Phase 2 of the Kings Heath & Moseley Places for People scheme, which will not be fully implemented until Spring 2026.

I cannot therefore rule out the impact of traffic congestion or hold ups caused by all these other works, on being able to properly evaluate the West Moseley scheme.

My report sent to officers yesterday is that now is not the time to implement a scheme such as this. We need to wait until Phase 2 Kings Heath and Moseley Places for People is consulted, installed and bedded in and the train stations are open and running and then we can re-evaluate the situation in West Moseley. We can use that time to further engage with the community and schools to explore other possible solutions, with the objective of applying for sufficient future funds. I have an open mind to study any ideas to improve road safety that are put forward.

I would like to publicly thank the council officers who tried their best, under very difficult financial restraints, to find an answer to the concerns raised , whilst also adhering to council policy. The feedback received will no doubt help when planning delivery of future schemes,