(a)

there was a bus lane enforcement camera situated near the approach to Prince Rock School which was able to record non-authorised vehicles using the bus gate on Embankment Road; recordings were being monitored and enforced;

(b)

a member of the public earlier this year won an appeal against the Council for a penalty fine they had received on the grounds that the signage on the approach to the Embankment Road bus gate was confusing, despite the Department for Transport agreeing that signage was to the correct standard; the Council subsequently successfully appealed the decision however the penalty was not reinforced. Officers would confirm the number of enforcements and appeals received in respect of the Embankment Road bus gate;

(c)

the Council’s camera recordings are only able to be used for the enforcement of non-authorised vehicles in bus lanes; all other motoring offenses are the responsibility of the Police to enforce;

(d)

officers organised a traffic survey in March 2013 as traffic had increased in Florence Place and Grenville Road; the result of the survey showed that 22% of traffic was a result of this route being used as a rat-run however 78% of the traffic was considered to be local residents and visitors accessing the area; officers would investigate the feasibility of monitoring noise and air quality levels on Florence Place and Grenville Road;

(e)

an evaluation and monitoring programme was developed in order to measure the anticipated outcomes of the East End Transport Scheme; ‘after’ data with respect to car journey times was not yet available as this was provided by the Department for Transport on an annual basis. The after data was expected in early 2014;;

(f)

an external company was used to undertake the traffic counts;

(g)

automatic traffic counters are situated in the road along Gdynia Way and Laira Bridge, which collect data on a daily basis;

(h)

real time data for bus journey times for Plympton buses was analysed for the November 2013 time period as the information was not available for the March 2-13 period which had been used for other bus services;

(i)

no accidents had been recorded on Embankment Road at the junction of Heles Terrace/ Gdynia Way/ Embankment Road. This will continue to be monitored;

(j)

subsidised bus services would be up for negotiation and then out for tender; proposals would be taken to relevant neighbourhood for discussion;

(k)

data collected showed that in the first eight months of the East End Transport Scheme opening, accidents had generally reduced; it was normal practice for monitoring to take place over a longer period of time however figures were currently positive;

(l)

the Environmental Service was responsible for compiling and monitoring the air quality report which was required to estimate the effects of the East End Transport Scheme. Monitors were in place 24/7 so could take constant readings despite climatic conditions;

(m)

officers would check if ‘mean levels’ should be used when analysing data other than ‘average levels’ in respect of noise;

(n)

noise levels on Embankment Road was averaged as 74.1dB and for Gdynia Way was 80.2dB; officers would email the panel to give assurance that the current levels were within safe guidelines;

(o)

Environmental Services used the data from the air quality traffic sensor that was situated within the playground of Nomony Childrens’ Centre;

1)

officers would confirm the number of enforcements and appeals received as a result of the camera situated near Prince Rock School;

2)

officers would investigate the feasibility of monitoring the traffic and air quality of Florence Place and Grenville Road in the future;

3)

officers would check if ‘mean levels’ should be used when analysing data other than ‘average levels’ in respect of noise;

4)

noise levels on Embankment Road was averaged as 74.1dB and for Gdynia Way was 80.2dB; officers would email the panel to give assurance that the current levels were within safe guidelines;