Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
The following issues were identified during Councillors Question Time and will be progressed by Democratic Services and updated regularly.
Date of
Meeting
20th July
2010 and 3rd
February
2011 and
21st July
2011
Issue Raised
Lytham Road Bridge
(1) Concerns over the weight of buses
going over the bridge on Lytham Road
resulting in an adverse affect on the road
surface and bridge foundations.
Action Taken/ Outcome
Status
Peter Cross updated the Forum at its meeting on 3rd February
2011 as follows:
There are some concerns about the structure of the bridge but no
immediate danger. A consultant’s report is expected imminently
which will indicate the remedial work required in the long term. The
7.5 tonne weight restriction is advisory to deter heavy goods vehicles
from using the bridge. In response to questions , Mr Cross advised
that all bridges had been assessed to see if they were structurally
safe to carry 40 tonne vehicles. He added that bridges were
inspected on a regular basis and that this had shown deterioration
in the Lytham Road bridge resulting in a report being commissioned.
Following a general discussion relating to the weight restriction
signage, Mr Cross offered to meet with the resident concerned to
discuss the issue further.
Ongoing
Update received on 28th February 2011:
From today all buses are diverted away from Lytham Road bridge
and alternative routes have now been agreed with Blackpool
Transport and Stagecoach.
Investigations into what action can be taken regarding the structure
of the bridge are ongoing as well as identifying sources of funding to
deal with the issue. This is likely to take a period of time and further
updates will be provided as and when available.
Update received on 17th May 2011
Ownership and responsibility for Lytham Road bridge have been
disputed for many years but clarification has now been obtained and
the bridge belongs to Blackpool Council.
We are currently carrying out further investigation works and surveys
in order to assist in preparing a conceptual design report on the
options for demolition / strengthening and costs. Once completed
Updated 1st September 2011
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
and a decision is made on the preferred option, then bidding for
monies can be made.
In the current financial climate, the funding may not be immediately
available. Mitigating safety measures can then be pursued, including
temporary propping of the structure.
Unfortunately until the bridge is either re-built or suitably
strengthened the bus route can not be reinstated. I can confirm that
the carriageway is to be re-aligned to divert traffic loading away from
the bridge supports. This work will commence this week.
Current update - received on 20th July 2011
 Blackpool Council became a unitary authority in 1998
 Stewardship of bridges was transferred to BC from LCC at
this time
 No survey drawings were passed to Blackpool Council.
Indeed there was a clear lack of information and / or
structural assessments
 The lack of maintenance has been partly due to difficulty in
access and the fact that the steel beams are encased in
concrete. This together with insufficient knowledge the
structural capacity made for lack of progress. In any event
there is a joint agreement in place with network rail over
maintenance and NR have not done any maintenance to this
bridge either.
Recent progress



Updated 1st September 2011
A formal Structural assessment has been undertaken
This led to doubt on whether the bridge had enough
structural capacity to carry HGV’s including buses
Followed up with several site investigations to provide
confirmation of strength which took several months of
planning and liaison with Network Rail as any SI has is on
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
their land on a ‘live’ rail network
Current status






The bridge has failed the structural capacity of 40 tonne
loading and the superstructure is in very poor condition
There are significant cracks in the superstructure
This scheme is now escalated to the top priority of bridge
maintenance
The preferred option is to replace the bridge at a cost of
£1.8M
We have a meeting scheduled for 11th August with the DfT to
discuss if any funding will be available
If not then the Council will have to make a decision of how to
take this forward
Further updated received 19th August 2011
The DfT has rearranged the meeting due to take place on 11th
August 2011 to 21st September 2011.
21st July
2011
Suggestion made that a better alternative
to the zebra crossing would be to install
railings to the top of the bridge from both
Hampton Road and Station Road as this
would prevent people crossing the road
and thereby eliminate the risk.
It was previously recognised that pedestrians use the pinnacle of
Lytham Road Bridge to cross Lytham Road. The decision was taken
to formalise the crossing point on Lytham Road Bridge by providing
a Zebra crossing, this was done on the grounds of pedestrian safety.
Completed
It was recognised that the top of the bridge forms part of a natural
desire line for pedestrians crossing Lytham Road whilst it also
provides a good vantage point for oncoming traffic.
The Traffic Management’s approach was to provide a safe crossing
point and not to prevent pedestrians from crossing. This is the
reason why railings were not installed on the bridge.
21st July
2011
Safety concerns raised due to
Landaus racing up the bridge and being
unable to stop.
Updated 1st September 2011
Response from Traffic Management
This has been sent to Alison Metcalf who is a representative for the
Landau association and asked her to pass on the community's
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
concerns regarding landaus. There isn't anything further that Traffic
Management can do.
21st July
2011
Safety concerns raised due to the
speeding up of vehicles to go over the
top of the bridge resulting in potential
damage to the road surface and the
potential for vehicles sliding back during
icy conditions.
Response from Alison Metcalf – Landau Association
Representative
I am not sure what is meant by racing but I think it is possibly the fact
that if there is an incline a horse is more likely to set itself into the
collar in order to maintain the forward motion. I will pass on your
query to those who use that road and will raise it at the next meeting,
which will be sometime in early September.
Response from Traffic Management
I have checked the accident data and have observed traffic using
Lytham Road Bridge. There have been no accidents in the past 5
years that list excessive speed as a causation factor and no reported
incidents involving vehicles sliding in the ice.
Completed
I also note there is a speed camera on the northbound approach to
the bridge and speed camera warning signs on the approach. The
visibility of the crossing on the top of the bridge also acts as a
deterrent to vehicles speeding up.
21st July
2011
Much support was expressed for keeping
the bridge and concerns raised that funds
that have been given to the Pleasure
Beach could have gone into restoring the
bridge.
Pleasure Beach funds
Funds were not given to Pleasure Beach, it was a repayable
loan of £5 million, which the Council borrowed to lend and costs, at
least, are covered.
Support for Lytham Road Bridge
Response from Traffic Management
Blackpool Council currently has six highway structure
strengthening schemes in their programme. The total estimated
cost of the six schemes is approximately £5.5M. It is the
Council’s aspiration to carry out these works over the next five
years, subject to funding being available from the Department
for Transport. The list of affected structures is as follows :-
Updated 1st September 2011
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
1. Lytham Road Bridge
2. Harrowside Bridge
3. Princess Street Bridge
4. Gas Works Subway
5. Squires gate Lane Retaining Wall/Parapet
6. Watson Road Bridge
The first priority is the reconstruction of Lytham Road Bridge.
The condition of the superstructure and the results of the
assessment give cause for concern, particularly the half through
parapet edge girders.
The bridge is owned by Blackpool Council, though there is a
joint agreement in place with Network Rail over maintenance.
Before the works can be finalised, further discussions are
required with Network Rail and the utilities to agree the method
of works. The scheme is top of the Council’s list of current
priorities. A minimum period of 9 months will be required for
design and preparation of the tender documents, with a contract
period of 16 weeks.
It is acknowledged that there is public support for retaining the
bridge. It is too early, however, to provide confirmation on the
final proposed solution and whether this bridge will actually be
retained to carry traffic.
Additional
issue from
20th July
2010 and 3rd
February
2011
Request for filter lights for traffic travelling
north along St Annes Rd to turn right into
Marton Drive or Watson Road before
traffic travelling south along St Annes Rd
is given the green light.
Updated 1st September 2011
This request is currently being reviewed. Information is awaited from
a Private Finance Initiative contractor on the phasing of the lights
and the time period to assess the potential knock on effect of making
the suggested changes. A further update is expected in June.
Response from Traffic Management - 5th July 2011
Due to the number of vehicle movements at this junction, the
junction operates a 120s cycle time, which is the recommended
maximum cycle time for busy junctions. In order to give northbound
travelling vehicles priority to allow them to turn right into Marton
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
Drive and Watson Road an early start would have to be configured
into the signal phasing increasing the cycle time. All approaches to
the junction have a pretty constant flow of traffic travelling through
and no one approach has a heavier flow than any other, obviously
the situation during AM and PM periods is different and due to the
heavier traffic flow the cycle time does increase above the 120s time
period. Allowing an early start for northbound travelling vehicles will
result in additional delays and congestion through this junction. As a
result there are currently no proposals to amend the signal timings at
this junction.
Additional
issue from
20th July
2010 and 3rd
February
2011
Request for filter lights for traffic travelling
east along Squires Gate Lane should be
allowed to turn right into the Industrial
Estate or make a U-turn to travel west
along Squires Gate Lane before the
traffic travelling west. This is where the
problem is caused to traffic exiting
Balham Avenue to mainly travel west
along Squires Gate Lane. When exiting
Balham Avenue one has to wait for a gap
In the traffic travelling east along Squires
Gate Lane. By the time there is a gap in
the traffic the traffic lights have turned to
red and when they again turn to green,
there is a long queue of traffic travelling
west.
I would however like to add that the this junction will be upgraded in
the 2nd half of 2012 as part of the PFI contract, as part of this work
the Council will be looking at how the junction can be improved for all
road users by undertaking engineers measures to improve traffic
flows as well as reviewing the signal phasing as a result of any
possible engineering works undertaken on site.
This request is currently being reviewed. Information is awaited from
a Private Finance Initiative contractor on the phasing of the lights
and the time period to assess the potential knock on effect of making
the suggested changes. A further update is expected in June.
Response from Traffic Management – 5th July 2011
Traffic movements have been observed on a number of occasions at
this junction. Sufficient gaps are available in between traffic flows
allowing vehicles to turn right into the estate or undertake U
turns with ease within the existing phasing of the lights. The issue
here is that there is insufficient storage/capacity for vehicles wanting
to make this manoeuvre and if a number of vehicles wish to make
this manoeuvre together it does result in block back at this point. I
will review the signal phasing at this junction and if there is the
possibility that any minor changes can be made then I will arrange
for this to be done.
Further update received on 19th August 2011
I have re-visited this and also spoken to the Design Team for the PFI
Updated 1st September 2011
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
contract.
The junction was upgraded last year as part of the PFI contract and
as part of the design process surveys were undertaken on site.
As I have said previously, I do not perceive there to be an problem
for vehicles wishing to turn right or undertake U turns at this junction.
This is further supported by the survey undertaken by the PFI
contract, there is not a high number of vehicles wishing to make
these manoeuvres and there are sufficient gaps in between traffic
flows along Squires Gate Lane to allow vehicles to make these
movements should they wish. It is therefore my view that there is no
problem at this junction and there is no requirement to amend the
signal times/phasing.
21st July
2011
Concerns raised regarding the frequency
of the No.5 and No.7 buses and a
suggestion was made for these routes to
be revised.
May I also add, if residents from Balham Avenue use this junction to
undertake U turns to then travel west along Squires Gate Lane, it
may be more appropriate for them to use Faringdon Avenue, St.
Annes Road and Squires Gate Lane. This alternate route will bring
them out at the same point on Squires Gate Lane.
Response from Blackpool Transport
Further to your recent enquiry raised at the Thames Area Forum
concerning the infrequency of the 5 and 7 services in South Shore. I
would advise you that we share your concerns and reliability is our
current priority issue. Between November 2011 and January 2012
we are aiming to revise all of our timetables in order to improve
reliability across the network.
At the present time we are working flat out to resolve the reliability
issues on services 1, 7 and 11. We have prioritised these three
services because these are the services that perform the most
poorly, all other services in terms of performance will be addressed
by January. One of the key issues with the 5 is, not only does it
travel along some of the most congested roads in Blackpool and
meet a very large number of busy junctions but it is also an
extremely busy service and a very frequent one. A delay occurring to
one bus means that the next one very quickly catches up. In respect
Updated 1st September 2011
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
of the 7, the principal difficulty appears to be lack of running time
within Blackpool town centre and buses quickly seem to bunch as a
result.
I trust that this information helps to illustrate that we share your
concerns and are doing our level best to resolve these issues. In the
meantime please bear with us. As the old adage goes “Rome wasn’t
built in a day ”.
21st July
2011
Concerns were raised regarding the build
up of traffic on Watson Road and Station
Road as a result of coaches accessing
the Pleasure Beach.
I have looked at the access arrangements to the Pleasure Beach car
park and have witnessed some minor queuing on Bond Street on the
north bound approach to the car park entrance. My understanding is
the queuing exists in the morning for a short period before the
Pleasure Beach opens.
Completed
There is a Pay and Display bay on the west side of Bond Street
before the entrance and Double Yellow Lines on the east side of the
road. These parking restrictions prevent coaches from parking on
Bond Street.
The queuing I witnessed soon dissipated and was due to the barrier
arrangements at the car park entrance. I do not propose to alter the
parking restrictions on Bond Street because the existing Pay and
Display provides valuable parking for visitors and the Double Yellow
Lines on the east side are required to maintain the steady flow of
traffic.
21st July
2011
Following concerns raised, it was agreed
that a report detailing the structural
integrity of all bridges would be made
available.
Updated 1st September 2011
Response from Traffic Management
The list of bridges in the South Shore area as follows :1.
2.
3.
4.
5.
Lytham Road Bridge
Harrowside Bridge
Princess Street Bridge
Squires Gate Lane Bridge & Retaining Wall
Watson Road Bridge
Completed
Thames Area Forum – Progress Report on Issues Raised
Structural assessments are currently being undertaken on all of
these bridges to ascertain the weight limits.
The first priority is the reconstruction of Lytham Road bridge. The
condition of the superstructure and the results of the assessment
give cause for concern.
The second priority is Harrowside Bridge which requires replacing.
Squires Gate Lane Bridge is a single span riveted steel plate girder
which requires major maintenance including concrete repairs, metal
repairs and painting.
Waterloo Road Bridge – this is a four span riveted steel plate girder
bridge which requires major maintenance including concrete repairs,
metal repairs and painting.
St Annes Road Bridge, Yeadon Way. – This is a post tensioned
bridge which requires a post tensioned special inspection to
investigate cracking to the webs.
Watson Road bridge is a two span bridge. The eastern span is
constructed from cast iron girders with a brick arch deck. The
western span is a brick arch with cast iron girder widenings. The
construction date is relatively late for cast iron and it is suspected
that the girders have been “reused.”
A full report is being prepared highlighting the funding required to
undertake major maintenance of the structures for inclusion in a
forward programme of maintenance.
The Council currently has insufficient funding to carry out these
works. A meeting has been arranged with the Department for
Transport to request emergency funding.
Updated 1st September 2011