Planning – Application Comments

Consultation Date: Wed 12 Jul 2023

Comment Date: Mon 27 Nov 2023

The proposals seek to replace an existing 48-sheet poster and paste advertisement with a digital poster display (D-Poster) which will display advertisements on rotation, with each advert displayed for a minimum of 10 seconds at a time. The Local Highway Authority (LHA) would be unable to support the proposed development due to the impacts on highway safety.

The advert would be situated to the rear of 9-11 Chudleigh Road and on the southern side of the access road which serves the garages and off-street parking arrangements to the rear of the properties on Chudleigh Road. The advert would face oncoming traffic travelling south-westerly along Old Laira Road (B3214) which is subject to a 30mph speed limit. The junction of Old Laira Road with Chudleigh Road is located approximately 25m from the site and an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing is situated approximately 20m from the site.

There are concerns with regard to left turn movements into the rear access lane on which the advert would be situated. The advert would be clearly visible to vehicles travelling along this route and could pose a distraction to drivers, resulting in an increased risk of vehicle to vehicle conflict (by way of rear shunts) between a car turning left into the access road and those following along behind.

In addition, there is around 20 metres of stopping distance between the rear of a vehicle performing left turn movements into the junction with Chudleigh Road and the location of the sign, which is an insufficient level of distance for drivers, who may become distracted by the advert, to safely stop and avoid vehicle to vehicle conflict by way of a rear shunt. By comparison, as detailed within Manual for Streets, the stopping sight distance (SSD) for a 30mph road is 43 metres. There are also concerns with regard to vehicle to vehicle conflict between cars travelling along Old Laira Road and cars egressing from this junction. There have been 3x injury accidents recorded at this junction in the last 5 years.

Additionally, there is an insufficient level of stopping distance for cars to stop between the location of the sign and the uncontrolled pedestrian crossing which would give rise to concerns of vehicle to pedestrian conflict. A local primary school is located within close vicinity to the site and therefore the crossing could experience high levels of movements during school drop off and pick up times. When considering Manual for Streets again, the SSD for a 20mph is 25 metres. Therefore, even if drivers were travelling at lower speeds that the maximum speed limit of 30mph, there would still be a shortfall in stopping distance.

Notwithstanding the suggested controls over advert screen time, transitional periods and
lighting levels, it is considered that a digital poster of this type and in this specific location
could result in vehicle to vehicle conflict between drivers travelling along Old Laira Road and those undertaking left turn movements onto the rear access road and Chudleigh Road, and those egressing from Chudleigh Road. Furthermore, there would be an increased risk to vehicle and pedestrian conflicts due to the close proximity of the uncontrolled pedestrian crossing on Old Laira Road. Pedestrians are the most vulnerable road users and as such their safety should be paramount. It is therefore recommended that the application be refused due to concerns of highway safety.


Recommendations:

Support
No objection
No objection subject to appropriate mitigation (as identified below)
Object to application X

If 'object' on what grounds?

Reasons for refusal:
By virtue of its design and positioning, the Local Highway Authority consider that the illuminated display (which replaces an existing static display board) will cause distraction to motorists travelling along Old Laira Road (B3214) on the approach to the junctions with the lane to the rear of Chudleigh Road and Chudleigh Road itself which gives rise to concerns of highway safety including:

- an increase in rear shunt type accidents occurring when vehicles perform a
left turn from Old Laira Road onto the access road to the rear of Chudleigh Road and
onto Chudleigh Road itself
- the potential for vehicle to vehicle conflict between vehicles travelling along Old Laira
Road and vehicles egressing from the junction with Chudleigh Road.
- the potential for vehicle to pedestrian conflict due to the close proximity of an
uncontrolled pedestrian crossing.

The proposal is therefore contrary to Policy DEV29 of the adopted Plymouth and South West Devon Joint Local Plan adopted March 2019.

The proposed development has been considered in accordance with the Councils current Development Plan Policies and having regard for the National Planning Policy Framework.



Abbie Perry

Transport Planning Officer
Officer authorised to sign on behalf of the
Director for Strategic Planning & Infrastructure

28/07/2023