Archived decisions

Contact: Simon Found, ext 6593

1. In July 2000 this Panel recommended endorsement of the consultation process for the Brockenhurst CE school safety zone. This report informs Members of the progress on this scheme from the initial stage of the consultation exercise undertaken in July 2000 to the current position, where a project appraisal is to be considered by the Executive Member for Environment in December 2001.

2. The initial public consultation on the original proposal was held on 20 July 2000 in the school's main hall. In advance of the consultation a press release was issued to local newspapers. Also, posters were displayed outside the school to inform parents and the general public of the forthcoming exhibition.

3. A total of 80 people attended the exhibition, of which the majority supported the proposals. However, the Parish Council expressed its concern to the local Member, Councillor Thornber, that the exhibition was not widely advertised and response to the scheme proposals was not representative of the people of Brockenhurst.

4. It was therefore agreed that a further consultation on the proposals would be undertaken. For this a prepaid postal survey questionnaire was distributed to every household within the school catchment area.

5. In February 2001 the consultation leaflet was distributed to over 1,200 households. The leaflet contained a plan of the proposed scheme, together with explanation text in terms of its aims and objectives and the results of the previous consultation.

6. The results of the questionnaire survey showed that there was general support for a scheme which provided greater safety for children walking along and crossing Sway Road near the school. However, from the comments received it was evident that there was concern about the pinch points within the scheme layout. It was viewed that these would cause severe delay to traffic on Sway Road and would also create problems for traffic turning in and out of two minor roads adjacent to them.

7. Based on these results and the endorsement of the local Member, Councillor Thornber, a revised scheme was subsequently designed which maintained the uncontrolled crossing point and widened footway area outside the school entrance but removed the pinch points. A plan of the revised scheme will be displayed at the meeting.

8. The Parish Council has been consulted on the amended scheme and generally supports the proposals. The only request made was that it would like to see a 20 miles per hour (mph) limit introduced within the school safety zone.

9. However, guidance from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions is that 20 mph limits are only appropriate where existing speeds are low, with the 85%ile speed being no higher than 24 mph. At present the current 85%ile speed is 33 mph. It is therefore proposed to monitor the speed of traffic through the school safety zone after the scheme has been implemented and if speeds are reduced to below 24 mph a Traffic Regulation Order would then be advertised to put a 20 mph speed limit in place.

10. Since this scheme was initially developed, a problem of flooding has been identified on a section of footway on the eastern side of Sway Road, just south of the school. This footway is used as a route by schoolchildren attending the school.

11. Investigations have shown that the cause of the problem is poor drainage and a remedial scheme has been designed to overcome the problem. These works will ensure that the footway will remain open for pedestrians throughout the year, and provide a safe route for children walking to the school.

12. As the works are in close proximity to the school, it is logical to implement the improvements as part of the overall school safety zone scheme.

13. It is estimated that the cost of these additional works will be £18,000. The budget allocation for the school safety zone is £150,000, and since the revised school safety zone is only costing £40,000 there are sufficient funds to cover this extra expenditure.

Recommendations

1. That it be a RECOMMENDATION to the Executive Member for Environment that the scheme for implementation be approved.

2. That, subject to approval by the Executive Member for Environment of the project appraisal for the scheme, and its subsequent construction, the speed of traffic be monitored and a 20 miles per hour limit applied to this section of Sway Road, if technically justified in accordance with the guidance from the Department for Transport, Local Government and the Regions.

3. That the progress on the Brockenhurst CE School safety zone scheme be noted.

6796/SJF