Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the REGULATORY COMMITTEE B held at The Castle, Winchester on Monday 1 December 2003.

PRESENT:

Councillors: E.F. Gale, MBE; M.S. Geddes; P. Luffman; R.H. Price.

1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor M.S. Geddes be appointed Chairman for this meeting only.

2. DECLARATIONS OF INTEREST

Members were mindful that, where they believed they had a personal or personal prejudicial interest in any matter to be considered at the meeting, they should normally at the time of the debate, declare their interest and, having regard to the circumstances described in paragraphs 9, 10, 11 and 12 of the County Council's Code of Conduct, consider whether to leave the meeting whilst the matter was discussed.

3. DEPUTATIONS

The Committee received four deputations expressing concerns about the walking route between Chilbolton and Wherwell to Wherwell Primary School, Andover (Minute No. 4 below refers):

Mrs K. Lampard - Chairman of Governors of Wherwell Primary School
Mr J. Hellier - Governor of Wherwell Primary School
Mrs K. Edwards - Parent and Co-Chair on the Parent Teacher Association of Wherwell Primary School
Mr R. Brown - Parent of a child attending Wherwell Primary School

4. SCHOOL TRANSPORT APPEAL - CHILBOLTON AND WHERWELL TO WHERWELL PRIMARY SCHOOL, ANDOVER

The Committee considered the report of the Director of Environment (Item 4 in the Minute Book) concerning the walking route between Chilbolton and Wherwell to Wherwell Primary School, Andover.

The Committee also received supporting representations from Councillor P.A. Pierce as local Ward Member.

Having carefully examined the route and weighed the arguments, the Committee concluded:

(i) That the section of route from Wherwell to Wherwell Primary School was unavailable for a child unaccompanied but available for a child accompanied by an adult and therefore in the circumstances this part of the appeal was disallowed. It was noted that parents had a further right of appeal based on individual circumstances, such as the practicalities of accompanying a child or on medical grounds etc and should write to the Environment Department in the first instance.


(ii) That the section of route from Chilbolton to Wherwell Primary School was considered to be unavailable for a child both accompanied and unaccompanied. In particular the Committee expressed safety concerns about the section of the route at Winchester Road junction with the B3420. The Committee considered that the remainder of the route was available for a child accompanied by an adult. Therefore in the circumstances this part of the appeal was allowed.


At the close of the meeting, the Chairman thanked the deputees for their attendance and informed them that whilst the Committee had noted the points made by them about environmental issues, they could not be taken into consideration as the purpose of the Committee was to look at safety factors along the route inspected.


RESOLVED:


(1) That the section of route from Wherwell to Wherwell Primary School be disallowed.


(2) That the section of route from Chilbolton to Wherwell Primary School be allowed.