Archived decisions

HAMPSHIRE COUNTY COUNCIL

EXECUTIVE MEMBER - ENVIRONMENT: NORTH HAMPSHIRE AND SPATIAL STRATEGY

ITEM 1

PROJECT APPRAISAL

PROJECT:

WOOLTON HILL JUNIOR AND ST THOMAS INFANT SCHOOL IN WOOLTON HILL - SAFER ROUTES TO SCHOOL

COMMENCEMENT DATE:

JULY 2005

COMPLETION DATE:

SEPTEMBER 2005

PLANNED YEAR OF START IN ACCORDANCE WITH CAPITAL PROGRAMME: 2005/06

1.

FINANCE (Client Department, Director of Property, Business and Regulatory Services [Estates Practice] and County Treasurer)

Current

Capital

Estimate

Programme

(at 2005

(at 2005

prices)

prices)

Capital Expenditure

£'000

£'000

Land to be purchased

Nil

Nil

Construction

85

85

Fees

30

30

115

115

Less developers/

other contributions

115

115

Financial provision for total scheme

Total Cost

1.

From Committees own resources

(a) Capital programme (as above)

115

(b) Other

115

2.

From other resources

(a)

(b)

(c)

TOTAL

115

Value of land for this project in HCC ownership £

Variations from capital programme

Revenue implications

£'000

% variation

to Committee's

budget

Net current expenditure

2.5

0.003

Capital charges

11.0

0.009

TOTAL net expenditure

13.5

0.012

2.

STATEMENT OF NEED/JUSTIFICATION FOR PROJECT

(Client Department)

2.1

2.2

2.3

2.4

2.5

2.6

The developed set of proposals are intended to make non car journeys to school safer and easier for pupils of Woolton Hill Junior School and St Thomas' CE Infants School in Woolton Hill. The scheme addresses the concerns raised in the combined School Travel Plan (STP) which was received by the County Council School Travel Planning Team in 2003. The overall objective is to encourage as many children as reasonably possible to be more active and independent by walking to school on a regular basis.

St Thomas' CE Infants School has 137 pupils aged between four and seven years, the majority of whom live within the local area, but a growing number of pupils attend from the residential catchment area of nearby Newbury. The school does not have any designated vehicle parking for parents, therefore there is an increased traffic problem at school start and finish times. At present, around 20% of pupils walk to school, with 60% coming by car and a further 20% combining walking and car. However, 40% of pupils have indicated that they would like to walk if improvements to reduce vehicle speed and improve footpaths along the C5 were undertaken.

Woolton Hill Junior School has 158 pupils aged between seven and eleven years, with a growing number of pupils (in the order of 20%) coming from outside the immediate catchment area. This has resulted in similar peak period traffic management and potential safety problems as encountered by the Infants School. Although some parking bays are available to parents, demand outstrips supply at pupil arrival and departure times, leading to parents parking on the road along the school frontage, effectively reducing it to a single carriageway. Following a survey of pupils, 70% are currently taken to school by car with 30% walking. However a marked increase in those walking was indicated should the appropriate road improvements be undertaken.

Many parents are reluctant to afford their Year 6 children the opportunity to travel to school independently in preparation for a transfer to secondary school, because they fear for their child's safety when crossing the road adjacent to the school(s).

Taking into account the recommended actions outlined in the STP, proposals have been developed in consultation with the schools (senior teaching staff and governing bodies), local residents and the Parish Council to encourage fewer parents to take their children to school by car.

Targets and Outcomes

It is envisaged that there will be an overall increase of at least 5% of children walking to school.

3.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT PROPOSAL (Client Department)

National/County Network and Policies

3.1

This scheme forms part of the developing County Council programme of Safer Routes to School infrastructure initiatives linked to STPs.

Details of Scheme and Design Standards

3.2

The scheme comprises:

(i) Installation of a new length of footway outside the junior school. The new footway will offer increased safety to pupils embarking and disembarking from cars parked along it during school drop-off and pick-up times. Access to these vehicles can be maintained without the need for children to step into the carriageway, thus offering a safety enhancement over the current situation.

(ii) Construction of pinch-points along the length of C5 between the gateway features which will reduce the remaining carriageway width to 5 metres but allow passing places for vehicles in busy periods. These locations will also have coloured surfacing and reflective bollards to highlight the narrowing and the most appropriate places for pedestrians to cross the road.

(iii) Creation of proposed crossing points with tactile paving, dropped kerbs, anti-skid carriageway surface treatment on both approaches and bollards to highlight locations. Pedestrian flows at this location do not warrant a controlled crossing or Zebra.

(iv) Installation of pinch-point gateway features at opposite ends of road C5 (which passes across the frontages of both schools), supplemented by red coloured surfacing and slow markings to raise driver awareness of the presence of schools.

The entire scheme is to be accompanied by new warning signing with flashing amber lights, coloured surfacing and anti-skid surfacing at desired points.

A location plan is attached and a detailed plan will be displayed at the meeting.

Environmental Impact

3.3

The scheme will contribute to a safer and improved environment for pedestrians and vulnerable road users, in particular school children. There will be some visual impact from the addition of limited areas of coloured carriageway surfacing, the provision of new warning signs, the flashing amber lights and the associated construction of a new footway length, build-outs and crossing points. Some vegetation removal will be necessary in order to improve pedestrian passage along the existing and proposed footways.

The C5 is a local road and the effect on traffic using it will be to slow them down and warn them that they are driving through an area used by young children. The road is used by local traffic only and is not a through-route for traffic making longer journeys.

Land Requirements

3.4

No land acquisition required. All works to be confined within existing public highway limits.

Statutory Procedures

3.5

A temporary Road Closure Notice is required to construct the scheme, this has been progressed by Basingstoke and Deane Borough Council. A small extension to the existing waiting restrictions is also required and the Traffic Regulation Order is being progressed by the County Council.

The Stage 2 Safety Audit has been undertaken by the County Council; this raised only two very minor issues which have been resolved.

Public Consultation

3.6

A public exhibition was held at the Junior School and approximately 100 people attended, comprising parish councillors, parents and residents. The exhibition was widely advertised by way of a letter drop to all frontage residents, all school children took a letter home; a notice was placed in the local press and around 100 letters were left at the post office. While the principles to improve safety for school children were generally supported, feedback about the original proposals has resulted in the deferral of a mini roundabout. Consultation plans of these final proposals have been circulated to the Parish Council, school governors and local residents and received very strong support for the proposed measures. Indeed, all attendees are 100% in support of the proposed scheme now that the street lighting element has been removed.

Local Member's View

3.7

The local Member, Councillor Maxwell, fully supports the scheme and attended the public exhibition.

Impact Assessments

3.8

This scheme will ease crossing of the C5 road for disabled persons and people with pushchairs as it provides dropped kerbs and tactile paving. The proposals also provides improved facilities for non-vehicle users in an area of need for vulnerable highway users and in particular school children.

Maintenance Implications

3.9

The revenue implications of this proposal will be taken into account when the annual base budget is set.

Crime and Disorder Act 1998

3.10

The provisions of this Act have no impact on this proposal.

Sustainability

3.11

The scheme will improve the environment for pedestrians and may help to reduce dependence on the motor car. It is envisaged that there will be a 5% increase in numbers of children walking to school. In addition solar-powered flashing amber lights will be used where possible.

4.

ROAD IMPROVEMENT - ALTERNATIVES CONSIDERED

(Client Department)

4.1

A mini-roundabout was proposed as a possible speed reducing feature, however this was withdrawn following consideration of the response to a public consultation exercise.

Section 100 D - Local Government Act 1972 - background papers

The following documents disclose facts or matters on which this report, or an important part of it, is based and has been relied upon to a material extent in the preparation of this report.

NB the list excludes:

1.

Published works.

2.

Documents which disclose exempt or confidential information as defined in the Act.

TITLE

LOCATION

St Thomas' Infants and Woolton Hill Junior Schools Travel Plan

Environment Department

Transport Policy