Contact: Andy Berncastle, ext 6921 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 A parent has appealed, on road safety grounds, against the refusal to provide free transport from Stroud to The Petersfield School.

2. Background

2.1 Stroud lies two miles west of Petersfield, on the A272 road. The designated secondary school is The Petersfield School, just south of the town centre. The shortest walking route is some 2.4 miles long, within the statutory three mile distance beyond which free transport is provided for children over eight attending their nearest or designated school.

2.2 One parent has recently appealed on safety grounds against the County Council's refusal to provide free transport.

3. The Appeal

3.1 The route has to be considered against the normal criteria (Appendix 1). Appendix 2 shows the route.

3.2 Correspondence from the parents is attached as Appendix 3 (confidential).

3.3 The A272 has an adequate tarmac pavement on its south side from Stroud to the A3 flyover junction on the outskirts of Petersfield. This pavement varies in width and the parent is concerned about the speed and volumes of traffic passing close by.

3.4 At the A3 flyover junction, it is necessary to cross the slip road from the A3 northbound, the slip road leading to the A3 southbound and Bedford Road, which leads to an industrial estate. The slip roads are of course one way and on a recent site visit did not prove difficult to cross in the morning peak. Bedford Road is fortunately provided with a pedestrian refuge and this aids crossing.

3.5 From the A3 flyover junction, adequate pavements exist in the town and it is considered that no significant safety problem exists on the route to The Petersfield School.

3.6 The parent appears most concerned about safety at the A3 flyover junction. It is suggested that, if this junction is of particular concern, parents have the option of accompanying their child from Stroud to the far side of the junction in the mornings and meeting them there in the afternoons.

4. Conclusion

4.1 Members will have had the opportunity to inspect the walking route. The County Council's position is that, under the criteria, the walking route is available.

4.2 It is for Members to consider, following the guidance set out in paragraph 2.12 and 2.13 of Appendix 1:

(i) whether the nature of the route, or an alternative route, means that it is available for children if unaccompanied; and

(ii) if the answer to (i) is no, whether the route is available if accompanied.

4.3 If the answer to (ii) is yes, separate consideration by the Children's Services Department would be given to any representations by parents or carers who are unable to accompany their children by virtue of individual circumstances.

9393/AB