Archived decisions

AT A MEETING of the REGULATORY COMMITTEE B - SCHOOL TRANSPORT APPEALS PANEL held at The Castle, Winchester on Tuesday 19 September 2006.

PRESENT:

Councillors: P. R. Edgar; A.D.G. Evans; Jackie Porter

Also in attendance: Mrs K Thomas (appellant) and Julie Simpson (her representative)

Mr A Berncastle, Environment Department

1. APPOINTMENT OF CHAIRMAN

RESOLVED:

That Councillor Jackie Porter be appointed Chairman.

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.SCHOOL TRANSPORT APPEAL : STROUD TO THE PETERSFIELD SCHOOL

The Chairman reminded everyone present of the procedure which the Panel usually followed. Mr Berncastle presented the report of the Director of Environment (Item 4 in the Minute Book) concerning the walking route between Stroud and The Petersfield School and the Panel received personal representations by the appellant and her representative expressing concerns about the safety of the walking route between Stroud and The Petersfield School. Both parties were given the opportunity to ask questions of the other and Members' questions and points of clarification were dealt with where they arose.

The Panel then considered all the evidence they had received, having walked and carefully examined the route before the meeting. The Panel weighed all the arguments and were particularly mindful of the hazards from the east side of the junction of North Stroud Lane with the A272, along the A272 to the north side of the junction of Bedford Road with the A3/A272 interchange.

RESOLVED:

That the appeal be allowed on the grounds that the section of road A272 from the east side of the junction of North Stroud Lane with the A272, along the A272 to the north side of the junction of Bedford Road with the A3/A272 interchange is not available unaccompanied or accompanied by reason of the speed and uncertainties as to vehicle movements from the roundabout and the A3 southbound slip road into Bedford Road and traffic conditions and pedestrian safety on the route, in particular overhanging hedging which limited the available width of the footway in several places and the speed and volume of traffic along road A272.

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