Archived decisions

Contact: Tim Cheesebrough, ext 7114 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 This report seeks approval for the de-commissioning of the above School Crossing Patrol serving both Abbotswood Junior School and the nearby Lydlynch Infant School at Totton, New Forest District. Children, parents and carers crossing A336 Ringwood Road at this location will continue to be served by a signal controlled pedestrian (Pelican) crossing at the same location.

1.2 This decision will enable those crossing the A336 Ringwood Road to do so safely and to make the most efficient use of available resources in the School Crossing Patrol service.

2. Recommendation

That the School Crossing Patrol service for the A336 Ringwood Road, Totton, New Forest District be de-commissioned and removed from the list of `active' School Crossing Patrol sites in Hampshire.

3. Background

3.1 A report on this item was presented to the Executive Member for the Environment on 12 December 2006 (copy attached). Following presentations made by parents, Governors and local residents outlining concerns over the proposal to de-commission the crossing patrol service at this location, the Executive Member deferred a decision in order to seek further data and information concerning the following matters:

(i) concerns raised in presentations over possible speeding traffic in the area and any further available evidence from Hampshire Constabulary in respect of speeding offences committed in the immediate area of the crossing;

(ii) any reported evidence of vehicles infringing red traffic light signals;

(iii) the reliability of the Pelican crossing apparatus at this location; and

(iv) the need for visibility/infrastructure improvements near to the Pelican crossing, for example to deter parking on adjacent footways.

4. Further Information Gathered

4.1 Subsequent to the December meeting further liaison has taken place with the local Hampshire Constabulary Roads Policing Unit Traffic Management Officer. This revealed the following:

(i) Since January 2004 there have been no requests to Hampshire Constabulary for speed related enforcement in Ringwood Road, Totton, although it was understood that New Forest District Council had been requested by the local District Councillor for the area to place a temporary speed indicator (electronic sign device) on Ringwood Road.

(ii) Ringwood Road over the above period of time had not been the subject of any direct speed enforcement action by Hampshire Constabulary and therefore any fixed penalty notices issued to drivers on A336 Ringwood Road would have been the result of routine enforcement presence in the general area. As a consequence, there would be no direct link between any offences committed along A336 Ringwood Road and speeds in the immediate vicinity of the crossing.

(iii) There is no evidence from available enforcement records of any failure to comply with the traffic signals at this location.

4.2 During January 2007 officers from the Environment Department placed radar speed monitor devices on both approaches to the Pelican crossing location to determine typical vehicle speeds over a period of time, but particularly in the morning and afternoon periods when the crossing was most likely to be used by children, parents and carers travelling to and from the local schools. The data gathered revealed the following information:

Monday, 8 January to Friday, 12 January

(i) For the westbound approach to the crossing point the mean speed (8 am-9 am) was recorded at 26.2 miles per hour (mph), with the 85%ile speed (the speed at which 85% of vehicles would be at or below) recorded at 32.1 mph.

(ii) For the same approach in the afternoon (3 pm-4 pm) the mean speed was recorded at 23.7 mph and the 85%ile speed at 29.8 mph.

(iii) For the eastbound approach to the crossing point the mean speed (8 am-9 am) was recorded at 22 mph, with the 85%ile speed recorded at 29.2 mph.

(iv) For the same approach in the afternoon (3 pm-4 pm) the mean speed was recorded at 20.4 mph and the 85%ile speed at 26.6 mph.

Friday, 19 January to Wednesday, 24 January

(i) For the westbound approach to the crossing point the mean speed (8 am-9 am) was recorded at 28.0 miles per hour (mph), with the 85%ile speed recorded at 33.8 mph.

(ii) For the same approach in the afternoon (3 pm-4 pm) the mean speed was recorded at 24.1 mph and the 85%ile speed at 30.5 mph.

(iii) For the eastbound approach to the crossing point the mean speed (8 am-9 am) was recorded at 22.7 mph, with the 85%ile speed recorded at 30.0 mph.

(iv) For the same approach in the afternoon (3 pm-4 pm) the mean speed was recorded at 20.2 mph and the 85%ile speed at 26.0 mph.

4.3 Although a small number of vehicles was recorded in both survey periods exceeding the speed limit of 30 mph at the peak times of school entry and exit activity, it is evident that the majority of drivers adhere to the speed limit, with a large proportion of those vehicles travelling at approach speeds in the mid to low 20 mph range.

4.4 In this context, the County Council will shortly liaise with Hampshire schools over their willingness to contribute to the Hampshire-wide "20 is Plenty" driver awareness campaign promoting lower vehicle speeds near to school premises. This awareness campaign should help to reinforce that for the A336 Ringwood Road 20 mph is the appropriate maximum speed to be adopted in this locality.

5. Additional Works

5.1 Subsequent to the December meeting, and partially as a result of concerns expressed during the deputation to the Executive Member, the following local infrastructure improvements have been made in the immediate vicinity of the Pelican crossing:

(i) provision of approximately 50 metres of buff coloured anti-skid (high friction) surfacing on the immediate approaches to the crossing in both the westbound and eastbound directions of travel, together with the associated extension of the zig-zag markings on the approach to the crossing from both directions;

(ii) provision of new `dragons teeth', low wooden bollards on the northern side verge from the crossing over part of the school frontage, in order to prevent both footway parking and vehicles travelling along the footway verge in an eastbound direction; and

(iii) footway maintenance works in the waiting area north of the crossing in order to provide a better footway surface and reduced ponding in times of wet weather.

5.2 Additionally, due to concerns raised about possible reliability problems with the signal apparatus at this location, a full inspection of the site's fault reports has been undertaken. Although there are no particular concerns with the apparatus and that the most recent faults have been associated principally with local power supply failures, the signal controller will be replaced as part of the cyclical replacement programme during the 2007/08 financial year. This is likely to offer improved assurance of apparatus reliability, including automatic restart following any future power failures.

6. Impact Assessments

6.1 It is considered that the action proposed will not have any detrimental impact on equalities or race discrimination.

7. Conclusion

7.1 Further detailed analysis of vehicle speeds in the immediate vicinity of the Pelican crossing on A336 Abbotswood School, Totton has revealed that the majority of vehicles adhere to the local speed limit of 30 mph. Furthermore, there is no evidence available from Hampshire Constabulary to suggest there have been any enforcement problems at the locality in terms of vehicle speeds or failure to comply with the traffic signals. With implemented infrastructure improvements in the vicinity of the crossing to reduce footway/verge parking and to improve both visibility and carriageway surfaces on the immediate approaches to the crossing, it is concluded that the proposal to de-commission the crossing patrol service at this location should stand. In 2007/08 the signal control apparatus will be replaced, which should improve the reliability of the traffic signal apparatus.

1190Rpt/TLC