Archived decisions

Contact: Tricia Knight, ext 6921 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 Parents have appealed, on road safety grounds, against the refusal to provide free transport from Penwood to The Clere School.

2. Background

2.1 Penwood lies 2.8 miles west of Burghclere, where the designated secondary school, The Clere School, is situated. The walking route is within the statutory three miles distance beyond which free transport is provided for children over eight attending their nearest or designated school.

3. The Appeal

3.1 The route has to be considered against the national Local Authority Road Safety Officers' Association (LARSOA) criteria for the Assessment of Walked Routes to School (Appendix 1). Appendix 2 shows the route.

3.2 1.3 miles of the route has no pavement. 0.75 mile of this is relatively wide, with a carriageway width around 21 feet. This section provides generally good visibility, with adequate verges, providing stepping off points if required.

3.3 Visibility is more restricted on bends such as just west of Treasure Hill Cottages and, to ensure maximum visibility, pedestrians should walk on the outside of the bends, crossing the road as necessary.

3.4 A 40 mph speed limit applies on parts of the route; elsewhere the national 60 mph limit applies.

3.5 On Tuesday 3 June 2008, between 0755 and 0855, at the junction near Yew Tree Farm, 403 cars passed in either direction, along with 25 other motor vehicles. On Wednesday 11 June 2008, between 0750 and 0850, at the A34 bridge, 325 cars passed in either direction along with 19 other motor vehicles.

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 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.

1728/TK