Archived decisions

Contact: Neil Beswick, ext 6921 email: [email protected]

1. Summary

1.1 The appellant has appealed, on road safety grounds, against the decision not to award free school transport to his daughter, from Rattigan Gardens, Whiteley, to St John the Baptist School, Titchfield Common.

2. Background

2.1 Rattigan Gardens lies 2.4 miles North of St John the Baptist School, Titchfield Common. The walking route is within the statutory three miles distance beyond which free transport is provided for children over eight attending their nearest suitable or designated school.

2.2 The appellant has raised concerns over the availability of the walking route to the school from Rattigan Gardens via Whiteley Lane. The nearest available walking route from Rattigan Gardens to the school is Via Sweethills Crescent, Yew Tree Drive, Botley Road, Hunts Pond Road and Abshot Road.

2.3 The board of governors at the school have also raised concerns over the walking route for other pupils in Whiteley to the school, via Whiteley Lane

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 2 ).

3.2 An on-site inspection was undertaken on 3 June 2009 by a representative from Hampshire County Council's Road Safety Team. The salient points of this report are in Appendix 1

3.3 Whiteley Lane has a section 0.31 miles long that does not have a designated footpath or pavement. However, visibility is good, and there are adequate step off points onto the grass verge along this stretch of road.

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.

NB