I attach below the Objection Report received from the County Council Environmental Services Directorate recommending the revocation of the Prohibition of Driving Order on St Peter's Road.
This is very disappointing news and I believe the report fails to address the main concern of both residents and parents and teachers at Northleigh Primary School that with the further development of the North Site St Peter's Road will be vulnerable to an increase in traffic useage levels which will pose a health and safety risk, especially for young children - both residents and those at the primary school using the road to access and leave school at either end of the day but who also have to cross the road during the day to access their playing fields on the other side of the road. Alongside this it will clearly affect all the residents living on this road, some of whom contributed to the cost of highway works (when the road moved from being unadopted) on the understanding that the access order would remain in force after the road was adopted.
Whilst it is encouraging to read in the report below that the Chief Constable is 'mindful of the residents' concerns and if additional traffic management measures could be introduced, then he would be prepared to discuss the detail of any proposed scheme that would achieve the objectives of all concerned.' However, given that I have already worked with residents and the Council, without success, to see if we could find sufficient money from the Council to improve signage and road markings for St Peter's Road, I am sure residents might feel that whilst we could have discussions we may not be able to access the budgets required to implement any agreement reached between us.
Having today completed and returned my Objection Stage report opposing the recommendation made by the County Council as outlined above, I have also spoken with the officer concerned who has informed me that if any of the three Councillors involved objects to the recommendation the proposal would not receive the support of legal services who would need to see 100% support for this. I am told that the next stage in the decision-making process at the County Council will be to refer this decision to the Network Control Manager and the Cabinet Member with responsibility for this area, Cllr Derek Prodger.
OBJECTION STAGE REPORT
ST PETERS ROAD, MALVERN
PROPOSED REVOCATION OF PROHIBITION OF DRIVING ORDER
The local County Councillor is: Mrs B Nielsen
The local District Councillors are: Mrs J Kelly and Mr J Raine
Purpose of Report
To consider letters of objection and comment received following the public advertisement of this proposed Traffic Regulation Order.
Background
Following public advertisement Legal Services received 15 letters/emails of objection and one of support was received. The letter of support, from Northleigh School, was later withdrawn and a letter of objection was then sent in.
Copies of these letters and emails are enclosed. Also enclosed is a copy of the associated proposal drawing numbered T/2008-253. (Note: The advice of legal services is that these should not be available to the public as they concern personal information relating to the individuals who sent these letters, but may be published if these individuals give their consent)
Also enclosed is a copy of a petition received after the objection deadline. It has 25 signatures of people, who object to this TRO proposal. (Note: further signatures have been gathered over the summer as we were unable to get together all the signatures of parents and residents in time for the last meeting of Worcs County Council to be held before the summer break which took place on 24th June 2010.
Whilst opinions initially differed between residents of St Peter's Road and representatives of Northleigh Primary School it became clear after discussions I was able to facilitate between all parties that everyone was unanimous in their opposition to this proposal. Following this residents on the road, together with representatives of Northleigh Primary School, including - parents, headteacher and staff and governors as represented by the Chairman of Governors, Mr John Dixon, have opposed this proposal to revoke the Restricted Access Order on St Peter's Road. )
The resident's objections relate to concern at increased traffic flows and resultant road safety fears, should the access only order be revoked. Residents have expressed concern at current abuse of the order, lack of enforcement and congestion, at the beginning and end of the school day. The other common concern relates to the possibility of increased future traffic flows, on St Peter's Road, by traffic associated with the North Site Development, on Leigh Sinton Road. Some residents state that they contributed financially to the highway works, necessary for the public adoption of the road in 2001. Accordingly, they understood that the access only order would remain in force after the road had become part of the Public Highway network. Other concerns relate to the existing school warning signage and the school gateway.
Analysis
An objection was made on the ground that objectors made their objections without knowing the reasons for the proposal as the letter from the Police recommending the proposal was not disclosed. Whilst it is accepted that the letter ought to have been disclosed, this particular issue was resolved by the reasons for the proposal being discussed with objectors, both on the telephone and at a meeting.
The Chief Constable, having considered the correspondence received, states that his view regarding the need to remove the order remains unchanged and that he still supports the proposed revocation. He also states that he is mindful of the residents' concerns and if additional traffic management measures could be introduced, then he would be prepared to discuss the detail of any proposed scheme that would achieve the objectives of all concerned.
Conclusion
The Police have expressed a legitimate road safety concern, regarding potential turning manoeuvres outside the school, should the order be enforced. Observation has shown that significant numbers of school pupils' parents ignore the current Order and drive straight through the restricted section of St Peters Road, when collecting or dropping off their children. Typically vehicles are parked along the entire length of the road, at the beginning and end of the school day. On street parking levels drop off significantly at other times. Should the Police enforce the current Order then the restricted length would be respected and subsequent 3 point turns would occur outside the school and in the turning area causing a safety problem. This safety concern would be addressed by the revocation of this Order.
The section of St Peter's Road, from its junction with Blackmore Road to its junction with Cowleigh Bank, has a series of road humps and a road narrowing traffic calming feature. Following concern, raised by residents and the County Member, investigation has been undertaken to look into additional traffic calming features for St Peter's Road, funded by the North Site Developer highway improvement monies. Unfortunately, St Peter's Road is outside the area covered by the agreement.
Two speed measurement surveys have been undertaken, the first recorded an average speed of 16 mph, outside the school. A subsequent survey, near to Tanglewood Heights, recorded average 85th percentile speeds of 24.6 mph & 23.6 mph, for northbound & southbound vehicles respectively. The recorded speed data is typical of a traffic calmed area and demonstrates that the features work well in reducing vehicle speeds.
The two way 24 hour average vehicle flow was recorded as 403 vehicles. Further monitoring will be undertaken, should the revocation order be implemented.
Whilst objectors' concerns are acknowledged, the Police's views as enforcing authority must be given considerable weight. Enforcing the current restrictions could increase safety problems. Also, the evidence of the surveys indicates that speed levels are being reduced by the existing road layout, and there is nothing to indicate that this would not continue if the order was made. It is therefore considered that the risks of retaining the present restrictions outweigh those of revoking them. Accordingly, it is considered that the proposals should be implemented.
Recommendation
The Environmental Services Directorate recommends that the proposals are implemented without modification, as advertised.
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