Home > Agenda item

Agenda item

School Streets

This report includes the engagement with 93 junior and primary schools; the receipt of 31 School Street requests; the identification of 11 favourable locations; and the selection method for proposing School Streets in an initial 8 locations.

Minutes:

The Traffic Management Advisory Committee considered the report which included the engagement with 93 junior and primary schools; the receipt of 31 School Street requests; the identification of 11 favourable locations; and the selection method for proposing School Streets in an initial eight locations.

 

Councillor Ben-Hassel addressed the Committee in her capacity as a Ward Councillor and explained that the residents of Norbury & Pollards Hill had expressed strong support of the school streets scheme on the grounds of safety and air quality. She expressed concern for the low response rate to the informal consultation and requested that officers provided Local Councillors with key facts to disperse to residents. She also queried whether there was a long-term plan to track the air quality in the area. In response, the Head of Parking noted that a FAQ document had been produced for parents and residents. It was also clarified that the officers were unable to monitor hospital admissions affected by air quality; however, air quality surveys were being completed before and after the scheme and one survey a year after implementation.

 

In response to Councillor Hoar the Head of Parking Services explained that formal consultation would include with the selected schools, parents of the school pupils, and the local area, which would be approximately a 200 meter radius from the school to ensure directly and indirectly affected residents were included. It was added that a very low response had been received in some areas that were informally consulted, which had affected the statistics in the report; however, all letters were hand delivered.

 

The Head of Parking Services explained to the Committee that they were unable to estimate the income from fine paying as the school streets scheme was being accepted across wider London; therefore, as more Councils adopted it, the compliance would be higher.

 

Councillor Ali noted that if the scheme was implemented, Croydon would be one of the leading Boroughs with the school streets scheme and this was very positive. He explained that the finance should not be a concern as the scheme was being proposed for positive reasons, including; ensuring road safety, improving air quality, and improving congestion. He noted that there had been appropriate communication and press explaining these reasons and thanked the officers for their hard work. The Chair seconded Councillor Ali’s comments.

 

It was confirmed that if a positive response was received through the formal feedback process and the Traffic Management Order (TMO) was agreed then the scheme would be implemented as permanent and not on a trial basis.

 

In response to Councillor Hoar it was explained that the 90 minute window was being proposed to introduce a uniform approach to the school streets scheme; it was also confirmed that sites that hosted just secondary or primary schools would have a slightly shorter window of time. The timings were also recommended as a result of the consultation with the schools and local residents. The Head of Parking Services also noted that following the trial schemes, there had been a positive change in behaviour from the parents and children were using different modes of transport to get to school.

 

In response to Councillor Mohan it was noted that parents would be consulted during the formal consultation period and that the feedback received from the residents and schools during the informal consultation had been positive from all eight sites.

 

In response to Councillor Hoar the Head of Parking Services confirmed to look in to improving the markings, including road markings, near the Harris Academy Purley site.

 

Councillor Mohan noted that there was not enough evidence to support the scheme as the response rate from informal consultation was low and parents had not yet been consulted. He explained he was not opposed to the scheme but would abstain from the vote. Councillor Hoar agreed with Councillor Mohan’s comments and explained that he would also abstain.

 

The Head of Parking Services confirmed that the formal consultation results would be reported at the Traffic Management Advisory Committee on 10 July 2019, and if it was agreed the scheme would be implemented in September 2019.

 

A recorded vote was requested and taken on the recommendations listed in the report. The recommendations were carried with Councillors King, Ali, Clark and Jewitt in support, and Councillors Hoar and Mohan abstaining.

 

RESOLVED – That the Traffic Management Advisory Committee recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and Regeneration (job share) that they:

 

1)    Note the engagement with 93 junior and primary schools; the receipt of 31 School Street requests; the identification of 11 favourable locations; and the selection method for proposing School Streets in an initial 8 locations. Note that 2 further schools have requested a scheme, subsequent to the initial assessments and selections were made.

 

2)    Note the summary of responses received to the informal engagement with residents, businesses and other occupiers within the areas potentially affected by the 8 School Street proposals.

 

3)    Note the Executive Director of Place has agreed to proceed with formal consultations on proposals to introduce 8 separate School Street schemes in the following locations:

 

·         Norbury Manor Primary (Norbury Park ward)

·         Fairchildes Primary School (New Addington South ward)

·         Harris Academy Purley (Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown ward)

·         Winterbourne Junior Girls and Boys School (Bensham Manor ward)

·         Cypress Primary School (Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood ward)

·         Downsview Primary & Nursery (Norbury Park ward)

·         Harris Primary Academy Kenley (Kenley ward)

·         West Thornton Primary Academy, Rosecourt Road site (West Thornton)

 

The Highway Improvement Manager, Public Realm Directorate has been delegated the authority to give the Public Notice for formal consultation.

 

4)    Note the results of formal consultations is a Key Decision and as such will be referred to the Traffic Management Advisory Committee for advising the Cabinet Member for Transport and Environment (job share) on whether or not to implement the proposals.

 

Supporting documents: