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ITEM EX15

BETTER WAYS TO SCHOOL - CHINNOR

Introduction

1. In line with the County Council’s policy to encourage sustainable transport, proposals have been advertised for works relating to the Better Ways to School (BWTS) Project in Chinnor. This report sets out the background to the scheme, the off-site proposals, the consultations undertaken and amendments that have been considered. Members are asked to consider the proposals and authorise officers to proceed with the implementation of the proposals.

Background

2. The schools in Chinnor were approved for inclusion in the BWTS programme by the Highways and Road Safety Sub-Committee in August 2000. Subsequently a BWTS Group was formed in Chinnor, consisting of the Heads of the schools, Governors, Parents, Local Police and a representative of the Parish Council.
3. Meetings between the BWTS Group and County Council officers took place to discuss their proposals, both on and off site. Feasibility studies of the off-site proposals were carried out by engineers from Environmental Services and designs and plans were drawn up by Babtie. These were presented to the Group who, with one or two amendments, appreciated the work done by the County Council and looked forward to implementation.

Proposals

4. The current proposals are shown on plans BPN742(4)/B3201A; /B3202;/B3203; /B3204 and /B3301 (which will be displayed at the meeting and are in the Members’ Resource Centre) and include four elements. These are:

• provision of controlled crossings;
• conversion of footways to shared cycle/footways;
• signing denoting the ‘Safe Routes to School’; and
• traffic calming features outside Mill Lane school.

5. Notices relating to the crossings were erected on-site and sent to frontagers, Parish Council and the Thames Valley Police (TVP) on 17 January 2002. A meeting with the Parish Council and TVP on 30 January agreed that two of the crossings should be re-located. (The plans show the crossings in the agreed positions). Letters were sent to the frontagers informing them of the new proposed location of the crossings with revised plans available for inspection at Chinnor library.
6. Letters of objection have been received in respect of the crossings in Station Road and the amended location in Oakley Road. These are summarised in Annex 2, including comments from the Director of Environmental Services. Copies of the letters are available in the Members’ Resource Centre.
7. Consultation letters relating to the conversion of footways to shared cycle/footways were sent, on 5 February 2002, to the Parish Council and other interested parties. Plans detailing the extent of the proposed conversions were available for inspection at Chinnor library. Letters of objection were received from the Parish Council and some residents. Others chose to write comments in the book provided at the library or write to the Parish magazine. These, and copies of letters sent to the Parish magazine, are available for inspection in the Members’ Resource Centre. A summary of the objections and comments from the Director of Environmental Services are included in Annex 2.
8. A plan showing the layout and design of the signs was delivered to the Parish Council on March 20 and was left for inspection at Chinnor library. No responses have been received on this matter.
9. Also on March 20, plans showing the layout and details of the traffic calming proposals for Mill Lane were delivered to the Parish Council and left for inspection at Chinnor library. In addition, letters were delivered to properties in Mill Lane that were directly affected by the proposals. Letters of objection were received from some residents and a site meeting was held on 9 April, between the Parish Council, the BWTS Group, some residents, school governors and engineers from Environmental Services and Babtie. Letters of objection are summarised in Annex 2 with comments from the Director of Environmental Services, and copies of the letters are available for inspection in the Members Resource Centre.
10. Whilst objections have been received, letters and comments supporting the aims and the individual measures of the scheme have also been received. These are also included in the documents in the Members’ Resource Centre.

Discussion

11. The Parish Council, the BWTS Group and many residents agree that the three crossings are an important part of the BWTS scheme that also have benefits for the rest of the community. However, residents fronting the proposed crossing have objected, mainly on the grounds of the congestion and obstruction to their accesses that would result.
12. The conversion of footways to shared uses cycle/footway has raised more concerns throughout the village. There are concerns that the use of the footways by cyclists may result in accidents between cyclists and pedestrians. However, if the County Council is to promote cycling as a ‘Better Way to School’, facilities to do so in a safe manner must be provided. The proposal is within the aims of and complies with the County Council’s Cycling Strategy (Policy CS4) as the existing carriageways cannot be widened and the scheme is part of the BWTS project. The County Council can authorise the conversion of footways to shared use cycle/footways under Sections 65(1) and 66(4) of the Highways Act 1980. A schedule of the lengths to be converted is shown in Annex 3.
13. Signing of these routes, and the remainder of the routes to the schools, is also included in the proposal. One such length is between Willow Walk and Van Dieman’s Close. This is currently an unmade alleyway used by some children on their way to school. It is, however, a little too narrow for use by cycles in a safe manner and can cause a nuisance to the property which the alleyway adjoins. The Parish Council is in the process of arranging for barriers to be erected at either end. It is proposed to widen the alleyway to provide a cycle track alongside the existing alleyway (see drawing No BPN 742(4)/F3209) which will provide adequate width, a separate lane for cyclists and pedestrians and reduce the number of children close to the adjacent property. The land required is owned by the Parish Council and used as allotments. Informal inquiries with the Allotment Association have suggested that they would be willing to lose this strip of land. Negotiations with the Parish Council are ongoing. Planning permission would be required to change its use from allotment to cycle track.
14. Traffic calming, in the form of build-outs and chicanes, is proposed outside the Mill Lane school. A formal crossing is not considered suitable as it would only be used at certain times and have little effect on traffic. The proposal provides a narrowing at the crossing point, meaning a shorter distance to cross, with build-outs or chicane in advance. These will slow vehicles to a stop when vehicles oppose them, not only at school travel times but throughout the day. The Parish Council is concerned that this will mean more traffic on the main road (B4009), but this is where it belongs. It is considered important to provide some calming here to the extent that the Headteacher of Mill Lane school has indicated that if none is provided a cycling programme would not be encouraged by the school. For example, cycle storage would not be provided on the school grounds, thus deterring the use of cycles.

Conclusions

15. The Chinnor BWTS Group has been very proactive in the development of the BWTS scheme and has thought carefully about what is required to provide a safe, alternative means for children to get to school. Naturally, the measures mean change and someone is inconvenienced. It is necessary, though, to consider how this inconvenience and, in some cases, some potential increased risk of accidents between pedestrians and cyclists compares with the scheme objectives. This is the provision of a ‘Safe Route to School’ by encouraging the use of quieter routes and means of crossing busy roads, whilst potentially reducing the number of journeys by car. All objectors have praised the aims of the project but consider some elements are unnecessary, dangerous or inconvenient. However, we believe the measures overall to be a significant improvement to safety. The County Council is often asked to provide measures "before someone gets hurt". These proposals are intended to do just that and improve the environment through less car use.

Environmental Implications

16. The introduction of crossings, signals, signs, traffic calming and road markings will create a more urban feel to the village but, should the aims be achieved and traffic reduced, the environment will benefit. Fewer vehicles mean less congestion, dangers and pollution. Children who walk or cycle would be healthier and a greater community spirit could develop.

Financial and Staff Implications

17. The scheme cost, estimated at around £140,000 is funded from the Better Ways to School budget. County Council officers from the Travelwise Team and Traffic Engineering are involved in managing the scheme and negotiations with local groups. Design work has been carried out by the County Council’s engineering consultant’s, Babtie.

RECOMMENDATIONS

18. The Executive is RECOMMENDED to:

1. approve the conversion of the footways, listed in Annex 3, to shared cycle/footways under Sections 65 (1) and 66 (4) of the Highways Act 1980;
2. authorise the construction of a cycle track as shown on Drawing BPN 742(4)/F3209, subject to the Parish Council agreeing the release of an area of allotment land for this purpose and to planning permission being obtained;
3. approve the scheme for implementation as set out in drawings BPN742(4)/B3201A, BPN742(4)/B3202, BPN742(4)/B3203, BPN742(4)/B3204, BPN742(4)/B3301, BPN742(4)/F3209 and signing shown in Annex 4;

DAVID YOUNG
Director of Environmental Services

Contact Officer: Errol Carrington Tel: Oxford 815576

May 2002

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