Agenda item

The Committee consider implementation and operation of the 10 new School Streets, outlined in the report.

The New Business and Projects Manager explained that the report sought the agreement to proceed to the next stage of introducing school streets at ten locations and not proceed with one location. The council had consulted up to 300 meters away from the school to understand residents’ views in the surrounding areas. The consultation had found 53% of residents were in favour of the proposals, with views ranging from strongly in favour and very strongly in favour in the proposed zones and very strongly in against to very strongly in favour outside the zones.

The officer noted that it was proposed to introduce the zones in September 2020 using Experimental Orders which would allow the council to respond to any traffic orders implemented within the areas and enables residents to share their views ahead of a report going to Traffic Management Advisory Committee to consider ahead of a final decision.

The Committee noted that the proposals were in line with Department for Transport guidance to support more active travel.

Councillor Margaret Bird addressed the Committee, in her capacity as a Ward Councillor, and acknowledged that there were significant problems experienced at Keston Primary School in relation to school traffic however stated that a School Street was not the right solution for that area. The Committee were informed that the road was a through-road and the next roads along were too narrow to accommodate the additional traffic. It was further noted that the 404 bus route goes down this road which would be disrupted.

Councillor Bird raised concerns that the consultation had asked closed questions and so had not enabled residents to fully express their views. Furthermore it was noted that a GP practice was sited on Court Avenue and the proposals would restrict patients, many of whom were elderly, from accessing the GP practice at school drop off and pick up times as they would not be able to travel down Keston Avenue.

Councillor Bird concluded that it was not reasonable to impose the proposed restrictions when 72% of residents were opposed and that the council should look to proactive enforcement to find an alternative solution. It was stated that when she had previously visited the school she had spoken to enforcement officers who had been resistant to intervene as they did not want to be verbally abused by parents.

Following the points raised by the speakers, the New Business and Projects Manager confirmed that Keston Avenue was a through-road, however there were alternative roads that could be used to travel between Coulsdon Road and Caterham Drive. Furthermore, it was stated that School Streets which had been implemented elsewhere had demonstrated a 25% reduction in car usage within a few months of implementation.

In response to concerns that the consultation had been closed it was noted that there had been a question of whether the respondent supported or opposed the proposal, but that there had also been an open text box to allow respondents to provide details and this additional information had been taken into consideration.

The New Business and Projects Manager confirmed that there were existing problems experienced in Court Avenue and that it was felt that this would only worsen with car ownership in the borough growing by 2% annually. It was felt that the only way that the issue could be resolved was by encouraging less car usage and the proposed scheme would encourage more walking, cycling and scooting to school.

In response to the suggestion that further enforcement was the solution at Keston Primary School, the New Business and Projects Manager stated the council had exhausted the options available to it. It was suggested that physical enforcement had a limited impact as it was difficult to issue penalties as parents were quick to drop off and pick up. Previously, the council had utilised a CCTV car to support enforcement however the Deregulation Act 2015 had removed this as an option. The Committee were further informed that the council had responded to 44 complaints received from Keston Avenue in the ten months up until February 2020 and had undertaken patrols with the Safer Neighbourhood Team. This

In response, Councillor Bird raised concerns that the report suggested that 75% of students lived within 12 minute walk of the school, however informed the Committee that this did not take into account the topography of the area and that Keston Primary School was located at the top of a steep hill; as such it was not feasible for children and parents to walk to school.

Whilst it was recognised that only 12 houses would directly benefit from the proposal there were over 334 houses within 300 meters of the school and that those houses would not experience the same level of issues as the 12 houses closest to the school experienced as there would be dispersion.

Members of the Committee noted that at schools where a School Street had been introduced there had been significant reductions in issues and had created safe spaces for children to access school. It was noted that the scheme had been award winning and was considered to be the best approach to encourage young people to actively travel to school as it was not a feasible option to position staff at the school gates to enforcement zig-zags.

Concerns were raised in relation to the proposal at Keston Primary School as it was located on a very steep hill and so many residents were required to travel by car as there was only one bus which came hourly. It was recognised that previous schemes had shown that a gradual reduction in school traffic was realised and it was hope that this was realised at Keston also, if the scheme was implemented. Some Members requested that the proposal for Keston Primary School be reconsidered.

The Chair stated that the ambition of School Streets extended beyond the impact experienced by those living within the immediate vicinity of the school; it was to create a safer environment which encouraged parents to actively travel to school and evidence suggested that reductions of traffic of 25% was facilitating this.

It was recognised that the use of the CCTV car was no longer possible and physical enforcement had not been effective with dealing the issues. The Chair stated that he had enquired whether it was possible to include Court Avenue within the scheme however the GP practice made this not possible as patients would not be able to access it during operational hours.

Members stated that it was important to monitor the displacement experienced to fully understand the impact of the schemes.

In relation to scheme at Christ Church CofE Primary School, Councillor Hoar as a Ward Councillor, informed the Committee that he had spoken to the Residents Association in relation to the proposal. It was report that there was a large amount of construction taking place in the area with the Brick by Brick development on Montpelier Road and that a one-way restriction had been implemented to manage traffic. Residents had requested that this one-way be maintained following construction concluding. It was suggested that if the one-way road was maintained then residents supported the introduction of a School Street. The Chair advised that residents should submit a petition to maintain the one-way road and that the School Street may strengthen this request.

In response to questions, the New Business and Projects Manager confirmed that residents could apply for exemption permits for carers by emailing schoolparking@croydon.gov.uk. Residents within the zones would be written to advise them of the introduction of the scheme and how to apply for exemptions.

The Committee voted on the officer’s recommendations and voted three in support and two in opposition.

The Members which voted in opposition to the recommendations, voted against in relation to Keston Primary School only and supported the introduction of School Streets at the other nine proposed schools.

The Committee therefore resolved to support the recommendations.

RESOLVED: That the Traffic Management Advisory Committee agreed to

recommend to the Acting Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport and

Regeneration (Job Share) that they:

1.     Note the summary of responses received to the informal engagement with occupiers within the areas potentially affected by 11 current School Street proposals.

2.     Agree, for the reasons detailed in this report, to proceed with introducing Experimental Traffic Regulation Orders and the consultation under the experimental procedure regarding the proposal for new pedestrian zones to restrict, during the start (8.00am to 9.30am) and end (2.00pm to 4.00pm) of the school day (i.e during term time), the use of motor vehicle traffic (except permit holders and emergency vehicles) along the 10 School Streets. To clarify; pedestrians and cyclists would be allowed. The 10 School Streets are in the following locations as illustrated in Appendix 1 of the report:

a.     Christ Church CofE Primary School (Purley Oaks & Riddlesdown)

b.     Downsview Primary School (Norbury Park)

c.     Ecclesbourne Primary School (Bensham Manor)

d.     Harris Primary Academy Hailing Park (South Croydon)

e.     Keston Primary School (Old Coulsdon)

f.      Kingsley Primary Academy (Broad Green)

g.     Oasis Academy Reylands (Woodside)

h.     Ridgeway Primary School (Sanderstead)

i.       St Thomas Becket Catholic Primary (Woodside)

j.       St Joseph’s Catholic Junior School (Crystal Palace & Upper Norwood)

3.     Agree not to proceed with an experimental scheme and consultation in 2020 at: Harris Academy Purley Way (Waddon).

4.     Agree to proceed with a formal consultation on extending the operational hours to 7.30am to 9.30am and 2.00pm to 4.00pm (during term time) of the pre-existing School Street in Fairfield Way, Dunsfold Rise and Meadow Rise, at the Woodcote schools (Coulsdon Town ward), as illustrated in Appendix 2 of the report.

5.     If consultations are agreed at 1 to 4, delegate to the Highway Improvement Manager, Public Realm Directorate the authority to give the notice.

6.     Note that the outcomes of the consultations indicated in 2 above would be a Key Decision and will therefore be referred back to the Traffic Management Advisory Committee in 2021 for advising the Cabinet Member for Environment, Transport & Regeneration (job share) on whether to change, withdraw or make permanent each the 10 individual proposals.