Agenda item

The report before the Committee detailed the outcome of a consultation for the provision of pedestrian crossing improvements, a 20 mph zone and traffic calming in Harwood Hall Lane outside the Montessori School, Upminster.

The report informed Members that the Montessori School was the only school in the borough not served by a footway up to its pedestrian entrance.

Harwood Hall Lane started at its junction with Corbets Tey Road and ran south west for 630m to Aveley Road. The road was subjected to a 30 mph speed limit and a 7.5 tonne weight restriction along its entire length. The only substantial footway ran on the north side from the junction with Corbets Tey Road up to the Corbets Tey School for children with complex learning needs, which was opposite the Montessori School.

The report detailed that a vehicular entrance to the school was 100 metres south west of the entrance to Corbets Tey School. It was mentioned that for a number of years the school had a strong desire from parents for a dedicated pedestrian access to the school, something which the school had placed in its travel plan and had been campaigning this to be implemented.

The report informed the Committee that the current proposal sought the removal of the pinch point west of Corbets Tey School. The installation of a build-out outside the proposed Oakfield School pedestrian entrance as in previous schemes. Officers were of the view that without this build-out, no uncontrolled pedestrian crossing was possible.

The proposal also included plans for Harwood Hall Lane to become a 20 mph zone road from the junction with Corbets Tey Road and just west of Oakfield School vehicular entrance. Three speed humps were proposed west of Bear Block Cottages, and between Corbets Tey School and Oakfield School entrances.

Four responses to the consultation were appended to the report.

In officers’ view, the school had done everything to facilitate active travel within its school travel plan and the only way to develop this further was with physical changes to Harwood Hall Lane. A pedestrian access to the school would enable pupils to lead more active lives and learn to become independent before their transition to secondary school, as well as reducing traffic impact on Harwood Hall Lane at school travel times.

A resident of Corbets Tey Road had raised concern that the scheme would cause a queue of traffic up to Corbets Tey Road, affecting commuters’ journeys but officers did not consider that the scheme would have a significant impact on commuters driving through Harwood Hall Lane and also felt it would have a positive effect on driver behaviour in a location fronted by two schools and residential properties.

The report detailed concerns about visibility being impeded by pedestrians waiting to cross. In officers’ view the visibility required when travelling at 20mph was less than at 30mph and should visibility be limited, the onus was on the driver to proceed according to the prevailing road conditions.

The Committee noted that Ward Councillors and parents of Oakfield Montessori School were in favour of the revised scheme.

With its agreement Councillor Ron Ower addressed the Committee.

Councillor Ower spoke in support of the proposal citing that this was the only school without a footpath to its entrance. Councillor Ower stated that the matter had originally been raised ten to twelve years ago when Oakfields School wrote to the Council requesting support for a scheme. Councillor Ower noted that the scheme was also supported by Corbets Tey School. Councillor Ower stated that the road is extremely busy recounting a visit to the site that he had made with the Police he stated that at the time of his attendance a significant number of vehicles were travelling along the road in excess of the speed limit. Councillor Ower asked the committee to agree the scheme.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by a resident who spoke against the scheme and the School’s Business Manager who spoke in support of the scheme.

The resident, who spoke against the scheme, informed the Committee that he had lived on Corbets Tey Road for over 40 years and travelled along Harwood Hall Lane approximately ten times a week. He stated that Harwood Hall Lane was well used by pedestrians and  that pedestrians did not currently have a right of way when crossing the road which would remain the case under the proposed scheme. The resident suggested the installation of a zebra crossing or traffic lights with the upgrading of footways. The resident raised concerns that the proposed scheme would invite unaccompanied children to cross the road without the protection of a right of way. The resident advised that a high volume of traffic used the road; approximately seven hundred vehicles per hour travel along the road equating to one every 5 seconds. Should a 20mph be implemented this would impact on traffic flow and congestion creating the potential for gridlock over a wide area. He was of the view that traffic should be allowed to flow along the road.

In response, the School’s Business Manager spoke in support of the scheme. He stated that he had been a resident of the area for over thirty years. He informed the Committee that the school, its owners, parents and residents would benefit from the scheme and were all in support of the proposal. He added that the school had a joint emergency arrangement with Corbets Tey School, which allowed each school to evacuate its pupils across to the other premises in case of an emergency. The Committee was also informed that the school was seeking funding to improve wheelchair access and expand an unused entrance that would open out to the proposed build-out point.

During general debate, Members acknowledged the need to support a pedestrian safety scheme in Harwood Hall Lane and that the Montessori School was the only school in the borough not served by a footway up to its pedestrian entrance. A member stated that approximately half of the schools pupils lived within walking distance of the school and should be encouraged to walk.

A Member commented that the traffic calming measures and road build out represented a hazard on the road and could be a recipe for disaster if it were to be hit by a vehicle while children were congregating. The member cited examples of newly installed kerb build outs being hit by vehicles, in other parts of the borough. The Member stated that this was a real danger while drivers were getting used to the new road layout. It was suggested that the school entrance could be widened to accommodate a crossing point.

A member commented that that the needs of the pupils were of priority over motorists. Other Members welcomed the revised proposal to meet the school’s and residents’ requirement while others were concerned about the build-out stating that it could represent a safety concern when pupils congregated on it. Another Member stated that the ward councillors were supportive of the revised scheme.

A Member sought clarification on the differences between the previous design and the current proposal and a response to the objector’s comments. Officers provided clarification on the detail of the scheme design.

Officers confirmed that there was limited scope for the creation of new footways as the Council did not have control of the necessary land; and a controlled crossing, in use at limited times of the day, could represent a safety concern  as drivers would not be used to having to stop.

In support of the scheme another member stated that the onus should be on the driver to drive in an appropriate manner along the road.

In response to a member who asked whether the build out would contain guard rails Officers confirmed that it would not but the kerb design would nudge vehicles away from the build out and back into the road, if hit.

By a majority of 9 votes for to 2 against the Committee RESOVLED:

1.            To  recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that the pedestrian crossing improvements on Harwood Hall Lane as detailed in the report and shown on drawing QM021/OB/02.E be implemented.

2.         That it be noted that the estimated cost of £40,000for implementation would be met by Transport for London through the 2015/16 School Travel Plan Engineering Measures budget.