Agenda item

Cllr Graham attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from the petitioner included the following:

• The petitioner lived and worked in the local area.
• The petition highlighted that the density and speed of traffic made crossing Vine Lane at St. Andrews Road very difficult.
• The crossing point was used by many different people including parents and children to get to and from two local schools- ACS Hillingdon International School, and John Locke Academy.
• A number of statistics were cited by the petitioner which provided pedestrian flows at different times of the days to indicate the popularity of the crossing point.
• The petitioner explained the most difficult times of the day to cross the road was during the morning commute, afternoon school run, and evening commute.
• Vine Lane was a common cut through from Uxbridge Road to Hercies Road, which led to a lot of traffic during those specific times.
• The bend of the road in Vine Lane made it more difficult to cross safely.
• The new housing development at St Andrews Park had increased traffic flows and the number of vehicles locally.
• The intake at local schools meant that footfall would increase and the danger to children would be ever present.
• The petitioner provided the Cabinet Member with a copy of a letter in support from the Head Teacher at ACS Hillingdon International School.

A Ward Councillor spoke with regard to the petitioners’ requests and raised the following issues:

• The Ward Councillor supported the petitioners' request and agreed there was a clear need to a safe crossing point especially at the busiest times of day.
• Vine Lane was often used by motorists to by-pass Long Lane and so was very busy.
• If a crossing point was introduced, adequate signage would be required to alert motorists in good time.

The Cabinet Member, Councillor Keith Burrows, listened to the concerns raised and thanked the petitioner for the comprehensive presentation they provided.

Referring to the new housing development, he explained that an independent Stage 3 Road Safety Audit Report for the RAF Uxbridge development had recommended the provision of an uncontrolled crossing point at the end of the new footway on Vine Lane immediately south of the junction with St Andrews Road.

In response to the recommendations in the Road Safety Audit Report, the existing footway on the western side of Vine Lane was extended and a dropped kerb provided to assist with pedestrian movements.

However, investigations undertaken by the Council and an independent consultant did not recommend the provision of a formal footway on the eastern side of Vine Lane as part of the RAF Uxbridge Development.

The Cabinet Member explained that given local residents concerns, the petitioner's request for a pedestrian crossing near St Andrews Close would be added to the Improvement and Projects Team Road Safety Programme.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1.  Considered the petitioners 'concerns regarding road safety on Vine Lane near St Andrews Road.

2. Noted the previous work associated with the St Andrew's Park Development, including road safety audits undertaken as part of that project, relevant details of which are set out in the body of this report.

3. Subject to the above asked officers to add the petitioners’ request to the Council’s Road Safety Programme for further investigation.

4. Instructed Officers to undertake an investigation on pedestrian footfall at this location and to report back to the Cabinet Member.