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:
- Considered the petitioners 'concerns regarding road
safety on Vine Lane near St Andrews Road.
- 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.
- Subject to the
above asked officers to add the petitioners’ request to the
Council’s Road Safety Programme for further
investigation.
- Instructed
Officers to undertake an investigation on pedestrian footfall at
this location and to report back to the Cabinet
Member.