Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting that the Council provided a pedestrian pelican crossing at the junction of Rickmansworth Road and Green Lane. The petitioner organiser was in attendance at the meeting and noted a number of concerns, including the following:

·         There was more of risk and danger to crossing the road due to the addition of double yellow lines which meant that parents and children had to park on the opposite side of the road to access the school.

·         There had been seven/eight instances of near miss serious accidents.

·         Parents were often shaken when arriving at the school due to the speed of cars and difficulties when crossing the road.

·         The Northwood Residents Association comments were noted in that it was acknowledged that this would be a costly exercise and there was not a high footfall, however as there were young people and children involved due consideration had to be given.

Councillor Carol Melvin attended the meeting as Ward Councillor for Northwood and supported the points raised by the petitioner. Councillor Melvin added that there was also an issue with road users jumping traffic lights making the area more dangerous for pedestrians. It was acknowledged that this was an expensive task but it needed to be balanced against the cost of pedestrian lives. Councillor Melvin noted that previous surveys had been undertaken in July 2018 and requested for any new surveys to be undertaken during term times to provide accurate date.

Councillor Burrows noted that there had been one police recorded accident but acknowledged that near miss incidents and injuries were not always recorded. It was noted that Transport for London was responsible for the installation of pedestrian crossings and that there had been a change in circumstances with the introduction of double yellow lines.

RESOLVED:

Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation:

1.            Met and discussed with petitioners their request to provide a Pedestrian Pelican crossing at junction of Rickmansworth Road and Green Lane, Northwood;

2.            Noted that previously collected pedestrian crossing data at the junction of Rickmansworth Road and Green Lane showed relatively low pedestrian flows;

3.            Noted that only one police recorded accident with slight injury was noted in the vicinity of the junction of Rickmansworth Road and Green Lane during the last five years;

4.            Further noted that changes to the traffic signals of any crossing in the manner suggested would need the support of Transport for London, the body responsible for all traffic signals across Greater London;

5.            Noted that Transport for London would levy an upfront charge of £5,000 for any investigation work; and

6.            Considered instructing officers to engage with Transport for London on this matter, after the Council has carried out their own review and reported back to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation.

7.            Instructed officers to review all current signage within this vicinity and report back to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation.

8.            Instructed officers to undertake pedestrian counts in this area following the current changes that have been made with the introduction of yellow lines and parking on one side of the road and report findings back to the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation.

Reasons for decisions

The petition hearing provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered / risk management

None at this stage.