Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting designated crossing points and traffic calming measures on The Ridgeway. Three pupils of Warrender Primary School addressed the Cabinet Member alongside a teacher and Headteacher.

The pupils noted that Article 6 of the UN Convention on the Rights of the Child stated that every child has the inherent right to life, and the State has an obligation to ensure the child’s survival and development. On one Monday morning, pupils of Warrender Primary’s School Council conducted an observation on The Ridgeway which found that 200 vehicles had passed by within 20 minutes, with many drivers driving dangerously, while a number of parents attempted to cross the road. Of a survey of 102 people, 90% felt unsafe or very unsafe, and only three respondents reported feeling safe. Many vehicles travelled down The Ridgeway at speed, and while the school supported children walking and crossing unsupervised in principle, this was not safe to implement. This part of The Ridgeway was the main thoroughfare between Warrender Primary and Bishop Ramsey Secondary schools, and so there was a large number of pedestrians using this route. Safety was of paramount importance.

The Cabinet Member commended the pupils for their presentation. The petitioners raised the possibility of a zebra crossing or a School Crossing Patrol Officer, but the Cabinet Member noted that School Crossing Patrol Officers were being phased out. It was further noted that there was a zebra crossing on Windmill Hill, in one direction from Warrender Primary School, but nothing in the opposite Bishop Ramsey direction. The issue of sight lines was highlighted and Officers noted that the recommendations would amount to a holistic approach with the previous agenda item. It was noted that a 20mph zone outside schools could be considered, but road humps were not a favourable option. Officers noted the past close working relationship between the school and the Council’s School Travel and Road Safety Team, and the headteacher noted their own work on ‘Bikeability’ and walking routes. It was further noted that students walked to nearby Highgrove pool for swimming lessons. Officers noted that if the school worked with the School Travel and Road Safety Team, that other funding opportunities could become available.

Councillors Corthorne, Riley and Smallwood attended as Ruislip Ward Councillors and addressed the Cabinet Member. Councillor Smallwood suggested an additional recommendation of noting the work of Warrender School Council in bringing the petition before the Cabinet Member. Councillor Smallwood also referred to the three respondents to the school-conducted survey feeling safe, which pointed to the need for safety measures to be implemented. Councillor Corthorne noted that he had attended the school recently and asked to be kept informed of progress of any implementation. Councillor Riley noted that crossing points were the main issue arising from this petition and should be the focus of any implementation, and further noted the concerns of the young people themselves, which in itself highlighted the need for action.

RESOLVED:

That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1.    Met with petitioners and listened to their request for designated crossing points and traffic calming measures on The Ridgeway;

2.    Noted the excellent past work undertaken by the Council’s dedicated ‘School Travel and Road Safety Team’ and the school when working more closely together, and encouraged the school, with support as appropriate from Ward Councillors, to rekindle this highly beneficial partnership;

3.    Noted the broadly complementary request under a separate, independently submitted pair of petitions, for traffic calming measures and a 20mph zone on The Ridgeway between Hawtrey Drive and Westholme Gardens;

4.    Asked officers to commission independent 24/7 traffic and speed surveys on The Ridgeway at locations agreed with petitioners and Ward Councillors to compliment possible other locations identified through other petitions referred to in the report; and

5.    Noted the work of Warrender School Council in bringing this petition before the Cabinet Member.