Agenda item

Councillors Brian Stead, George Cooper and Judith Cooper attended the meeting and Councillor Stead spoke on behalf of the Ward Councillors in support of the petition. 

Presentations were received from teachers and students.  Concerns, comments and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Mr Peter Lang, Headteacher at Uxbridge High School, advised that the school had concerns regarding road safety in the community which gave rise to the submission of the petition;
• The Petition Hearing and the improvements that had been made by the school had been mentioned in the local newspaper this week;
• The Council’s School Travel Plan team was praised for the contribution it had made to improving safety.  The school’s Travel Plan had introduced supervised dismissal between 3.05pm and 3.15pm and changed the traffic light sequence on the A4020, which had reduced the number of accidents involving students;
• Currently, the amount of time given for pedestrians to cross to the centre island on the A4020 was adequate on one side and not long enough on the other.  It was suggested that further work be undertaken to synchronise the traffic lights to allow more time for pedestrians to cross the road;
• The school was attended by students from a wide area, with a large proportion arriving from the A4020 end of The Greenway.  Approximately 350 students travelled to and from the school on the bus and therefore had to cross the A4020 every day;
• Four students from the school had died at the junction in the last 10 years – although three of these had been older students, the most recent had been a Year 7 pupil;
• The traffic calming put in place in The Greenway had greatly improved safety for pedestrians;
• A request was made that consideration be given to improved signage and a reduction in the speed limit along The Greenway and the A4020;
• Students requested that consideration be given to implementing a one way system, building a pedestrian bridge over the A4020 or building an underpass.  It was suggested that S106 funding be secured from the development of the RAF Uxbridge site to contribute towards a bridge or a underpass;
• Although there were times when students had not waited for the green man, there were also occasions where drivers had sped through red lights and had put pedestrians in danger;
• One student had been hit by a car on the crossing six months previously when he had rushed to cross the road in time to catch his bus.  He had broken his leg in two places, stayed in hospital for a few days and then been off school for a few weeks as a result of his injuries;
• It was suggested that the barriers be extended along the pavement on the corner of The Greenway to deter pedestrians from crossing at points other than the crossing; and
• Other suggestions to improve safety included the removal of the centre island to enable pedestrians to cross the whole road in one go and the provision of a lollipop person.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  He gave thanks for the opportunity to hold the meeting at the school and thanked those that had given presentations.  

Those present were advised that, whilst the Council could put measures in place to improve safety at the junction, students were responsible for their own personal safety on the roads.  It was important to convey this message to all students at the school.

With regard to the funding for the creation of a pedestrian bridge across the A4020, Councillor Burrows commended the suggestion to use S106 funds from the RAF Uxbridge development.  He advised that, although there were no guarantees, officers would explore the option.  If this was possible, the Council would still need to agree the way forward with Transport for London (TfL) and the Police.  He suggested that, given the resource implications and comparative potential disruption, it was unlikely that an underpass would be built. 

It was noted that, although the Council shaped the principles and layout of the junction, any changes (such as a reduction in the speed limit) would need to be agreed by TfL. 

Councillor Burrows requested that officers investigate the difference in the phasing for pedestrians on the crossing to ensure that adequate time was given to allow them to cross safely.  Officers would also be asked to undertake traffic and speed surveys in the area to establish the speed, number and type of vehicles using the road.  This information would then feed into possible solutions.

It was noted that the representatives from the Council’s Road Safety Education, Training and Publicity team would be happy to attend future Student Council meetings.  Councillor Burrows advised that he would also be pleased to come back to talk to the Student Council again.

Officers would be instructed to review the phasing of the traffic lights, look at the feasibility of building a pedestrian bridge and review the current signage.  The school would be updated on any progress made by the Council. 

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Member:

1. met and discussed with petitioners their concerns with the existing signalised junction of the A4020 Hillingdon Road and The Greenway;
2. asked officers to explore options and funding opportunities;
3. instructed officers to undertake appropriate traffic and pedestrian surveys to inform these further investigations;
4. asked officers to report back to him on possible solutions;
5. in the interim, instructed officers to liaise with the Metropolitan Police, Transport for London and the Police Safer Neighbourhoods Teams; and
6. instructed officers in the Council’s Road Safety Education, Training & Publicity team to liaise with Uxbridge High School on appropriate road safety training initiatives.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

The petitioners have raised concerns about the safety of the existing arrangements.  Hearing the petition will allow the Cabinet Member to understand the detail of petitioners’ concerns and direct further actions.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

None at this stage as the petitioners have asked to state their case to the Cabinet Member, and the petition hearing will provide them with an opportunity for this.