Minutes of the Travel Plan Committee Monday 19 th January 2015.

Transcription

1 Minutes of the Travel Plan Committee Monday 19 th January Welcome and apologies for absence Present: Mr N Aldridge, Mr D Ayers, Mrs S Bingham, Mr G Fogden from the BikeShed at Halfords, Mrs S Hopkins, Mr G Jackson, Mr A Machniewski and Mrs N Mayhead. Apologies: Cllr I Buckland, Mrs S Carroll, Mr M Cullern, Ms Emmalene Fulton who sent GF, Ms Sue Furlong, PCSO Kelly Mankelow, Ms Pene Mather and CPSO Andy Orpin.. Progress since the Committee last met: Traffic Calming Pene called in to school last week as she was unable to make today s meeting and left suggestions for a new traffic calming solution at the Queen Street/York Road crossroads. See attached sheet with rough idea of proposals. The school need to send initial thoughts to Pene and the West Sussex Team who will need to ensure it is cleared with safety officers and costed before creating the necessary documentation to begin a consultation process. Mrs Bingham had shared this with Mrs Grevett who was keen that immediate neighbours were in favour before the school backed any proposals. Mrs Bingham spoke to Mr Aldridge (who lives on one corner of the Queen Street/York Road school approach), who in turn shared with Mr Macniewski (who lives on the other corner). Both came to the meeting and put forward the following comments: - 1. Zig-zag lines would not be helpful across their garage access area and beyond as they park in the road during school hours regularly. Restricted parking was generally not helpful to residents 2. The build out across the York Road school approach section would be more use nearer the junction. This measure was not felt to be very necessary. Children crossing near the school electronic gate by resident s garages was not an issue. 3. One build out along Queen Street (north side of junction) for crossing Queen Street with the crossing patrol lady was not enough. It was considered necessary to have another one on the south side of the junction. (N.B. A WSCC site visit had been made and the outcome was that this would not be needed because it would create a traffic issue across the junction) 4. A one way system was discussed. The suggestion was that traffic came up Connaught Road to access Queen Street and the best exit would be onto Cornwall Road. There would still be two way traffic along York Road; coaches and other delivery vehicles need to travel to and from school and cannot negotiate a sharp turn from Queen Street into the York Road school approach. This topic has been taken up before. It would be useful to know what needs to be done to create a one-way route. A letter will be sent to Pene and the WSCC team to be consider with further discussions about the site. 1

2 The traffic regulation enforcement team habit of booking residents around the Queen Street area on a Sunday. The team would be more useful being visible at peak school arrival and departure times and issuing parking tickets. It would also create more spaces along Queen Street if some River Beach Staff used the south car park. It is not as popular as the north car park which has the automatic gate; staff have a key to unlock the access and re lock once in/out. Nikki asked if white lines could be re-painted to make it clear where parking places are in order to get the most out of the space available. PCSO Andy Orpin carried out some visits to the site at peak times during the Autumn term and gave the school a letter to advise parents that fines can be issued for illegal parking. It was decided that sending the letter to all parents would be most effective at the beginning of the Spring term, so it is being distributed this week. Thanks to Andy for helping keep this topic high profile. A copy of this letter is attached. Crossing Patrols We continue to hope that the County Council receive applications for our local vacancies. Bike News Gareth Fogden was welcomed from Halfords BikeShed. Mrs Bingham asked about support for the Sustrans club with maintenance training for members. This cannot be arranged to take place at school. However, Halfords do run sessions for families to come along to learn about general maintenance and puncture repair. We need to look out for dates, which are not available at present. Our local expert is Dan Leach, one of our Assistant Heads who already has a video on AarBee Tube (our school equivalent of You Tube) about maintenance, may be called upon to take a session. Bikeability dates have been rearranged for the Summer term. Mrs Bingham will contact the police cycle marking team to see if they can be booked for the Fridays of both weeks, at the end of the school day. Gareth said that it would be useful if the school reminded parents a few weeks before Bikeability courses start, as there is a rush at the last minute in Halfords to buy new bikes and get old ones repaired. Bike Storage. The best spot for covered racks is near the African Garden. However, the site is currently on a bit of a slope and grassed. Tarmac surface would cost around 8000 and then shelter costs need to be considered. A wooden construction with an eco roof - planted with sedum and the like would be our preference. The proposal will be taken to Mrs Grevett. Grants will be needed to help with the cost. 2

3 Neighbourhood Watch campaign. The winter campaign to promote cyclists being more visible during the darkest months has been supported at school with posters displayed at access points. Mike Cullern came to school last term and presented us with some free bike lights and flashing hi-vis arm bands. The Gazette covered the event along with the Neighbourhood Watch photographer and an article was published. We are very grateful for the resources which will be used to give more children opportunities to cycle with their families. Sustrans Superheroes Cycling Club. The sessions began last Thursday and look like being a success. Three children came without a bike, but all will be sorted out by next time. Children received flashing armbands to improve their visibility to other road users. A banner provided by Sustrans that states our school supports cycling scooting and walking to school will be displayed on the electronic entrance gate if permitted by Mrs Grevett. Community Bikes. Pene is looking for a school to run a scheme whereby families can hire bikes for weekends and holidays. It was considered a tricky issue with insurance implications as well as storage for bikes, and someone to oversee the venture. Mrs Bingham asked Mrs Hopkins to remind the Committee about the tentative chat she had had with Pene Mather re using TLA grounds for family cycling tuition during the Summer holidays. No further information at this stage. 3

4 Travel Mark Level 2 Presentation at 'Be seen Be safe' assemblies on 6th February which will be delivered by Pene Mather. We are already beginning to work towards Level 3. Living Streets update More classes have begun to record class journeys to school using the online Travel Tracker. Mrs Bingham explained that this is very helpful as Living Streets need data of our school travel patterns and having to create online data from written sheets is time consuming. Children are enjoying earning the monthly badges. After Easter children will have to use sustainable transport methods 3 times a week not just once as week as is our current practice. The January badge we are working for is the Accountant badge. Gritter Competition Results The West Sussex County Council/Balfour Beatty name a Gritter competition was judged before Christmas. Matthew Wilkinson, one of our Year 6 pupils, submitted three entries. and of those, 'Freddie Salted' was chosen. There were 2 other gritters to be named and children from other West Sussex schools named those. The gritter was brought to school for Matthew and his class to see. Everyone had a chance to sit behind the steering wheel and the team who came along with the gritter kept the children enthralled, sharing facts and answering questions. Matthew appeared in the Gazette, Connections magazine and briefly at the end of South Today. Matthew also won a voucher to spend in one of a range of popular high street shops. A lovely bit of excitement before the Christmas break. Sussex Safer Roads Partnership Pene gave sets of stickers which are made from offcuts of reflective strips on emergency vehicles. They are excellent at improving visibility of whatever they are stuck on. Pene suggested we make sure children do not stick on to cars as the glue is very effective. 4

5 PCSO Kelly Mankelow's Christmas surprise Kelly phoned the school to share how she had made an application to provide the school with 500 to find banners etc for our travel plan initiatives. This came from the Police Property Fund. A presentation was made to members of the Green Team as some of the cash will be used to produce the parking pledge car stickers. We are very very grateful for such a kind gesture. The Gazette reported on the gift with a feature about PCSOs. Sharing what we do Those at the meeting were taken to see the updated notice board in the corridor by the main hall. Mrs Bingham will work on some website content to raise the profile of our Travel Plan here. The next meeting will be on Thursday 12th March 2015 at 9.00am in the Community Room. 5

6 Traffic Calming at School front entrance details. New suggestions 1. 2 clear crossing routes 2. White zig zags near school entrance 3. Double yellow lines on the corners to mirror those already in place over the road Suggested one way system from chat at meeting. 6

7 Dear Parent/Guardian, In 2013, there were 15,756 children (aged 1-15) who were casualties in road accidents, of which 1,980 were killed or seriously injured. Sussex Police and River Beach Primary School are committed to ensuring that your children are safe, when travelling to and from school. The school has made Sussex Police aware of poor parking of vehicles during dropping off and collection time, specifically mentioning vehicles which are parking and blocking pavements around the entrance to the school. This is both dangerous for the children and also an offence, to wilfully obstruct the highway. Section 137 of the Highways Act 1980 makes it an offence to wilfully obstruct the highway. 137(1) If a person, without lawful authority or excuse, in any way wilfully obstructs the free passage along a highway he is guilty of an offence. The reason for this letter is to bring to your attention the requirement for lawful and legal parking of vehicles. The current situation will not be tolerated. YOUR CHILDREN S SAFETY MUST COME FIRST. The local Neighbourhood Policing Team at Littlehampton will be assisting in helping to achieve a safe and danger free community for your children to get to and from school. Owners and/or drivers of any vehicles found to be parking in a manner which obstructs the highway will be reported for consideration for prosecution and may receive a fixed penalty notice of 30. The school have organised alternative parking sites at Waitrose Car Park and in the car park near the Police station. Both sites provide parents with ample parking and easy assess to the school. Your children s safety is paramount. Please help us to ensure your children get to and from school safely. Don t let one of your children become a statistic. Please park safely! 7