AGENDA ITEM 5
BOROUGH OF POOLE
CANFORD HEATH EAST AND WEST, CREEKMOOR AND OAKDALE AREA COMMITTEE
2 DECEMBER 2009
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
CANFORD HEATH FIRST AND MIDDLE SCHOOLS, LEAROYD ROAD TO HARWELL ROAD CYCLEWAY
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN YES/NO
STATUS (Service Delivery Information)
1. PURPOSE
1.1 To consider proposals to improve the route between Harwell Road and Learoyd Road, providing a cycleway link and creating a safe pedestrian route around the school car park.
2. DECISIONS REQUIRED
2.1 It is recommended that this Committee approve :
2.1.1 The cycleway link between Harwell Road and Learoyd Road, including advertising the associated Traffic Regulation Orders.
2.1.2 The provision of a safe route to school in front of Canford Heath Middle School.
as shown on drawing JC0808/02A
3. BACKGROUND INFORMATION
3.1 A programme for Safe Routes to School is contained within the Accessibility section of the Transportation Capital Programme. This promotes safe journeys to school and therefore encourages parents to allow their children to use healthier more sustainable methods of travel such as walking or cycling. This category also includes for improving accessibility and encouraging sustainable travel for workers travelling to and from places of employment.
3.2 A major part of School Travel Plans is to encourage parents to bring their children to school by sustainable modes of travel other than the car. In this respect footpaths in the vicinity of schools are vitally important in encouraging people to walk from locations further away from the school.
3.3 The need for an improved route around the schools was indentified during discussions with the Head Teachers and parents during preparations for the renewal of the Schools Travel Plans for Canford Heath First and Middle Schools and for the draft Travel Plan for Longspee School.
3.4 In addition an increasing number of cyclists have been using the footpath between Harwell Road and Learoyd Road to gain access to the Nuffield Estate. This scheme includes a proposal to provide a segregated cycle facility to improve access and safety for both pedestrians and cyclists using the path.
3.5 Consultation letters explaining the proposals have been sent to the following:
Ward Councillors
Canford Heath First School
Canford Heath Middle School
Longspee School
Limelights Youth Club
Cuddles Day Nursery
Humpty Dumpty Pre School
3.6 Comments have been received in relation to the verge outside Cuddles Day Nursery, included in their lease, which it is currently planning to fence as part of the property. The preferred option would be to construct the new path within this verge area, as this would result in the loss of only one space within the adjacent car park. However should negotiations with the nursery in respect of a deed of variation to the lease be unsuccessful then an alternative would be to construct the path within the car park itself, although this would result in an overall loss of 4 spaces.
3.7 The cycleway route crosses the path of a gas main. Southern Gas Networks have confirmed their approval of the proposed construction.
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1. The estimated cost of the scheme is £40,000, which would be funded from the Accessibility Category of the current years Transportation Capital Programme.
4.2. In addition an application has been made to Sustrans - who have informally indicated support for the scheme – for match funding under their Links to Schools programme. If this were successful the cost to the capital programme would be reduced to £20,000.
LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 In order to undertake the works it will be necessary to apply for Traffic Regulation Orders both for the cycleway and waiting restrictions in Harwell Road.
4.2 A legal agreement would be required if it proves necessary secure a deed of variation with Cuddles Day Nursery.
5. RISK MANAGEMENT IMPLICATIONS
5.1 There is a risk that it will not be possible to reach agreement with the Nursery in which case the alternative scheme involving the loss of more spaces would be pursued.
5.2 There may be objections to the Traffic Regulation Orders.
6. EQUALITIES IMPLICATIONS
6.1 The scheme construction details will be fully compliant with Disability Discrimination Act requirements
7. CONCLUSIONS
8.1. This Committee are asked to consider the proposed scheme.
Julian McLaughlin
Head of Transportation Services
Appendix A – Drawing JC0808/02A
Report Author : Graham Spicer
Contact Officer : Graham Spicer (01202 262072)
Background Papers : None