St Mary's RC CA Combined School Response to Parking Controls Proposal for Devon Road – October 2011

Can we start by saying we appreciate this is a matter of considerable concern for some residents and we fully support the many efforts to bridge divisions.

We feel, however, there is a risk that by asking for responses to only two suggestions the consultation exercise will be skewed. We feel there should have been a ‘no change’ option and an open option for respondents to suggest other alternatives.

Again we appreciate the effort that has gone into finding appropriate wording but you will see from our responses we feel a correct balance is yetto emerge.

Options:

Point 1 – Yellow Line along one side of Devon Road

‘Devon Road is too narrow to comfortably allow service access when vehicles park on both sides of the road. A single yellow line could be imposed along one side of the road which would apply 8-10am and 2-4pm Monday to Friday to cover the busiest times of day. Residents and visitors could park on the yellow lines outside those periods, and the 2hr limit (with the exemption for permit holders) would remain on the other side of the road.’

Response:

This proposal, we believe, is based on a faulty premise. We regularly drive both our minibuses up Devon Road during peak times without incident. The Refuse and Fire Serviceshave also confirmed access is sufficient for their vehicles. The more restricted conditions only occur for a short period 2.45 to 3.30 pm which means other more demanding service access can be planned for.

Consequences

  1. This would mean staff or service providers such Educational Psychologists would have to move their cars while the school was still in session disrupting provision for pupils. This potential disruption to learning, we believe, far outweighs any perceived ‘comfort’ benefits during the proposed periods.
  1. Restricting parking to one side of Devon Road, although it would appear to extend the possibility of two way traffic in peak times, will we believe exacerbate the problem. In practise this will encourage more parents to gamble that this will speed collection of their children and to use the road. Given the restricted access to the school site during these periods it is highly likely that there will be an increase in the number of dangerous manoeuvres undertaken and more frequent log jams. Outside peak times it will unnecessarily constrain parking for all parties.
  1. There would be only half the current number of permits available unduly restricting both school and residential users.

‘While the Council does face difficulties enforcing yellow lines outside all of the Borough’s schools, a loading ban could also be applied at the same time to allow a camera enforcement car to patrol the road in the future. Drivers are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers but the yellow lines might reduce the amount of parking in the road at school times and make it easier to use driveways.’

Response:

There seems to some ambiguity here. You seem to imply the use of a loading ban would allow officers (especially those in a camera enforcement car) to immediately record yellow line transgressions but you add drivers (presumably parents) are allowed to pick up and drop off passengers whilst on the yellow line. Is there not a danger of again penalizing residents and school staff by restricting their considerate parking and allowing the inconsiderate road users off the hook?

In practice yellow lines are only as good as the quality of enforcement at the targeted time. It is, therefore, disappointing to hear the one measure that will bring the biggest benefit is not going to be further developed.

Point 2 – Resident Only Parking

Parking in Devon Road is currently limited to 2hours between 8am-6pm Mon-Fri with an exemption for permit holders. There have been requests to restrict parking to Permit Holders only between 8am and 6pm Mon-Fri. This would mean that visitors would only be allowed to park in the road if residents had bought them a permit.

The School would still be entitled to buy permits (see above), and there might be a requirement to make permits available for their visitors too.

Response

As our previously submitted photographic record submitted to TAG demonstrates there are no parking issues outside a very short period at the start and end of the school day. There are regular visitors to the school but there also many others who visit on a more ad hoc and unplanned basis. By extending permit parking restrictions throughout school operating hours and at the same time limiting the number of our permits you would be unnecessarily undermining free access to the school.

Consequences:

  1. Unnecessarily undermine the legitimate functioning of the school
  2. You will unnecessarilyincrease parking issues in neighbouring roads
  3. Unnecessarilyrestrict access for residents’ visitors

We have attached Appendix A to provide a more detailed explanation of the school’s position.
Appendix A - St Mary’s Submission to Traffic Advisory Group (TAG) Nov 2011

Background facts:

  1. The school relocated to its current site in 1965.
  2. The change in status to a 2 form of entry combined school in the 1970s was consulted on with residents and fully approved by the LA.
  3. The admissions limit (PAN) was set and agreed then and has been in place ever since.
  4. Given its faith based nature it has one of the largest catchments in the authority and consequently has a higher proportion of families travelling by motorised transport.
  5. There are four school buses reducing the use of cars.
  6. There is no prospect of closing the school as it is one of a small number of schools to be judged outstanding.
  7. There are no plans to relocate the school.
  8. With agreed changes for the age of transfer to secondary schools in September 2013, St Mary’s will have one less year group – the equivalent of 60 less pupils.

Conclusion: The school is here to stay and given its invaluable service should attract the full support of its local community. The challenge, therefore, is to effectively manage the range of requirements for Devon Road:

Non-negotiable requirements:

  • Traffic regulations
  • Access for emergency services – the fire service has checked and confirmed thatthere is appropriate access.

LA requirements:

  • To discourage parking by town centre workers who have alternative parking and travel options
  • Not to disadvantage local businesses (institutions).

Residents’ requirements (as we understand them):

  • On road parking to supplement off road provision (9 of 19 spaces)
  • Driveways clear of obstructions
  • Engines not to be left running
  • To be able to turn at the head of the road

School staff and other providers’ requirements:

  • Safety - an island arrangement at the head of the road to:
  • Provide safe crossing point for all school users
  • discourage dangerous three point turns in this area during peak times
  • On road parking to supplement off road provision to allow staff and other providers reasonable opportunity to provide the legally expanded service required:
  • Inclusive – more pupils with additional learning need requiring individual support
  • Community hubs:
  • Closer working with other agencies
  • Extended school day (before & after) bringing in specialist providers:

Sport

Music

MFL

  • Not to be financially penalised
  • Non-profit making services not to be treated like profit making companies
  • These extraordinary costs to be allowed for in our delegated budget

Parents using cars requirements:

  • Sufficient dropping off and collection points
  • Traffic flow

Can all these requirements be met?

Parking spaces:

  • There are more than enough parking spaces to meet the additional needs of both the residents and the school staff and there have always been enough.
  • There has never been full uptake of the 19 parking permits available for Devon Road.
  • There are not enough or ever likely to be enough to meet the demand of parents who would like to park in Devon Road.

Safe and legal parking:

  • There isno record of any staff or other associated service provider blocking a driveway or leaving their engine running.
  • Any on-going problems outlined by residents are created by a small number of other road users (predominantly parents) using the two hour window attempting to park in the unused parking spaces at dropping off and collection times.
  • Unfortunately such difficulties are associated with the vast majority of schools

Safe movement within the area:

  • The installation of the traffic island has allowed all school users much safer transit across two lines of traffic at the head of the road
  • At peak times traffic flow is restricted to single file with those waiting at either end of the road until the channel is clear. Very occasionallyimpatient road users create ashort term log jam but these are quickly resolved.
  • Increased deployment of traffic wardens is reducing any issues particularly the parking on yellow lines at the entrance to Devon Road.

Are current permit arrangements effective?

  • Traffic control regulations if sufficiently enforced will address parking difficulties.
  • Parking permits do not impact on the group triggering the difficulties – other road users (mostly parents).
  • Constraining service providers (school staff) from parking in the road promotes parental demand by increasing the likelihood of parking spaces being available in Devon Road.
  • School continues to take all the steps it can reasonably make but cannot enforce traffic regulation:
  • discouraged parking in Devon Rd
  • asked parents to park considerately
  • In line with our travel plan promoted alternative ways to travel to school
  • walking
  • Cycling
  • Public transport
  • Sharing transport.
  • The 60 school staff and service providers have 22 permit controlled on-site parking places not including those set aside for disabled parking. This does not allow for visitors or contractors.
  • When the car park is full the remaining staff/providers are currently limited to 2 hours of on road parking. This significantly impacts on the quality and extent of their provision. Few other schools suffer such constraints.
  • Financial parking control unfairly impacts on non-profit making institutions.
  • Attempts to arbitrarily impose additional parking constraints (limited to one road) on any school permit holder would be discriminatory.

Possible ways forward:

  1. Allow continued use of the road by staff and key providers to reduce spaces for parental parking in Devon Road at the end and start of the school day
  2. Have a regular programme of enforcement

We hope our comments offer insight and help your decision making. If we can be of further help please do not hesitate to contact the school.