Traffic Study at Baden Powell Middle School

sAGENDA ITEM 6A

BOROUGH OF POOLE

NEWTOWN, PARKSTONE, PENN HILL AREA COMMITTEE

WEDNESDAY, 3 DECEMBER 2003

REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

ON TRAFFIC STUDY AT BADEN POWELL MIDDLE SCHOOL

1.0Purpose of Report

1.1To inform the Committee of the results of a Traffic Study in Windsor Road near Baden Powell Middle School.

2.0Recommendation

2.1It is recommended that Option F in the attached table be approved for funding.

3.0Background

3.1The Safer Routes to School survey at Baden Powell School identified a number of minor improvements to assist children walking and cycling to and from the School. The package included the provision of school zig-zag markings at the end of Mill Lane and Windsor Road to clear the area near both entrances to the school.

3.2A total of 36 Orders were advertised over a year ago to prevent stopping from 8am – 6pm Monday to Friday on all the existing school zig-zags throughout the Borough. The proposed zig-zags at both entrances to the Baden Powell Middle School were included on the same advertisement. No objections were received to all except one of these advertisements and these Orders were signed and implemented.

3.3At its meeting on 17 October 2002, the Transportation Advisory Group considered the making of orders for the proposed new zig-zag in Windsor Road, but in view of the objection from a resident of Windsor Road, they felt unable to make this decision and instead referred it to the Area Committee of 4 December 2002.

3.4To be enforceable, zig-zags must show clear times and days when the restriction will apply – imprecise instructions like “on school days” or “at school times” would be open to challenge. Furthermore to reduce times that zig-zags are effective to certain parts of the day, e.g. morning and afternoon school times, would send out mixed messages to motorists who should view these as clearly not for parking on during the day from Monday to Friday.

3.5Less restrictive orders are available such as single yellow lines qualified to school times of the day (8 to 10am and 2 to 4 pm ); these are already in use elsewhere in the Borough. However these would not stop motorists temporarily stopping to drop off and pick up in this road close to the school entrance. No orders elsewhere have been shown to be effective during school term time only for the reason stated above.

3.6Residents felt that zig-zags were an inflexible way of dealing with the problem, that his was an issue affecting the whole of Windsor Road and that if a one way system around the two roundabouts was introduced this would increase safety. A further method could be for the cul-de-sac to be restricted to resident access only. Other residents agreed that zig-zags would not be effective and the safety of the children was most important.

3.7Local Members did not feel that the zig-zags or yellow lines would work and it might be beneficial to investigate a one way system, although this would need consultation with residents. It was important to consider all implications of any scheme to address the problem and to also try and get the school involved to educate the parents.

3.8Local Members also felt that the zig-zags in isolation would make the situation more dangerous and that if an alternative safety method was proposed that this would need to be funded from the Area Committee budget. It was agreed that advice on the appropriate measures to deal with the traffic issues associated with the school, taking into account the suggestions made by this Committee, be reported back to a future meeting.

4.0Options

4.1The various traffic options for the roads around the Windsor Road entrance, along with budget estimates, are summarised in the Table at Appendix A and on the attached plans. They may be introduced in isolation or in combination with one or more other measures. Any alternative measures considered necessary beyond those proposed following the Safer Routes to School Study will require funding approved by this Area Committee, and if involving an order would need further advertisement.

4.2It is recommended that Option F (which is a combination of Options A, B & C) be considered for funding by this Area Committee, provided that it is supported by the School’s Travel Plan. The School Travel Plan for Baden Powell has yet to be completed and due to a change of Headteacher it may be some time before this will happen.

JIM BRIGHT

Head of Transportation Services

Background PapersNone

Appendices

Traffic Study Table and associated drawings (drawings not available electronically)

Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact

Martin Baker(01202) 262073

29 August 2003

NPPH221003TA

APPENDIX A

Baden Powell School Windsor Road Area Traffic Study

OPTIONS / COST / ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES
A)PROBLEM: Vehicles blocking junction with Alton Road reducing visibility.
SOLUTION: Waiting Restrictions at junction of Alton Road and Windsor Road. / £1000 /

Clears junction of cars improving sight lines and vehicle flows.
Children currently walk between the cars which can be moving

Loss of parking spaces
May not be obeyed
May increase vehicle speeds

(This was turned down at Traffic Panel - as part of more extensive lining along Alton Road)

May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

B)PROBLEM: Parking causing congestion outside School entrance at peak times.
SOLUTION: Yellow School Keep Clear Zigzags near School entrance / £1000 /

Clears traffic from end of Windsor Road
School children can exit/enter the school without having to walk between parked / manoeuvring cars

Was objected to in the past by one local resident
Cars may abuse the zigzags
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

C)PROBLEM: Parking around islands causes congestion.
SOLUTION: Waiting Restrictions around islands and 15m away from all junctions / £1000 /

Keeps Islands clear of cars
Increases sight lines

May not be obeyed
May increase vehicle speeds
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

D)PROBLEM: Congestion at School start & finish times.
SOLUTION: Limited Waiting Restrictions between Mon - Fri, 8-10am and 2-4pm / £1300 /

Clears School parking during the school start and finish time.
School children can exit/enter the school without having to walk between parked / manoeuvring cars

Moves the parking on to an equally unsuitable place if not done on a wide scale
Concentrates the parking.
May not be obeyed
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

E)Combination of A and C / £1300 /

Clears junction of cars improving sight lines and vehicle flow

Keeps islands clear of cars

Increases sight lines

Loss of parking spaces
May not be obeyed

May increase vehicle speeds
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

OPTIONS / COST / ADVANTAGES / DISADVANTAGES
F)Combination of A, B and C / £2000 /

Clears junction clear of cars improving sight lines and vehicle flow

Keeps Islands clear of cars

Increases sight lines

Clears bottom end of Windsor Road

School children can exit/enter the school without having to walk between parked / manoeuvring cars

Loss of parking spaces
May not be obeyed

May increase vehicle speeds

Zigzags were objected to in the past

Cars may disobey the zigzags
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place

G)PROBLEM: Parking on verges around islands.
SOLUTION: Dragons Teeth on Islands / £2000 /

Would discourage parking on the verge around these islands

May reduce passing space if cars did not park on verge

H)PROBLEM: Conflict of vehicles entering and leaving Windsor Road at junction with Alton Road.
SOLUTION: No Entry into Windsor Road at the junction of Alton Road / £4500 /

Would effectively create a one way system
Would keep junction of Windsor Road and Alton Road clear

Would cause residents to be diverted and inconvenienced
Would increase the amount of cars using the Alton Road, Kimberley Road junction
Needs a kerb extension
May increase vehicle speeds as no opposing traffic
May be objections to order from residents
Abuse during off peak times

I)PROBLEM: Conflict of vehicles at the junction of Windsor Road and Powell Road.
SOLUTION: No entry at Windsor Road junction of Powell Road southbound / £4500 /

Would create a one way system

Would cause residents to be diverted
Drivers may perform a U turn in Powell Road

Needs a kerb extension
May increase vehicle speeds as no opposing traffic

Abuse during off peak times

J)PROBLEM: Large numbers of Child pedestrians and cyclists using narrow footways.
SOLUTION: Mark cycle lane at end of Windsor Road outside School including small kerb build-out to widen footway. / £3500 /

Would redefine road space preventing cars from parking at bottom

Cars may still park there
Expensive when compared with other measures
May concentrate the parking in an equally unsuitable place
May inconvenience adjacent householders.