PFD - Portfolio Holder Decision Councillor Parker - 15 April 2004 - Alderney Middle School

BOROUGH OF POOLE

TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – 15 APRIL 2004

REPORT BY HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES

ON ALDERNEY MIDDLE SCHOOL HIGHWAY IMPROVEMENTS

1. Purpose and Policy Context

1.1 To consider a request made by the Planning Committee held on 29 January 2004 to investigate further highway improvements in the vicinity of Alderney Middle School, Evering Avenue.

1.2 The Council’s Transportation Strategy aims to improve safety for vulnerable road users, and reduce dependence on the car for journeys to and from school.

2. Recommendation

2.1 It is recommended that the two schemes identified by Planning Committee, and described in paragraphs 4.1 and 4.2 below, be noted, and that a report be brought back following a traffic and safety study after the first term of operation of the new Combined School.

3. Information

3.1 Planning Committee granted planning permission on 29 January 2004 for an extension at Alderney Middle School, Evering Avenue to form 4 additional classrooms and facilities to create a Combined (First and Middle) school.

3.2 Trinidad First School, currently in Herbert Avenue, will move to Evering Avenue in September 2004 and the Herbert Avenue site would be redeveloped for housing.

3.3 Part of the transport mitigation, required as part of the planning consent, specifies improved parking and access arrangements within the present Middle School site, plus off-site measures. These include:

 The creation of a 20mph zone in Evering Avenue along the school’s road frontage, and two short road narrowings.  Enhancement of the footpath link between Evering Avenue and Turbary Close to encourage walking.  Development of a school Travel Plan aimed mainly at reducing car use.

Planning Committee were advised that these mitigation measures were considered to be the limit of what could properly and reasonably secured through the planning process.

1 3.4 Members of the Planning Committee accepted advice, but remained concerned about the future traffic conditions in the Evering Avenue area. As part of the investigation of the school proposals, potential schemes at the junctions of Alderney Avenue / Evering Avenue and Manor Road / Herbert Avenue had been investigated. The Committee requested that these and other safety measures should be considered by Transportation Advisory Group.

3.5 Cllr Trent has subsequently asked this Group to consider imposing yellow lines at the Alderney Avenue/Evering Avenue junction as a matter of urgency. The precise details of the off site works, described in paragraph 3.3 above, are still to be agreed and Property Services will be asked to include these waiting restrictions in the package.

4. Potential Schemes

4.1 Manor Road/ Herbert Avenue Vehicle detection loop on Manor Avenue connected to the nearby pelican crossing on Herbert Avenue.

4.2 Alderney Avenue/Evering Avenue Kerb build-outs to prevent parking at the junction and assist child pedestrians in crossing what is, at present, a wide carriageway.

4.3 Of these the second scheme is the more important, particularly as the Manor Road /Herbert Avenue scheme has no significant safety benefits, and indeed has some disadvantages.

4.4 It suggested that, following a study of the new Combined School in operation, these schemes should be reconsidered by this Group.

JIM BRIGHT Head of Transportation Services

Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact: John Stagg (01202) 262052

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