Huntington Community Primary School Travel Plan
Publication date: September 2020 Contents Page
STP study group and survey methods 1
Acknowledgements
Report Summary 2
Section 1: General policies on travel to school the need
for a new STP 4
Section 2: Information on school and background to
development of new school site 4
Summary of school details 6
Current Admissions policy 8
Background to school relocation 9
School location and catchment area 10
Travel issues identified during planning process 11
Mitigating remedial actions proposed by developer 12
School facilities for staff and children 17
Vehicular access to the school site 17
Current public transport provision 21
Section 3: School catchment area and travel to
school problems 22
Pedestrian and cycle routes to school 25
Walking routes from Saighton Camp development 27
Safety issues from Saighton Camp development 27
Safety issues from Butterbache Road 32
Walking and safety issues from Caldy Valley 35
Current school travel policies 38
Safety issues in immediate rea of school site 39
Travel issues on school site 41
Section 4: Survey responses and proposed actions 46
Why parents use vehicles to take pupils to school 46
How pupils and staff travel to school 46
Concerns expressed by pupils 47
Mitigation of travel to school problems 47
Action plan and safety measures adopted within school 49
Figures in text
Map 1 School catchment area January 2016 13
Map 2 Approach roads to school site 15
Map 3 Site plan of school 18
Map 4 School catchment area January 2019 24
Map 5 Signalised crossing points near school 26
Map 6 School on site parking area 45
Photographs
1 Coaches using Saighton Lane 16
2/3 School vehicular entrance 19
4 Pupil drop off/collection layby 20
5 Contractors cleared site office area 21
6/7 Bus turning point/layby 22
8 Pavement Highlander Way 28
9 Junction Highlander Way/Saighton Lane 29
10 Junction Highlander Road/Wavell Way 29
11 Pavement parking Kohima Crescent 30
12 Pavement parking Highlander Road 31
13 Pavement parking Butterbache Road 33
14 A55 Road Bridge 34
15 Proposed location traffic lights Gorse Way 35
16 Proposed Grose Way crossing point 36
17 Heavy traffic on A55 overbridge 37
18 Parent crossing at Rake and Pikle 38
19 School onsite drop off/collection lay-by 39
20 Puffin Crossing by school pedestrian entrance 40
21 Parent walking to Walker’s Nursery 41
23 Vehicles entering school car park gate 45
Tables
Table 1 After School clubs 7
Table 2 Home areas of Huntington School pupils 23
Table 3 Staff travel distances to school 42
Table 4 How pupils travel to school 46
Appendices
1. Headteachers letters to parents re parking and risk assessment 51
2. Parent Travel Survey: response analysis 56
3. Pupil responses to survey 65
4. Staff survey responses 66
5. Joint statement by School Governors/Huntington Parish Council 69
6. Notes of meeting between School Governors and Huntington
Parish Council 71
7. Proposed Action Plan 77
STP Study Group and survey methods:
The Governor’s sub group that produced this STP Report included school staff, parents and local residents from areas close to the school. During 2019, consultation exercises were undertaken with parents, school staff and local residents as well as pupils. School staff undertook work with pupils to gather their views and opinions about travelling to school. Following publication, the report will be discussed at a general meeting of parents and residents.
Details of the surveys undertaken with pupils, parents, staff and local residents are provided in Appendix 2. Generally, the response rate to surveys of parents and residents was disappointing. Despite several reminders to increase the response rate, less than 20% of families answered the survey.
Acknowledgements:
The school and governors would like to express their appreciation to all the parents, pupils and staff who assisted in the preparation of this new STP. Particular thanks are due to the officers in the various CWAC departments and services for their assistance in producing maps and data as well as guidance and suggestions on how to undertake the work. Any omissions or errors in this report are the sole responsibility of the author.
Copyright:
All the photographs used in the text are the copyright of Brian Turner. Maps and plans used in the text were provided by officers at CWAC and the use of these in this STP report is covered by the school and CWAC copyright licences with the Crown Ordnance Survey etc.
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School Travel Plan Report:
This report is in four sections
Section 1 Why we need a new STP and general policies on travel to school
Section 2 Information on school profile and development of the new school site.
Section 3 The school catchment area and problems experienced by pupils travelling to school
Section 4 Survey responses and proposed actions
Report Summary:
1. The problems identified by parents and school staff of road safety, inappropriate parking and travel to school arise from the decision taken in principle in 2013 to build a school on the current site. Initially the school site was within the Saighton Camp residential development where safety and other issues would have been far less acute. The current school entrance at the junction of three very busy commuter roads to/from Chester beyond the residential development is the primary cause of safety and other issues.
2. The decision to build a new school on the current site rather than within the residential development is outlined in the 2013 S106 agreement between CWAC and the developer of Saighton Camp. This 2013 S106 agreement outlined the proposal to exchange the proposed school site on Saighton Camp for the recreational area owned by the developer on Aldford Road. In exchange for acquiring the original school site within the residential development valued at over £4m plus being granted planning permission for housing on this site, the developer sold to CWAC for £1 the larger area of designated recreation land. This recreation land had little commercial value for residential development as it is within the Green belt plus it has substantial maintenance costs associated with trees, hedges and grass cutting.
3. All the problems associated with pupils travelling to the current school site noted by parents were identified in the 2016 Atkins Travel Assessment report. CWAC planning and highways officers agreed with the conclusions of the Atkins report about the transport problems and safety issues associated locating the new school at a very busy road junction.
4. The draft Atkins Travel Assessment proposed a range of mitigation measures some of which were not included in the final report
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presumably after discussions with CWAC officers and possibly the developer. It is not clear why and on whose authority some of the proposed mitigation proposals were removed from the final published Atkins report. Parents and residents would like to see all the measures originally proposed and recommended in the Atkins 2016 draft Travel Assessment put into effect.
5. It is beyond the powers and authority of Huntington CP School governors to implement most of the possible measures proposed by parents and outlined in the Action Plan to ensure safer and more sustainable travel to school. At best, Huntington CP School governors can only encourage and cajole parents and pupils to take more sustainable and healthier means to travel to school and promote better road safety awareness amongst its pupils. Actions on improved road safety measures are the remit of other agencies.
6. The mitigation measures proposed as part of the Planning Approval process have generally been put into effect. However, key safety issues and parking problems identified by CWAC planning and highways experts before the school was built have still not been resolved to the satisfaction of parents or local residents.
7. Some measures proposed by parents and incorporated in the STP Action Plan require the approval and financial support of highways agencies and the support of Huntington Parish Council as they relate to areas beyond the school boundary.
8. Most pupils already walk, cycle or scooter to school. The survey responses suggest that it is doubtful if any actions will significantly reduce the number of parents using cars to bring/collect children to/from school. In 2019/20 approximately 20% of pupils live outside of the Parish. For these out of parish pupils, the travel time by public transport - where available - and distance from school means private cars or taxis are the most effective form of travel.
9. The minority of parents living in the Parish who bring their children to school by car do so primarily because of work commitments. It seems unlikely that any action by the school will encourage these parents to allow their children to walk/cycle or scooter to school.
10. There are insufficient volunteers to make a “Walking Bus” a viable proposal.
11. Measures such as a Parent Parking Charter aimed at changing attitudes towards walking and parking ultimately rely upon pupils putting pressure on their parents.
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12. The parents who bring their children to school by car and currently park off site do so because they cannot easily gain entry to the school drop off area. The parent survey and on-site discussions with these parents indicate the strong expectation that the school will provide additional on-site parking facilities.
Section 1: General policies on travel to school and the need for a new School Travel Plan (STP)
Schools are expected to have a School Travel Plan (STP). The STP should comply with and reflect the objectives/strategies outlined in both the National Planning Policy Framework and the Cheshire West and Chester (CWAC) Local Transport Plan. Key elements of these National and Local plans include the promotion not only of safe routes to school but the encouragement of sustainable and healthy modes of travel. The CWAC Travel Planning Guidance document 2016 pp. 9, 22, outlines these aspirations. It seems doubtful that the expectations, aspirations and actions outlined in the 2016 CWAC document are met by the Saighton Camp residential development where most pupils live.
An STP should encourage as many pupils as possible to walk, cycle or scooter to school and discourage the use of cars wherever possible. As part of this general aim CWAC has a policy of limiting the parking provision on school sites to the minimum required for staff and essential users and services that must use vehicles. At CWAC maintained primary schools, no provision is normally made for parent parking. In this respect, the new school site is unusual. There is a facility for staff parking plus a drop off/collection lay-by for parents. This area is outside of the school fence boundary and is a shared use facility with the adjacent recreation area. See Map 3 Site Plan of School page 18.
The current STP for Huntington CP School was undertaken in 2004 and modified in 2014 to reflect the impact of the Saighton Camp residential development upon the school population. The STP for the old school site at Butterbache Road has no relevance to the new school site at Aldford Road. Relocation to a new school site requires a new STP because travel routes are now significantly different from those to Butterbache Road.
Planning Approval for the new Huntington Community Primary School site published July 2017 requires the Governors to develop a STP that complies with both national and local CWAC school traffic management policies. The STP should aim to ensure:
• All pupils have safe travel routes to school. - 4 -
• All pupils have safe movement routes within the school site. • Local residents are not inconvenienced by inappropriate behaviour by pupils or parents parking their cars whilst dropping off or collecting their children close to school. • All pupils are encouraged to walk, use scooters or cycle to school as part of a pattern of healthy living.
Some of the above is already covered by the risk assessments undertaken for the new school site and outlined in letters to parents by the Head teacher Mr. Rose (See Appendix 1 pp. 52). Schools that have published and adopted an effective STP claim the following benefits of an STP that seeks to reduce car use:
For Pupils
• Better health and fitness by increased exercise from walking etc. • Improved travel awareness. • Greater awareness of their surroundings.
For the school
• Improved safety on school site and in the locality around the school. • Reduced congestion around the school. • Lower pollution levels in vicinity of the school. • Safer pupil routes to school. • Contributing to school policies such as Eco-Schools and Healthy Schools programmes. • Providing practical data for links to the National Curriculum.
For Parents
• Reduced stress and time spent driving children to school at peak commuter travel times. • Increased quality of parent/child contact time. • Better links with their children’s school.
For the Local Community
• Improvements to the environment by reduced air and noise pollution. • Reduced congestion. • Enhanced walking and cycling routes locally. • Overall improvement in road safety • Better relationship with the school. - 5 -
Even if all the measures proposed in this STP Action Plan were adopted it cannot be guaranteed that all these advantages will be gained. Improvement in some areas cannot easily be gauged objectively. It is anticipated that if the measures proposed in the Huntington Primary School Action Plan pp. 78 are put into effect, then such improvements are possible. The baseline measures from the consultation surveys will enable us to monitor changes over time. We will report back to the community on a regular basis outlining the progress in achieving the Action Plan proposing modifications as necessary.
Section 2: Information on school and background to the development of the new school site.
Summary of School details:
Name: Huntington Community Primary School
Headteacher: Mr. D. Rose
Address: Huntington CP School Aldford Road Huntington Chester CH3 6EA
01244 981043 Telephone 01244981043
Website http://www.huntington.cheshire.sch.uk
Email: [email protected]
DfE URN 211/11093
Contact for STP: Brian Turner via Huntington CP School office
Number of children currently on roll at Sept. 2019: 348 plus 31 nursery pupils
School Capacity: 456 expected to reach this level by 2021
Age Range: 3 - 11 i.e. includes nursery provision
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Gender: Mixed
Number of SEND pupils (Sept. 2019) 29
Number of staff: 44 Full/part time teaching staff and assistants plus 10 Administration and others
School opening times: School begins at 8.50 but the school playground area is supervised from 8.30 am and parents are permitted to enter the school site from 8.30. School finishing times are staggered so as to ease congestion at the school gate as well as at pedestrian and vehicular access points. Nursery and Reception classes finish at 14.50. KS1 finishes at 15.05 and KS2 at 15.15.
After school clubs: The range of clubs offered reduces the number of children exiting school at the times above. Details of the current clubs operating are shown below in Table 1
Table 1: Attendance at after school clubs (April 2019)
Name of Club Finishing time Number of pupils attending
Art (Y1) 4.00 20
Choir 4.15 40
Indoor Athletics (Y5/6) 4.30 25
Football (Y5/6) 4.15 29
Football (Y5/6) 4.15 29
Football (Y4) 4.15 17
Multiskills (Y1) 4.15 27
Multiskills (Y2) 4.15 20
Netball (Y5/6) 4.15 22
Outdoor Games (Y3/4) 4.15 29
Street dance (Y1/2) 4.15 27
Mad Science 4.00 25 - 7 -
Lights Action Camera 1+ 2 4.15 21
Community use of school facilities: The school premises are used by a number of organisations outside of normal school time. This includes after school clubs for pupils as well as wider community groups. It is anticipated that over time the number of users will increase together with the number of after school activities. Planning Approval requires that the on-site car park be available for community use outside of normal school opening times. It is also required that the car park and playing fields adjacent to the school be available for use in the evenings and at weekends by users of the sports pitches on the adjacent recreational site. In addition to a second junior football pitch, CWAC has recently submitted a planning application (19/04296/FUL) for a pavilion/changing rooms to be built on the recreational space. Without consulting the school or governors this planning application suggests that the school cycle sheds within the secure school perimeter should be made available to visitors to the recreation area. This cannot be done without compromising the security of the school buildings. Access to the playing fields is currently by a path from the car park that runs outside the school fence boundary (see Map 3 pp 18).
Current admission policy: See CWAC guidance. In 2016, over 95% of the school’s pupils lived within the Parish of Huntington. (See Map 1 School Catchment Area Jan 2016 pp.13). It might be expected that the development of the Saighton Camp development would increase the percentage of pupils who lived within Huntington Parish. This has not been the case so far. The residential development of Saighton Camp is not been due to be completed until late 2020 early 2021). Whilst the school had vacancies, pupils were accepted from outside its normal catchment area. (See table 2 below pp. 23). It is not clear to what extent this may change once the Saighton Camp development is completed and there is pressure for the school to give preference to children from within its immediate locality. The number of children from within Huntington Parish using other primary schools in Saighton or other adjacent parishes does not seem to be very large.
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Background to Re-location of school
Five years after the 2013 S106 agreement between CWAC and the developer outlined proposals for a new two form entry school, the school relocated from Butterbache Road to its new site at the busy junction of the three very busy commuter roads: Aldford Road; Saighton Lane and Chester Road. This junction was converted to a mini-roundabout as part of the Saighton Camp development. Access to the new school is now from a fourth arm on this roundabout. The travel problems identified in the 2016 Travel Assessment undertaken before planning permission was granted have materialised but not yet been fully resolved. As the surveys of parents, pupils and staff indicate, the problems anticipated by the planners, safety officers and school governors at the site for the new school have proven to be correct and possibly even understated. The proposed Action Plan of this STP (Appendix 7 pp. 77) suggests ways to address these problems.
The proposal to build a new two form entry school on the current site is outlined in the S106 agreement dated 20th Aug 2013, para 2.5.3. and the CWAC planning application 16/05705/FUL May 9th 2017. This proposal replaced the existing plan for a single form entry school on the Saighton Camp development. In exchange for returning to the developer for housing development the school site on Saighton Camp (valued at over £4m), the developers gave to CWAC for £1 a larger site close to the residential development which had no commercial value as it was designated as a community recreational facility. This site designated a recreational area within the Green Belt was not available for residential development and it is estimated that the developer would have been responsible for annual maintenance costs of about £36,000 - now the responsibility of CWAC. To build the school within the Green Belt required CWAC to grant itself Exceptional Planning Consent as well as assuming responsibility for maintenance of the recreational area outlined in the management and conservation report. The area outside of the school boundary remains a recreational area with a football pitch and parking area shared with the school (see site plans pp. 15 and 18). A substantial proportion of the cost of the new school building was met from S106 agreements between CWAC and developers at Saighton Camp made for the original school site on Saighton Camp.
The area beyond the school perimeter fence is designated as ‘Green Belt’ and community recreational space. This recreational space has provision - 9 -
for two football pitches and open grassland plus trees and hedge boundaries covered by Tree Preservations Orders (TPOs). The access slip road to the school from the mini roundabout on Aldford Road/Chester Road/Saighton Lane includes provision for a joint use car park. There are tarmac paths from the car park to the school entrance. A further gravel path from the car park around the school perimeter fence across from the main school entrance leads to the recreational area and proposed football pitches. This path is the only public access point onto the recreational area. (See site plan pp. 18). Currently the recreational space and car park are the responsibility of various departments in CWAC. It is possible that at some future date CWAC will transfer its parcel of recreational land to Huntington Parish Council (HPC). HPC had proposed to build an even larger building that would have rooms suitable for general community use instead of a basic pavilion. For reasons of funding and concerns over general management costs and the need for additional parking provision, the HPC proposal has not yet gone ahead. It is possible that further Exceptional Planning Consent will be required for any building on this “Green Belt” recreational area and especially so for additional rooms for general community use. Public use of the joint use car park outside of normal school hours and weekends throughout the year is a planning approval condition. Any extension of the proposed pavilion for wider community use could require additional parking provision. It is anticipated that use of the car park outside of school hours will lead to issues of security and safety for the school premises generally and especially the school’s external storage areas.
School location and catchment area:
As Map 1 (pp. 13) shows, the old school site was located in a quiet established residential area on Butterbache Road. In 2016, almost all pupils lived within half a mile of the school. The new school entrance is now at the junction of three busy roads that are the principal commuter routes to Chester and the M56 from Saighton, Farndon and the Saighton Camp development. The school site is bounded by the A55 North Wales Expressway on its northern flank. A small area of woodland, hedges, grass verge and steep bank separates the school from the A55 North Wales Express Way below. The area to the south is open space and playing fields. The area beyond the recreational space is open farmland. The residential development taking place on the former MOD Saighton Camp site should be completed by late 2020 or early 2021. This
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residential development is the other side of Aldford Road/Saighton Lane about 200 metres from entrances to the school. Other fields adjacent to the Saighton Camp development may be developed for housing in the future. It is probable that the old school site in Butterbache Road will developed for housing. Either of these possible developments could increase the pressure for additional school places.
In September 2019 82% of pupils resided within Huntington Parish. Just over 8% lived in Great Boughton and 10% elsewhere. The lack of public transport makes it impractical for almost 20% of pupils to come to school other than by vehicle (see Table 2 below pp. 22). Huntington Parish is divided into two halves by the A55 North Wales Expressway over-bridge (see map 2 pp. 15). This over-bridge was built in 1976 and carries the old Chester Road across the A55. The older residential area of Huntington lies on the Chester side of the bridge and the newer Saighton Camp development on the Wrexham side of the bridge. Currently, about half the pupils living within the Parish come from each part of the Parish. This percentage will probably increase in favour of the Saighton Camp development because of the demographics of each area. Almost all the children coming to school from outside of the Parish must use either Sandy Lane/Chester Road or Caldy Valley/Gorse Way. When the Travel Assessment was undertaken in 2016, the Saighton Camp development was less than half completed. As the Maps 1 and 4 below (pp. 13 and 24) indicate the source of pupils for the school in January 2019 and their travel patterns to the Butterbache Road in 2016 are radically different. Over time, the proportion of pupils coming from Saighton Camp will increase substantially. As indicated on Map 4 (pp. 24) the furthest point from Saighton Camp to the new school site is less than 800 metres. Dee Banks, the furthest point within the Parish from the school is just under a mile. Tudor Way on the Caldy Valley estate is about half a mile from the school entrance.
Travel issues identified during initial planning process:
The 2016 Atkins Transport Assessment undertaken for the new school site outlined the following likely problems.
• More parents using cars to bring children to school because homes farther away.
• Increased travel flows on approach roads to school arising from development at Saighton Camp.
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• Increased demand for parking on roads close to school. The responses to parent questionnaires show this is precisely what has happened.
Mitigating remedial actions proposed by Atkins Report:
1. New signalised (Puffin) Crossing on B 5130 Chester Road immediately south of bus lay-by.
2. New signalised (Puffin) Crossing on Sandy Lane immediately south of bus lay-by.
3. Extension of the 30mph speed limit area along the B 5130 Chester Road to a point south of the Walkers Nursery.
4. Speed reduction measures on approach to site access roundabout.
5. New signalised (Puffin) Crossing on B 5130 Chester Road immediately south of bus lay-by.
6. New signalised (Puffin) Crossing on Sandy Lane immediately south of bus lay-by.
7. Extension of the 30mph speed limit area along the B 5130 Chester Road to a point south of the Walkers Nursery.
8. Speed reduction measures on approach to site access roundabout.
9. Undertake localised widening of the existing footway between United Utilities site access to allow conversion to a shared use footway and cycleway.
10. Consideration of increasing the parapet height along the western side of B5130 Chester Road where it crosses the A55 North Wales Expressway. This is an amendment to the preliminary draft report of Jan 2016 which proposed: Erect guard railing and extend the bridge parapet height along the western side of the B5130 Chester Road where it crosses the North Wales Expressway.
11. Undertake improvements to existing drop kerb crossing points and provide new tactile paving at the junctions of the side road junctions of the B5130 Chester Road with Butterbache Road and the United Utilities site access.
12. Consideration be given to the potential to improve the footway connection between the B5130 Chester Road and Sandy Lane to the rear of the bus shelter.
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Map 1: Pupil locations and travel routes in January 2016 as shown in Atkins report 2016
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13. A new travel plan will be prepared for the expanded and relocated school, with measures identified to further encourage sustainable travel modes and reduce the proportion of pupils travelling to school by car [sic].
14. Consider provision of new parking restrictions on approach to the site access roundabout to prevent unsafe overspill parent parking. [It was indicated that new Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) to include time related loading bans to prevent short stay drop off and pick-up activity should be considered to control parking on the Saighton Camp Development site and adjacent roads such as Sandy Lane, Saighton Lane i.e. double yellow lines and no waiting.]
The Notice of Planning Approval published 3 November 2017 notes:
Before occupation or use of the school hereby permitted, a community use policy prepared in consultation with Sport England shall be submitted to and approved in writing by the Local Planning Authority. The community use shall apply to the external playing pitches and include accessibility to the car park and ‘drop-off/pick- up’ facilities by community users. For the avoidance of doubt, the policy shall include provision for accessibility to the car park and ‘drop-off/pick-up’ area for users of the community playing fields and associated pitch(es) on land to the south of the school.”
Reference is also made to on-site parking provision, a school STP and detailed notes on archaeology, landscape management and most of the highway mitigation measures included in the Atkins report. What is not mentioned is the need for alterations to the A55 bridge parapet recommended in first draft of the Atkins Transport Assessment. The School Travel Plan proposal also includes provision for “an implementation timetable and enforcement mechanism”. Quite what is intended by the latter is not made clear or who is supposed to undertake enforcement. As yet school governors have not been consulted about and are not aware of any community use policy or joint school/community committee developed for the site.
The measures proposed in the Atkins Travel Assessment (2016 pp. 14) reflect the expectation of substantially increased traffic and speeding issues on the roads close to the proposed new school site. There is evidence that CWAC Highways and Planning Officers were fully aware of the increased safety issues posed by the development of a school on the new site and the dangers arising from the low height of the A55 bridge parapet. The local community believe that current traffic volumes along
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Map 2: Approach roads to new school site
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the key approach roads plus those that pass the school are significantly greater than anticipated or planned for. This perceived growth in traffic reflects the increase in both private and commercial vehicles arising from the substantial increase in the number of houses built at Saighton Camp (an increase from approximately 850 to about 1,100) plus the substantial housing also widely used by residents from Wrexham seeking to avoid use of the congested Wrexham bypass road. There is also substantial housing development currently taking place at Farndon. The best route for residents from Farndon to Chester is via Aldford Road B5130 which is the main route from Chester to Farndon or Wrexham. The impact of the latter was obviously not considered at all by the Atkins Transport Assessment.
During 2018, problems on the A41 Whitchurch Road led many motorists to use the route via Saighton to Chester as a “rat run”. Use of this route has persisted as drivers appreciated how much time was saved because of holdups at the A41 hamburger roundabout at peak commuter times. A significant number of cars also use this route to take/collect pupils to/from Saighton C of E Primary School and the private Abbey Gate secondary school. Some parents from the Saighton Camp development have children at these schools and have complained about the time now taken to exit the site from Highlander Road. There is no public transport to these schools. In addition to private cars, several large 45+ seat coaches have been seen regularly using Saighton Lane. These coaches appear to be taking pupils to and from The Abbey Gate School in the morning and afternoon. (See photograph 1 below).
Photograph 1: Coaches using Saighton Lane 15/03/2019
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In addition to the normal school and commuter traffic, there will be a substantial number of vehicles wishing to use the community car park at weekends and possibly early evenings. There are many aspects regarding joint of the joint use car park that have yet to be resolved between the school governors and CWAC.
School facilities for staff and children: (Map 3 pp. 18):
The car parking facility for staff and the recreational area beyond the school boundary is accessed from the on-site slip road via the fourth arm of the mini roundabout. The slip road, car park and recreational area are not within the school boundary but on land currently owned by CWAC. The school has sole use of the community car park during normal school time and currently is managing the shrub and flower beds. As part of the service road to the car park there is provision for parents to drop off/collect their children but no designated parent parking area other than for those pupils with special needs (see map 2 above and map 3 below). The car park is also available to official visitors. This parking area has two disabled parking bay spaces and cable trunking for electric charging points, though none are currently connected.
Just inside the school boundary beyond the pedestrian entrance there are several cycle and scooter sheds. There is no dedicated covered space for parents to shelter during wet weather and currently parents use the cycle sheds as a shelter. All pupils have access to cloakroom and storage space either in their classroom or in the space between adjacent classrooms. Staff also have storage space etc. Pupils can access the supervised playground area from 8.30 am. School closing time is staggered so that parents of the youngest pupils may collect children from the school entrance within the school boundary from 2.50 onwards. Parents whose children attend after school clubs may use the staff car park if necessary. The whole of the school site, slip road and parking areas are well lit by standard street lighting which is within the school boundary.
Vehicular access to the school site:
The school has a single vehicle access point, via a fourth arm from the mini-roundabout at the road junction Chester Road/Sandy Lane/Aldford Road. The entrance gate leads onto a slip road that leads directly to the community use car park used by school staff during normal school hours. The car park has an entrance mid-way along the slip road and an exit at the top end of the slip road where a mini-roundabout allows vehicles to turn back towards the drop off lay-by on the slip road. Parents who need to drive children to school have a drop off point in the slip road lay-by. Parents have been directed by the headteacher to use a one-way system
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around the min-roundabout and not to use the staff car park. Parents have been advised in letters from the headteacher to:
• Drive past the staff car park to the top of the internal slip road. • Turn at the mini roundabout. • Drop off/collect children in the lay-by • Exit the school via the same point as they entered.
Map 3: School site plan
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Photographs 2: Vehicular entrance/exit to school
Photograph 3: Vehicular entrance to school and community use car park from highway
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Photograph 4: Drop off/collection lay-by on school slip road
There is no designated parent parking area on the school site. To the right of the vehicular entrance to school there is a fenced off area that was the location of the building contractors site office (see photographs 5 below). This area is not within the formal school boundary. It has been suggested that this area could provide additional parking but as yet there is no formal planning application or capital funding set aside to do this. To use this area as a car park would contravene both national and local transport policies. It is suggested that there may be alternative uses for this site as additional nursery facilities etc. This site is only suitable site for additional parking provided that:
• Proper groundwork for a car park. • An additional pedestrian entrance can be provided in the northern corner from the Chester Road (marked as blue A). This would enable the current pedestrian access at the vehicular entrance to be closed and the slip road widened to provide improved access. • A path is built around the perimeter of the new parking area that is clearly separated from cars e.g. use of logs etc to prevent cars from encroaching on path as at NT car parks (marked as yellow line) • An additional gate provided linking to the pedestrian path up to school entrance.
To undertake these alterations will be expensive possibly £70-100,000. - 20 -
Photographs 5: Former contractor’s office site by school entrance
Current public transport provision:
A regular 15 minute service to and from Chester is provided by the No. 5 bus. This bus is routed through the residential areas of Huntington from Christleton Road, Chester Road/Sandy Lane and Caldy Valley Road and could be used by parents and children from these areas. This service is subsidized for at least another 3-5 years by S106 monies from the Saighton Camp development. The nearest bus stop to the school is in the turning circle between two Puffin Crossings almost immediately opposite the school entrance for pedestrians. Similarly, the 41B bus from Chester/ Waverton routed along Sandy Lane/Caldy Valley Road uses the same turning circle as the No 5 bus before going along Sandy Lane to Waverton. The 41B bus service is a half hourly service.
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Photographs 6 No 5 Bus stop lay-by 18/03/2019
Photograph 7: Bus turning approach from Chester Road
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Section 3: The school catchment area and travel to school problems experienced by pupils
As Table 2 below indicates, almost 82% of the 312 pupils on the school roll in January 2019 (latest available figures) came from the Parish of Huntington. A small proportion of pupils live outside of the area. It is not known whether this is because parents have chosen the school over other local schools or because the school is conveniently on their route to work. In some instances, Huntington CP was the only school with vacancies. The school has not yet reached its maximum intended size and therefore it is possible the number from these out of parish areas may increase in the short term.
Table 2: Home areas of Huntington School pupils Jan 2019
Parish No.Pupils Backford 1 Chester Unparished Area 12 Christleton 6 Ellesmere Port Unparished Area 3 Great Boughton 27 Handley 1 Huntington 255 Mickle Trafford and District 1 Poulton and Pulford 2 Rowton 1 (blank) 3 Grand Total 312
57 children live more than a mile from the school with a significant number living more than 5 miles from the school. It is unreasonable for these children to walk or cycle to school – especially when it is raining or snowing. Similarly, public transport is not a realistic alternative for most of these children. Children from the area of Ellesmere Port or Backford, would need to leave home before 7 am to be sure of arriving at school before 9 am if they used public transport. In some cases, public transport is not available to the parents of these pupils.
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Map 4: School Catchment Jan 2019 and routes to school
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Pedestrian and cycle routes to school:
All but a few families have what should be safe pedestrian pavements to walk to school along the Chester Road/Sandy Lane or Caldy Valley Road. A few pupils coming to school from the Aldford Road direction and that part of Saighton Lane beyond the Saighton Camp development do not have a pedestrian pavement. These children would have to walk along a narrow winding country lane widely used as a commuter route to Chester and beyond. To date, there have been no reports of serious accidents or injury to children or carers walking to school. However, as the parent survey indicates, some parents believe these pavement routes are not as safe as they expect them to be. A particular concern is the A55 road bridge which is narrow and has a lower parapet than would be permitted if built today. All of the routes to school from the northern part of the Parish require pupils to cross the A55 North Wales Expressway over- bridge with its low parapet. Pupils have to cross roads characterised by high volumes, speeding traffic and a poorly maintained road full of puddles after rain.
Pupils can cross the Chester Road/Sandy Lane at the signalised crossing by the local shops. Currently there does appear to be a problem with the timing etc. of this crossing. A new set of traffic lights proposed for the Gorse Way/Chester Road junction should provide a safe crossing point. At the moment several parents believe this to be a dangerous crossing point (See photographs 15/16 pp. 35/36). Pedestrians from Caldy Valley and the Saighton Camp development can enter the school site using pavements that now have signalised smart Puffin crossing points across all major roads (see map 5 pp.26). Parents who use the Rake and Pikle car park appear not to use these controlled crossing points to cross Chester Road (see photograph 18 pp 38).
Initially, Huntington Parish Council opposed CWAC proposals for 20 mph speed limits in residential areas across the parish but the CWAC policy has now been implemented. 20 mph signs have now been erected on all minor residential streets other than the Saighton Camp development which is technically still private property with roads not yet adopted by CWAC. It is assumed that 20 mph will also apply to Saighton Camp once the roads have been adopted by CWAC. It is not yet obvious that the introduction of 20 mph limits on residential roads has led to substantial changes in driver behaviour. The speed limit on Chester Road, Caldy Valley and Gorse Way is 30 mph. Responses to the parent and staff surveys indicate that parents and teachers believe speed limits are widely ignored and want more effective enforcement.
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Map 5: Signalised crossing points on walking routes to school
Key: A Smart Puffin crossing by bus lay-by
B Smart puffin crossing at Saighton Lane/Highlander Road
C Pedestrian entrance to school
D Staff car park
E Pedestrian and vehicular entrances to school
F Area parents would like to use as car park
G Signalised crossing on A55 road bridge
H Proposed Gorse Way traffic signals crossing
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Walking routes from Saighton Camp (Map 4/5 pp. 24, 26):
The Saighton Camp development when completed will provide at least 60% and probably more of the school’s pupils. Highlander Road is the principal spline road on the estate. 95%+ of all estate traffic uses this road as the major entry into and exit point from the estate. Highlander Road and its pavements will not be properly surfaced until all development on the estate has been completed sometime by 2021. Once the road is properly surfaced it is proposed that the Chester No 5 bus will use Highlander Road. Similarly, whilst most pavements have been built to modern standards, not all have been given their final tarmac finish.
Safety issues on Saighton Camp walking routes:
The comments below summarise responses to the questionnaires and observation by governors and teaching staff.
Currently (January 2020) about 35% of roads and pavements are still not completed to their finished state, all should be by 2021. Currently, Highlander Road has a considerable number of pot holes etc. which frequently fill with water. Roads in some areas are described as shared space and either have no pavement or only have a pavement on one side of the road and a grass verge on the other. Many pavements have uneven surfaces often with raised manhole covers etc. and are frequently blocked by barriers or rubble.
Highlander Road the main route onto the development is used from 8 am until 5 pm by a wide range of large commercial vehicles, building contractors as well at least 1,500 resident’s cars (i.e. most families have 2 cars which accounts for about 3,000 daily journeys to and from the estate). It is noticeable that residents of the estate receive a considerable number of deliveries from online providers. The development has not yet been adopted by CWAC and is still largely private property. CWAC have indicated they will not adopt the roads, (or the open spaces and play areas on Areas A and B) until the developers meet the published planning specifications. There are several temporary “sleeping policemen” intended to slow traffic but in reality, these appear to have little effect. There is no 20mph limit in place and in several places on Highlander Road “islands” have been removed from the middle of the road to enable large vehicles to pass more easily. It is assumed that the CWAC policy of 20 mph for residential roads will apply to Saighton Camp once the roads have been adopted by CWAC. Parts of the estate also have deep swales that carry surface water from the roads. Most of these are unfenced or only have partial ranch style fencing of the swales alongside pavements and play areas. Following heavy rain, these swales store road surface water and the depth has been observed to exceed half a metre. Even in
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dry weather the bottoms of the swales are covered in a thick sludge layer and substantial reed beds. There has also been a problem with swales and attenuation ponds discharging effluent/silt of various kinds into Caldy Valley Brook.
Pupils from the estate must walk along Highlander Road to get to school. Pupils living in the western part of the development must cross Highlander Road at some point in order to use the Puffin Crossing points A and B on Saighton Lane and Aldford Road (see maps 4/5 pp. 24/26). There is no pedestrian crossing point along Highlander Road and none is planned even when the road becomes a bus route. From the farthest point of the estate it is about a 10-15 minute walk for an adult to school. Some parents from the farthest part of the estate and other parts of Huntington leave their cars close to the junction of Highlander Road/Saighton Lane and in Wavell Way or Kohima Crescent before taking/collecting their children to school. Residents’ have suggested that one side of Highlander Road where there are no houses by the roadside could have part of the grassed pavement area converted to a parking bay.
Photograph 8: Pavement on Highlander Road 15/03/2019
Currently, some pavements are extremely uneven either because they have not had their finishing surface or have been dug up on numerous occasions by utilities companies undertaking repairs etc. This is especially the case at the entrance to Highlander Road from Saighton Lane where a new retail outlet is currently being built. All the houses on Highlander Road have driveway access across pavements like other parts of the - 28 -
development. Cars have been observed blocking the driveways of houses near the entrance to Highlander Road, Wavell Way and along Kohima Crescent and parking across pavements (see photographs 10/11 below).
Photograph 9: Junction Highlander Road and Saighton Lane Photo taken 15/03/2019
Photo 10: Junction of Highlander Road and Wavell Way 15/03/2019
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As yet, no formal dedicated cycling/scooter routes are planned on the Saighton Camp development. The major developer Redrow has successfully limited the route of the planned “Woodland Walk” around the estate which would provide a safe pedestrian route separated from vehicles. From the work already undertaken, it is clear that Redrow’s use of wood chippings on the “Woodland Path” will make it unsuitable for use as a route to school in wet weather. Generally, the pavements are wide enough to allow primary school children to use a cycle or scooter. The problem is the large number of resident’s cars parked on the pavements. Also, parents’ parking on pavements means it is impossible for buggies to pass safely or to cross roads between parked cars. Inconsiderate “double parking” at school opening and closing times has led to difficulties entering/exiting Highlander Road and Wavell Way. Part of Planning Approval required that RTO’s be used on the approach roads to school and parts of the Saighton Camp development. It seems possible that double yellow lines with no loading restrictions will be used to prevent parking along a considerable length of Highlander Road and Wavell Way once the roads have been adopted. This assumes of course that the RTO’s are effectively enforced.
Pupils from the Rowland and Eland developments on the south western perimeter of the Saighton Camp development can use the pavement on Saighton Lane. These pupils must cross Highlander Road at a peak travel time in order to use the Puffin crossing points at A and B. (Map 5 pp. 26 and photographs 9/10 above)
Photograph 11: Kohima Crescent 15/03/2019
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Every household on the estate has at least two reserved parking spaces but despite this, cars are parked on the pavement throughout the day and evening. Often there is not enough space on the pavement to allow a wheel chair or buggy to pass without going into the road. This problem significantly increases when parents who currently drive their children to school use the estate roads closest to the school entrance to park. Vehicles often park on both sides of Highlander Road from its junction with Saighton Lane back to Wavell Way restricting the width of the pavement, visibility and forcing pedestrians to cross the road walking between parked cars. This is especially the case when cars are backed up in Highlander Road. This happens because cars on the Saighton Lane/Chester Road are stopped at the traffic lights and do not allow vehicles to exit Highlander Road. At the junction of Highlander Road and Wavell Way, parents walking to school complain about being unable to walk easily along the pavement. Parents trying to cross to the signalised Puffin Crossing complain of:
• Being unable to cross because of the number of cars exiting Highlander Road • Having to cross by walking between parked cars which obscure the view of traffic.
This latter problem may be exacerbated when the new retail shop currently being built close to the junction is opened.
Photograph 12: Highlander Road 15/03/2019
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Walking routes from Butterbache Road area: (Maps 4/5 pp 24/26)
Pupils from Butterbache Road and its offshoots in theory have clear pavements directly to the school pedestrian access point E (Map 5 pp 26). In reality, part of the pavement on the route to school is always partially blocked by parked cars. These are either those of residents or parents from other areas using it as a temporary parking space (see photograph 13 below). Pupils must cross the entrance to the United Utilities site and the A55 North Wales Expressway via its road over-bridge. It was a condition of Planning Approval for the Saighton Camp and new school site development that the footpath from Butterbache Road to the school entrance was widened to allow a cycle way. It appears that this has not yet been done to a reasonable standard. Parents have expressed concern about the speed of traffic and the frequent splashing of pedestrians during wet weather as well as the low height of the parapet bridge. Parents and pupils have complained about the number of inconsiderate cyclists (both adults and children) using the shared pavement and riding carelessly or at excessive speed.
Safety issues/dangers on Butterbache Road area walking routes
The comments below come from responses to the questionnaires and observation by governors and teaching staff.
The problems are much the same as on the Saighton Camp development with cars parked on pavements rather than on driveways (see photograph 13 pp. 33). Some parents driving children to school now park in Meadow Lane and Butterbache Road before walking their children to the new school site. The major danger is at the Chester Road overbridge crossing of the A55 North Wales Expressway. Built in 1976 the then current regulations specified a bridge parapet height of 1 metre. This is lower than that permitted by current regulations for new parapets. Children have been seen looking over the parapet on their way home from school and at other times. In other areas, children have been known to throw tin cans etc. onto the traffic below. Children and parents have been warned by the Head Teacher of the dangers of peering over the parapet. The CWAC Road Safety Officer has been advised of this problem as have Highways England and there have been discussions on this issue at Huntington Parish Council.
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Photograph 13: Cars parked in Butterbache Road at Junction with Meadow Lane 15/03/2019
The proposed widening of the pavement and measures proposed initially to increase the parapet height have not yet been implemented. It seems possible that proposals have already been agreed in principle for the funding required to undertake the improvements suggested in the initial draft Atkins Transport Assessment for the A55 road bridge to be put into the effect. Definite proposals will be known sometime in 2020 or 2021.
Chester Road/Sandy Lane is the major route from Farndon/Aldford and Saighton through Huntington to Chester. It is used by a wide range of heavy commercial vehicles and farm traffic as well as cars. The pavements along Chester Road/Sandy Lane are generally quite wide and in places have a shared pedestrian/cycle path marked. In some places, grass verges and parked cars restrict the walking area of the pavement. In theory, the whole of Chester Road/ Sandy Larne that is within the Parish is limited to 30 mph. This speed limit is widely ignored. During 2018 when police had a blitz on speeding traffic it was reported that some 40+ motorists were recorded as speeding within a matter of hours.
Residents believe traffic volumes have increased to a far greater extent than suggested in the 2016 Transport Assessment for developments at
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Photograph 14: A55 North Wales Expressway overbridge 15/03/2019
Saighton Camp. The increased numbers of houses on the Saighton Camp development plus the substantial residential development at Farndon is largely responsible for greater traffic volumes on the school approach roads. There is no indication that the schemes for encouraging sustainable traffic flows outlined in the planning consent agreements have been implemented by the developers. There is for example no evidence of the website proposed by the developers at Saighton Camp or active encouragement of cycling or car sharing schemes etc. ever having been put into effect.
Walking routes and Safety issues from Caldy Valley estate area (see maps 4/5 pp. 24 & 26)
Walking routes from the eastern side of Chester Road and the Caldy Valley estate generally have good pavements some of which have grass verges. Most of these pavements are also cycle routes widely used by adults as well as children. The route to the Caldy Valley Nature Park is also well used by joggers. Many pupils have to cross Gorse Way at its - 34 -
junction with Chester Road/Sandy Lane which is not currently signalised but it is currently going through planning as it was a condition for approval of the Saighton Camp development. Others have to cross Caldy Valley Road which is a bus route but has no pedestrian crossing point within the Parish of Huntington. There is now a new set of pedestrian traffic lights at Adder Hill just beyond the Parish boundary.
Photograph 15: Crossing at Gorse Way/Chester Road site of proposed traffic lights 15/03/2019
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Photograph 16: Crossing at Gorse Way/Chester Road site of proposed traffic lights 03/12/2019
Caldy Valley Road/Gorse Way is the major route from Huntington to Whitchurch, Manchester and Liverpool. In addition to private vehicles, many commercial vehicles, buses, coaches and heavy farm traffic use this road. The vehicle weight restrictions along Caldy Valley Road from its entrance at the A41 are generally ignored and rarely enforced. Caldy Valley Road/Gorse Way is the sole link to/from Huntington to the A55 and A41 junction. At peak times in the morning, lunchtime, late afternoon and early evening traffic vehicles are frequently backed up from the A41 junction back to Caldy Valley Road/Gorse Way because of the volume of traffic at the A41 Hamburger roundabout. The new signalised crossing at Adder Hill plus the mini roundabout at the entrance to the Sainsburys retail area appear to make the congestion even worse. New traffic lights are proposed for the Gorse Way/Chester Road junction. Residents living close to the junction oppose this because of concerns over noise and pollution. Many residents doubt there is a need to regulate traffic and anticipate long delays to the flow of traffic from Alford and Saighton. Parents however believe that some kind of pedestrian crossing is needed close to the Gorse Way junction to provide a safe crossing point to school. Some would like the crossing to be further along Gorse Way away from the junction with Chester Road. As with the route from Butterbache Road, pupils from Cadly Valley area must cross the A55 road bridge with its dangerously low parapet and poor road surface.
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Photograph 17: A55 North Wales overbridge and Chester Road 15/03/2019
Pupils from the western side of Caldy Valley Road/Gorse Way have a continuous pavement, also designated as a cycleway. Pupils crossing the A55 over-bridge can use the signalised Crossing on the road bridge and then access the school via pedestrian gate E (see Map 4 pp. 24). Pupils could also use the Puffin crossing points at A and B to enter the school via gate C if they wish but few parents seem willing to do so. Some parents using the car park by the Rake and Pikle are crossing the Chester Road without walking to the signalised crossing as can be seen in photograph 18 below. Parents have also been observed reversing from the parking area at the front of the Rake and Pikle onto the main road and even doing a U turn rather than driving 20 metres to the mini roundabout. The manager at the Rake and Pikle has suggested it will not be too long before someone is injured. Many parents have suggested that some kind of barrier at the edge of the road from the school across the A55 bridge would make it difficult for children and adults to cross the road except at proper crossing points and also give some security to pedestrians from passing speeding traffic.
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Photograph 18: Parent and children crossing Chester Road from school to Rake and Pikle 15/03/2019
Current school travel policies:
The previous STP encouraged parents to walk their children to school and the shorter distances to school meant that fewer parents drove. There is no report on the degree of success achieved as the results were not reported. Parents who needed to drive their children to school were asked to be considerate when parking on residential streets near the school. This did not happen at the old school site and it does not happen near the new school site. At the old school site there was no drop off/collection facility unlike the new school site where this facility for parents has created new problems. The Head Teacher and governors have taken note of the guidance in CWAC Safety Newsletters to Schools etc. and advised parents accordingly (See Appendix 1). Since moving to the new site, the Head Teacher has sent several notes and letters to the parents of all pupils about road safety both on the way to school and when entering the school site. These notes advised parents of the risk assessments undertaken and informed them of the practices to be adopted when on the new school site, slip road and using the drop off/pick-up area. Several parents who proved to be problematic in adopting the guidance have already been spoken to directly. Some parents have begun to park in the drop off lay by as early as 2.15 pm – presumably in order to ensure that they had reserved a space (see photograph 18 above). Parents were also parking on the slip road pavement and to prevent this, it has been necessary to erect barriers on the slip road pavement (see photograph 19 below). The car park and - 38 -
associated slip road are a joint use facility like the adjacent recreation area. To date it has proven difficult to agree further safety measures with CWAC.
Photograph 19: School parking area and full drop off layby 03/12/2019 almost 30 minutes before pupils finished school! First parent arrived at 2.15.
Safety problems in the immediate area of the school site
The school is located in a semi rural area. The only road from Farndon to Chester (B5130) is a narrow lane which has no pavement except at the school pedestrian entrance. Some pupils must use this route to school. The B5130 is the principal route from Wrexham/Farndon and widely used by motorists seeking to avoid the traffic congestion on the Wrexham by- pass and A55. This rural lane is a very busy road at all times of the day. The vehicles using it range from large, heavy farm machinery to large commercial vehicles, buses and private vehicles. Following complaints about speeding, it is proposed that the speed limit on the B5130 will be reduced to 50 mph with the 30mph limit approaching the school entrance possibly extended further along the road.
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The new smart Puffin Crossing from Saighton Camp across Aldford Road is close to the main pedestrian access to the school. Unfortunately, this new Puffin Crossing is effectively hidden from the view of motorists coming from the direction of Farndon until they are very close to the school entrance by a high hedge/trees and a bend. The proposed flashing school signs are not yet working (see map 2 pp. 15). Parents believe that the 30mph speeding sign before the bend is widely ignored. There have been incidents of speeding vehicles just managing to screech to a halt when pedestrians have been crossing the road at the Puffin crossing. A new pavement has been built to allow children to access the pedestrian gate from the new Puffin Crossing at point B in Map 5 (pp. 26). However, at this crossing point and at the bus layby, water flooding from the fields or a leak is still a major problem when standing at the crossing. As photographs 19/20 show, there is no pavement to Walkers Nursery or the houses further along Aldford Road.
Photographs 20: Puffin Crossing by school entrance Aldford Lane 15/03/2019
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Photographs 21: Parents crossing Aldford Road to house on Aldford Road at point just beyond school pedestrian point 15/03/2019
Traffic Issues on school site
Staff travel to school
Of the 54 school staff only 18 responded to the travel questionnaire. Of these, 17 live outside of the Parish (Table 3 pp 42) they cannot walk to school. Even if they wished to use public transport, the limited services available generally means they cannot do so. School staff must have a dedicated onsite parking area. Teaching staff usually arrive on site before 8 am and leave after 5 pm. Many part-time staff, teaching assistants and ancillary staff arrive or leave the site throughout the day also frequently live some distance away. In some cases, staff travel times from home to school exceed 90 minutes.
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Table 3 Staff travel distances to school
Live in Parish Huntington 1
Live more than 2 miles from school 2
Live more than 5miles from school 2
Live more than 10 miles from school 13
The current staff car park is just sufficient to meet the needs of staff with no alternative but to arrive by car and parents with disabilities or whose children must come to school by car/taxi. There are also a limited number of spaces for visitors. It is quite evident that a number of parents are also using the staff parking area especially in the afternoon when some part-time staff have left. This is in addition to those parents who park in the drop off zone when collecting their children in the afternoon. Staff have expressed concern about the speeding of parents both on the slip road and car park and the failure to use the pavements linked to the car park. Staff are concerned about the use of the car park/drop off lay by parents and the behaviour of children leaving school premises these included the following:
Q5. Do you have any concerns about the safety or other issues travelling to school either for yourself or for pupils? Please explain. (examples of responses by school staff)
Entering the school from roundabout. Cars from Aldford Road assume I am turning onto the Aldford Road and not the school. 3 very near misses. [see photograph 20 pp 42 and map 6 pp. 45]
Close to being hit by the traffic on the roundabout.
Speed of cars on the Aldford Road not stopping at the roundabout.
My main concern is the speed limit. It needs to be 20 mph outside the school as cars speed [this does not appear to be possible] At the roundabout every day I never know if cars coming from Aldford realise I’m going around [the roundabout] into the school entrance. I often have to brake as a car has gone straight across the roundabout. [see [photograph 22 pp. 42]
Pupils not paying attention when exiting school main gates out onto footpath – often running or scooting and not stopping at the kerb.
Speed limit needs to be reduced to 20 mph outside school to ensure safety of children crossing the road. - 42 -
Safety fence improved on bridge over A55.
Parents driving too fast, children crossing car park. Parents using staff car park – especially the disabled spaces. Staff cars getting dented by larger parents’ cars as they open doors in small parking spaces.
Pupils crossing car park between car park unsupervised by parents.
Parents using staff car park then walking on the car park not using the pavement. Parents are also using the car park disabled spaces when their child is not disabled stopping use by parents of disabled children.
Parents and children walking down the middle of the car park [not using the pavement].
Pupils walking behind parents in car park not supervised by parents.
Parents and children need to use pavements around the drop off zone/car park rather than walking across the road.
If parents use the car park then walk on the pavement not down the middle of the car park!!
Children coming out of pedestrian gate then using the outer footpath results in children crossing the [vehicular] entry gates near road at roundabout rather than walking round using the school footpath safely.
Speed of cars entering the premises needs to be reduced/controlled.
Speed of parents driving in/out of school with no regard for the school environment or safety of children.
Q6. What actions should be taken to address the concerns mentioned in Q5.?
Reminders to parents [about use of car park and drop off layby]
Car park barrier. [mentioned quite frequently]
Better signage close to school and on roundabout.
Sleeping policemen on road approaching school coming from Aldford.
Possible speed bumps
Rumble strips on Aldford Road leading up to the roundabout to slow cars down. - 43 -
Signage, speed warnings, flashing lights on bridge.
Reduce speed to speed to 20 mph outside school.
Flashing signs for speed limit. A lollipop person is needed
As noted above, some parents use the residential roads on Saighton Camp and Butterbache Road to park when collecting children from school. Local residents have complained both to the school and the Huntington Parish Council about the inconsiderate parking. Apart from advising parents to be reasonable, there is little the school or anyone else can do to remedy the issues at the moment until CWAC is able to introduce Road Traffic Orders on residential roads close to the school as proposed by the 2016 Atkins Travel Assessment and in the Planning Approval document.
The vehicular entry point to the school is directly off the roundabout at the junction of Chester Road/Saighton Lane/Aldford Road (see map 2 pp.15 and photographs 2/3 pp. 19). There is a considerable flow of non school personal, commercial and large farm vehicles using these roads throughout the day but especially at peak travel times in the morning and afternoon. There is frequently clear confusion for some following drivers when parents/staff indicate they are turning right into the school gate at the mini-roundabout when coming from the direction of Chester. Frequently other drivers seem to take this as an indication that they are turning right into Aldford Road and therefore almost collide with the parent/staff as they drive slowly round the roundabout. Traffic coming from the direction of Farndon/Aldford is generally not taking much notice of the 30 mph sign just before the Puffin Crossing. Vehicles have been observed speeding up quickly after stopping at the traffic lights before negotiating the mini roundabout and school entrance. Traffic approaching the school entrance too quickly from Farndon direction and not stopping at the roundabout has led to at least one accident at the school entrance. The staff survey noted numerous comments from staff and parents about near misses as they enter or leave the school site (See Map 2 pp. 15 and photograph 22 pp. 45). It is suggested that the mini-roundabout should have stop markings on the road at least on the approach from Farndon and at the school exit point.
There is no official parking provision for parents on the school site, they are meant to use the lay-by on the slip road simply to drop off and collect their children. In reality, some parents have begun to park up in the drop off area even before 2.30 pm so as to ensure a space before collecting their children (see photograph 19 pp. 39). There are no barriers between pedestrians and vehicles using the school slip road and lay-by. The Head teacher has placed temporary barriers on the pavement and at the staff car park entrance to prevent parents parking on the pavement or at the
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Map 6: School on site staff parking area
exit point for the staff car park. Some parents use the staff car park temporarily whilst collecting their children. The problems observed in the car parking area include:
• Speeding on the slip road. • Poor/inappropriate parking in staff car park and lay-by. • Inappropriate driving/reversing in the staff car park whilst others are walking across parking area with their children. • Exiting the car park from the entry point. • Parents entering lay-by against the flow of traffic i.e. facing oncoming vehicles and crossing across their pathway. • Careless opening of passenger doors into path of pedestrians on pavement.
Photo 22: Vehicular entrance to school showing approach roads
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Section 4 Survey responses and proposed actions
Why parents use vehicles to take pupils to school (see full survey responses Appendix 2 pp. 56)
Despite the small sample size and therefore its lack of statistical validity, the parent survey indicates why parents use vehicles to school:
1. They need to drop off or collect pupils on way to/from their place of work or en-route to other schools. Parents indicated that most employers were unwilling to change working hours to accommodate parent’s needs.
2. The distance from home to school is perceived as too far to walk – especially in wet weather. Some grandparents looking after children find the distance too far to walk because of disabilities.
3. Routes to school regarded as unsafe – speeding traffic; busy roads to cross; A55 over-bridge too low and therefore not safe for unaccompanied children especially those of younger children and those cycling to school.
4. Poor state of roads and pavements – especially on Saighton Camp development but also on Chester Road.
How pupils and staff travel to school:
The inadequate response to the parent survey does not permit any reliable estimate to be made of the overall pattern of travel methods to school from this survey. The tables below relate exclusively to the information collected by school staff as part of the hands up survey of pupils in January 2020. Note 20% of pupils live outside the parish.
Table 4: How pupils travel to school
Method of travel wet day % dry day %
Walk 30 38
Cycle 4.5 9
Scooter 9.5 13
Car 56 40
Parents explained they have to take pupils to school by car largely because they are unable to change their working times and/or the distance from school. Several children also noted that the parents
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dropped them off at school on their way to work. The difference in the percentage walking or coming by car on dry and wet days suggests that the weather is a key consideration for some parents who live within walking distance of the school.
It is clear from the answers by children that like their parents, many have concerns about the safety of walking to school. This includes parents who live on the Saighton Camp development less than half a mile from the school entrance. If improved safety measures as outlined in the Action Plan were adopted, it is possible more of the older children might be allowed to walk to school. However, comments in the parent survey suggest this would not influence a significant number of parents currently using their cars to take pupils to school who do so on the way to/from work. This is a direct result of relocating the school from its proposed site on Saighton Camp and requiring pupils to cross busy commuter roads.
Mitigation of travel to school problems:
As noted above, Planning Approval for both the Saighton Camp development and new school required some actions to be taken to ameliorate anticipated travel problems (see map 2 pp 15). The Atkins Transport Assessment published in Dec 2016 for the new school site identified almost all of the current problems and proposed the following mitigation measures:
• New Puffin crossing points. • TROs on the principal roads to extend area of 30 mph and introduce no waiting and double yellow lines on Aldford Road, Chester Road, Saighton Lane and Highlander Road. • Pedestrian/cycleway from Butterbache Road to school access point across the A55 bridge.
Some of these measures have already been undertaken. However, some of the proposals e.g. increasing the height of the bridge parapet were deleted from the draft Transport Assessment and not included in the Planning Approval requirements. Most parents believe this was a mistake. It is widely viewed (even by councillors of Huntington Parish Council) that the parapet is too low and not only allows children to look over but also poses a hazard for cyclists using the pavement. It is suggested cyclists could fall onto the parapet whilst cycling and therefore very likely to fall onto the road below.
Many parents and school staff would like to have a 20mph speed limit on all roads near the school and across the Saighton Camp development together with effective enforcement. It seems this is not possible on the major approach roads to school. The use of SIDs on all through roads as
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well as flashing school signs on the approach roads to school in the morning and afternoon would also make drivers more aware of their speed and help to change attitudes to speed when approaching the school. Flashing school signs have been erected on Saighton Lane and Aldford Road but as yet have not yet been made operational. The school sign on the A55 road bridge is due to be replaced with a flashing school sign but as yet no action has been taken to do this. When the Parish Clerk was made aware of the planning requirements as shown on map 2 (pp 15) she immediately took this up with CWAC officers and it appears the lights should be fully operational sometime in 2020. This includes erecting the flashing school sign on the A55 road bridge. To date no action has been taken. (See Appendix 5/6)
Speeding on Saighton Lane and Aldford Road is seen as a major issue by pupils, parents and many residents. Some parents would like to see sleeping policemen or rumble strips such as those used at roundabouts to warn drivers to slow down before the 20 or 30 mph limit areas. Some parents have also suggested width restriction measures or pinch points on Saighton Lane approaching the Saighton Camp development from Saighton direction and also on the Aldford Road when approaching the school from the direction of Farndon. Such measures are very effective in slowing traffic, are widely used in other European countries on the approach to villages and schools. Some UK cities have begun to use similar measures in residential areas and on roads close to schools.
Many schools have adopted both “Walking Bus” and “Park and Stride” measures to encourage parents to walk children to school. There is some support from parents for such measures but the responses to the parent survey indicate there is insufficient support/volunteers to make it a practical exercise. For Huntington Primary School, it would be necessary to have such systems in place for each of the 3 principal walking routes.
In reality, many parents have little alternative but to drive their children to school because they are unable to change their working time commitments. If the measures suggested in the Action Plan below do not work effectively then in the longer term, the school may have to look at somehow providing additional parent parking areas on the school site.
Following a request from the Clerk of Huntington Parish Council (HPC), school governors met with the Chair of the HPC and Clerk on November 11th 2019 to discuss the issues of parking and road safety raised by local residents. Appendix 5 (pp. 69) is a copy of the notes for this meeting and Appendix 6 (pp. 71) a copy of the joint statement agreed between the school governors and the Parish Council. It was agreed that in many respects parking on residential roads was less of a problem than at the old school site. Never the less, problems still remained because of lack of
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parking on the school site. The reasons for the lack of on-site parent parking were explained to HPC and why it was not possible to provide additional parking on the school site. The measures proposed in the STP Action Plan were outlined and it was agreed that this would be discussed by HPC and wherever possible they would support the school proposals and a joint statement issued (Appendix 6 pp.71).
Action and safety measures adopted within school:
The school has written several letters to parents asking them to be considerate when parking on residential streets. Letters have also been sent about using the school car park and drop off area (See Appendix 1 pp. 51). Inconsiderate behaviour by a small number of parents has meant that the Head teacher has used cones to prevent parents using the car park and placed a moveable barrier on the pavements of the slip road to prevent parents parking on the pavement.
The school has already undertaken cycle proficiency training in school and explained to children about exiting the school grounds and crossing roads safely. This training scheme will be repeated at regular intervals to ensure pupil awareness of road safety issues. Other possible actions are outlined in the Action Plan (pp. 78) and these include asking the CWAC Road Safety officer to talk to school pupils.
The level of responses from parents and the quality of the data does not suggest that it would be realistic to set specific SMART targets for promoting walking to school measures. The proportion of Huntington Parish children coming to school other than by car is already high. Instead, the hands up survey of pupils will be undertaken each January and the results reported to governors. It is possible that the adoption of a Parent Charter promoted by the pupils might have some effect and this could be measured using a further pupil survey during the course of the year. The STP needs to be to be realistic and accept that whatever measures are adopted the very high proportion of working parents’ means it is unlikely that a significantly greater proportion of children will not be taken to school by cars.
The principal way to change parents’ attitudes towards letting pupils walk to school is the adoption and implementation of measures proposed in the Action Plan (pp. 78) to improve road safety. Until parents are reassured about the effectiveness of speed reduction measures and proper enforcement of regulations, it is doubtful if more parents will allow children to walk to school.
The school has previously made arrangements with the CWAC Road Safety Officer and Police to introduce a programme of cycling proficiency
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and road safety education measures as outlined in the Action Plan proposals Appendix 7 (pp. 77) and this will continue.
On the slip road, better signage, rumble strips and a 5mph speed limit should be introduced when possible. It is hoped that the governors will be able to co-operate with the PTA and parents generally to see if “Walking Bus” and “Park and Stride” schemes could be adopted. This will only be possible if enough volunteers can be found. If possible, governors will encourage car sharing scheme amongst staff and parents
STP monitoring and review proposals:
1. Annual mode of travel survey to school of staff/pupils. 2. Annual review of STP and assessment of effectiveness of Action Plan etc. 3. Undertake new STP at 3 yearly intervals
STP sign off sheet:
Chair of Governors ……………………………………………….
Head Teacher ………………………………………………..
STP co-ordinator ………………………………………………..
Date: ………………………………………………..
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Appendix 1: Headteacher letters to parents re parking
Extracts from school newsletters
December 20th, 2019 Safe Parking The school has been contacted by local residents on several occasions over the last half-term, with concern expressed over parent parking very close to junctions and children crossing roads between parked cars with insufficient care, leading to at least one near-miss. Please continue to emphasise road safety messages to your children (these were discussed in today’s assembly), and park safely and considerately.
October 25th, 2019 Vehicle Access and Pedestrian Safety Parking up the kerb, thereby endangering pedestrians, is now prevented as best we can by a series of chained bollards, and access to the staff car park is controlled at both the start and end of the day by staff member Mrs Brown, to reduce the number of vehicles onsite (and the dangers posed by the driving previously observed in this area at the end of the day). Blue Badge holders are the only drivers automatically allowed access here – other drivers may seek permission from the headteacher due to specific circumstances (but distance from home to school is not one of these). Such permission may be granted on a temporary or permanent basis.
September 12th, 2019 JOURNEY TO SCHOOL We encourage all children to walk or cycle to school to encourage a healthy lifestyle.
Drop-Off Zone The drop-off zone has functioned very effectively so far this term, even on a morning of terrible weather, when difficulties are often experienced. THANK YOU - we really appreciate your support with this. • Morning Peak Period (8:30 – 09:00): no parking, quick stop and drop-off only (hence the name!). • Other times – some parking available, priority to Blue Badge holders. • Please take care opening car doors and manoeuvring here.
Parking • Morning: no parking on site from 08:30 (other than for Blue Badge holders by prior arrangement).
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• Afternoon: some parking available in Drop-Off Zone only (priority for Blue Badge holders), or elsewhere by prior arrangement with the headteacher (for individual circumstances).
March 29th, 2019
Journey to School/Parking Thanks to the vast majority who appreciate both the reasoning behind limiting vehicle access to the school site and our efforts in trying to keep the children safe: alink to an online questionnaire about the journey to school will be distributed today. At present the on-site vehicle access situation is as follows:
Summary • Morning: no parking on site from 08:30 (other than for Blue Badge holders by prior arrangement). • Afternoon: some parking in Drop-Off Zone (priority for Blue Badge holders).
Detail Staff Car Park • No non-staff parking, due to repeated incidents of hazardous behaviour (speeding, careless reversing, pupils walking amongst moving vehicles or crossing the main access road). • Occasional, supervised exceptions for parents assisting with school events (e.g. providing lifts to football matches).
Drop-Off Zone • Morning Peak Period (8:30 – 9am): no parking, quick stop and drop-off only (hence the name!). • Other times – some parking available, priority to Blue Badge holders. Please take care opening car doors and manoeuvring.
Other areas • No parking, unless for Blue Badge holders by prior arrangement with the headteacher.
February 15th, 2019
Journey to School The Parish Council have contacted the school on several occasions to express the concern of residents about the manner in which parents are parking on the new estate, but also crossing the roads with their children – one child was observed crossing to the middle of the mini-roundabout outside the school, with their parent oblivious. Please take care!
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Also, please remember that access to the Drop-Off Zone is via the internal roundabout, not by pulling straight into the Zone after entering the school site, which causes confusion and creates risk.
December 21st, 2018
Journey to School We are extremely grateful that the overwhelming majority of parents are following the guidance regarding vehicle access and the journey to school. Several parents have justifiably, however, contacted the headteacher to express concern about the very small minority who continue to park in the Drop-off Zone in the morning, which reduces the usability and safety of the zone for everyone who wishes to access it correctly. Parking here in the morning is both selfish and dangerous – please do not do it. The identities of repeat offenders are being recorded, and continued violation of this safety-driven directive will result in legal steps.
Reducing the amount of vehicle traffic on-site, especially when there are many pedestrians present, has obvious safety benefits, and we are therefore also committed to ensuring that parking in the Drop-off Zone does not take place at school pick-up time (hence the purchase of ‘No Parking’ cones). Parents are also reminded that parking in the Staff Car Park is not permitted, for various reasons including potential damage to staff vehicles from children opening car doors and also, of paramount importance, the danger to children when walking across the car park (or, worse still, the main access road) to access their parents’ vehicles.
We fully appreciate the difficulties of limited vehicle access to the new site, but the rules regarding vehicle usage/parking have been established for reasons of pupil safety, and flouting them will not be tolerated now that a bedding-in period has passed.
We have also been contacted by a resident of the new estate, asking that parking there is done more sensibly so that the near-misses observed do not become actual accidents.
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Health and Safety
Risk Assessment Establishment Huntington CP School Risk Assessment for Vehicle and pedestrian movement on site Assessment carried out by Duncan Rose Date 10.01.20 Any Previous assessment for this activity carried out Yes (2013 onwards)
DETAILS OF ACTIVITY PERSONS CONSIDERED Identify who could be at risk i.e. pupils, staff, visitors, etc.
Vehicle and pedestrian movement on the school site Pupils, staff, visitors, delivery drivers, school transport drivers
HAZARDS IDENTIFIED WITH THIS ACTIVITY PRECAUTIONS / CONTROL MEASURES Identify what could reasonably cause harm and how. Ignore trivial risks REQUIRED and concentrate on those that could result in serious harm or affect After considering the hazards, decide on suitable control measures for several people. each significant hazard and list below.
Pupils, staff and visitors in collision with vehicles. • Speed of vehicles limited on site (5mph) Vehicles in collison with other vehicles. • No deliveries to take place during busy movement Vehicles in collison with property. periods (lunch, break and the beginning and end of school day) • Vehicles and pedestrians are segregated via separate routes within the site. • Chained bollards are placed at the pavement edges to prevent drivers parking on the pavements/kerbs. • The ‘Drop-Off’ zone is supervised in the morning, 8:30-9am (1 or 2 staff), and the Staff Car Park supervised in the afternoon, 2:45 – 3:15pm (1 staff). • Parents’ vehicles are only allowed on site to: ▪ drop off pupils in the designated ‘Drop-Off’ zone in the morning. ▪ park in the ‘Drop-Off’ zone in the afternoon ▪ park in the designated Disabled bays, or elsewhere in the Staff Car Park if there is space, by arrangement with the headteacher (e.g. if a Blue Badge holder).
The risk is acceptable and no further action beyond those current in place and Yes listed above is required Further Action is required to reduce the risk further No Actions Required By Whom By When
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Signed
Date for Next Review Ongoing
Copy of this assessment to be kept on file and a copy given to the Headteacher/Manager or Health and Safety Co-ordinator:
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Appendix 2: Parent Travel Survey: response analysis
During May 2019, all parents were requested to complete the online questionnaire below. The number of responses to the questionnaire is deeply disappointing. Efforts will continue to be made to boost the numbers of parents completing the questionnaire.
Level of Response:
Despite several reminders from the Headteacher, only 73 parents have completed the questionnaire (Oct. 2019). This included one parent who did not yet have a child at the school. This is a response rate lower than 20%. This suggests that some or all of the following may apply:
• Parents had not noticed they were asked to complete the online questionnaire and/or had not requested a hard copy. • Parents could not be bothered to undertake the questionnaire because they are quite satisfied with the current arrangements. • Parents are not concerned enough about the safety issues of travel to school to take the time to undertake the survey.
The very low number of responses means that:
• The answers given cannot be considered to be a representative sample of parents’ views and attitudes and as such are purely anecdotal and have no statistical validity at an evidential level. • There is little to be gained by presenting the results from these unrepresentative respondents in graphical or tabular form as the figures are seriously misleading. • Even the qualitative answers are not necessarily representative but indicate a range of attitudes and values that must be taken into account and addressed at a policy level and therefore reflected in the Action Plan.
The qualitative answers from the 72 parents with children currently at Huntington CP School who did bother to respond suggest in many instances a complete lack of knowledge and misunderstanding regarding:
• National and local CWAC policy on travel to school and the key policy aim of promoting healthy and sustainable travel to school. • The role and responsibilities of the school regarding travel arrangements.
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• The control the school has over the onsite joint use parking facility which is owned by CWAC. • The ability of the school to use land outside of its control as a potential additional parking area.
Responses also suggest two clear divisions between parents.
• Those who actively want to promote healthy living styles and sustainable transport by walking their children to school. A small number are even willing to volunteer to develop a walking bus scheme to promote these aims. This group want to see infra- structure improvements on pavements and speed restrictions on approach roads in order to improve safety for children going to school. • Those who cannot walk their children to school because of work commitments or the distance to school. These parents expect the school to provide increased opportunities for onsite parking and drop off/collection facilities. Some parents would like an even earlier and more flexible arrangement about the times children can be brought to school and left in the supervision of school staff despite the cost implications for the school. Many of these parents also indicated concerns about the safety of the walking routes to school from different parts of the Parish and want to see significant infra- structure improvements to roads and pavements.
What the answers clearly reflect is the demographic and socio-economic profile of the area. A substantial proportion of local residents are young working couples with families. This is especially so on the Saighton Camp development where most parents are aged below 45 years and have 2 or more children of primary school age. Relatively few of these couples appear to have other family nearby who can undertake the task of looking after children when their parents are at work. Many fathers have been observed taking/collecting children from school. This suggests a significant number of parents working at least part of the time from home or working shift patterns. Some parents are able to rely upon grandparents to take/collect pupils but even this has its own problems in terms of the distances that can be walked by elderly people. It appears that some parents rely upon the breakfast and after school clubs as child minding devices because their working times prevent them from bringing or collecting children from school at the normal start and finish times. Being outside of normal school “rush hour”, attendance at these clubs
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makes it easier for some parents to make use of the onsite parking and drop off/collection facility on their way to/from work.
Answers to questionnaire
Q1. Postcode or street name: need to compare location of respondents to the info re whole school pupil survey info from school roll. Will serve to suggest how representative sample is. Data is not currently being made available to undertake this exercise.
Q2. Do you currently have children at Huntington CP School? 69 out of 70 answered yes.
There is little to be gained by presenting the results from these unrepresentative respondents in graphical or tabular form as this will be seriously misleading.
Q3. If you answered yes to Q2, please tell us how many children attend the school and in which year group they are.
28 of the 69 replies indicated 2 or more children at school with a significant number having a second child in the Nursery or Reception class.
Q4. Do you have any children aged 0-5 on Sept 1 2019 who you expect to go to Huntington Primary School?
18 parents indicated yes suggesting that families will have multiple children at the school and the intake is at least as high as anticipated. 52 answered no but the information available does not allow prediction of how this might affect future numbers at school.
Q5. If yes what are their ages? Again, can compare the answers of respondents to whole school population as indication of representativeness of sample. Data not currently being made available
Q6. Do you hope to send any of these children to the Huntington CP School nursery?
8 answered yes, 9 no. This could be because nursery places are full.
Q7. How do your children travel to/from school? Note caveat above.
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Of the 69 respondents, the overwhelming majority either walked their children to school or cycled and or used a scooter. Of these parents, most never used a car and a slightly larger number occasionally used a car - written answers indicate this was usually because of the weather.
A couple of parents either used public transport or a taxi to come to school but only 20% % of the 69 parents brought their children to school by car every day with another 20% indicating use of a car on most days. Almost 17% said that they never used the car to come to school.
Q8 If you transport by car please indicate the reasons (tick as many as apply).
Of those who came by car to school (bear in mind the possibility of multiple answers), the key reason was because of work requirements -35. 9 parents did not have time to walk their children to school and then go back home to collect the car for work. Bad weather was also a major reason (14) with almost the same number (12) giving the need to do multiple drop offs as their reason for using the car. This is probably because none of the local secondary schools can easily be reached by public transport. Only 6 car drivers suggested it was unsafe to walk or cycle etc to school with 4 suggesting their child was too young to walk.
Q9. Do you have or would you consider a car sharing arrangement with another parent?
The overwhelming response was no (44) with 14 of these parents saying they would not consider this option at all. Only 7 parents indicated they do car share and 12 more would consider this option.
Q10. What is your preferred way for your child(ren) to travel to school?
Despite the number who currently use a car as their principal method, 47 parents (almost 80% of those who responded) indicated they would prefer it if their children could walk cycle or scooter to school. Only 20 parents answered that the preferred to go by car. This contrasts with the actual travel methods of the answers to Q 7 where 47% indicated use of the car on a regular basis. This suggests that even parents who currently used their car to drop off children on their way to or from work/doing multiple drop offs would - 59 -
prefer it if their children could walk to school. This begs the question of what can be done to enable these parents to allow their children to walk to school?
Q11. Please tell us why this is your preferred way to travel.
A significant number of written answers which referred to walking/cycling/using a scooter gave as their reason for doing so that it was healthy exercise plus an opportunity for quality time with their child(ren) e.g.
Good exercise and enjoy time walking with my children.
Good exercise and nice quality time together.
Clean travel and healthy. Healthy easiest option. Its healthy.
Healthier lifestyle. Environmental and exercise.
I think children should walk to school for a variety of reasons – health, fresh air, experiencing the environment around them and observing seasonal changes as well as environmental reasons.
No hassle driving or parking and no harmful emissions.
Rather fewer answers referred to distance e.g.
Quick and easy as we only live a short distance from school.
We live close by. We live near to the school and so walking is possible and convenient.
Those who came by car gave work as the main reason e.g.
Daily commute to work via school is increased by 1 hour 15 minutes if children walk to school. Driving saves us time and ensures the children do not have to set off from home at 7 a.m.
Because it’s faster on the way to and from work.
Timewise it takes too long.
Car is the only option as I have to drop off the children in school by 8.50 and then be in work as soon as possible. I don’t have the option of walking them in, walking home and then driving to work as this would take too much time.
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Due to other responsibilities and commitments. Not all parents are stay at home mums able to drop off at leisure.
Q12. If you bring children to school in the morning by car, where do you drop off or park? (Please tick all that apply).
Of the 58 parents who indicated use of a car – 27 used the school drop off zone or staff car park. 22 used a local street and 9 used the car park at the Rake and Pikle or Walkers Nursery.
Q13. If you collect children from school at home time, where do you collect or park?
The answers to this question do not seem to correspond with those to Q 12 suggesting that there are different patterns of behaviour in the morning to the afternoon. This is also suggested by personal observation. More parents (27) use the school drop off zone or staff car park in the morning compared to the afternoon (16). This may reflect the actions taken by the Headteacher to prevent parents from parking in the drop off/collection lay-by and staff parking area.
Some parents use the Rake and Pikle car park and that at Walkers Nursery (9 in total both morning and afternoon). A small number indicate they are parking on the driveway of friends who live close to the school and then walking their children to school. The majority are parking on local streets (22 in morning and 27 in afternoon). These figures equate with the personal observations made over time on the Saighton Camp (maximum number parked 25) and on Butterbache Road about 12 cars parked. This also suggests that those who responded to the questionnaire were primarily those who drive to school and may reflect greater concerns about the problem of parking when dropping off/collecting children.
Q14. If you park on a local street, please tell us where.
14 parents claim to use Butterbache Road with 16 claiming to use roads on Saighton Camp. This suggests that the sample is not representative as on most days only 25-30 cars were observed at any one time parked on the Saighton Camp development in the Highlander Road/Wavell Way area and never more than 15 on Butterbache Road. - 61 -
Q15. Many schools use a “Walking Bus” to take their children to school as a group. If this was available would you use it?
Only 60 responses to this question. 9 yes, but 35 no with 21 maybe. This suggests that this option should be explored but unfortunately only 5 parents said they would be willing to assist, 47 no and 14 maybe. Without sufficient volunteer helpers this is not a viable option to encourage/increase walk to school rates.
Q16. If a “Walking Bus” was available would you be able to assist?
See answers to question 15 above.
Q17. What would encourage you to walk to/from school?
41 responses to this question, most refer to bad weather, and safety concerns as being the reasons for not walking.
Less car traffic to make it a friendly environment. If it was safe.
...little one getting splashed by cars due to poor roads and careless driving near school.
We’d come on our bikes more but I’m too nervous with the children if its wet due to the speeding on Caldy Valley Road.
On my days off work a safer route in bad weather. A safe route.
The drop off area is dangerous and [other parents] inconsiderate, the school need to enforce the rules.
Q18. Do you have any suggestions or comments you would like to make about travel to school, e.g. safety, parking in the area etc?
Most answers referred to the issue of safety from speeding, poor state of roads, inadequate cycleways, lack of appropriate barriers on A55, road bridge lack of consideration/aggressive behaviour by some parents parking on school site. Quite a few also mentioned the problems of being splashed whilst walking on pavements because of pot holes and large puddles in the road. This is especially the case by the Puffin crossings and the bus terminus near the mini roundabout.
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The parent parking in the school car park drop off area is dangerous and inconsiderate, the school need to enforce stricter regulations in this or close the car park completely.
Need to stop people parking in the drop off zone, also entering it from the wrong end.
Cars seem to be parked everywhere in the school [and around] the local streets making it sometimes dangerous for people making difficult for people crossing the road.
There needs to be barriers on the A55 bridge as it is dangerous and the bridge needs building up. People are staying away from the edge of the bridge and are ending up too close to the road. It is only a matter of time before something is dropped off the bridge with so many children on it, causing a major accident on the A55. There are also drainage issues on the bridge. When walking across in the rain we almost always get splashed.
The walk from Butterbache Road to the school is very dangerous as you cross over the A55. I have on several occasions seen children nearly get run over as they cross the bridge either due to a child not concentrating whilst running and/or being on scooters and bikes, or oncoming cars driving too fast in the opposite direction. I feel there needs to be a barrier between the pavement and the road to give children walking to school some safety ...[and] .
Need barriers on the flyover. Path can get very congested and you feel nervous at times when my daughter walks too close to the kerb as it is quite busy and noisy. Those who park at Butterbache don’t consider others and [do not] leave gaps between the cars. We are all trying to get our kids to school.
... We need speed cameras [and] ... a designated cycle path not shared with pedestrians as it can be dangerous on Caldy Valley Road with lots of young mums with prams, joggers with headphones on etc.
We need to push for a crossing on Highlander Road. Crossing there at school time is very busy
A significant number of answers indicated misunderstanding of the school responsibility for the onsite parking area and the land outside of the school boundary which many thought ought to be
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used for additional onsite parking. Most parents believe that the site of the old Kier office was within the school boundary and belonged to the school - it is not.
Make a car park on the site for parents to use.
Put a car park on site.
Why don’t you simply move your morning assistant who stands by the drop off bay to rather stand by the gate that leads into the flattened gravel filled area (currently locked up but a perfect car park)? Assuming that all parents can walk to school is discriminatory- it doesn’t take into account families where mums work, single parent families where the parent has no choice but to work, or the elderly grandparents who are physically unable to walk to school.
... street congestion. A school car park for parents would solve the problem.
Use the gravelled area within the school grounds as a car park and have the morning staff stand there instead. [This would add about £50 per week to the staff budget and is simply not feasible].
Need to open up the overflow section [sic] for additional parking.
Reduce the number of cars /drop off by opening the School doors fifteen minutes before the official start to the school day. The children could be dropped off at their classroom to begin an Early Morning Task. This is something that has worked for parking and traffic congestion at the school I currently work at. [This already happens pupils can come on to the supervised school playground from 8.30]
Q.19. Contact details
32 parents gave their contact details and it is proposed to interview these in greater depth if they agree.
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Appendix 3: Pupil responses to travel survey
All class teachers were asked to undertake a “hands up” survey of pupils at registration to find out how they travelled to school on a wet day and a dry day. A table showing the results of this is on page 45. Below are comments made by some of the pupils as reported by teaching staff in response to the questions.
1. What are pupils preferred methods of coming to school and why?
2. Do the children have any safety worries about coming to school? Whay are these concerns?
3. What actions might be done to make travel to school safer?
Scared of crossing the road. Worried about cars and lorries as they go too fast.
Turning near the new care home – people turn too fast.
Roundabout on the estate, cars go too fast.
Lights don’t often work outside school giving us enough time to cross the road.
Need to have lolly stick man outside school.
Children should stay on the path and stay with parents.
People turning without their indicators on
People need to drive slower around the car park
Nervous going over the bridge when there is fast traffic.
Do not like crossing the road where there are no traffic lights
We like coming in the car because we do not like getting wet.
Mum drives to school so she can get to work
We like coming on a bike because of the exercise.
We could fall off our bikes as cars are going too fast.
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Appendix 4: Staff Survey Results
All staff were requested to complete a short questionnaire as below. 18 responded to the survey.
Q1. Please indicate by ticking the circle which of the following best describes your role in the school?
Teaching staff or teaching assistant 16
Administrative or support staff 2
Q2. Which best describes your travel distance from school?
Live in parish Huntington 1
Live more than 2 miles from school 2
Live more than 5 miles from school 2
Live more than 10 miles from school 13
Q3. Which best describes your normal method of coming to school?
Walk
Cycle
Car 18
Other
Q3. Please explain why this is your preferred method of travelling to school.
The overwhelming reason for using the car is distance from home to school. Generally, school staff do not live in the Parish. Staff need to come to school by car as this is the only practical means to get there in a reasonable time. Travel times for several staff are an hour or more to come to school. Also, some mentioned the amount of material that they need to bring to/take home from school.
Q4. What time do you arrive at school for work and leave to return home?
Some staff arrive as early as 7.30 but the majority arrive about 8 am. Some staff are part-time and leave after lunch, but the majority leave - 66 -
about 4.00 to 4.30 with a significant number staying at school until 5 pm and several not leaving until 6 pm or later.
Q5. Do you have any concerns about the safety or other issues of travelling to school either for yourself or for pupils? Please explain.
Staff: Some staff expressed serious concerns for their own safety when entering the school premises from the mini roundabout by the school entrance. Several staff mentioned that traffic from the direction of Aldford was speeding and did not slow down when approaching the roundabout and did not seem to notice that traffic from either Saighton or Chester direction was indicating that they were turning into the school. Most drivers seemed to assume that the cars were travelling towards Aldford. Several staff indicated that they had 3 or more near misses with cars travelling at speed from Aldford and not slowing down as they crossed the roundabout as staff were entering the school from direction Chester or Saighton. This suggests that a stop sign is needed at the roundabout to make cars give way to oncoming traffic. The following comment summarises the views of staff:
I never know if the cars coming from Aldford realise I am going round into school entrance and I often have to brake as a car has gone straight across the roundabout.
Several staff were of the opinion that there needed to be a 20mph limit on the approach roads to school.
Pupils: Most staff held the view that children were not paying attention when they left the school premises. Several mentioned children:
• Running down the path and not stopping at the street kerb. • Using the pedestrian entrance close to the Puffin lights and then crossing the school vehicular entrance on their way to the A55 road bridge rather than the pathway alongside the drop off point and pedestrian entrance there. • Parents and children walking down the centre of the [staff] car park. • A55 bridge parapet too low and need for safety fence along kerbside from school across bridge. [This would also stop parents crossing road by Rake and Pikle and require them to use the signalised crossing point]
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• Roads used by children to walk to school need to have 20 mph speed limit. [Despite opposition from the previous Huntington Parish Council, CWAC has now imposed its general 20mph limit on residential roads in the Parish. This does not yet include roads on the Saighton Camp development as these are still private property and have not been adopted by CWAC. Presumably 20mph will apply on these roads once adopted by CWAC. CWAC highways officers have indicated that it is not possible to have a 20mph limit on the principal roads such as Caldy Valley Road, Gorseway and Aldford Road or in the immediate vicinity of the school. It is proposed that where there is not a 30mph speed limit, the road will soon have a 50mph speed limit.] • Several staff noted the speed of parents driving in and out of school with no regard for the school environment or the safety of children. This is despite the small sign indicating speed limit on slip road • Some staff asked why there is not a lollipop lady.
Q6. What possible actions should be taken to address the concerns mentioned in Q5? Please explain.
Most staff wanted:
• Better signage of school entrance ahead – especially use of flashing lights. • Clearer speed warnings/lower speed limits on approach to school and puffin crossing points. • Improvements to A55 road bridge to raise parapet and have safety barriers on roadside. • Reminders to parents about crossing the school vehicular entrance rather than using the pathway and exit from the drop off area. • Possible speed bump/rumble strips on school slip road and adjacent roads on approach to school.
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Appendix 5: Joint statement from Huntington Parish Council and School Governors
DRAFT Joint Statement between Huntington Parish Council and Huntington Primary School regarding traffic Both the Parish Council and Huntington Primary recognise the inconvenience, frustration and safety concerns by both parents and residents regarding the traffic parking during school drop-off and pick- up. Whilst we appreciate that most parents either walk to school or park in an appropriate manner, there are daily occurrences where this is not the case causing a significantly increased risk of an accident caused by poor parking including: • Cars parked right in the junction of Wavell’s Way • Parked cars causing obstruction on the pavements • Parked cars blocking driveways on Butterbache Road As a result, Huntington Primary School has proactively taken actions including: • consultation with all parents and the residents who live closest to the school, in order to gauge views on the traffic around the school at key points in the day. • Risk Assessment of school traffic • Letter to parents, asking them to be mindful of local residents and each other Huntington Parish Council have been lobbying Cheshire West & Chester Council to introduce traffic calming measures around the school such as flashing light and rumble strips. Discussions remain ongoing. In addition, the Parish Council are working closely with the Police regarding the poor parking and potential speed monitoring. At a recent meeting held between the Parish Council and school, other traffic management options were discussed as follows: • Double Yellow Lines on Highlander Rd- It is envisaged that double yellow lines will be painted once the road has been adopted by Cheshire West and Chester Council. • Use of Hardcore Area to right of school entrance for parking– this is not an option as it would contraveneboth the National School Travel policy and Cheshire West and Chester Council’s policy, as well as
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causing an increased risk to pedestrians accessing and leaving the site. So that we can all live, work and learn in a respectful, safe environment, we ask that all parents adhere to the following: Drive safely, adhering to the speed limits and driving in accordance with the Highway Code. Do not park on the junction of Wavell Way and Highlander Rd. By keeping this area clear this ensures that parents and children can walk to and from the school safely. Do not block or obstruct the school entrance/exit, residents’ driveways and/or junctions. This includes Butterbache Rd. Do not park on grass verges and leave sufficient space on pavements for pedestrians and prams to pass. Do not use the staff car park as a pick up or drop off point for your children, unless you are using the disabled bays.
If we can all be respectful in the way we drive and park around the school, we can demonstrate the values and behaviours we expect of our children, as well as making the school and village a far safer place to live, work and learn.
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Appendix 6: Minutes from meeting with Huntington Parish Council
Minutes taken at Meeting with Huntington Primary School Travel Working Group regarding traffic management surrounding the school
Monday11thNovember at 6pm, held at Huntington Primary Present Mr. Duncan Rose, Headteacher of Huntington Community Primary School Ms. Heidi Brimage – Head of Governors of Huntington Community Primary Ms. Caroline Davies– School Governor Mr. Brian Turner – School Governor Cllr Dave Whitehead – Chairman of Huntington Parish Council Louise Gibson – Clerk of Huntington Parish Council Purpose of the Meeting Huntington Parish Council requested the meeting to discuss the local traffic issues raised by residents regarding school drop off and pick up. Problems noted from School Drop-off/Pick-Up • Cllr Whitehead explained that residents and parents had raised complaints to the Parish Council, via email and social media, regarding the traffic parking during school drop-off and pick-up. It was felt that this was causing most concern on Highlander Rd at the junction with Wavell’s’ Way/Cheshire Way with the following problems being created: a. Parked Cars causing limited visibility for motorists coming out of Wavell’s way, b. Parked Cars causing obstruction on the pavements c. Limited visibility for those parents and children crossing at the dropped kerbs surrounding the junction. Children were also coming from between parked cars and motorists were struggling to see them until they had started to cross the road. • There had been some perceived problems with residents exiting the estate during school pick-up/drop-off but both Governors and the Parish Council felt that this was not a significant issue.
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• It was felt that the parking on Butterbache rd. was no longer a problem. Possible Solutions • Double Yellow Lines on Highlander Rd- It is hoped that double yellow lines would be painted once the road has been adopted. An assurance has been given to the Parish Council that Cheshire West and Chester Council (CW&C) would assess this once they had taken ownership of the aforementioned roads. • Changing Parking Behaviour on Highlander Rd - Cllr Whitehead believes that the problems seen on Highlander Rd and the junction of Wavell’s’ Way/Cheshire Way could be solved if parents were encouraged to park further up Highlander rd. and away from the junction. • Use of Hardcore Area to right of school entrance -It was discussed whether the hardcore area, to the right of the school grounds as you enter through the school gates, could be used as staff and/or parent car parking which would relieve the parking issues. School Governors explained that the entrance to this hardcore area included a route which pedestrians used to access the school. Therefore, this hardcore area would be unsuitable for vehicle access. This has also been advised by CW&C. It was also noted that the school entrance, roundabout, traffic layout within the grounds and the Rake Roundabout were NOT designed for greater use of cars to access the school at drop-off/pick- up. The school is also reluctant to allow more cars to access the school grounds as it does not promote walking to school and may encourage more parents to drive. It is also contradictory to both the National School Travel policy and also the policy of Cheshire West and Chester Council, as stated in Huntington Primary school’s travel assessment plan when plans were submitted for the school build. Extracts taken from Huntington Community Primary School Transport Assessment Plans, Produced by Atkins, Nov 2015:
The expanded school will generate additional demands for parent parking which cannot be accommodated within the proposed development site. This is normal for any primary school development, where the provision of limitless on-site drop-off and parking is both undesirable and contrary to efforts to encourage walking and cycling. (Pg30)
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Response from CW&C also highlights that, apart from one other school (which is rural and unsafe to walk to for many parents) within the local authority which was funded by outside sources, no mainstream school offers parent parking as this would be contradictory to local and national policy. • Change of Layout on Highlander Rd - Cllr Whitehead explained that the Parish Council had approached Bovis to ask if lay-by’s could be placed along the right hand side of Highlander Rd (opposite to the houses). This would mean that more parents could park in the bays and not on pavements/road. Bovis did support the idea. However, they explained that this would require new planning applications and they could not support that as it would result in very timely delays to the developer moving off site, which they would be keen to do as soon as possible. They also believed that CW&C would not be supportive of such a scheme. Huntington Community Primary School Travel Plan • Huntington Primary has recently consulted with all parents and 100 residents who live closest to the school, in order to gauge views on the traffic around the school at key points in the day. • Other actions taken by the school include: a. Risk Assessment of school traffic b. Letter to parents, asking them to be mindful of local residents and each other • The school are currently devising a School Travel Action Plan. This is still in draft form but a parent charter (as used successfully in other schools within Cheshire West) is one potential measure which could be introduced. • Speeding motorists, in the vicinity around the school, is of concern to the school and one that needs to be tackled. Key points noted, to which the Parish Council could potentially look at, are: a. Flashing school signs on Aldford Rd, Chester Lane and Chester Rd (Other schools in the area have these but are believed to have been funded by local parish councils) b. Use of SID’s (Speed Indicative devices). It was suggested by a Governor that the SID’s which display an actual speed that the motorist is travelling at are more effective than a smiley/sad face. However, the Clerk noted that informal discussions with local police at their Annual Assembly, did raise some doubts over the effectiveness of these, which Cllrs had listened to when resolving - 74 -
not to purchase SID’s at a Parish Council meeting, held earlier this year. c. Rumble strips – It was suggested that rumble strips could be placed on the key routes around the school such as Aldford Rd, Chester Lane and Chester Rd. d. The Parish Council informed the meeting that it has been acknowledged by the police that they are unable to monitor speed on Aldford road due to having nowhere to stand safely. However, we could request speed monitoring wire going across the road to collect data. • To encourage more parents to walk, the following suggestions were also made a. Pedestrian crossing at Gorse Way junction with Chester Rd – The clerk informed the meeting that the 3-way Gorse Way lights were due to be installed by Redrow shortly and this would include a pedestrian crossing at that junction. However, it was also acknowledged that the Parish Council had objected to these lights due to the traffic disruption and pollution that it may cause. With temporary lights at this location during the past two weeks (due to resurfacing), there may also be further evidence now that these lights could cause major disruption and this would need to be looked at again by the Parish Council. It was agreed that a pedestrian crossing was needed at this junction but Cllr Whitehead believed that it could be moved further down Gorse Way without the need for traffic lights disrupting traffic flow on Chester rd. b. Improvements to the road surface to stop significant water collecting – It was acknowledged that, during heavy rainfall, there are specific areas of Huntington which suffer from significant water pools. This then means children and parents get very wet on their walk to/from school. Key areas include the A55 bridge and the Rake roundabout including bus stop area. It was also discussed that the gulley’s regularly become overflowing with debris which then means the water cannot escape so it would be helpful to get these cleaned more regularly.
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Further Actions to be taken Action point Officer To produce joint statement with school Huntington Parish governing body and Parish Council, Council and School acknowledging some problems, informing Governing body parents/resident of actions that can be taken and advice on responsible parking To produce School Travel Plan for school School Governing Body community including a possible Parents Charter Flashing school signs – To investigate Huntington Parish whether these can be funded and Council installed on key roads (As described in main notes) Road improvements including cleaner Parish Council to liaise roads and ways to reduce significant with CW&C surface water Discuss Gorse Way lights including new Huntington Parish pedestrian crossing and the merits of this Council as well as the potential disruption. To consider Rumble strips and/or speed Huntington Parish monitoring strips on key roads (As Council described in main notes) Bridge parapet – To investigate ways Huntington Parish forward to attempt to get the bridge Council parapets raised.
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Appendix 7: Proposed Action Plan
Action Proposed Priority Proposed Location Problem Evidence Responsibility Completed Ref Action H/M/L Completion Date Shelter for parents 1, 2 SS1 Extra Shelters H School/CWAC Sept. 2021 ?? SS2 5mph sign H CWAC/School May/June 2019 Speeding on slip road 1, 2 SS3 Rumble strips H CWAC/school May/June 2021 new parking SS4 L CWAC/school Sept. 2021 area School Site Letters parent parking 1,2 May/June 2019 /Communication Site monitor May/June 2019 roundabout 1,2 SS5 warning sign H CWAC/school May/June 2019
AR1 20 mph limit H Police ASAP AR2 rumble strips H CWAC ASAP Aldford Road Speeding 1,2,3 AR3 flashing lights H CWAC ASAP AR4 SIDs M CWAC Sept. 2021 SR1 20 mph limit H Police ASAP SL2 Rumble strips H CWAC ASAP Speeding 1,2,3 Saighton SL3 flashing lights H CWAC ASAP Lane SL4 SIDs M CWAC Sept. 2021 Approach roads to poor state of road school time on Puffin crossings 1,2 SL5 increase time M CWAC Sept. 2019 CR1 20 mph limit H CWAC ASAP CR2 Rumble strips H CWAC ASAP speeding 1,2,3 Chester CR3 flashing lights H CWAC ASAP Road CR4 SIDs M CWAC Sept. 2019 raise to 1.4 A55 bridge parapet 1,2 CR5 H Highways ASAP metres GW1 enforcement H Police ASAP speeding 1,2,3 Gorse Way GW2 SIDs M CWAC Sept. 2021 crossing road 1,2 GW3 traffic signals M Highways ASAP - 77 -
Action Proposed Priority Proposed Location Problem Evidence Responsibility Completed Ref Action H/M/L Completion Date no crossing Highlander pedestrian 1,2 SC1 H CWAC ASAP Rd. crossing enforcement/lett speeding 1,2 SC2 H Police ASAP ers enforcement/lett Police/CWAC parking on pavements 1,2 SC3 H ASAP ers Traffic officers Saighton RTOs Highlander double Police/CWAC Camp 1,2 SC4 enforcement/lett H ASAP parking traffic officers ers uneven pavements SC5 finish properly m developer site completion pot holes in roads SC6 finish properly M developer site completion poor parking Highlander add extra lay-by 1,2 SC7 developer site completion Rd. space poor road awareness School 1 safety training M school 2019/20 poor cycle skills School 2 cycle proficiency M school 2019/20 Pupil safety poor behaviour School 3 safety training M school 2019/20 pavement reduce use of cars School 4 letters to parents H parents 2019/20
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Appendix 8: Full details of the Planning Approval for the new school site together with all supporting documents, including comments, plans and maps can be found at the online CWAC Planning Portal under CWAC planning application 16/05705/FUL May 9th 2017. There are so many documents it would not be reasonable to include them all as part of an appendix. Some of the maps and plans submitted as part of the planning process have been included in this STP.
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