Regeneration Scrutiny Committee – 18Th September 2007
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AGENDA ITEM NO. 6(4) REGENERATION SCRUTINY COMMITTEE – 18TH SEPTEMBER 2007 SUBJECT: SAFE ROUTES TO SCHOOL – UPDATE REPORT REPORT BY: DIRECTOR OF THE ENVIRONMENT 1. PURPOSE OF REPORT 1.1 The purpose of the report is to update members on the progress of the Safe Routes to School (SRTS) Initiative within Caerphilly County Borough Council. Also to inform members of the recent Welsh Assembly Government changes to the SRTS initiative which is to be replaced in 2008/09 by the new ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ Programme and to endorse the next proposed priority for Transport Grant funding. 2. SUMMARY 2.1 Members may recall the successful completion of the Rhymney Comprehensive SRTS scheme which was endorsed as the Authority’s first pilot scheme in 1999, the scheme was phased over 3 years with a total scheme cost of £529k from Transport Grant funding. Risca Comprehensive / Crosskeys SRTS commenced in April 2002 and Transport Grant awards of £580k over 3 years completed the scheme implementation. The current ongoing SRTS priority is Newbridge Comprehensive initiative, which closely links to the regeneration proposals for the town and the emerging Newbridge Master Plan. The Council is directing its resources to provide comprehensive SRTS schemes for safer walking and cycling. 2.2 The report considers the progress of the Newbridge Comprehensive SRTS initiative to date and outlines the requirement for a final Transport Grant bid submission for 2008/09 to complete the scheme. It also recommends the next priority for consideration as part of the new ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ Programme. 3. LINKS TO STRATEGY 3,1 The Safe Routes to School initiative promoted by the Welsh Assembly Government (WAG) has been endorsed by the Council and is fully integrated with the policies and objectives of the Local Transport Plan, Road Safety Plan, the Unitary Development Plan and links closely to CCBC’s Community Strategy themes for the Living Environment, Regeneration, Education for Life and Health, Social Care and Well-Being. The prioritised SRTS schemes meet the following aims and objectives: • Increase the number of pupils walking and cycling to school • Improve the safety of the school journey • Improve accessibility and reduce community severance • Improve the environment and regenerate the community • Improve health and fitness and encourage healthy life styles • Reduce congestion associated with the school run • Promotes Sustainable Transport initiatives 3.2 The new ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ initiative recently announced by WAG will build upon the success of the SRTS programme and will continue to focus on schools. It will also encourage the development of safe walking and cycling routes providing links within the communities to other key facilities, considering wider community benefits and greater social inclusion and improved community safety. The £10m programme to be allocated for 2008 / 09 for Wales will give more children the opportunity to walk or cycle safely to school and will improve accessibility and encourage walking and cycling more generally within our communities. The programme will deliver sustainable transport initiatives consistent with the Wales Transport Strategy. 3.3 The SRTS initiative also forms an important part of developing the Local Walking and Cycling Strategy providing opportunities for future links with the emerging Regional / Local Cycling Strategy as part of the Sewta - Regional Transport Plan. 4. THE REPORT / PROPOSAL 4.1 Newbridge Comprehensive SRTS scheme was identified as a priority in 2004/05 and Transport Grant Funding awarded to progress the scheme in 2005/06 with further successful bids in 2006/07/08. The total transport grant cost of the scheme at that time was estimated at £698k with a commitment from the Welsh Assembly Government to supporting the scheme at this agreed level of funding. 4.2 The local Members and the Newbridge Community Partnership have fully endorsed the initiative as an essential part of the Newbridge Masterplan and as a key element for the regeneration of the Newbridge area. The SRTS project will improve sustainable access between the town centre, school, leisure facilities and the surrounding communities for pedestrians, cyclists and people with disabilities linking also to the Ebbw Valley Railway (EVR) Project - Newbridge Station Park and Ride and the Bus station. 4.3 Capita Symonds have been commissioned to develop detailed designs and implement the SRTS project in conjunction with CCBC Engineering Division. Pedestrian improvement works along Bridge Street have been completed which includes the provision of a formal pedestrian crossing, together with works at the entrance to the school, also a link to the school playing fields has been developed. Implementation of the southern section of the proposed link to the prominent South Celynen Housing Development has commenced with the final section of the link to the north and lighting to be completed to coincide with the construction of the bridges and the remedial works to the eroded section of the western bank of the River Ebbw. Land acquisition has been successfully completed for this element of the scheme from Llanover Estates to enable works to progress. Further works are planned to complete internal links and secure cycle parking at the school / leisure centre and improvements to the main entrance. 4.4 An important part of the project is to develop a link between the school / leisure centre and the town, crossing the River Ebbw and railway. The original design identified two separate structures with the River bridge being implemented as part of the SRTS project and the Rail bridge being considered by EVR. As part of the Newbridge Masterplan the two bridges have now been enhanced and combined to achieve continuity of design and improved connectivity. Combining the river and rail bridges to form an enhanced two bridge solution has produced designs for an iconic attractive bridge structures which are now finalised, planning permission has been sought and granted and discussions with Network Rail are at an advanced stage. The designs take into account requirements of the Environment Agency, Network Rail, Ecological issues, Community Safety and Disabled access. The current works programme indicates that the bridge structures will go out to tender in October 2007 with a projected completion date by the end of the summer 2008. 4.5 Due to the enhanced design and recent increases in steel costs this has led to an overall increase in the cost for the bridge structures and associated works. A further transport grant bid will be submitted for 2008/09 to cover the increased costs for the river bridge and facilitate the completion of the Newbridge SRTS proposals. The funding and procurement of the Newbridge River / Rail Bridge structure will also be subject to a separate report. 4.6 The completion date for the Newbridge SRTS scheme will be planned to coincide with the current programme for the provision and procurement of the combined river and rail bridge for late summer 2008. 4.7 The overall projected cost for the Newbridge SRTS scheme is estimated at £1.3 million made up of £698k WAG Transport Grant (committed), £430k contributions from other sources (Department for the Economy and Transport – WAG £210k, Newbridge Community Partnership £100k, CCBC – Urban Renewal Budget £75k, CCBC Advance Design Budget £21k, Education / School Budget - £4k, Developer Contribution £20k) and a further Transport Grant bid required in 2008/09 of £180k to complete the scheme. 2008 / 09 Safe Routes in Communities Bid 4.8 This year's Transport Grant Guidance states that in 2008/09 bids are only invited for: • Schemes already receiving Transport Grant support • New Safe Routes in Communities schemes The deadline for the submission of bids for 2008/09 Transport Grant funding is 26th October 2007. The schemes within this Council falling within the category of schemes already receiving Transport Grant support are Sirhowy Enterprise Way, Greater Bargoed Community Regeneration, Rhymney Valley Rail Line, Blackwood Interchange and Quality Bus Network, Caerphilly Park and Ride Access Road and Newbridge Safe Routes to School. A bid will be submitted in accordance with the Assembly's Guidance for ongoing schemes requiring funding in 2008/09. The Assembly's guidance makes it clear that new Transport Grant bids are only invited for Safe Routes in Communities schemes. The report also considers a recommendation for the next priority scheme to be progressed as part of the ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ Programme. 4.9 Recent meetings with the Head Teacher and Staff of St Cenydd Comprehensive School together with relevant officers from CCBC’s Education – Planning and Strategy / Health and Safety and Engineering Division / Road Safety, School Travel Plan Co-ordinator, have highlighted the urgent need for a ‘Safe Routes in Communities’ initiative to be considered. 4.10 Opportunities exist as part of this proposal to meet the criteria, aims / objectives of the new Safe Routes in Communities programme. The proposal will focus on improvements for walking and cycling to school and disabled access, road safety improvements, reducing congestion as part of the school run, improved sustainable links to Senghenydd / Abertridwr and the local communities of Hendredenny, Penyrheol and Trecenydd together with improved internal access / links within the school site, secure cycle parking and formalising vehicle access. The recent nature of this opportunity has meant that discussion with Ward Members has not been possible prior to this report. However Ward Members and the local community will be fully engaged with any proposals as they are progressed. 4.11 The school site comprises Hendre Junior School, Hendre Infants School, St Cenydd Comprehensive (with 1250 pupils – largest school in CCBC, which also accommodates pupils with specialised educational needs). St Cenydd Leisure Centre also forms part of the site. The initiative will also provide opportunity to work with the feeder primary schools within the catchment area for St Cenydd Comprehensive.