Outwood Academy City Fields TRAVEL PLAN UPDATE 2020
OUTWOOD ACADEMY CITY FIELDS TRAVEL PLAN 2019-20
1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION CONTENTS 2.0 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAVEL PLAN
3.0 SITE CONTEXT
3.1 Existing Areas 3.2 Current School provision 3.3 Pupils 3.4 Staff 3.5 Pedestrian Access 3.6 Vehicular Access 3.7 Cycle Access 3.8 Cycle Route 3.9 Location Maps 3.10 Site Description 3.11 Bus Access 3.12 Rail Access
4.0 CURRENT SITE ISSUES
5.0 DETAILS OF THE PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
5.1 Map of Proposed Development
6.0 SURVEYS
6.1 Pupils Surveys 6.2 Staff Surveys
7.0 TRAVEL PLAN MEASURES AND ACTIONS
7.1 Measures and Actions
8.0 IMPLEMENTED AND EMBEDDED
9.0 TRAVEL PLAN TARGETS
10.0 MANAGEMENT & MONITORING
10.1 Responsibility and Implementation 10.2 Timescale for Monitoring 10.3 Marketing the Travel Plan 10.4 Summary
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 3 Travel Plan Update 2019 1.0 BACKGROUND INFORMATION
Wakefield Council is proposing the expansion of Outwood Academy City Fields and intends to build a new teaching block adjacent to the current school.
The Authority has identified that current secondary school places in Wakefield are limited and due to the new City Fields development a requirement for additional school places has been planned.
The Council’s preferred location is Outwood Academy City Fields and the new building will allow for increasing demand in the future years.
Outwood Academy City Fields currently has 681 students at KS3 and KS4. Its current PAN is 150 per year group; this was increased for the academic year 2017-18 from 135.
The following Travel Plan document has been prepared for the expansion of Outwood Academy City Fields.
The Travel Plan will support the planning application for the works carried out to the proposed site.
The National Planning Policy Framework states that all developments that generate significant amounts of movement should be supported by a Travel Plan and Transport Assessment, and submitted with a planning application for the development. It will then be used to determine whether the transport impact of the development is acceptable.
The Travel Plan will be implemented prior to occupation. It sets out measures to encourage sustainable transport.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 4 Travel Plan Update 2019 2.0 THE OBJECTIVES OF THE TRAVEL PLAN
This Travel Plan is designed to improve awareness of the opportunities for reducing car usage (particularly single occupancy journeys) through the promotion of car sharing, walking, cycling and public transport.
The Travel Plan will be promoted widely throughout the school community, not only to minimise any traffic impacts associated with the school on the surrounding network, but also to promote health and environmental benefits by walking and cycling as well as the social aspects of car sharing.
The Travel Plan aims to deliver the following objectives:
• To minimise the number of car journeys to school, particularly single occupancy trips.
• To improve awareness and usage of alternative modes of transport and reduce reliance on the private car.
• To promote car sharing, walking, cycling and public transport as safe, efficient, affordable alternatives to private cars and to highlight health and environmental benefits of adopting sustainable travel patterns.
• To enable people to make more informed travel choices.
Parents and Staff will be informed of locally available non-car modes of transport and the benefits of adopting sustainable travel patterns. Regular liaison with all parties will seek to achieve a long term commitment to changing travel behaviour.
There are a number of benefits that will be derived from the successful implementation of the Travel Plan for the school community and visitors to the site as well as the wider community. Benefits are expected to include:
• improved health and fitness through increased levels of walking and cycling;
• increased flexibility offered through wider travel choices;
• the social aspects of sharing transport with others; and
• a better environment within the site and its immediate environs as vehicular movements are minimised.
In terms of the wider community, the successful implementation of the Travel Plan will lead to reduced traffic impacts as a result of the reduction of car use.
The overall Travel Plan strategy includes measures designed to enhance the sustainable transport provision at the site, travel awareness initiatives and other measure to assist in the achievement of the objectives of the Plan.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 5 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.0 SITE CONTEXT Outwood Academy City Fields is a smaller than average comprehensive academy catering for students aged 11-16 years. It is situated on a large, pleasant, single site situated on the Eastmoor residential estate within a mile of Wakefield City Centre. The academy is large enough to offer the full range of courses yet small enough for each student to be individually known to and cared for by staff.
The school serves a diverse community with students attending from throughout the Wakefield area.
The academy building was originally designed for a ‘13-16’ academy with a maximum of 350 children. It now accommodates 11-16 year olds and the total number in the academy is nearly double its original figure.
The building is a mixture of Clasp and traditional buildings and comprises of one and two storey buildings with the main block originating from the late 1960’s and refurbishments and additional buildings being added through to 2005. A number of detached blocks have been constructed including a new science block, sports hall and a number of temporary units. The remainder of the school site is set out as playing fields with a range of sports being catered for including tennis courts, long jump pits and rounders pitches.
3.1 EXISTING AREA Site: 63, 129m2
3.2 CURRENT SCHOOL PROVISION The annual admission limit is 150 per year group (5 year groups).
School: Outwood Academy City Fields Address: Warmfield View, Wakefield, WF1 4SF Tel: 01924 298752 Mail: Website: Headteacher: DCSF No:
School day; 8.25 – 2.30 After school activities; Until 3.30 Lunch Break; 12.00 – 13.30 Site closes; 18.00
The school also operates a Breakfast Club from 7.30 and a range of after-school clubs which are available to all pupils both of which help in alleviating some of the school traffic.
3.3 PUPILS Pupil numbers at 26.2.2020 are 681
The anticipated number of full-time pupils will increase by 300 to 1050 in total due to the admission number in Year 7 being increased to 150 pupils. The numbers will continue to increase as this cohort moves through school.
3.4 STAFF The total number of staff at Outwood Academy City Fields including teaching staff, TAs, site staff, admin staff, lunchtime supervisors etc currently stands at 83. The vast majority of any part time staff work school hours. Once the school is expanded the number of staff members will increase to approximately 120.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 6 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.5 PEDESTRIAN ACCESS
The infrastructure to support walking to school around the site is adequate.
The site has two access points. The narrower of the two accesses is located to the north of the site, on Arncliffe Road, and the other access is located to the west of the site, on Warmfield View.
The access on Warmfield View is the main staff/visitor access both for vehicles and pedestrians and leads to the main car park and school reception. This entrance has two-way traffic movements for local access. A footway is provided, separated from the carriageway via a kerb upstand.
The Arncliffe Road access constitutes the only pupil access. However, at certain times deliveries are able to enter in this location to access the sports hall. This was designated as the only entrance/exit for students as the previous main entrance point on Warmfield View has been closed to students so as to better manage arrival/departure of pupils. This entrance is very narrow and has a footway provided, segregated via a kerb upstand. This lack of footway is not significant as when in use by pupils, vehicles are not permitted.
Immediately opposite the Arncliffe Road entrance/exit, there is a central green open space/crescent area with a footpath leading to Windhill Road, which is a primary pedestrian desire line leading to the sheltered bus terminus on Windhill Road. This bus stop is located approximately 83.9m from the Arncliffe Road entry/exit. The footways on the other roads surrounding the site are similar, with footpath widths of approximately 1.4m to 1.6m in some areas, but separated from traffic via grass verges.
There are no other formal access points to site.
3.6 VEHICULAR ACCESS
For staff and visitors to the Academy, the vehicular access is off Warmfield View with parking at the right of the main school buildings.
Pupils are expected to make their own way to school either on foot or via public transport and enter at an alternative entrance where no vehicles are permitted.
Staff parking formally consists of 21 staff/visitor parking spaces and 2 disabled parking spaces in the main car park at the front of the school accessed via Warmfield View. As a temporary measure the Academy is currently utilising it’s Tennis Courts for staff parking which holds an additional 70 vehicles approximately.
Staff arrive on site from 6.00am; the majority of vehicles are on site by 8.00am with the school gates closing at 8.30am. Staff leave site from 2.30pm; this is very much staggered through until 6.00pm.
3.7 CYCLE ACCESS
The school cycle storage is no longer fit for purpose and due to revised entry and fencing layouts this needs to be moved to an alternative location. Cycling to school would be encouraged if facilities permitted. The Academy is in the process of purchasing a racking style system to store approximately ten cycles (current users).
A number of signed cycle routes are provided near the site, although there are currently no cycle routes leading directly to the school entry point on Arncliffe Road. There is a segregated cycle path to the west of the A6194 within the vicinity of the site. There is a signed cycle route located along Park Lodge Lane, which forms a link towards Marsh Way A61. Additionally, Wakefield Council identify in their west Yorkshire cycle map that there are several roads around the school that are advisory cycle routes, due to the low traffic volumes. This includes Windhill Road, Watson Crescent, Shepley Street, Queen Elizabeth Road and Ivy Lane.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 7 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.8 CYCLE ROUTES
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 8 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.9 SITE LOCATION MAP (1)
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 9 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.9 SITE LOCATION MAP (2)
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 10 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.10 SITE DESCRIPTION
The Academy was originally built in the late 1960’s as a middle school, which later converted to cater for secondary students. Additional buildings have been added to the site to increase capacity. The site outline is rectangular shape which encompasses buildings built at different gradients. The land is uneven with sloping fields. The site sits between a residential area.
The school building is located on the north western quadrant of the site, with some buildings connected to each other, whilst others are stand alone.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 11 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.11 BUS ACCESS
Suggested walk distances to bus stops are specified in the “Guidelines for Planning for Public Transport in Development” which recommends that a desirable distance for a bus stop to be located from a school is 400m. There are 2 bus stops within the 400m distance to the site.
However, this is only a guideline and the document goes on to state that an acceptable distance of 800m is also appropriate. Therefore the proposed site provides an acceptable walking distance to the bus stops in the vicinity. This being the case there are a number of bus stops which are still accessible to the site.
The majority of the bus stops that surround the site are of a simple flag and pole configuration.
There is a bus stop close to the school on Windhill Drive which is a two minute walk from school.
There is a bus stop is located approximately 83.9m from the Arncliffe Road entry/exit.
The majority of students travel from Peacock, Alverthorpe and Flanshaw districts of Wakefield.
The following table shows the frequency and route of the services which stop at these bus stops
No. Route Description Day Evening (Monday – (Monday – Friday Friday Peak Frequency) Peak Frequency) 102 Eastmoor to Lupset Every 30 Every 30 and Healey (via minutes minutes Wakefield 104 Alverthorpe to Every 30 Every 30 Eastmoor (via minutes minutes Wakefield) 111 Wakefield to Every 30 Every 20 Pinderfields Hospital minutes minutes
147/147A Wakefield to Hourly Hourly Pontefract (via Normanton) 173A/174/174A Wakefield to Wetherby (via Hourly Hourly Bottomboat, Moorhouse Estate) 175/175A Wakefield to Castleford (via Hourly Hourly Woodlesford & Garforth) 444 Wakefield to Leeds Every 30 Every 30 (via Stanley, Carlton & minutes minutes Rothwell) 446 Wakefield to Leeds Every 30 Every 30 (via Pinderfields minutes minutes Hospital &
02/11/2020 Woodlesford) 12 Travel Plan Update 2019 3.12 RAIL ACCESS
The nearest train stations to the school are Wakefield Westgate and Wakefield Kirkgate.
Wakefield Westgate is located 1.5 miles away from the school and is just under a 30 minute walk. Wakefield Kirkgate is the nearest at 1.1 miles away.
Car parking is available at both stations with a current capacity of 900 spaces (19 of which are accessible spaces) at Wakefield Westgate and 43 spaces (including 6 accessible spaces) at Wakefield Kirkgate.
Both stations provide train services to Leeds, Sheffield, Doncaster and other local towns.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 13 Travel Plan Update 2019 4.0 CURRENT SITE ISSUES
Arncliffe Road is a fairly narrow residential street that currently imposes issues at the start and end of the school day due to limited parking for parent collections.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 14 Travel Plan Update 2019 5.0 DETAILS OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
The proposal comprises of extensions, refurbishments, demolitions and the erection of a new teaching block as part of the school expansion to increase the number of pupil places by 300 to 1050.
The ‘main expansion’ works involve a kitchen extension, construction of new covered link between existing corridors, construction of a new teaching block (ground floor, first floor) with 11 teaching spaces on the existing playing field and the construction of a corridor link bridge from the existing school building to the new teaching block.
No changes are proposed to the vehicle access into the car parks. There are currently no plans to reopen the Warmfield View access to pupils on foot as the school considers the movement of pupils can be better managed using the Arncliffe Road pedestrian-only access. However, this situation will be reviewed through the Travel Plan as the school expands.
It is proposed that an additional 36 car parking spaces will be provided (including 1 additional disabled space). These additional car parking spaces will be on-site due to the demolition of the caretaker’s bungalow.
The cycle storage currently available at Outwood Academy City Fields is no longer fit for purpose. Additionally, due to the change in pupil access and the fencing layout, the cycle storage will need to be relocated.
The school is currently in the process of purchasing a racking style system to temporarily store approximately 10 cycles for the current pupils. It will be necessary to further increase cycle parking to provide a minimum total of 33 spaces (existing 24 spaces plus 9 additional spaces). This situation will be monitored through the School Travel Plan and additional cycle parking could be provided if demand requires it.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 15 Travel Plan Update 2019 5.1 MAP OF PROPOSED DEVELOPMENT
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 16 Travel Plan Update 2019 6.0 SURVEYS
6.1 PUPIL SURVEYS
Pupils were last surveyed in February 2020 as to how they travelled to school. 681 students were surveyed A total response of 433
Of the students who responded to the survey 77% of students travelled to school by sustainable modes of transport.
YEAR WALK CAR / TAXI SERVICE CYCLE BUS
2020 256 101 62 14
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 17 Travel Plan Update 2019 6.2 STAFF SURVEYS
Staff were last surveyed in February 2020 as to how they travelled to school.
83 members of staff were surveyed – this includes teachers, TAs, dinner staff, kitchen staff, office staff and caretaker.
As the number of pupils increase it is expected that the number of staff will increase.
20% of members of staff travelled to school by sustainable modes of transport.
YEAR WALK CAR / SERVICE RAIL CYCLE TAXI BUS
2020 11 66 4 1 1
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 18 Travel Plan Update 2019 7.0 TRAVEL PLAN MEASURES
7.1 MEASURES AND ACTIONS
This Travel Plan sets out a range of measures that will be incorporated within the development proposals, to encourage sustainable travel and to achieve the objectives of the Plan. These measures and their timescales for implementation are outlined below and include:
Reference Measure Timescale
TP1 Sustainable Travel Information Pack and Guide Every September and for all new entrants to school TP2 Promote Car Sharing Scheme for staff, visitors & pupils Termly
TP3 Encourage the use of public transport, walking and cycling to Termly school by staff and pupils TP4 Promote Breakfast and After School activities Termly
TP5 Expand cycle storage On completion of the extension TP6 Establish an Academy Travel Plan Working Group Termly
TP7 Promote a Considerate Parking Policy for parents Immediately for all new admissions then termly
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 19 Travel Plan Update 2019 TP1 SUSTAINABLE TRAVEL INFORMATION PACK
A sustainable travel information pack including public transport information and walk and cycling route maps to catchment areas will be provided by Outwood Academy City Fields to staff , parents and children at the start of each academic year. This information will also be available in electronic format. The travel information pack will provide information sent to parents of all new pupils prior to them starting at the school.
The travel information pack will provide information on the reasons for the travel plan. The pack will also contain information to parents (and pupils) of the benefits of walking, cycling and using public transport to travel to school (eg improvement to health, performance at school, environmental benefits such as the reduction in CO2 levels etc)
The travel information pack will also signpost parents, staff and visitors to West Yorkshire Metro’s website http://www.wymetro.com/howtogetto/planajourney/ and the Traveline Journey Planning tool www.traveline.info To access information regarding public transport to enable them to plan their journey to school.
This information will also be on display within school.
TP2 CAR SHARING – STAFF, VISITORS & PUPILS
Promote informal car sharing through staff room notice boards, staff meetings, electronically.
Promote car sharing to parents via normal communication channels (electronically, newsletters, pupil notice boards, social media, school website etc).
Remind/promote car sharing for visitors via normal communication channels .
TP3 ENCOURAGE THE USE OF PUBLIC TRANSPORT, WALKING & CYCLING TO SCHOOL
In order to encourage the use of existing bus/train services for all users of the site it is proposed to prominently display route maps, timetables and special offer information at the reception area and within the staff room of the school building.
Promote the use of public transport/school bus services via usual means of communication with parents and pupils.
77% of the pupils who responded to the survey travel to school by walking, cycling or public transport. Based on these figures and the academy’s sustainability plan we aim to reduce the number of students travelling to school by car and increase the number of walking, cycling or catching the bus. By doing this we will be reducing the number of vehicles around the academy and therefore less congestion in the immediate area thus creating a more sustainable way of travelling to and from the Academy.
The Academy will promote walking and cycling to school via usual means of communication with parents and pupils.
TP4 PROMOTE BREAKFAST AND AFTER SCHOOL CLUBS
Academy literature/website to include detailed information with regards to the clubs for pupils
TP5 EXPAND CYCLE STORAGE
Cycle storage to be expanded to encourage more students and staff to cycle to school.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 20 Travel Plan Update 2019 TP6 ESTABLISH AN ACADEMY TRAVEL WORKING GROUP
An Academy Travel Plan Working Group will be set up involving staff and pupils and other interested parties. They will program a schedule of meetings which will take place during the first week of each school term.
The working group should meet to:
• oversee the implementation of the action plans; • ensure the collection of any monitoring criteria; • undertake the annual review of the travel plan and, following the review, to formulate new Initiatives and identify measures; • complete the full review of the school travel plan at least every year; • recruit new members to the working group.
TP7 PROMOTE A CONSIDERATE PARKING POLICY
School to actively promote and distribute a Considerate Parking Policy with all parents as part of the admissions pack given to all new children into school and also via the school’s termly newsletter to parents.
Police presence around the school site during the first week of term to enforce the 20 mph zone and to promote considerate parking. The Police will be asked if they can patrol on an ad-hoc basis until the Considerate Parking Policy is embedded in the mind set of parents and when problems have been reported.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 21 Travel Plan Update 2019 8.0 IMPLEMENTED AND EMBEDDED
The school will be proactive with regards to encouraging students and staff to walk and cycle to school and to use other sustainable modes of travel to school.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 22 Travel Plan Update 2019 9.0 TRAVEL PLAN TARGETS:
This Travel Plan sets out a range of measures that will be incorporated within the development proposals, to encourage sustainable travel and to achieve the objectives of the Plan.
The targets for the measures are outlined below and include:
Reference Measure Targets
TP2 Car Sharing Scheme To see an increase in the number of staff and pupils car sharing. TP4 Promote the use of public transport, To see a decrease in the number of pupils walking and cycling to school travelling to school by car.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 23 Travel Plan Update 2019 10.0 MANAGEMENT AND MONITORING
10.1 RESPONSIBILITY AND IMPLEMENTATION– Delivering the Plan
The school will assume overall responsibility for ensuring that the Travel Plan is implemented. The implementation of the Travel Plan measures will be delegated to the Academy Travel Working Group who will carry out the day-to-day management of the plan and whose role will be key to the success of the plan.
The Academy Travel Working Group will liaise with parents and residents where deemed necessary.
10.2 TIMESCALES FOR MONITORING AND IMPLEMENTATION
We will measure the achievements of the Travel Plan through travel surveys and also make sure that the objectives are met.
10.3 MARKETING THE TRAVEL PLAN
For the Travel Plan to be effective, all parties need to be made aware of the aims and the objectives of the Travel Plan and of all the measures contained therein.
The Travel Plan will be communicated using a variety of methods, including:
• School Website • Information available in the Academy and other electronic channels • Information presented in the Academy’s Prospectus and transition documents • Travel Plan work within the Academy • Additional literature produced as necessary throughout the lifetime of the Travel Plan
10.4 SUMMARY
There are a number of key elements to the successful implementation of a Travel Plan:
The completion of travel surveys for the school;
1. The carrying out of an audit of travel patterns across the site annually; and
2. The involvement of staff, pupils, parents and visitors with specific emphasis on the
3. involvement of the School Travel Plan Working Group.
Resources and arrangements for implementation, co-ordination and day-to-day management of measures will be put in place through the appointment of a School Travel Plan Working Group. The Academy Travel Plan Working Group includes members of staff pupils and the governors of the school.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 24 Travel Plan Update 2019 A representative of the Academy’s Travel Plan Working Group will be appointed by the Principal at the start of each academic year and their details will be given to the Academy’s Travel Plan Group. The representative of the Academy Travel Plan Working Group will ideally be a member of staff.
The Academy Travel Plan Working Group is responsible for ensuring the effectiveness of the travel plan is measured through annual monitoring.
The Academy Travel Plan Working Group will be able to link in to other Schools in the local area which will provide an opportunity to share ideas and initiatives. This will enable the Academy Travel Plan Working Group to consider wider measures across a range of sites in the locality that would not otherwise be viable.
It should be noted that the Academy Travel Plan Working Group can use their discretion to develop and use any other measures that assist the development towards the objectives of the Travel Plan.
The Academy Travel Plan Working Group will be responsible for setting and reviewing appropriate targets following the production of a baseline survey.
Outwood Academy City Fields 02/11/2020 25 Travel Plan Update 2019