Agenda Item 7

East County Local Committee Ref: EC01(16/17)

18 May 2016 Key Decision: No Turners Hill Road Crossing & School Keep Clear Part I Report by Executive Director Residents’ Services Electoral and Director of Highways and Transport Division(s): & Worth

Executive Summary

Following needs identified by the local community, a scheme on Turners Hill Road, Crawley was prioritised for delivery as part of the 2016/17 Integrated Works Programme. The scheme includes a controlled Puffin Crossing, Vehicle Activated Sign and Road Lining Improvements. The opportunity is also being taken to formalise existing School Keep Clear markings within the scheme extents.

The estimated cost of the scheme is £110,000 to be funded from the capital budget as part of the 2016/17 Programme.

Recommendation(s)

That the East Crawley CLC, having considered that the resulting benefits to the community outweigh the objections raised, authorises the Director of Law, Assurance and Strategy to make the order as advertised and install the pedestrian crossing.

1. Background and Context

1.1 Turners Hill Road is a single carriageway road that is located on the east side of Crawley and extends from the B2036 Balcombe Road to the B2110 at Turners Hill.

1.2 The local community has identified a need for improved crossing and speed reduction measures on the section of Turners Hill Road between Worth Corner and the M23 motorway bridge.

1.3 East Crawley CLC prioritised the scheme and it was included for design within the 2015/16 Integrated Works Programme (IWP) with construction anticipated to take place in the 2016/17 IWP.

1.4 WSCC identified three possible locations for a puffin crossing, and a public exhibition was held in July 2015 where these were presented and opinions gathered.

1.5 The consultation favoured two crossing points, one just east of the junction with Ashurst Drive and the second outside the property ‘Caxtons’.

1.6 Following discussions with the local member, the decision was made to proceed with the design of the crossing east of Ashurst Drive. A new Vehicle Activated Sign and lining improvements were also included in this works package.

1.7 There are currently ‘School Keep Clear’ markings within the scheme extents that require formalization with a Traffic Regulation Order. These markings are provided for the Alternative Provision College. The opportunity is being taken to raise a TRO for these as part of this scheme.

1.8 Yellow zigzag ‘School Keep Clear’ markings are used to prevent vehicles parking too close to school entrances, where they cause obstruction and restrict visibility.

1.9 The proposed School Keep Clear markings in Turners Hill Road will prohibit vehicles stopping at any time and are to improve visibility and safety for young people travelling to and from the West Sussex Alternative Provision College.

1.10 A scheme overview is provided as Appendix A.

2. Consultation

2.1 Formal consultation was undertaken between 2nd March 2016 and 23rd March 2016.

2.2 Members – Local Member Mr Richard Burrett was consulted and gave permission to advertise the scheme.

2.3 External – Crawley Borough Council, local bus operators and the emergency services were consulted and raised no objections.

2.4 Public – public notices were issued on site, and an advertisement made in the Crawley Observer. Online consultation was also undertaken on the WSCC website. Seven objections were received raising concerns over the crossing location and the lack of equestrian facilities. These are detailed with responses in Appendix B.

3. Proposal

3.1 It is proposed to install the scheme as designed, including a controlled Puffin Crossing at the location east of Ashurst Drive, a new speed limit Vehicle Activated Sign and lining improvements.

3.2 The proposals will address concerns raised by the community regarding difficulties in crossing Turners Hill Road and traffic behaviours.

3.3 The proposals will give pedestrians wishing to cross the road at this location a safer method to do so. The lining improvements and addition of a Vehicle Activated Signs will also influence safer driver behaviours at this section of Turners Hill Road.

3.4 It is also proposed to formalise existing ‘School Keep Clear’ markings with a Traffic Regulation Order. The proposal will introduce School Keep Clears prohibiting stopping at any time on lengths of Turners Hill Road and Church Road.

3.6 The lengths of roads which are the subject of the proposed Order are shown in plans: • TQ2936NEN • TQ3036NWN

The plans are included in Appendix C.

4. Other Options considered

4.1 Alternative crossing types were considered at this location. These included both a Toucan crossing to add cycling facilities and a Pegasus crossing to add facilities for equestrian use.

4.2 In both instances the footway widths on the northern side of Turners Hill Road were not sufficient for the design of either crossing type and any design for these crossing types would not be to (DfT) standards.

4.3 The footway width of the northern side of Turners Hill Road is approximately 1.3m. The introduction of a Toucan Crossing requires shared footway use for both pedestrians and cyclists needing a minimum 3m footway width. The introduction of a Pegasus Crossing requires a push button unit installed a minimum of 2m back from the kerb and also a holding pen where equestrians can wait on their horse that has a minimum width of 4m by 4m.

4.4 Discussions were undertaken with the Road Safety Team who commented that there is insufficient room to make accommodation for equestrians and/or cyclists safely.

5. Resource Implications and Value for Money

5.1 It is estimated that the cost of the proposed works will be in the region of £110,000 to be funded from the 2016/17 capital allocation.

5.2 The scheme’s implementation will address community concerns identified in section 1.2 of this report.

5.3 The capital works will be undertaken by the County Council’s term contractor under a fixed target price in order to achieve best value for money.

6. Impact of the proposal

6.1 It is anticipated the scheme will have a positive impact on driver behaviours on this section of Turners Hill Road as well as addressing the community aspiration of having a safe crossing point.

6.2 There is a likely impact of traffic stopping when a demand is placed at the new crossing facility for pedestrians to cross. The impact of this will be minimal.

6.3 Through the statutory duties placed on the County Council by the Road Traffic Regulation Act, the legally enforceable School Keep Clear markings will prevent cars from stopping on school entrances and meet the needs identified by the school community.

6.4 Equality Impact Report - The Equality Act 2010 bans unfair treatment and seeks equal opportunities in the workplace and in wider society. It also imposes a Public Sector Equality Duty. The protected characteristics are age, disability, gender reassignment, marriage/civil partnership, pregnancy and maternity, race, religion or belief, sex and sexual orientation. 6.5 The protected characteristics have been duly considered and assessed in the course of the consideration of this proposal. No relevant or disproportionate impact upon any of the protected characteristics in the Equality Act 2010 has been identified in the consideration of the proposals detailed in this report. 6.6 An Equality Impact Report has been undertaken and is attached as Appendix D to this report.

6.7 Social Value – The proposals will address concerns from the community as detailed in 1.2, giving a social benefit to those living there.

7. Risk Management Implications

7.1 Should the proposed TRO be made, then the risk to the County Council is limited; conversely if it is not made it is likely to have negative consequences in terms of the continuation of road safety concerns by residents of Turners Hill Road.

7.2 The scheme is likely to achieve a safe crossing point for pedestrians and have a positive influence on driver behaviours in this section of Turners Hill Road.

Bernadette Marjoram Lucy Monie Executive Director Director Residents’ Services of Highways and Transport

Contact: Simon Osborne (WSCC Project Manager), 03302 226351

Appendices Appendix A – Scheme Overview Plan Appendix B – Consultation response summary Appendix C – TRO Tile Plans Appendix D – Equality Impact Report Background Papers None

Appendix D - Equality Impact Report

Title of proposal Turners Hill Road Crossing & School Keep Clear

Date of Within the 2016/17 Integrated Works Programme (IWP) implementation Name: Simon Osborne EIR completed by: Tel: 03302226351

1. Decide whether this report is needed and, if so, describe how you have assessed the impact of the proposal. The proposals for this scheme involve the introduction of a controlled Puffin Crossing in Turners Hill Road, Crawley. The scheme also includes the introduction of lining improvements, a new Vehicle Activated Sign and the formalisation of existing School Keep Clear markings outside the West Sussex Alternative Provision College.

Those affected by these proposals would include the following:

• Local residents living along or near Turners Hill Road, Crawley.

• Highway users who frequent this route, including locals, bus operators, rescue services, commuters and pedestrians.

In assessing the impact these proposals would have on people, the following was undertaken:

• Informal consultation with the Local Member and designers.

• The proposals were presented at a public meeting where residents were given the opportunity to comment.

• Statutory Consultation as part of the advertisement of a Traffic Regulation Order required when installing a new crossing and formalising restricted road markings.

This provided information on who will be affected by the proposals and how, giving individuals and groups the opportunity to comment on the proposals and how they may affect them.

2. Describe any negative impact for customers or residents. There is likely to be some disruption whilst the scheme is being constructed, but this will be kept to a minimum. Concerns were raised that the new crossing facility does not take into account other road users such as equestrians and cyclists. Alternative design options were considered but the highway infrastructure does not provide sufficient space to include design provision for cyclist and equestrian crossing facilities.

3. Describe any positive effects which may offset any negative impact. The provision of the crossing will address residents’ concerns over safety whilst crossing the road here. Whilst accommodation could not be made for crossing facilities for cyclists and equestrians there is benefit to pedestrians including vulnerable pedestrians.

The proposed School Keep Clear markings in Turners Hill Road and Church Road will prohibit vehicles stopping at any time and are to improve visibility and safety for young people travelling to and from the West Sussex Alternative Provision College.

4. Describe whether and how the proposal helps to eliminate discrimination, harassment and victimisation. There are not considered to be any implications relating to this section.

5. Describe whether and how the proposal helps to advance equality of opportunity between people who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. There are not considered to be any implications relating to this section.

6. Describe whether and how the proposal helps to foster good relations between persons who share a protected characteristic and those who do not. There are not considered to be any implications relating to this section.

7. What changes were made to the proposal as a result? If none, explain why. Changes were considered following representations from local equestrians who would like the crossing to provide better provision for those on horseback, however, these changes could not be made to design standards and any designs to accommodate these could not be accommodated without having negative safety implications.

8. Explain how the impact will be monitored to make sure it continues to meet the equality duty owed to customers and say who will be responsible for this. The traffic signals installation will be inspected on site every six months and the Vehicle Activated Sign every year by a trained engineer who will ensure the equipment is working to its optimum level and causing minimal disruption to drivers.

A helpline telephone number is prominently displayed on the traffic signals equipment should a member of the public notice anything not working correctly or wish to report anything about the site.

The road markings will undergo routine inspections in line with the authority’s Safety Plus guidance.

To be signed by an Executive Director or Director to confirm that they have read and approved the content.

Name Guy Bell Date 21/04/16

Your position Head of Highways Engineering