Economy and Place Directorate Jack Crawford House Commercial Road Sunderland, SR2 8QR Proposed School on Hetton Primary School Site Transport Statement December 2020 Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 Contents 1. Introduction .................................................................................................................................... 1 2. Existing Site Information…………………………………………………………………………………………………………….2 2.1. Site Description ....................................................................................................................... 2 2.2. Surrounding Road Network .................................................................................................... 2 2.3. Accident Records..................................................................................................................... 3 3. Accessibility by Sustainable Modes of Transport……………………………………..………………………………..4 3.1. Pedestrian Accessibility ........................................................................................................... 4 3.2. Accessibility by Cycle ............................................................................................................... 4 3.3. Accessibility by Rail ................................................................................................................. 5 3.4. Accessibility by Bus ................................................................................................................. 6 4. Proposed School Operations........................................................................................................... 7 4.1. School Description .................................................................................................................. 7 4.2. Access Arrangements .............................................................................................................. 7 4.3. Parking .................................................................................................................................... 8 5. Travel Plans ................................................................................................................................... 11 6. Conclusion ..................................................................................................................................... 12 Appendix A – Location Plan .................................................................................................................. 13 Appendix B – Proposed School Layout ................................................................................................. 15 Appendix C – Bus Timetables ................................................................................................................ 17 Appendix D – Sustrans Map .................................................................................................................. 19 Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 Name Signature Date Prepared by John Errington J Errington 02/12/2020 Checked by Robin Sawczyn R Sawczyn 04/12/2020 Approved by Craig Wilkinson 15/01/2021 Approval Record Rev Date Description Signature Draft 02/12/20 For Review Prepared by JE Checked by RAS Approved by Final 15/01/21 Planning Issue Prepared by JE Revision Record Checked by RAS Approved by JCW Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 1. Introduction The Infrastructure and Commercial Development Section of Sunderland City Council has been commissioned by the applicant to provide a Transport Statement (TS) in relation to the construction of a new school at the Hetton Primary School site, Moorsley Road, Hetton Le Hole. The development consists of a proposed school, car parking/drop off loop and access road along with hard and soft landscaping. The scope of this TS is to review the proposed traffic arrangements and parking provision; assessing how the current road network will be affected. The TS will also consider access to the site by sustainable transport methods. Data has been drawn from the report ‘Traffic Flows in Tyne and Wear’ produced in 2015 by the Tyne and Wear Traffic and Accident Data Unit (TADU), collision data provided by TADU for the most recent 5 year period, a draft proposed travel plan provided by the school along with anecdotal data provided by the senior leadership team at the school. Additionally, site visits have been undertaken during peak periods to monitor and assess the existing scenario. A Site Location Plan is provided in Appendix A of this report. Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 2. Existing Site Information 2.1. Site Description The site is located in South West Sunderland, in Hetton Le Hole, to the south east of Hetton School. The site is bounded by residential properties to the south east, a disused rail line and farmland to the south and south west and finally playing fields to the east and north. The topography of the land within the site is generally sloping from north west to south east with a bund across the southern boundary adjacent to the old railway line. Metal palisade fencing secures the school along its front elevation with mesh security fencing along the remaining boundaries. Pedestrian access points are currently at the north and south of the existing school. There are mature trees along the southern side of the site adjacent to the road. There is an existing footpath providing access to Hetton School along the north east edge of the site. The site has been in its current form since the 1960’s, currently accommodating 156 students and 23 staff. This school site is still active as an education establishment with the proposed new school building to be built on the fields within the school boundary. There is no other known historic use of this site which is considered relevant to this report. There is an existing Caretakers house to the north east of the plot which is to be demolished as part of the new school build. Access to the site by car is currently via an entrance on Moorsley Road. Pedestrian access is via the same access road as vehicles. This splits once on site and pedestrians can head to the south or north of the school where access is controlled by locked gates. 2.2. Surrounding Road Network Moorsley Road is accessed via B1284 (North Road), the main road through Hetton-Le-Hole centre to the east and links to Low Moorsley and High Moorsley to the west, eventually meeting Pittington Road which provides access to the A690 and Belmont on the outskirts of Durham City. It is a bus route and has a 20mph zone in place. There is no provision for parking and there is a school keep clear marking to Diag. 1027.1 across the school entrance. All of the local residential roads are subject to a 20mph zone, including Moorsley Road. Moorsley Road is a single carriageway with the characteristics of a UAP3 classification, described in TA 79/99 as a 'variable standard road carrying mixed traffic with frontage access, side roads, bus stops and at grade pedestrian crossings. There are several side roads off Moorsley Road to the south which access residential developments. To the north the B1284 North Road also provides several links to residential developments. The B1284 North Road provides a link to the major highway network, approximately 1.35 miles north west of the school where it joins the A690. Sunderland City and Durham City can be easily reached from this point. Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 2.3. Catchment Area The school has confirmed that their catchment is mostly within postcode DH5 from Hetton le Hole and Moorsley which falls within a 2km radius. A survey undertaken in November 2020 by the school and responded to by 26% of parents revealed the following: Distance from school Response Less than 1 mile 55% Less than 3 miles 30% Less than 5 miles 10% More than 5 miles 5% Table 1: Catchment bands 2.4. Travel Mode A pupil hands up survey was undertaken in November 2020. On the day of the survey 146 (93.5%) of children were in attendance. The weather was cool and sunny with light winds, however, some showers were recorded. The following table identifies actual and preferred travel modes: Travel Mode Number Percentage Preferred Number Percentage Travel Mode Walk 57 39% Walk 39 27% Cycle 1 0.7% Cycle 55 38% Bus 6 4% Bus 7 5% Car 79 54% Car 24 16% Scooter 2 1% Scooter 21 14% Other 1 0.7% Other 0 0% Table 2: Actual and preferred travel modes Travel modes are largely weather dependant and also dependant on whether parents have other commitments after drop off/pick up, for example, work. 2.5. Collision Records The Police record of collisions resulting in personal injury has been reviewed for the five-year period January 2015 to January 2020 in the vicinity of the site. During that time, there were 4 slight injuries and 1 serious injury within 100m of the site. The serious incident occurred at the junction of the school access with Moorsley Road, involving an elderly driver striking a child in the afternoon peak. Following the incident, the school took the decision to post a member of the teaching staff at the junction during peak arrival and departure periods to help manage the situation. Additionally, there is a school crossing patrol to the north of the school access that assists students from both Hetton Primary School and Hetton School to cross Moorsley Road. Hetton Primary School Transport Statement December 2020 The 4 slight injuries involved vehicles striking other vehicles on the approach to the