Agenda item - Safer Routes to School Scheme Portland Road

Report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

That the Committee approves the preferred scheme outlined at 3.3 and shown in Appendices 1-5 and authorises officers to begin implementation including the advertising of any necessary Traffic Regulation Orders.

77.1      The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing that sought permission to proceed with the proposed Safer Routes to School Scheme measures for Goldstone Primary, West Hove Infant and West Hove Junior Schools.

77.2      Councillor Pissaridou addressed the Committee on the proposals. Councillor Pissaridou stated that the new development on the junction of School Road and Portland Road, including a doctor’s surgery and pharmacy would have significant implications in the area. Councillor Pissaridou stated the consultation conducted by the council was flawed as it did not take into account the future change to the site. Councillor Pissaridou added that the Wish Road Surgery Patients Group had conducted a survey of its users that had shown majority support for light crossing controlled crossing as opposed to a zebra crossing at the junction. Councillor Pissaridou requested that the Committee defer any decision on that specific recommendation in order to carry out a further investigation into the implications of the surgery.

77.3      The Road Safety Officer stated that the submission of the Patients Group had been considered in the report and officers had visited the location. The Road Safety Manager added that there was an existing zebra crossing at the location and the proposal was to extend that zebra crossing. Subsequent to the consultation being carried out, the Patients Group had come forward outlining their concerns and proposal. The Road Safety Manager stated that it was his view that there were no safety grounds that demonstrated that a light controlled crossing was in principle safer than a zebra crossing. The zebra location currently at the location meant that children could impose control over traffic movement. A light controlled crossing meant that users would have to wait to cross and it was his view that not all children and adults did so, increasing the safety risk. The Road Safety Manager stated that a widened zebra crossing would cater from the additional demand the new development would create.

77.4      Councillor Davey stated that the Road Safety Team were qualified professionals and it was important that Members carefully considered their recommendations, specifically that a zebra crossing was more appropriate for this location than a light controlled crossing. Councillor Davey noted that light controlled crossings had previously been replaced by zebra crossings during improvements at the Seven Dials roundabout and asked if that had led to a decrease in collisions compared to previous years.

77.5      The Road Safety Manager clarified that before the improvements, there were on average eleven injury accidents at the Seven Dials roundabout compared to one casualty in the last year although that had not been due to a collision.

77.6      Councillor Mitchell stated that the report was of a high standard and she supported the proposals with the exception of the recommendation for the crossing at the junction of School Road. Councillor Mitchell stated that it was her view that this issue needed to be looked at again in conjunction with the surgeries own travel plan for the best option.

77.7      Councillor Janio stated that it was important for Members to respect the judgement of road safety experts and he would be supporting the report recommendations.

77.8      Councillor Davey stated that he was a resident of the area and as a regular user of Portland Road, supported a zebra crossing as it provided authority to pedestrians.

77.9      Councillor Mitchell moved a motion to amend the recommendation on behalf of the Labour  & Co-operative Group as shown in bold italics below:

2.1    That the Committee approves the preferred scheme outlined at 3.3 and shown in Appendices 1-5 and authorises officers to begin implementation including the advertising of any necessary Traffic Regulation Orders with the exception of proposals for School Road which are reconsidered in consultation with the Patients Group and Surgery.

77.10   The motion was formally seconded by Councillor Robins.

77.11   The Chair put the motion to the vote which failed.

77.12   The Chair then put the report recommendations to the vote that passed.

77.13   RESOLVED- That the Committee approves the preferred scheme outlined at 3.3 and shown in Appendices 1-5 and authorises officers to begin implementation including the advertising of any necessary Traffic Regulation Orders.