BOROUGH OF POOLE
TRANSPORTATION ADVISORY GROUP – THURSDAY 30 JULY 2009
REPORT OF HEAD OF TRANSPORTATION SERVICES
PETITION TO RETAIN AN EXISTING SCHOOL CROSSING PATROL AT STANLEY GREEN ROAD
PART OF THE PUBLISHED FORWARD PLAN YES/NO
1. PURPOSE AND POLICY CONTEXT
1.1 To consider a petition submitted to Council in relation to the proposed cessation of the current school crossing patrol at Stanley Green Road.
2. DECISION(S) REQUIRED
2.1 It is recommended that the Portfolio Holder approve:
a) The Council using their best endeavours to fill the existing school crossing patrol until a 20mph school zone scheme is implemented.
b) The situation is reviewed following implementation of the scheme, with the decision on the future continuation being delegated to officers in consultation with Ward Members, the School and the Portfolio Holder.
3. BACKGROUND
3.1 A 121 signature petition was handed in at Council:
“We the undersigned request the Borough of Poole to withdraw its decision to cease having a Lollipop Controlled Children’s crossing in Stanley Green Road and to reinstate it immediately. This is in the interests of safety for the children and local residents. This busy “short cut” is not safe without this vital measure.”
3.2 Transportation Services currently operate School Crossing Patrols at 25 First, Middle and combined School sites around the Borough for a budget of £166,000 per annum. This equates to approximately £6,640 per site.
3.3 Sites are established based on a number of factors such as the number of unaccompanied children, the volume and speed of traffic, and an assessment of any potential hazards relating to the layout of the road where the main crossing occurs.
3.4 School Crossing Patrol sites are listed on a prioritised basis, shown as Appendix A.
3.5 Provision of sites is limited not only by budgetary restrictions but also the availability of suitable staff. Recruitment of School Crossing Patrols has traditionally been difficult, given the relatively few paid hours worked in the morning and afternoon compared with the resulting disruption of the whole day.
3.6 There are a number of relief patrols employed to cover any short term vacancies which may occur but this cover cannot be guaranteed. In the absence of this Civil Enforcement officers can be made available, but with all of their other commitments their availability is also limited.
3.7 The School Crossing Patrol in Stanley Green Road announced her retirement in Easter of this year. The opportunity was taken to review the current provision, and in consideration of the following it was originally proposed that the patrol not be replaced here.
a) The Risk Assessment confirms this to be the lowest priority in the Borough.
b) The School Crossing Patrol confirms she crosses only about 30 accompanied 1st school children.
c) Traffic is mostly local school traffic.
d) The crossing point is well defined on site and clearly visible to drivers (photos shown as Appendix B).
Furthermore, there are sites at other schools in the borough where there are a lot more children, many of them unaccompanied, at a less conspicuous site. In this respect the budget would be best spent there.
3.8 Ward Members were not at all happy with the proposals to remove the School Crossing Patrol at Stanley Green Road. Following subsequent discussions it was agreed that every effort would be made to fill this position with temporary staff (relief, Civil Enforcement Officer or other) until a new school 20mph zone proposed for Stanley Green School was implemented. At this time the operation of the School Crossing Patrol in respect of the new arrangement would be assessed and a decision made on its future provision.
3.9 It was anticipated that this zone would be implemented over the summer holidays. However, proposals put before the 6 May 2009 Canford Heath, Creekmoor and Oakdale Area Committee were rejected and an alternative scheme still needs to be considered.
3.10 While there has unfortunately been difficulty filling this post since Easter. there has been virtually no complaint, other than the petition, regarding lack of cover. When a relief patrol has been used they have described this as a very easy road to cross.
3.11 Stanley Green School also has another school crossing patrol on Vicarage Road, which from Appendix A it can be seen to have a very much higher ranking. Indeed the feedback from the Area Committee when considering the 20 mph school zone was that this should be extended to cover Vicarage Road.
4. FINANCIAL IMPLICATIONS
4.1 The School Crossing Patrol at Stanley Green Road costs approximately £6,640 per annum.
5. LEGAL IMPLICATIONS
5.1 The provision of School Crossing Patrols is not an absolute duty but is part of the Council’s overall strategy of promoting road safety.
6. RISK MANAGEMENT
6.1 Risk Assessments for undertaken for each site. These are reviewed annually or completely re-assessed when conditions change. This is to ensure the continuing safety for both the School Crossing Patrol member of staff and also the children/parents crossing.
7. EQUALITIES IMPLICATION
7.1 None.
8. CONCLUSION
8.1 That the way forward set out in item 2.1 is approved.
Julian McLaughlin
Head of Transportation Services
Appendix A - School Crossing Patrols – Risk Assessment Rankings
Appendix B - Photos of site at Stanley Green Road.
Appendix C - Location Plan
Name and Telephone Number of Officer Contact:
Steve Tite (01202 262020)
TAG300709T3C
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