Agenda item

‘Residents who live of William Heelas Way in Wokingham have raised significant concerns with me about the speed of traffic and the lack of protection for parents and young children accessing Floreat Montague Park Primary School. The link road between London Road and the future Southern Relief Road has a 30mph speed limit and traffic levels which will only get busier when the Southern Relief Road opens. At the last council meeting residents handed in a petition signed by over 500 people calling for a 20 mph speed limit outside the school, the provision of barriers around the pavements and full reinstatement of a pedestrian crossing on William Heelas Way. Wokingham Borough Council believes it is of vital importance that young children can travel to this school on foot or by bicycle in complete safety. To ensure children can walk and cycle safely to school Wokingham Borough Council agrees to meet the requests of the petition without further delay.‘

Statement from the Chief Finance Officer

(1)  An advisory speed limit of 20mph along with signs and flashing warning lights has already been installed fronting the school.  This is the same as all other schools within the Borough.  There are therefore no further financial implications associated with agreeing to this element of the motion;

(2)  Barriers around the pavements are understood to be counter to national government policy and would restrict the width of the footpath/cycleway, however depending on an alternative solution this could cost in the region of £100k;    

(3)  It is understood the pedestrian crossing in question already complies fully with the planning consent granted.  An upgrade from an uncontrolled crossing to a controlled crossing, would cost between £50-£100k.

Council considered the following Motion, proposed by Charles Margetts, and seconded by Keith Baker.

‘Residents who live of William Heelas Way in Wokingham have raised significant concerns with me about the speed of traffic outside Floreat Montague Park Primary School. The link road between London Road and the future Southern Relief Road has a 30mph speed limit and traffic levels which will only get busier when the Southern Relief Road opens. Wokingham Borough Council believes it is of vital importance that young children can travel to school on foot or by bicycle in complete safety. To ensure children can walk and cycle safely to school Wokingham Borough Council will change the speed limit outside all primary schools to 20 mph.’

Charles Margetts commented that in September 2022 he had been contacted by a number of residents of William Heelas Way over concerns regarding access to Floreat Montague School.   A petition of over 500 people had been submitted to Council.  Key requests had been barriers to protect pedestrians, a permanent 20mph speed limit outside of the School, and the restoration of the painted level crossing on William Heelas Way.  Only advisory 20mph signs were in place.  Charles Margetts went on to inform Members of some of the near misses which had occurred outside the school.  He felt that future injury was inevitable.

An amendment had been suggested that proposed that the works go into the Highways Safety Improvement Pool.  Charles Margetts felt that this was insufficient and that the works would not be undertaken should this occur.  He highlighted that less than 10% of schemes in this pool had been completed in the last 5 years.

It was proposed by Paul Fishwick and seconded by Alistair Neal that the Motion be amended as follows:

‘Residents who live off William Heelas Way in Wokingham have raised significant concerns with me about the speed of traffic and the lack of protection for parents and young children accessing Floreat Montague Park Primary School. The link road between London Road and the future Southern Relief Road has a 30mph speed limit and traffic levels which will only get busier when the Southern Relief Road opens. At the last Council meeting residents handed in a petition signed by over 500 people calling for a 20mph speed limit outside the school, the provision of barriers around the pavements and full reinstatement of a pedestrian crossing on William Heelas Way. Wokingham Borough Council believes it is of vital importance that young children can travel to this school on foot or by bicycle in complete safety. To ensure children can walk and cycle safely to school Wokingham Borough Council agrees to meet put the requests of the petition into the highway safety improvements pool without further delay.’

This amendment was not accepted by Charles Margetts.

Paul Fishwick commented that it was disappointing that the amendment had not been accepted as it would ensure that the requested improvements would be put into the Highways Safety Improvements Pool.  This was the process that requests of this nature had followed.  He referred to a previous petition requesting a safe crossing for children attending the Holt School, and other requests.  The requests requested in the Motion had not been properly assessed and compared with similar schemes in order to assess their priority.  The 20mph speed limit had already been delivered.  Adding the other requests to the pool would also enable additional avenues for funding and bids to be sought.

Alistair Neal added that councillors should promote road safety schemes but should not manipulate the process for the benefit of their own wards.  The scheme should go into the pool to be assessed, ranked, and prioritised by Officers.  If the requests had the appropriate merits, they would be prioritised.

Gregor Murray highlighted examples of dangerous driving at school times.  He felt that the layout of the road allowed dangerous driving and safety measures needed to urgently be put in place.  He emphasised the road safety campaign work undertaken by his wife.

Maria Gee commented that the Council had to assess all projects in line with other projects to assess priority.  However, she strongly supported the measures and questioned why nothing had been undertaken previously. 

Gary Cowan stated that he supported the amendment as there were a number of different schools requiring road safety improvements and there needed to be a system to assess priority.  He wanted assurance that the requests would have priority.

Keith Baker stated that there was a lack of transparency in the Highways Project Plan.  He was of the view that agreeing the amendment would be a dereliction of duty.

Charles Margetts questioned how many other schools had had petitions of over 500 people requesting road safety improvements.  He clarified that Floreat Montague School was not in his ward and he had become involved because people had approached him after feeling that they were not getting anywhere via other routes.  Charles Margetts questioned the financial information included in the Chief Finance Officer’s Statement.

In accordance with Section 4.2.15.5 a recorded vote was requested on the amendment.

Upon being put to the vote this was declared to be carried.  The amendment became the substantive Motion.

In accordance with Section 4.2.15.5 a recorded vote was requested on the substantive Motion.

RESOLVED:  That residents who live off William Heelas Way in Wokingham have raised significant concerns with me about the speed of traffic and the lack of protection for parents and young children accessing Floreat Montague Park Primary School. The link road between London Road and the future Southern Relief Road has a 30mph speed limit and traffic levels which will only get busier when the Southern Relief Road opens. At the last Council meeting residents handed in a petition signed by over 500 people calling for a 20 mph speed limit outside the school, the provision of barriers around the pavements and full reinstatement of a pedestrian crossing on William Heelas Way. Wokingham Borough Council believes it is of vital importance that young children can travel to this school on foot or by bicycle in complete safety. To ensure children can walk and cycle safely to school Wokingham Borough Council agrees to put the requests of the petition into the highway safety improvements pool without further delay.