Question
I am writing with regard to a safe walking and cycling route to the new Bohunt School, Wokingham from The Lilacs in Barkham. My son is due to start at the school this September. This was our first choice school, and as we live under 3 miles away, I believe that free transportation will not be provided by WBC. We were hoping that our son would be able to cycle to school, providing a healthy and independent means of travel.
However, at present, this is not a safe option from The Lilacs. The speed limit on the Bearwood Road only drops to 30 mph at the end of the road, near the roundabout. The WBC factsheet on road speeds states that a child hit by a vehicle driving at 40mph is likely to die! How can I send my child safely off to school on his bike or by foot, when he is at serious risk of death?
There is no safe crossing at the bottom of Bearwood Road, which is a very busy road during rush hour/school commuting times; and there is no safe crossing on the Barkham Road/Barkham end of Langley Common Road. Furthermore, the pavement around the Barkham Manor is dangerously narrow, with a high wall to one side. Traffic regularly speeds around this corner, with little regard for pedestrians.
I urge you to press for a reduced speed limit of 30 mph on the Bearwood Road and to provide a safe crossing on the Bearwood Road and Barkham Road/Langley Common Road, as well as considering what needs to be done to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists travelling past the Barkham Manor.
We were encouraged to consider Bohunt as an option, and were assured that whilst the Arborfield development was in progress, the council would ensure that there were safe routes to Bohunt from Barkham, or alternatively, free transportation until this was established.
Minutes:
I am writing with regard to a safe walking and cycling route to the new Bohunt School, in Wokingham, from The Lilacs in Barkham. My son is due to start at the school this September. This was our first choice school, and as we live under 3 miles away, I believe that free transportation will not be provided by WBC. We were hoping that our son would be able to cycle to school, providing a healthy and independent means of travel.
However, at present, this is not a safe option from The Lilacs. The speed limit on the Bearwood Road only drops to 30 mph at the end of the road, near the roundabout. The WBC factsheet on road speeds states that a child hit by a vehicle driving at 40mph is likely to die! How can I send my child safely off to school on his bike or by foot, when he is at serious risk of death?
There is no safe crossing at the bottom of Bearwood Road, which is a very busy road during rush hour/school commuting times; and there is no safe crossing on the Barkham Road/Barkham end of Langley Common Road. Furthermore, the pavement around the Barkham Manor is dangerously narrow, with a high wall to one side. Traffic regularly speeds around this corner, with little regard for pedestrians.
I urge you to press for a reduced speed limit of 30 mph on the Bearwood Road and to provide a safe crossing on the Bearwood Road and Barkham Road/Langley Common Road, as well as considering what needs to be done to improve the safety of pedestrians and cyclists travelling past the Barkham Manor.
We were encouraged to consider Bohunt as an option, and were assured that whilst the Arborfield development was in progress, the council would ensure that there were safe routes to Bohunt from Barkham, or alternatively, free transport until this was established.
Answer
As part of the new school the Council is committed to providing walking routes to the school. As with other walked routes to the new school the route from Barkham has been inspected by officers. The inspection identified various works such as clearing vegetation and improving visibility to assist highway users. There are some areas where vegetation has grown over and narrowed the footways due to lack of use over the years. The Council will be looking to clear this vegetation and growth in some sections to restore the route to its original full width.
Regarding your comment associated with Bearwood Road. The inspection identified this issue and we are looking to make improvements to pedestrian movements at this junction to assist with crossing the road. With regards to the crossing of Langley Common Road, the available walking route utilises the subway adjacent to Rickman Close and I would urge you to ensure your son to be aware of this.
Clearly the Council are working to ensure the identified works are completed prior to the opening of the school. We are confident that upon completion of the works walking routes will be provided to the school. There may be some sections where footways are slightly narrower than current design standards that are applied to new infrastructure, but this is no different to the highway network serving existing schools across the Borough and elsewhere.
Walking routes to school specifically considers pedestrians and therefore do not cater for cycle use off carriageway if there is no dedicated cycleway. The Council does not recommend cycling on the footways as cycling causes anxiety and risks to pedestrians, particularly for elderly and disabled people. Should your child wish to cycle then you should ensure the chosen route is suitable and your child is appropriately trained to ride on the highway network. The Council will be conducting “Bikeability Children Cycle Training” in August. Please refer to the Council’s website for details of cycle training at: http://www.wokingham.gov.uk/parking-roads-and-travel/road-safety/cycle-training/
Regarding your concern over the current speed limit of 40mph. A speed limit review is also being conducted along this route and others. The review will recommend whether a reduction to the current speed limit should be considered. Should a reduction in speed limit be progressed by the Council, this would require both the support of Thames Valley Police who will be responsible for its enforcement, and the formal change to the Traffic Regulation Order, including public notice where objections may be received, prior to the reduced speed limit being introduced along with new signage on the route.
Please be assured that the safety of all road users and particularly the children travelling to the new school is of paramount concern to the Council’s Transport Team who are responsible for road safety across the Borough. I will ask Officers to keep you informed as to progress in these matters.