NPT Part 2."General Questions for the Neighbourhood Police Team"

[charlie finbow]

My dear Nick.   Having spoken to several parents about vehicles and the Childrens Center it would seem to fall into two trains of thought.   1.   Parents who walk their children to school and, 2.  those who have to drive to bring their children to school.   Group 1 dosent want vehicles whilst Group 2 need vehicles, its still a tough one.   Take care kind regards  Charlie.

[Town NPT]

Charlie,

The one thing all parents agree on is that the vehicles parking along the road are a hazard to the children, unfortunately for those with cars the Infant School/ Centre are considering some kind of removable barrier to stop vehicles entering the access road during School drop-off & pick-up times (I am also consious of the argument that this will just push the problem onto the main road, but this is a more managable situation),

All the best
Nick (& Team)

[MissyD]

Charlie,

The one thing all parents agree on is that the vehicles parking along the road are a hazard to the children, unfortunately for those with cars the Infant School/ Centre are considering some kind of removable barrier to stop vehicles entering the access road during School drop-off & pick-up times (I am also consious of the argument that this will just push the problem onto the main road, but this is a more managable situation),

All the best
Nick (& Team)

As a Mum who has children in both the Infant and junior schools, i wholeheartedly welcome this decision!!! I have to drive to school due to distance and previously work, however i always make sure I'm early enough to get a space on the road (whatever the weather and with a very young baby) as i respect the wishes of the school not to drive down the driveway. Unfortunately there is an element of extremely selfish parents who choose to ignore the schools wishes and more to the point, the safety of everyone elses children. There have already been more than enough near misses and i think we all felt that it would only take a child getting seriously injured or killed before anything was done, so hoorah!! I would gladly make a donation to help towards the cost of putting up a barrier, as I'm sure many other parents would, knowing the feelings surrounding this issue.

This has been an ongoing problem,even before the children's centre was built, so i feel it is something they should have addressed long before it was open. The problem isn't just with the cars parked on the yellow lines, it is also the constant stream of traffic leaving the car park as the children make their way to school, and unfortunately some of the drivers do not drive sensibly to allow for this. By the way Nick, it was good to see you out ticking a few of them off, unfortunately though, they are very wise to the fact that you cannot be there all the time, so i guarantee when i pick kiddies up later, normal chaos will resume!!

[charlie finbow]

I also welcome this news, the safety of the children is paramount.   You are right about it pushing the problem elsewhere but what is the alternative.   Nick perhaps you can answer this, the Youth Centre is a public car park as you have stated so would there be a problem with closing what obviously is a public highway.   Just a thought but I hope it would not be a problem.

[Town NPT]

I met with the some of the Managers for the respective buildings around the drive this afternoon, we spoke of the Pro's & Cons for a number of things, it is clear from this meeting there is no "ideal" solution, but I have come away with a number of things in mind.

Firstly, having asked the question previously about the possibility of stopping folks driving down the drive, there is no Public Right of Way, so we decided that putting traffic cones across the road during the 30 minutes when the school drop-off & pick-ups occur, these will be monitored by a volunteer or two from the various buildings, (these may be parents/ staff or someone from my office, there role will be to ensure that the cones are placed on the road & that only staff can access the driveway.

Secondly, I will talk to Pat WHYTE from Highways & seek to have some signs indicating the presence of Schools & speak of the possibility of turning the grass area opposite the drive into a drop-off point.

Like I said initially, no solution will be perfect, but I feel that the traffic would be better controlled over the length of Eden Vale road, rather than the short space the driveway has to offer. I will of course offer support to the person controlling the cones in the first instance, just so folks get used to the new way of doing things. Any volunteers or thoughts on this plan would be gratefully received..

All the best
Nick (& Team)

[charlie finbow]

Thanks for that Nick.   I would support your actions totally, but I still have a question.  If its not a public right of way then why does it seem its open to road traffic restrictions, ie, double yellow lines and a roundabout.   Im sure that the footpath is a public right of way but am unclear about the road system, why have it at all if its not a highway.   Surely private access roads do not come under highway restrictions.  Take care  Charlie

[Town NPT]

The double yellow lines etc.. are unenforcable as there is no traffic order in place on the road (& the road is unadopted); the yellow lines were painted by the contractors as a favour to the School & as such I cannot issue tickets in support of this, but they remain in place as a guide. I am, however, able to give an endorsable ticket (£60 + points on the license) to the drivers of vehicles who leave their cars on the lines during drop-offs/ pick-up times for leaving their vehicles in a dangerous position (& I have done this) as the legislation for this is different (& is not restricted to adopted roads).

All the best
Nick

[gus]

so down eden vale road we have a school... a nursery.... speeding traffic including lorries and now you are suggesting a drop off point where there is a pedestian crossing and a alley from the local estate which most children use to go to both the jnr and secondry school.     Wonderful idea....

That will help greatly

[Town NPT]

I'm open to any alternative suggestions, I don't pretend that this is an ideal solution, but as long as the traffic stick to the designated parking on the road (which we are in a better position to enforce..), this should be a better solution than what we have at present, but I am open to any alternate solutions..

[gus]

i completly understand, it is a problem, but i can imagine that a drop off area will be filled with cars from the estate or the rank of houses where the double yellows are. result......just another problem

[charlie finbow]

My dear Nick. Thanks for clearing that one up.   Obviously its a private access road and as such can be blocked off at anytime.   Just a thought but under the Governments "Walk to School" programme, grants may be available for a card operated barrier so staff can access the road but no one else can.   On the parking front there is 2 possibilities, the grass area you speak of opposite and the large grass area at the Eden Vale/Queens Rd area by the phone box.   I'm sure that may just ease the problem but not solve it completely. Kind regards  Charlie.

[lisagill]

Reading all these comments about the road another thought came to my head about the other side of the juniors, i walk to school everyday and i was horrified to see some of the cars speeding around the corner near one stop during the end of school, is there a sign saying about a school around the queens road area because i don't recall seeing one. Several of the older kids don't seem to have any respect for the cars that are driving along the road and just run out in front of cars, but whilst walking home with a friend the other afternoon there was i car that was going around the corner fast enough with a moped close to the back of the car whilst the bus was coming in the opposite direction, the car had to stop pretty sharpish and the moped then just about stopped himself from entering the car from the back window but the two of them just laughed about it whilst all the parents cringed.
Is there a sign around there saying there is a school in the area?

[Town NPT]

I believe you are right, I will mention it to the Highways people next week

[charlie finbow]

My dear Nick.   Please find link to a thread on Westburytownforums.co.uk : http://www.westburytownforums.co.uk/index.php/topic,427.195.html
can you please explain the situation, many thanks  charlie