Issue - meetings

Hayes and Coney Hall ward

Report ES19077

At its meeting on 13^th November 2019, the Committee had scrutinised a proposal to introduce a low-cost version of a Liveable Neighbourhood Scheme around Hayes Primary and Hayes Secondary schools. The Committee had recommended that the scheme be deferred and that an amended scheme be developed for this meeting.

Councillor Graham Arthur and Councillor Neil Reddin addressed the Committee as ward councillors, making the following points:

• Thanks should be extended to the Residents Associations, schools and local residents who had engaged in the process and made their feelings clear.

• There were three key points to consider:

(i) in recent years the number of children attending Hayes schools had more than doubled to over 2000.

(ii) housing developments had significantly increased the number of families in the area and proposed developments would also increase the number of elderly and frail residents in the area.

(iii) the volume of through traffic had considerably increased and cars travelled far too fast in the area.  It was hoped that the new signage would make speeds clear and encourage drivers to slow down.  It was regrettable that the lower limits were advisable not mandatory but this was due to the Police being unwilling to enforce the lower limit.

• In scaling back the 20mph zone, officers had tried to address the concerns previously raised by the Committee.  However, there would need to be a continuous review of the problem of speeding traffic to identify at an early stage whether more action would be needed in the future.
• There was clear local support for the proposed measures, although it had to be recognised that many residents wished to see the measures go further.
• Measures would be put in place to address concerns relating to safety around schools, but it had to be clear that there would need to be an ongoing review of the other problems beyond those of school safety in the area.
• Ward Members were so far supportive of the School Street Initiative and were keen to see how the design of the scheme evolved.

In response to a question from the Chairman, the Assistant Director for Traffic and Parking explained the concept of a School Street to Members, highlighting that the intention was that there was limited moving traffic in the street during the times children were going to and from school.  Another aim of the initiative was to encourage more school children to use alternative modes of travel to school. It was acknowledged that the concept would not work everywhere and consequently officers would await the outcome of the consultation and develop the concept from there.  The School Street would be enforced using traffic orders with Automatic Number Plate Recognition (ANPR) being used to enable residents living in the street access to their properties. The times of operation of the School Street could be varied in order to minimise inconvenience to residents living on the street. The pilot would be closely monitored and if positive results were seen, other areas  ...  view the full minutes text for item 47