Agenda item

To receive any petitions in accordance with Standing Order 68.  Notice must be given in writing or by email to the Partnership Committee Officer at least 14 days before the meeting.  Alternatively, the petition can be submitted on-line through Surrey County Council’s e-petitions website as long as the minimum number of signatures (30) has been reached 14 days before the meeting.

A petition has been received from Ali Pritchard which contains 57 signatures and reads:

“Farnham Heath End School Parking on Bullers Road

As residents of Bullers Road, we would like to formally register our complaint and petition concerning the use of our residential street by parent drivers of Heath End School students. This concern is widely shared with Bullers Road residents, as indicated in the enclosed signed petition.

Bullers Road is a quiet residential no-through road, which provides delivery-only access to Farnham Heath End School (the main entrance point to the school is accessed via Hale Reeds). The street consists of predominantly period properties with limited off-street parking for residents and over the years has witnessed increasing levels of traffic from school parents using the street for drop off and collection rather than the designated car park at Hale Reeds. This activity has caused significant disruption, conflict and importantly safety concerns for local residents.

These daily, albeit currently paused occurrences, due to the current Covid-19 climate, continue to be highly stressful and dangerous elements that form the daily routine on Bullers Road. We urge you to take action to provide some relief after years of resident tolerance.”

Response report attached

Petition: FARNHAM HEATH END SCHOOL PARKING ON BULLERS ROAD

The Local Committee (Waverley) resolved to AGREE that:

(i)         When central government give local authorities outside of London the power to enforce School Street road closures, then Bullers Road should become the first pilot of this type of scheme in Surrey.

(ii)        Proposals for a School Street on Bullers Road would be subject to consultation with the local residents and school.  The results of the consultation will be presented to the Local Committee when seeking approval to proceed with advertising the legal order to create the School Street.  This will assist the Committee in deciding whether to proceed with the scheme or not.

Declarations of Interest: None.

Officer in attendance: Duncan Knox, SCC Road Safety and Active Travel Team Manager.

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: One.

A petition was received from Ali Pritchard which contained 57 signatures and read:

“Farnham Heath End School Parking on Bullers Road

As residents of Bullers Road, we would like to formally register our complaint and petition concerning the use of our residential street by parent drivers of Heath End School students. This concern is widely shared with Bullers Road residents, as indicated in the enclosed signed petition.

Bullers Road is a quiet residential no-through road, which provides delivery-only access to Farnham Heath End School (the main entrance point to the school is accessed via Hale Reeds). The street consists of predominantly period properties with limited off-street parking for residents and over the years has witnessed increasing levels of traffic from school parents using the street for drop off and collection rather than the designated car park at Hale Reeds. This activity has caused significant disruption, conflict and importantly safety concerns for local residents.

These daily, albeit currently paused occurrences, due to the current Covid-19 climate, continue to be highly stressful and dangerous elements that form the daily routine on Bullers Road. We urge you to take action to provide some relief after years of resident tolerance.”

As part of her introduction to the petition, the lead petitioner made the following points:

• Initially the petition was created due to environmental concerns of drivers idling up and down the street emitting dangerous gases including carbon monoxide and nitrogen oxide.
• However, road safety issues have increased over the last few years including cars speeding around the corner of Bullers Road, parking on double yellow lines and in the turning circle, and over driveways.
• Residents welcomed the proposed recommendations, and asked that the keep clear signs and yellow lines were repainted as well as a “Keep Schools Clean” banner introduced.
• She requested that the time for the camera to be in operation should be 8.15am to 9.15am and 2.15pm to 3.15pm.

The Road Safety and Active Travel Manager responded stating that the concept of a School Street Zone was one that he was interested in exploring, once the Secretary of State for Transport have provided all local authorities with the enforcement powers to carry this out. Following this, all the proposals within the recommendations needed to be part of a consultation of all local residents so that there was clarity about what the changes would mean, including having no visitors parking or deliveries during this time. There would also need to be a review of the knock on effect of these restrictions, and these would come to the committee in the future for consideration.

The Local Committee (Waverley) AGREED that:

(i)      When central government gives local authorities outside of London the power to enforce School Street road closures, then Bullers Road should become the first pilot of this type of scheme in Surrey.

(ii)      Proposals for a School Street on Bullers Road would be subject to consultation with the local residents and school.  The results of the consultation would be presented to the Local Committee when seeking approval to proceed with advertising the legal order to create the School Street.  This would assist the Committee in deciding whether to proceed with the scheme or not.

Reason:  School Streets are roads near schools that are closed at drop off and pick up times and have been implemented at several locations across London.  Once central government give Local Authorities outside of London the power to enforce such road closures, this type of measure could help to solve the problems associated with congestion, road safety, anti-social parking and poor air quality in the vicinity of schools.  It is proposed that Bullers Road becomes the first pilot school street in Surrey as it could provide a solution to the concerns raised by the petitioners.