Agenda item - ROAD SAFETY POLICY UPDATE

[Duncan Knox]

(Approximate starting time – 8.20pm)

To consult with the committee on new and updated road safety policies. This includes the setting of local speed limits and road safety outside schools including crossing patrols.

The Local Committee (Woking) reviewed and commented on the draft policies.

Reasons:

Local Committees are responsible for most highway and transport matters in their

areas, including speed limits and road safety measures outside schools. This report

presents new road safety policies with respect to speed limits and road safety

outside schools. Comments made by the Local Committee will be taken into account

prior to the policies being submitted to the county council Cabinet for approval.

Duncan Knox introduced the report which outlined the updates to the county council policy on setting local speed limits and a new draft policy to address road safety outside schools, including school crossing patrols. He invited members to comment on the policies in advance of them going to Surrey County Council Cabinet in April/May 2014 for final approval and introduced Rebecca Harrison from the sustainability team.

Member comments/responses:

· Overall members were positive about the new policy recommendations.

· Members felt the tables to show predicted change in mean speeds following a change in speed limit on page 81, were very useful.

· They were happy with the approach outlined in the policy that each site should be considered on its own merits.

· Members asked for clarification regarding 2.15. Officers confirmed where schools currently have patrol officers on crossings, no action will be taken. When that person retires or moves on, then a new risk assessment will be carried out.

· Members asked how easy it was to recruit school crossing patrol officers. Officers confirmed that they have been running with 15 vacancies for the 87 positions across the county. Posts are advertised on the SCC website, and also include parent mail drops and advertising on school websites.

· Members asked officers to proactively work alongside local schools to identify areas where parents can safely drop off and reduce congestion outside schools. It was noted that at Winston Churchill School there are two bus stops in close proximity, leading to congestion. Mr Hussain suggested that a cycle lane on Amstel Way which is hardly used and Sussex Road, might be used to ease congestion at peak school times. Officers confirmed that reducing congestion should be covered as part of school travel plans.

· Further clarification was requested, regarding the process as to how long it would take to put in place a 20mph zone.

· In Mole Valley some advisory 20mph zones have been introduced outside urban and rural schools, officers are awaiting the results of the follow up speed surveys in order to assess how these pilot projects have been working.

· There is no central SCC money available to fund the introduction of new speed limits outside schools, money would need to come from the local committee ITS highways budget.

· Members requested that once the policy has cabinet approval, they could nominate particular sites to act as pilots for Woking. Each site will be different so it is hard to predict a cost for a new speed limit using signs alone, but it could be anything between £5,000 to £20,000 depending on the length of road and the amount of signing required. A traffic calming scheme could be a lot more, but it will depend upon the size.

· It was agreed that Mr Knox and Miss Harrison will be invited to a future private meeting to review potential sites in advance of the next financial year. These would then need to be incorporated into the highways forward programme for 2014-15.

RESOLVED

The Local Committee (Woking) agreed to:

(i) Review and provide comments on the draft policies.