The Executive Director for Economic Growth and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing an update on improvements to school crossing facilities in the Borough, following the decision of Policy Committee in February 2018 to progress savings to the school crossing patroller budget and a proposal for a controlled crossing for Caversham Primary School, which would complement the savings proposal.  The design proposal for a new zebra crossing to serve Caversham Primary School was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that, following the decision at Policy Committee on 19 February 2018 (Minute 75 refers) to progress savings to the school crossing patroller budget, the potential to make improvements to school crossing facilities at schools which currently had a crossing patroller had been investigated.  A zebra crossing had been installed on Wensley Road, outside St Mary’s and All Saints Primary School, as part of the West Reading Transport Study, which had provided a significant improvement on the previous raised table at the location. 

Caversham Primary School was currently served by a school crossing patroller located on Kidmore Road, to the south side of the junction with Oakley Road and, due to this being a clear desire-line and on the school side of Oakley Road, officers had investigated a possible location for a permanent controlled crossing (zebra crossing).  Officers were seeking approval to serve a notice of intention for the placement of the crossing facility.  Officers would first arrange for a utility plant search and safety audit to be conducted and also sought approval to make minor amendments to the design accordingly.  This was a challenging location for a crossing, due to the location of driveway accesses and a relatively narrow footway.  However, this was the existing crossing desire-line and locating the crossing to the north side of the junction would necessitate further crossing facilities on Oakley Road for which a suitable location could not be identified.  Complementary alterations to the give-way on Oakley Road were intended to further aid visibility at the junction.

Alfred Sutton Primary School was served by signalled crossings on Wokingham Road but officers were aware of the wish for a ‘controlled’ crossing on Crescent Road.  This type of crossing required a long stretch of clear road, away from junctions and accesses.  Unfortunately, there was not a suitable location for a controlled crossing on Crescent Road due to the proliferation of driveway accesses along the road and up to the junction.  Officers would investigate potential improvements that could provide some informal/uncontrolled crossing improvements.

The report explained that there was an existing zebra crossing facility for pupils attending Redlands Primary School on Addington Road which was currently used by the school crossing patroller.  This facility was considered to be sufficient and therefore no alterations were being recommended.

Opportunities to provide enhanced crossing facilities at other schools within the Borough would continue to be investigated, subject to available budgets, as part of the Council’s ongoing work with schools to promote safe and sustainable travel. 

It was suggested at the meeting that this could include investigating formalising the implied crossing at the bottom of Oakley Road by the Hemdean Road roundabout, to also assist Highdown School pupils in crossing Oakley Road, and officers agreed to include this possibility in their further investigations.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to carry out the Statutory Notice procedures for the intention to install a new zebra crossing on Kidmore Road, to the south side of the junction with Oakley Road, as set out in Appendix A and paragraph 4.4, in accordance with Section 23 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984;

(3)     That, subject to the results of utility investigations, safety audit and serving of the Section 23 notice, the crossing be implemented to contribute toward the agreed savings proposal.