A report providing the Sub-Committee with an update on the receipt of a petition requesting the Council place speed calming measures on Hemdean Road, outside Hemdean House School.

Further to Minute 28(a) of the previous meeting, the Sub-Committee received a report providing an update on the receipt of a petition that had requested the Council to place speed calming measures on Hemdean Road, outside Hemdean House School.  A copy of the written petition that had been submitted to the Council was attached to the report at Appendix 1.

The report explained that following the presentation at the previous meeting representatives from Hemdean House School had submitted a written petition that had been received by officers on 20 November 2023.  The primary request was as follows:

“We the undersigned, petition the Council to place speed humps in front of our school which will slow the traffic down and reduce risks to pedestrians, cyclists, drivers and all other road users.”

Later in the petition it was also implied that a speed reduction (i.e. 20mph) was also being requested alongside the speed calming features.  The petitioners referred to an online petition that they had set up which has 120 signatures.  It should be noted that the petition had originally been set up to request “digital road signs”, but was later updated to request speed cushions.

The report stated that the regular Requests for Traffic Management Measures Report contained an entry for a desired area 20mph zone in Lower Caversham.  This had been developed at a time when significant developer contributions were expected, but unfortunately these did not materialise.  However, this was still a desirable scheme for development and delivery.  While the scale of the concept area was such that it would require significant funding, relatively smaller funding nominations could contribute to a phased delivery on an area priority basis.

The report stated that there was currently no allocated funding for the development and delivery of the changes requested in the petition.  Officers acknowledged the concerns that had been raised and the requested changes appeared appropriate for the location.  The report recommended that a new entry be proposed on the next update of the Requests for Traffic Management Measures Report that would be submitted to the March 2024 meeting.  Taking into consideration the petition references to speed cushions, humps and the reference to 30mph being too fast, it was suggested that the entry proposed a section 20mph with appropriate physical speed calming measures, which would be investigated and consulted on when funding was allocated.  The report also recommended that the Lower Caversham 20mph entry be amended to include a summary reference to this proposed new report entry, as they potentially covered the same area.  Given the specific nature of the petition, it was considered by officers that a new request, rather than a brief amendment to the wider area Lower Caversham request, was more appropriate.  Finally, the report stated that it should be expected that scheme development would only commence once funding had been identified, where it would be programmed around other scheme development priorities.

Resolved –

(1)        That the report be noted;

(2)        That the proposal to add a new entry on the ‘Requests for Traffic Management Measures’ report to reflect the receipt of this petition and the requested measures be agreed;

(3)        That the lead petitioner be informed of the decisions of the Sub-Committee, following publication of the agreed minutes of the meeting;

(4)        That no public inquiry be held into the proposals.