Issue - meetings

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the walking route from Quetta Park to Calthorpe Park School and to consider a confidential representation from parents as to its safety.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing the contextual information behind the County Council’s rolling review of School Transport arrangements in light of infrastructure improvements which have been made in recent years.

The Committee noted that the appellants child had been refused School Transport and the appellant was appealing on Safety grounds rather than distance which had been measured as 2.92 miles.

A Stage 1 appeal has been held and the case was reviewed by a Road Safety Officer against the Road Safety GB criteria. The appeal was denied which led to the appellants request for a Stage 2 appeal. It was noted that there were five children in the area who had been awarded transport in error who had all been issued a terms notice for withdrawal of transport in line with the policy, pending the Sub-Committee’s decision.

Officers explained that the appellant had two main areas of concern on the route; a footpath which could be impacted by a new development and a stretch of unlit road. However the position of Hampshire County Council was that, under the criteria, the route was available. This was due to the guidance noting that lack of street lighting on its own was not enough to make a route unsafe and a duty on the developer’s part to keep the footpath open.

In response to questions members heard that;

·         The route assessment needs to be completed in term time.

·         The speed limits were considered but it was found that there was a fully established footway for the duration of the faster roads.

·         There was some confusion in relation to speed indicator signs but this had been reported to the relevant team to address.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the walking route from Ancells Farm to Fleet Infants and Velmead Junior Schools and to consider a confidential representation from parents as to its safety.

The Committee received a report from the Director of Children’s Services providing the contextual information behind the County Council’s rolling review of School Transport arrangements in light of infrastructure improvements which have been made in recent years.

The Committee noted that the appellants child had been refused School Transport for September 2019 and the appellant was appealing on Safety grounds rather than distance. This refusal is as a result of policy changes which came into effect in September 2018, with further changes taking place in September 2019; namely that children will qualify for School Transport from their 5th birthday instead of when they start school.

The Committee heard that the Council’s view was that the route, and similar alternatives, were available accompanied or unaccompanied by a parent.

The Committee noted that individuals in the Fleet area had formed a group in protest of this decision but that a Road Safety Officer had inspected the estate and route via Cove road and found it to be safe. The appellant appealed this decision but was unsuccessful at Stage 1, leading to this Stage 2 appeal.

With the School Transport withdrawn, parents do have the option to purchase a ‘Privilege Seat’ on the bus route at a cost of £600 a year.

In response to questions members heard that;

·         The ‘Privilege Seats’ are confirmed to be available for 2019/20 but there is uncertainty in relation to their continued availability.

·         On King’s road there are potentially misleading signage in relation to cycle paths, indicated a cycle path and cyclists being allowed on the pavement concurrently.

To consider the report of the Director of Children’s Services concerning the walking route from Pamber Heath to The Hurst Community College and to consider a confidential representation from parents as to its safety.

The Committee received a report from the director of Children’s Services providing the contextual information behind the County Council’s rolling review of School Transport arrangements in light of infrastructure improvements which have been made in recent years.

The Committee heard that a number of households in the Pamber Heath area had been awarded School Transport in error as they were actually within the three mile walking limit. These households were written to in order to explain the error and inform them that School Transport would be withdrawn, resulting in a number of Stage One appeals on the grounds of distance and the safety of the walking route to school. The Council’s Road Safety Officer carried out a formal assessment of the route using the ‘Road Safety GB Assessment of Walked Routes to School’ criteria and found the route to be safe and available to walk.

The committee noted that this was a rehearing of a previously submitted Stage Two appeal and that the original measurement had been taken from the end of Pelican Road. This meant that the distance covered by the unadopted road from the end of the appellant’s driveway was not included. Furthermore, at the other end of the route, the authority had originally measured to the gate of the Leisure Centre run by the School which is also situated on the School site due to this being considered a recognised entrance.

Following the Stage Two appeal the Local Government Ombudsman directed Hampshire County Council to rehear this appeal to include the distance of the unadopted road and to a further school gate. The distance for this new measurement is 2.86 miles.

It was noted by the Road Safety Officer that the main issue under contention in relation to the safety of the route is the crossing on the A340, as indicated when the route was walked by members of the sub-committee. However, it is the view of the Road Safety Officer that the route is safe and available.

With the School Transport withdrawn, parents do have the option to purchase a Privilege Seat’ on the bus route at a cost of £600 a year.

To consider the report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment concerning the walking route from Pamber Heath to The Hurst Community College and to consider a confidential representation from parents as to its safety.

The Sub-Committee considered the report of the Director of Economy, Transport and Environment regarding the assessment of the walking route to The Hurst Community College (The Hurst).

Members were informed that:

·         Following a review of the walking routes to The Hurst, home to school transport had been withdrawn from a number of pupils based on their routes to school being under the 3 mile distance required to qualify for Council funded transport.

·         Families had been fully informed in writing of the decision and reasons behind it and had been advised of their right to appeal. Two families, Appellant A and B, had selected to progress with an appeal.

·         The walking routes had been walked, measured for distance and assessed for safety, in accordance with the Road Safety GB Criteria, by the Road Safety Officer. Both routes measured less than 3 miles and both routes were determined as safe for pupils to walk. It was confirmed, following Members’ questions, that the on-site assessment had been made in January 2018 and Members were referred to the detailed appendices which contained the reports.

·         Both routes were measured using a Trumeter distance measurement wheel. It was confirmed, following Members’ questions, that this equipment was regularly sent to an independent, external organisation for audit and calibration purposes to ensure complete accuracy of measurements.