Agenda item
School Streets
A presentation to be made at the meeting.
Minutes:
Councillor Kahar Chowdhury, Cabinet Member for Highways and Public Realm introduced this item saying that as part of the Mayor’s manifesto, the Council was committed to deliver fifty school streets by 2022. He said the concept was to reduce congestion at drop off and pick up times and introduce safer walking and cycling as well as reduce pollution.
The Sub-Committee then received a presentation from Mr Dan Jones, Director of Public Realm and Mr Tom Rawlings, Transport and Highways Manager.
The main points from the presentation were:
- 21 Schools Street projects had been completed, with 9 beginning construction this year. The remaining were programmed next year.
- Mr Dan Jones explained what a street school was and said this could be physical changes to the street or restrictions on vehicle access times.
- The changes being made concentrated on primary school sites however going forward would like to include secondary schools.
- Mr Jones explained the process used to consult with parents, schools and neighbours in the area.
- Two examples of schools that had been converted to School Streets were talked through in detail, with pictures showing the before and after look.
- Mr Rawlings said some of the factors taken into consideration were the number of residents who would be impacted, to offering public realm improvements such as greening and closing off roads, if this was required. Other considerations were the loss of parking, when a new zebra crossing is introduced as well as cost and timing implications such as camera installation.
- The Pandemic had impacted on the delivery of the school streets programme. Consultation with schools had been delayed due to the schools being closed. Consultation with the first tranche of schools was effective however the second tranche was affected due to the pandemic.
In response to comments and questions the following was noted:
- Councillor White asked if Public Realm had consulted with other colleagues in respect to the design materials used to engage with schools and children. Mr Rawlings stated the standard method of consultation had been used, with schools being contacted and information being disseminated via the school to parents plus leafletting of local residents asking them to respond to the consultation.
- In response to how the School Streets programme fitted into the Liveable Streets initiative, Mr Jones stated they were making sure they did not do things twice. They were working together with the communications team to ensure residents were fully aware of the schemes and were consulted. Mr Jones said the aim of School Streets was to limit vehicles at certain times of the day but were open to residents for access.
- Councillor Wood questioned if School Streets were really working, in terms of reduction in drivers. He stated that in his neighbourhood the number of vehicles had increased and said some of the changes made, had made it more dangerous rather than safer, with parents dropping off children on a busy A road rather than parking up in the side street, where the school is located. He asked if the schemes could be reversed or made safer? Mr Rawlings said the scheme had been introduced on a trial basis and as such changes could be made. He said schools near major roads were tricker to deal with, but he would look at that.
- Councillor Obaze asked when the School Streets programme would be introduced to a school in her ward. Mr Rawlings stated the feedback from the consultation they had undertaken did not have a good return rate but a further consultation concerning Columbia Road School and Nursey would be undertaken.
- ACTION: Public Realm to share with the Sub-Committee the data in relation to the success of the School Streets Scheme. If it has helped to reduce accidents and near misses; and what improvement has been made to air quality.
- Councillor Salva-Macallan commented consultations should involve all the voices and should ensure concerns are addressed. She referred to a primary school and said there was land in front of the school which belonged to Tower Hamlets Homes and therefore the pace of development of a school street had been slower.
The Chair thanked the attendees for their contribution to the meeting and said their input had helped members understand what the aims of the School Streets programme were.
The Chair summarised the main points of the discussion as follows:
- The School Street scheme was an exciting programme bringing change to busy school areas. Public Realm should re-examine the scheme at Arnhem Wharf and be proactive in collating data, monitoring the number of vehicles and near misses and make changes accordingly.
- Public Realm should look to work with other departments in the Council to ensure there was more joint working, in terms of design of consultations, which involved schools, parents and residents but also the school’s ecology or environment committees as well as working with THEP who can assist in disseminating information.
- In respect of pressures on budgets, there is a possibility there could be more money provided for consultation for streets schools and therefore consideration should be given to how this is used to optimise consultation especially as school budgets are stretched.
Supporting documents: