Keevil bus stop plan permitted (South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats)

South West Wiltshire Liberal Democrats <info@swwiltshirelibdems.org.uk>

Keevil bus stop plan permitted

October 6, 2010 8:12 PM

Wiltshire Council's highways department asked West Wiltshire planners to refuse an application for a bus pull-in at Keevil school, but after hearing from local councillor Jonathon Seed the planning committee voted to allow the scheme to proceed. Keevil Parish Council also supported the plan.

The school governors had applied for a 'grasscrete' surfaced area for the bus to stop on the verge outside the school in an attempt to alleviate the problems caused by the bus stopping during the school run.

The position of the Highways Authority was that:

• The bollards at either end of the parking area do not alleviate the concern over child and vehicle conflict and to some extent make the situation worse, as children will not be stopped by the bollards and the bollards also make manoeuvring more difficult for vehicles.

• The creation of a parking area immediately outside of the school encourages parking near to the school entrance, to the detriment of the safety of the children attending the school.

• The area of land to be constructed as a parking area for the school bus is public highway. This means restrictions to stop vehicles other than the school bus from parking would be ineffective and this could lead to additional vehicles parking closer to the school entrance, creating further safety concerns.

• As the bus pulls off the carriageway onto the proposed parking area, there will be enough space for vehicles to park on the opposite side of the road, alighting any passengers (e.g. school children) into the carriageway, due to the presence of a bank.

• The proposed grasscrete surface would quickly deteriorate due to heavy buses pulling in and manoeuvring at slow speeds. Any future damage and the general maintenance of this area would be at the cost of the Highways Authority.

• Visibility at the Church Street junction with Main Street would be obstructed in the northerly direction by any vehicles parking in this uncontrolled bay at any time of the day and night. Pedestrians, including children, would suffer from lack of visibility.

• The proper method of implementing new travel arrangements to and from a school is via the School Travel Plan process, where a full highway assessment can be made.