Agenda item

[Electoral Divisions: Penrith East]

To consider a report from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure.

This report introduces the School Streets initiative, informs Members of the responses received following statutory consultation of the School Streets Initiative being introduced at Beaconside Primary School, Penrith and seeks approval from Members that Officers do not progress with the implementation of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (“ETRO”) in support of the School Street Initiative and, instead, agree to improvements for the area and surrounding streets being covered through the Penrith Traffic Regulation Order Review.

A report was considered from the Executive Director – Economy and Infrastructure regarding an experimental Traffic Regulation Order in support of the School Street Initiative being introduced at Beaconside Primary School, Penrith. The report introduced the School Streets initiative, informed Members of the responses received following statutory consultation of the School Streets Initiative being introduced at Beaconside Primary School, Penrith and sought approval from Members that Officers do not progress with the implementation of an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (“ETRO”) in support of the School Street Initiative and, instead, agree to improvements for the area and surrounding streets being covered through the Penrith Traffic Regulation Order Review with informal consultation anticipated to commence late 2021/22 financial year.

The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) introduced the initiative and explained the tight timescale to identify schools and complete the related work. The reason for choosing Beaconside School and how the initiative would work at the school was explained. The number of consultation responses and their content was reported. As 23 objections had been received, the Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) considered that it would not work as it did not have the support in place to make it successful. Residents and parents had objected and the local PCSO was not in favour of the initiative. Members were asked to not progress the implementation of the Experimental TRO and instead address parking issues through the Penrith Traffic Regulation Order Review.

The Chair clarified that he had given his support to the initiative as the Local Member and school had been in support of it at the time of its inception. A member advised that the Local Member, although not present at the meeting, was in favour of the course of action being considered by the Committee.

A member asked why the school had been chosen as a potential site for the initiative and was keen to understand the number of both parents and residents that had objected. She thought there was a mismatch between what was desired by officers and the school and what would be practical at the location and how it would work in reality. The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) confirmed that funding for the initiative was Cumbria wide and if not used in Eden, would be used in another location.

It was suggested by the member that a number of lessons could be learned from this, such as were the locations practical and what the schemes would entail. The Traffic Management Team Leader (Eden) explained her intention to monitor how similar initiatives were working in other areas and explained how experimental TROs could be used at schools using a different budget for similar outcomes. One member highlighted a similar scheme presented to her a number of years ago which had also not been well received by residents.

The Chair proposed the recommendation as set out in the report. This was agreed by assent of the Committee.

RESOLVED that, the Local Committee, having taken into consideration the responses which have been received through the statutory consultation of the ETRO for the School Streets Initiative, agree not to proceed with the implementation of the Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO) at this time and, instead, approve Officers to identify and make improvements on the surrounding streets of Beaconside Primary School through the Penrith Traffic Regulation Order review which is anticipated to commence with informal consultation works February 2021.