Road Safety around Schools – Westmorland Primary School

Overview

The Council’s overall strategic transport ambition is to increase the number of children walking or cycling to school, both to reduce congestion on roads, improve local air quality, and improve health outcomes. For this to be achieved, it is important that walking or cycling to school is a safe option for children and their families.

To support this ambition, Traffic Services have been working to tackle key concerns which have been raised by schools and local Members. 

The following improvements have been identified surrounding Westmorland Primary School: (see enclosed plans 0305/20/WP/003 / rev A)

• Introduction of further School Keep Clear Markings on Westmorland Drive side of the school entrance (Monday to Friday 8.00am - 5.00pm). These restrictions are proposed to keep these stretches of carriageway clear of parked vehicles, improving safety for pedestrians and aiding passage of the school bus.
• Introduction of No Loading to the existing No Waiting restrictions (Single Yellow Lines) to apply (Monday to Friday 8.15am - 9.15am and 2.45pm - 3.45pm), on Westmorland Drive, (west side). This restriction is proposed to keep this stretch of carriageway clear of parked vehicles at school drop-off and pick-up times, improving safety for pedestrians who currently have to navigate cars parked on the pavement, and at times being forced to walk into the carriageway due to inconsiderate parking.
• Introduction of No Waiting ‘At Any Time’ and No Loading to apply (Monday to Friday 8.15am - 9.15am and 2.45pm - 3.45pm), on Westmorland Drive (west side), opposite both school entrances to keep the area clear for deliveries, emergency vehicles and maintenance.
• Introduction of No Waiting ‘At Any Time’ restrictions (Double Yellow Lines) at the junctions of Westmorland Drive and Middlesex Road, Shropshire Avenue and Westmorland Drive, Shropshire Avenue and Nottingham Avenue to keep the junctions clear of parked vehicles, protecting intervisibility between pedestrians and motorists whilst also ensuring vehicles can negotiate the junctions safely.
• Provision of an uncontrolled crossing point with tactile paving and provision of pencil bollards either side of these on Shropshire Avenue near the junction with Westmorland Drive, to aid pedestrians.
• Introduction of a pedestrian barrier on Shropshire Avenue outside the school gate.
• Provision of Middleton bollards at Shropshire Avenue and Nottingham Avenue crossing point to improve safety for pedestrians who currently have to navigate cars parked on the pavement.
• Provision of pencil bollards outside the entrance of the school on Westmorland Drive to keep the area clear of cars at the speed hump and footway opposite the school to prevent vehicles from pulling up on the footway to aid crossing at this location.  
• Provision of pencil bollards on Middlesex Road at the School Keep Clear markings to reinforce the school entrance and that children will be navigating this area.
• Provision of 20 mph road markings on Middlesex Rd, Shropshire Ave and Westmorland Drive.
• Introduction of Access Protection Markings (H-bars) for a number of properties along Westmorland Drive and Shropshire Avenue.

Please view the plan here:

View the plan in a new window. 

Westmorland Primary  Proposals 1

Westmorland Primary  Proposals 2

Westmorland Primary  Proposals 3 

Please could you spend a few minutes to consider the issues and let us have your feedback on the proposals. Please include any comments you may wish to make on the proposal by completing the online survey by 23:59 hours on Friday 1st November 2024.