Agenda item

11.

STANNINGTON ROAD/STANWOOD AVENUE PETITION REPORT

The Director of Development Services submitted a report in response to a petition expressing concerns over the safety of pedestrians crossing Stannington Road near the junction of Stanwood Avenue.

11.1

Decision Taken

RESOLVED: That the Northern Community Assembly:-

(a)

declines the request to provide a pedestrian facility to the West of the Stannington Road/Stanwood Avenue junction, principally on safety grounds; and

(b)

thanks the petitioners for bringing this matter to the attention of the Council.

11.2

Reasons For The Decision

(a)

A number of observations have been made at the Stannington Road/Stanwood Avenue junction and the petitioners’ concern for pedestrians crossing the main road near the shops, is understandable.  Unfortunately the more pertinent measures of assistance for pedestrians (i.e crossings, pedestrian refuge) are not safe options for this location.  Provision of a specific facility explicitly encouraging a crossing movement in an area of restricted intervisibility is unsound.  This was the conclusion of engineers in 2003 and the basic layout is little changed.  The existing build out, to the East of the Stanwood Avenue junction, is probably the optimum Road Safety feature.

(b)

Aside from any safety considerations it is unlikely, in any event, that a scheme would be funded from mainstream Council budgets.  Throughout the City there are a number of locations where pedestrians cross in greater numbers and that have more imposing accident history.

(c)

A traffic calming scheme may have the effect of reducing vehicle speeds by degree but it would be of no direct assistance to pedestrians crossing Stannington Road.  Traffic calming features would have a permanent effect on vehicle speeds on a B road.  Any deterrent effect may lead drivers to take alternative, inappropriate routes.  From a Traffic Management standpoint the B6086 is an appropriate route for commuter traffic and discouraging this route to any great extent may be inadvisable.

(d)

Overall pedestrian numbers are relatively low at this junction.  It is appreciated that the existing build out is not direct for all pedestrian journeys but this facility is available for those who value safety over convenience.  The build out is pertinent for walking journeys to and from Forge Valley School (opened in September 2011) and for those wishing to wait for the bus at the inbound stop.  Forge Valley students are also able to use the Zebra Crossing at the Stannington Road/Barlow Road junction rather than walk Stanwood Avenue.  The difference in the distance between these two walking journeys is slightly less than fifty metres.   However relatively few Forge Valley students live South West of the Stanwood Avenue junction and subsequently there are very few genuine walking journeys.  In the morning period large numbers of students crossing Stannington Road have chosen to travel further on the outbound buses in order to pay a visit to the shops.  This is not a direct school journey.

All things considered a commitment of resources to any of the feasible options described may yield little dividend in terms of overall pedestrian safety at this location.

11.3

Alternative Options Considered

(a)

The layout is little changed since engineers reviewed this location in 2003.  Because visibility is restricted by the bend it is not feasible to construct a safe pedestrian facility to the West of the Stanwood Avenue junction.

(b)

Even if the area in front of the shops was judged an appropriate location for a crossing, customer parking and space for loading and deliveries would be removed, as all on street parking in front of the shops, would be unavailable.  Relocation of the outbound bus stop would be necessary and this will, by degree, alter pedestrian desire lines which, in turn, may diminish the attractiveness of incorporating a crossing into a walking route.  It is likely that some residents would express disapproval if a bus stop was sited outside their house. 

(c)

It may be feasible to locate a Zebra Crossing, in conjunction with speed cushions, on the Eastern side of the Stanwood Avenue junction.  Such a facility would supercede the existing build out.  Nonetheless it is doubtful that all pedestrians would be drawn to the crossing and some may continue to cross Stannington Road using direct routes.   The necessary relocation of the inbound bus stop would in itself contribute to an alteration to customary pedestrian desire lines.   Taking everything into account the commensurate safety gain, in replacing the existing build out, would be minimal.  The estimated cost of providing a Zebra Crossing, with traffic calming features would be in excess of £80,000.

(d)

Doing nothing is an option.  The situation will remain as it is.

(e)

This section of Stannington Road could be subject to a traffic calming scheme – possibly a series of cushions.  Such a scheme would not be of direct help to pedestrians crossing the road.  The effect would be a reduction in vehicle speeds but, again, the overall safety improvement may be minimal.

From a traffic management viewpoint, the deterrent effect of providing traffic calming measures on a B road may be viewed as a negative.  Drivers may well seek other inappropriate routes thereby creating additional road safety problems.

.

It is difficult to provide a precise cost estimate for such a traffic calming scheme without detailed design work taking place. However an indicative estimate may be in excess of £65,000.

(f)

Forge Valley students, on bus and walking journeys, do have the option of using the Zebra Crossing at the Stannington Road/Barlow Road.  In comparison with the walking route (which takes in Stanwood Avenue) the difference in distance is fifty metres. 

Very few Forge Valley students live in the area South West of Stanwood Avenue.  Most of the children witnessed crossing the road, in front of the shops, on the mornings of 20^th and 21^st February 2012 did so after alighting an outbound bus (N.B. 31 children did this on 21^st February).  These Forge Valley students choose to take an indirect route (i.e. remaining on the outbound bus) in order to pay a visit to the shops.