Members considered four actions, at a cost of £120,000, to improve walking and cycle routes.

Cabinet was addressed by Jo Smith. Ms Smith explained that she was the mother of two children at Furze Platt Infant and Junior Schools. The route to school included Oaken Grove, a long and straight road that cars raced down. During school hours cars parked on either side and there was only space for one car to drive down. Her child did not know if cars flashing their lights were to let him cross or not.  A crossing had been put in place outside Courthouse School two years previously. In the consultation 87% of respondents had said yes; 37 people had said no. Parents did not give up despite resident complaints that a crossing would cause excessive noise, vibration and have a visual impact. Parents still did not give up and eventually a phased implementation was agreed including bollards on grass verges, A-boards and repainted lines. There was a resident’s consultation in spring 2016 about yellow lines as part of the phased approach. Officers felt that the mandate – 23 in favour, 21 against – was not strong enough to proceed. A second consultation, due to be held over the summer had still not been actioned. She had heard that there were 300 outstanding consultations across the borough. They may be in a queue, but they would not give up. Two years had elapsed, she asked that it did not become three.

The Chairman commented that the council needed to ensure important consultations were undertaken in a timely fashion. It was confirmed that the team that undertook the consultations would be one of the teams moving to the new external service provider. The Chairman highlighted that this third party would be contractually obliged to provide the service within a certain time period.

The Lead Member confirmed he would make enquiries with officers to see why the process had taken so long, and respond to Ms Smith in writing.  He explained that the report before Members was instigated by the Cabinet meeting held at Charters School in September 2016, where pupils had raised questions about safe routes to the school. Two physical changes were proposed: traffic signals at Dry Arch Road and a new footbridge at Devenish Road.

In relation to option 1 the Lead Member advised that the comments were to be amended to state that neighbouring properties including Sunningdale School would be consulted on the proposed design. In relation to option 12, this would be amended at the request of the headteacher of Charters School to read:

This would provide a traffic-free route to Sunninghill. An informal approach to the owners of the Charters estate by a third party suggested that they would not be prepared to allow such a route to be constructed, since residents are concerned about the impact on their privacy. The Royal Borough will make a formal approach to see if a scheme can be achieved that would address their concerns

Two other actions were: to look into options for a wider footpath outside Heathermount School and that planning applications from private properties along Devenish Road would be monitored as the council did not own the frontage.  Outside of the report, a shared cycle path was being designed from Bracknell, the existing crossing at the racecourse was being upgraded to a toucan crossing and further upgrades were being made at Wells Lane. It was confirmed that the difference between a pelican crossing and a toucan crossing was that it could be used by both pedestrians and mounted cyclists.

Councillor Beer stated he was very supportive of the report. However he was concerned that costs of individual schemes had not been given therefore it had been difficult for the Overview and Scrutiny Panel to see if appropriate weight had been given to the different options. One of the proposals was on the A330 in an area with few houses and few children; this may not represent value for money. The idea of approaching individual properties through planning applications could be dangerous if children had to move between paved and unpaved areas along the road.

The Chairman asked Ms Smith to send him an email directly about the issues she had raised and he would take it up personally to ensure it moved through the system.

The Principal Member for Neighbourhood Planning and Ascot & the Sunnings commented that Dry Arch Road was very dangerous, she was pleased it was being addressed. The new footway on Elm Park would be worthwhile; the houses were varied inside but many were occupied by families. The A330 was one of the narrowest A roads in the country; at one point the footpath was just 18 inches wide.

RESOLVED UNANIMOUSLY: That Cabinet:

i.       Approves through the Local Transport Plan capital programme:

·         Installation of traffic signals at Dry Arch Road rail bridge incorporating a pedestrian phase.

·         Construction of a new footbridge on the western side of Devenish Road to the north of Elm Park.

·         Discussion with Heathermount School to explore options for improving the narrow footway across their frontage.

·         Seek to secure a strip of land to the rear of the existing footway across the front of properties on Devenish Road that come forward for planning permission.

ii.      Approves allocation of £50,000 from the 2017/18 Safer Routes to Schools budget and £70,000 from the 2018/19 budget for the four pieces of work.