The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “T”) considers a petition requesting the conversion of an existing zebra crossing on Horton Grange Road, Bradford to a puffin crossing.

Recommended –

(1)  That the request for the conversion of the existing zebra crossing on Horton Grange Road (at its junction with Spencer Road) to a puffin crossing be added to the list of requests for traffic management measures to be considered as and when future Bradford West Safer Roads schemes programmes are determined.

(2)  That a similar item for the zebra crossing Horton Grange Road at its junction with Stratford Road be added to the list.

(3)  That the existing proposed measures to improve visibility of the two existing zebra crossings on Horton Grange Road be implemented as approved.

(4)  That the petitioners are informed accordingly.

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

(Andrew Smith – 01274 434674)

The report of the Strategic Director, Place (Document “T”) considered a petition requesting the conversion of an existing zebra crossing on Horton Grange Road, Bradford to a puffin crossing.

Following a synopsis of the report by the Principal Engineer, the Chair then invited the Chair of the Local Residents Association to make representations to the Committee, as follows:

He highlighted that there were two existing Zebra Crossings on Horton Grange Road, at its junctions with Spencer Road and Stratford Road (upper and lower level of the busy road). There were four streams of traffic flowing through the busy junction. Children in the vicinity were attending three different schools by foot and several hundred pedestrians crossed the Zebra Crossing on a daily basis. It was acknowledged that there was a School Crossing Guard during the periods of opening and closing times of schools nevertheless children continued to cross the Zebra Crossing during after school hours. That there had been 12 near accident misses over a period of time and nothing had been done in terms of safety for pedestrians using this crossing point. An Ambulance crew had responded to an accident at the junction in recent times. Despite no fatalities, the Bradford West Area Committee had allocated £45,000 for a safety traffic measure on Whetley Lane; Horton Grange Road junction had 3 fatalities yet no traffic safety implementation scheme had been approved by the officers or the Committee for the implementation of a signalised facility.

In response to the allocation of £45,000, the Committee highlighted to the petitioner that the allocation of traffic safety measures on Whetley Lane were added to the reserve list and had not yet been through final approval by the Committee. In relation to near accident misses, this was not disputed however it was the fact that the Council had to rely on documented Police records.

Following representations, a question and answer session ensued:

·         What would be the cost for meeting the petitioners’ prerequisites?

o   The preferred safety traffic measure would cost in the region of £100,000;

·         What were the reasons behind the significant high cost?

o   The preferred traffic measure would entail a completely new control system due to it being a new scheme; and,

·         How realistic was it for the Council to afford the implementation of such a scheme?

o   The budget allocated to the Bradford West Area Committee for such subject areas had decreased over a number of years and at present there was not sufficient funding allocation in order to achieve such a scheme in one project. However, it could be possible to stage the work through phases over a few years and then maybe possible to achieve as requested by petitioners following a few years of work.

The Chair moved the discussion of the item towards final comments. The Committee highlighted that this request had come to the Committee a number of years ago and yet, nothing had been progressed in the favour of the community’s needs. It was also commented that, the petitioners’ sentiments should be echoed due to the long standing request for change of safety traffic measures and therefore it was paramount that a study be undertaken to obtain data of the traffic flow through the Zebra Crossing, and therefore:

Resolved –

(1)  That the request for the conversion of the existing zebra crossing on Horton Grange Road (at its junction with Spencer Road) to a puffin crossing be added to the list of requests for traffic management measures to be considered as and when future Bradford West Safer Roads schemes programmes are determined.

(2)  That a similar item for the zebra crossing Horton Grange Road at its junction with Stratford Road be added to the list.

(3)  That consideration be given to a phased implementation of the replacement of zebra crossings on Horton Grange Road with signalised facilities as and when future Safer Roads budgets are prioritised and/or alternative funding sources become available.

(4)  That officers make arrangements to undertake pedestrian movement surveys on Horton Grange Road.

(5)  That the existing proposed measures to improve visibility of the two existing zebra crossings on Horton Grange Road be implemented as approved.

(6)  That the petitioners are informed accordingly.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place