ePetition details

School Crossing Patrol for Peterchurch Primary

We the undersigned petition the council to fund a 'School Crossing Patrol Officer' for Peterchurch Primary School. We urge Hereford Council to take into consideration that the B4348 which runs through the village has a 30mph speed limit but research shows that Primary School Children cannot accurately judge the speed of vehicles travelling faster than 20mph.

We urge the council to also take into consideration the type of vehicles which use the B4348. Heavy farm vehicles, articulated lorries, coaches and mini buses all use the road at the time when the children are crossing. Some of the children in Year 5 & 6 walk to school independently and therefore do not have the guidance of an adult to assist them with crossing the road safely. Councils have a responsibility to encourage the use of sustainable transport, yet in Peterchurch it is currently unsafe for children to walk to school.

This ePetition ran from 08/05/2017 to 16/06/2017 and has now finished.

208 people signed this ePetition.

Council response


Response from Cllr Rone to E-Petition for School Crossing Patrol, Peterchurch

I have reviewed the e-petition requesting that Herefordshire Council funds a school crossing patrol officer for Peterchurch Primary School.

Herefordshire Council funded a school crossing patrol officer (SCP) at Peterchurch Primary School up until her retirement in September 2016. At that time a review was undertaken to assess whether there was an ongoing need for an SCP. The review followed the approach set out in best practice guidance, SCP Service Guidelines, last updated in September 2016 and issued by the Royal Society for the Prevention of Accidents (RoSPA) and Road Safety GB. The assessment comprised a survey of traffic and crossing movements at the location where the SCP operated. The survey revealed that the combination of vehicle movements and pedestrian crossing movements during the busiest 30 minute period (between 8 and 9 am in the morning) was substantially below the threshold to justify an SCP. The survey data sheet and guidance has been shared with parish council during the period of the e-petition.

We have followed a consistent approach in reviewing whether or not to replace the SCP and this takes into account the safety of school children. I am advised by officers that support can be provided to the school and the local community should they wish to fund an SCP between them. There are now 6 locally funded SCPs operating elsewhere in the county and I have asked officers to share this information with the school and parish council so that they can consider whether or not they would wish to proceed with funding or identifying a volunteer SCP for Peterchurch. Whilst I recognise the concerns of the local community for the reasons set out above and on further review of the survey information I do not support the request for the council to fund an SCP.

The e-petition references research regarding the ability of young children to judge the speed of vehicles travelling faster than 20mph and the speed limit in the village is 30mph and that some children walk to school un-accompanied by an adult. It should be remembered that it is a parent’s responsibility to ensure that their child gets to school safely. The council does not have a policy to provide an SCP at every school where the speed limit is greater than 20mph but does use the established best practice approach to assessing the need for an SCP.

The e-petition makes reference to the council’s duty to promote sustainable modes of travel to school. It should be noted that the council has supported the school in developing their school travel plan. The latest update of the school’s plan was in 2013 and the council will support the school if they wish to review their plan. The council provides ongoing support to the school through pedestrian training and 3 separate training sessions have been held with the school during May 2017. In addition, cycle training has been provided to the school and whilst the offer was not taken up in 2016 it will continue to be available.

I note that there are number of additional highway safety issues which are under discussion at the current time including speed enforcement and speed indicator devices, lighting and pedestrian crossing. A meeting is being arranged with the parish council to commence discussions on what solutions might be most effective in meeting these concerns. The first of these meetings will be taking place in June.

Finally, the council is currently exploring options for the future education provision in Peterchurch which will necessarily look at transport implications as well. This information will be shared with the schools and parish council in due course.