Safety fears over school entrance site
PROTESTERS URGE RETHINK ON PROPOSED NEW ACCESS
PLANS for a new main entrance to a secondary school look set to be approved despite a number of objections.
The Carlton Le Willows school in Gedling village has submitted plans for a multi-million-pound expansion to accommodate 360 extra pupils and these have been recommended for approval by Gedling Borough Council.
Within the application is proposed new vehicle entrance and zebra crossing in Burton Road, where concerns were raised last year by residents on nearby Beaumaris Drive.
Speaking to the Post ahead of tomorrow’s planning meeting, residents said they intend to keep pushing for a different entrance location, potentially going to the Secretary of State if necessary.
Noel Lake, 69, said: “It’s not just how it impacts us, it’s how it impacts Burton Road which is already busy and this will only increase traffic.
“I don’t think having the new Gedling Access Road (GAR) will reduce the traffic either, but it could be used for the entrance.
“Looking at the statistics for the past five years, there has been six accidents on this stretch of Burton Road where the entrance is proposed.
“Councillors need to see what the road is like at peak times.”
A traffic survey was carried out at the location, but residents explained this was done in lockdown and they believe it doesn’t give a true picture of the impact.
Amy Kaur, 56, said: “Since schools have returned, we have seen the full effect - it wasn’t a true reflection before. People are still also working from home so it will get busier still.
“I think it was bang out of order to do the survey in lockdown.”
Supporting the Beaumaris residents, Conservative councillor for the area, Michael Adams, said: “We have no issue with the expansion of the school and we are 100 per cent in favour of a new proposed crossing.
“But the location of the entrance is a safety issue, especially as we have more housing developments on the way traffic is going to increase.”
The current main vehicle entrance to Carlton Le Willows is on Wood Lane, which the planning agenda describes as “narrow” with “safety concerns in respect of both pupils and vehicles” due to having a path on one side.
It adds: “The updated information has looked at the capacity of the Shearing Hill/burton Road traffic signalised junction and notes that there is not a capacity issue at the junction and the increase at morning peak will be small and staff/students will not be travelling in the pm peak.
“Furthermore, once the GAR is operational, this will free-up additional capacity at the junction.
“In respect of the access along Burton Road there is adequate visibility along its length to ensure that highway safety would not be compromised.”
The Highway Authority have concluded that they have no objection to the proposal subject to the imposition of appropriate conditions to secure the improved access and parking provision.
Frank Knowles, chairman of the Wood Lane residents group said along with neighbours, he’s spent “10 years waiting” for changes to be made around the access points to the school.
He explained: “At start and end times, there is a continuous stream of traffic on Wood Lane with parents dropping off children.
“At its worst, Wood Lane traffic leads to parking on pavements, children having to walk in the road, cars turning in residents driveways. “The school started as 300 places, now it is 1,500 with more on the way which means more staff too. It needs a proper, managed entrance.
“We need the main vehicle access to be on Burton Road where there is a perfectly good, well designed entrance for traffic and deliveries.”
Councillors need to see what the road is like at peak times.
Noel Lake