Bid to tackle unsafe parking near a secondary school in North East Lincolnshire
A traffic order's being proposed ahead of the construction of a new primary school in the area
Traffic orders have been proposed ahead of the construction of a new primary school in Waltham, and to stop unsafe parking near an existing secondary school.
‘School Keep Clear’ and no waiting restrictions are planned on roads next to Waltham Gateway Academy. A reduced speed limit and extensions of clearway parking restrictions are planned close to Toll Bar Academy, New Waltham.
The orders are due to be approved at a meeting of the portfolio holder for housing, infrastructure and transport, Cllr Stewart Swinburn. Another order, reducing a section of Bradley Road near Waltham to a 50mph speed limit, is also planned.
The Waltham primary school is one of two to be built in North East Lincolnshire by September 2025. The other is Scartho Gateway Academy off Matthew Telford Park. Both will have 210 places each. Hobson & Porter were last week announced as the contractors to build the schools.
Restrictions are proposed on sections of Sunningdale, Archer Road, Woodhall Drive, and Lindrick Walk. These will comprise new School Keep Clear restrictions – no stopping Monday to Friday, 8-9am and 3-4pm – double yellow line no waiting at any time restrictions, and single yellow line no waiting restrictions – also covering Monday to Friday, 8-9am and 3-4pm.
The double yellow lines are for Woodhall Drive and Lindrick Walk junction area only. A council document laying out the proposals states they are “to reduce the potential road safety risk at school pick up and drop off times”. The proposals are also made to support the building of the new primary.
Unsafe parking near Toll Bar
The LDRS has previously reported on a new car park and drop-off zone opposite Toll Bar Academy. It was granted permission in June and aims to help put an end to previous problem parking along Station Road, New Waltham, and the relatively new Wigmore Park housing estate.
Now extra restrictions are planned for along Station Road to improve safety and remove the risk of unsafe parking shifting further down. The restrictions would consist of:
- Extension of the current clearway restrictions over the full length of Station Road, so the end of verge parking does not shift vehicles to parking on the carriageway
- The 30mph speed limit in Station Road to be extended 140m west – a section currently covered by a 40mph restriction
“Verge parking on Station Road has resulted in widespread damage,” a council document states. “It has created issues with visibility and access to properties along Station Road and creates a road safety risk for pedestrians and cyclists on both the carriageway and adjacent segregated cycle/footway.”
Elsewhere, the current safety risks are spelled out: “There have been one serious and four slight reported personal injury collisions on Station Road over the last five years.” Improvements have been made already, including a redesign of Wigmore Park’s layout, and the installation of controlled crossings.
As for the extended lower speed limit, data has shown 85 per cent of drivers go past the school at 34mph or lower. The extension would give a longer distance for drivers to adjust their speed before going past the school.
Finally, a section of Bradley Road adjacent to Dixon Woods and Bradley
Fishing lakes is to be restricted to a 50mph speed limit. It is currently a national speed limit section, 60mph. A review of the entire road has led to the suggested revision. The review was prompted by planning permission for the development of a nearby solar farm and concerns raised by the council’s public rights of way mapping officer.
A public bridleway crosses the road but is not on direct opposite sides of the road. This results in cyclists, pedestrians and horse riders having to briefly go on the 60mph section.
The review has found the 60mph section is “inappropriate”, leading to the proposal to reduce to 50mph.