FAO Councillor Martin Whelton

We, the undersigned, believe that the current proposals put forward by Merton Council are not adequate to improve road safety for the children who attend Park Community school.

The children at Park Community School are starting at point of having a very difficult road to cross. They are then being offered much less by Merton Council to improve this in comparison with other schools in the borough.

We ask that these existing proposals are not approved until they are significantly improved.

Further information:

What is wrong with the current proposals

• The first traffic calming measures for cars driving off the main A24 road would now be the speed table that the children are supposed to be stepping out on to.
• The width of the road will still be almost 7m which is unacceptable, particularly in comparison to other schools (see below).
• Children/families will still have to judge both lanes of the road with their very different conditions (stationary vehicles in one lane and fast free flowing in the other) at the same time in order to cross safely.
• Since the speed table will not really assist with crossing we do not believe it will be widely used and therefore there will be no protection in numbers of a central crossing point.
• The absence of traffic islands will still allow cars to overtake on the wrong side of the road to access the junction with the A24 with potentially catastrophic consequences.

Concerns regarding the engagement of Merton Council that have led to them making the current proposal for a simple speed table

• Since August 2018 we have photographic evidence of three collisions on Dorset Road immediately outside school. In addition to this on 10th February 2020 school parents witnessed a pedestrian being knocked over by a car just prior to school pick up time. This road is unpredictable. The council have informed us they do not give any weight to events like these when forming a proposal unless someone is injured or killed.
• Within the space of 8 months from beginning to end, Merton Council installed a speed table with central traffic islands and a pedestrian refuge on Dorset Road (close to the junction with Sheridan Road). This was done partly for the benefit of secondary school children to cross the road from the tram stop. We have been refused a similar scheme and the council have not given us valid reasons for doing so.
• At Wimbledon Chase, Joseph Hood, Dundonald, Pelham and Garfield primary schools the initial width of the road the school is located on is less than Dorset Road, with less traffic and less challenging conditions. In every case the road has been narrowed by more than the 1m proposed for our school. Hatfield and Priory primary schools have been granted a speed table with traffic islands and central refuge.