Ferry Councillor, Laurie BidweIl said:
"In statement published in the Courier on Monday 22 June 2009,
http://lauriebidwell.blogspot.com/2009/06/potential-road-safety-dangers-and.html
I called for reassurance by Mike Galloway, Director of Transport & Planning, that the traffic planning for the new Grove Academy and its recreational facilities for the wider public is not undertaken in isolation from the traffic and transport planning for the 300 plus Council staff being relocated to converted offices in the Old Grove six months later. I continue to think that the public want to know that the necessary road safety measures will be in place before the new school site becomes operational. It’s absolutely crucial that we don’t wait for a serious injury to one of our pupils at the school to trigger traffic management changes that can surely be anticipated.
Ken Guild's, response published in the Courier on Wednesday 24 June 2009 proposed two measures:
1. Extending the 20 mph zone for the school and
2. Individual travel plans for the 300 plus Social Work and Education staff being transferred to the offices in the Old Grove building.
This is deeply disappointing and ignores the essence of what I requested. In fact his response illustrates for me the limited and isolated road safety and traffic planning which is being conducted for these two side by side major developments and which he seems prepared to go along with. Why, for example, is the individual traffic planning for the 300 plus social work and education staff moving into the offices in the Old Grove not being extended to the all of the staff of Grove Academy? The latter details should be part of an elaborated Travel Plan for the new school. Furthermore, is extending the 20 mph zone for the school the only specific road safety measure he thinks is necessary? I was expecting a more considered road safety and traffic management optional appraisal to be undertaken covering both of these important developments on the Grove campus."
