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Urgent Update:

JUBILEE SCHOOL, GATLAND LANE, MAIDSTONE ME16 8PF

REFERENCE NO:  19/500341

 

Additional Officer Comment

There was an omission on the front page of the Committee Report, as the reason for the Councillor Call-In was not stated.  Therefore, for clarification, this discharge of condition application was called in by Councillor Paul Harper on the following grounds:

“the planning permission has generated a lot of local interest and concern”.

 

Additional Representation

Jubilee Primary School has provided some additional information to clarify its sustainable approach to school journeys:

As part of the S278 Highway works undertaken with KCC, a crossing point has already been provided in front of the school with dropped kerbs.   No school crossing patrol or zebra crossing have been undertaken/installed as it was determined in conjunction with the Highways Engineer and local surveys undertaken as part of the consultation procedure for the S278 works that this would encourage parents in cars to drop off children from cars and congest Gatland Lane.  All children who do cross the road presently are assisted by their parents.  The school flashing lights are also in operation.  Based on a recent survey, there is no present need for a school crossing patrol.  This will be surveyed annually to determine whether a school crossing patrol will be needed. 

The school does not presently run a walking bus scheme as surveys have not expressed a need with most young children walking in with parents.  The school encourages walking to school as demonstrated in its Action Plan (included within the Travel Plan). 

The School states that “based on a recent survey, the use of cars as a mode of transport has reduced since November 2015 and is now 22% lower than this initial percentage.  Car share has increased by 6% since January 2019, which again shows a reduction in the use of cars to drop off children.  Twenty-three of our children starting in EYFS from September 2019, are siblings which indicates that there will be no added cars used to drop off children. The other seven children in this cohort live within walking distance of no further than 0.27 miles away.  This clearly shows that even though the school population will increase to 210 from September 2019, any increase in the traffic on Gatland Lane around school during the start and the end of the school day, will not be due to an increase in school traffic. We will be promoting the walking to school Wednesdays from the new academic year.”

 

 

Mode

June 2019

January 2019

May 2018

May 2016

February 2016

November 2015

%

%

%

%

%

%

Bus

2

2

1

2

2

5

Walk

23

26

20

27

36

35

Car

38

52

58

56

62

60

Car Share

24

18

17

8

n/a

n/a

Park and Stride

9

  0

0

0

0

0

Cycle  Scooter

4

2

1

7

n/a

n/a

Taxi

0

0

3

n/a

n/a

n/a

Total

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

100%

 

 

 

Officer Comments

The School has continued to regularly survey parents and to promote sustainable transport choices, which has resulted in a reduced percentage of children travelling to school by car.   The Highways Officer has raised no objections to the School Travel Plan and so it is still considered that there is no justification for refusing the submitted details. 

 

Recommendation

The recommendation remains unchanged.