selb news: School Crossing Patrol Service Review

2006

Friday 13 January 2006

School Crossing Patrol Service Review

Due to underfunding by the Department of Education, the Southern Education and Library Board (SELB) has had to incorporate savings of £7.2million in its service provision in the present financial year. In approving its spending plan for the 05/06 financial year, the School Crossing Patrol service was identified by the Board as a service where savings could be made.

The SELB is not statutorily obliged to provide this service which costs the Board £1.1million annually for 210 locations. The service is not being ended. A spokesperson for the SELB said: “A review of School Crossing Patrols is being carried out using criteria under the Local Authority Road Safety Officers’ Association (LARSOA) guidelines.

“At this stage of the review, which has yet to be completed, 46 of the 80 locations assessed do not meet the criteria necessary for continued provision of a patrol. Of these 46 locations, 20 are now Pelican or light-controlled crossings. The other 26 locations do not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume criteria.
“The Board acknowledges the valuable contribution that School Crossing Patrol personnel provide to their communities and it is with regret that it has to info rm those affected by the outcome of the review that their service will be discontinued. Letters have been issued to the staff affected.
“Withdrawal of patrols from the locations not meeting the criteria will begin at the end of January 2006 and further dates of removal will be determined by the period of notice required for each patrol person.
“Where a patrol is to be withdrawn, letters have been sent to the principals of the schools nearest to the crossings, along with info rmation for parents of children attending the schools. The principals have been asked to ensure that the info rmation is sent home with the child/children to each family concerned.
“Even where a School Crossing Patrol is provided, parents remain responsible for ensuring their children’s safety, just as they do when a Zebra or Pelican Crossing is provided. Parents should therefore prepare a plan for the journey to school which is fully understood by the child and which can be put into operation should the regular patrol not be on duty.
“The Board acknowledges that there may be concerns on the grounds of safety where a service is being withdrawn. If a principal or parent believes there are exceptional or unusual circumstances applying to the location which they wish to be taken into consideration, they should detail these in writing as soon as possible to the Board’s Transport Manager, at 3 Charlemont Place, The Mall, Armagh , BT61 9AX . Any concerns expressed will be carefully considered.”

The Board is not legally required to provide School Crossing Patrols but is currently providing a service at 210 sites throughout its area for the purpose of assisting in the prevention of accidents. It was decided that each site should be assessed using criteria set out in guidelines approved by the Local Authority Road Safety Officers Association (LARSOA) to determine the continued need for a patrol. The assessment is designed to measure the level of risk at peak periods of motor and pedestrian traffic at school opening and closing times and is based on a count of vehicles and pedestrians present during the busiest half hour period, morning and afternoon. Where it is established that the criteria necessary for provision of a service are not met the service will be withdrawn.

Many of the patrol sites assessed did not meet the minimum pedestrian and traffic volume required by the LARSOA guidelines to consider the establishment of a patrol. Also, a number of the sites are now Pelican or light controlled crossings and LARSOA does not recommend the provision of a patrol in these circumstances.

Armagh District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Doctors Hill	Keady PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	10.03.2006
Monument	St Francis’ of Assisi PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	24.03.2006
School Gates – Madden Road	St Francis’ of Assisi PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	03.02.2006
Chapel Street Corner	St Francis’ of Assisi PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	10.02.2006
Monument	St Francis’ of Assisi PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	27.01.2006
Irish Street/Ogle Street	St Malachy’s PS, Armagh	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	10.03.2006
Irish Street	Hardy Memorial PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	27.01.2006
Irish Street/Tandragee Street	Hardy Memorial PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	03.02.2006

Banbridge District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Scarva Road Entrance	St Mary’s PS, Banbridge	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	Vacant
Riley Street Entrance	St Mary’s PS, Banbridge	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	03.03.2006
Linenhall Street/Doctor’s Surgery Lights	St Mary’s PS, Banbridge	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	Vacant
Church Square/Lurgan Road Traffic Lights	Edenderry PS, Banbridge	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	17.03.2006
Church Street/Dromore Street Traffic Lights	Edenderry PS, Banbridge	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	17.03.2006
Lights at Church Street	Edenderry PS, Banbridge	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	24.02.2006
Underpass (School side)	Loughbrickland PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	27.01.2006

Cookstown District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Fountain Road/Church Street Junction	Cookstown PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	17.03.2006
Old Courthouse	Cookstown PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	03.02.2006
Cemetery Road/Church Street Junction	Holy Trinity PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	27.01.2006

Craigavon District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Ashgrove Road/Garvaghy Road	Ballyoran PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	10.02.2006
Seagoe Road/Seagoe Drive	Seagoe PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	Vacant
Jervis Street/Arthur Avenue	Millington PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	07.04.2006
Charles Street/Roundabout	Hart Memorial PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	10.02.2006
West Street Roundabout	Hart Memorial PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	31.03.2006
Rear Entrance Drumgor	Drumgor PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	03.03.2006
Drumgor Road	Drumgor PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	10.02.2006
School Gates	St Paul ’s HS, Lurgan	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	Vacant
Queen Street/Queens Place (lights)	King’s Park PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	03.02.2006
Pollock Drive/Upper Mourne Road	Dickson PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	24.03.2006
Sloan Street/Tandragee Road	Carrick PS, Lurgan	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	03.03.2006
Sloan Street/Union Street	Carrick PS, Lurgan	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	17.02.2006
Belfast Road/Newforge Road	Maralin Village PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	17.03.2006
Front Gate	Hart Memorial PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	27.01.2006
Armagh Road/Old Tech	Millington PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	10.02.2006
Old Lurgan Road	Bocombra PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	17.03.2006
Thomas Street School Gate	Presentation Convent PS	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	07.04.2006
Woodlands Gilford	Craigavon PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	27.01.2006

Dungannon District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Benburb Street/Main Street Junction	St John ’s PS, Moy	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	03.02.2006
School Entrance – Main Road , Moygashel	Howard PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	03.02.2006
School Entrance - Mullaghteige Road	Bush PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	07.04.2006
School Entrance – Annaghmore Road	St Patrick’s PS, Annaghmore	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	Vacant
School Entrance – West Street Junction	St Mary’s PS, Stewartstown	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	24.03.2006
Favour Royal Road	St Brigid’s PS, Augher	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	07.04.2006
School Gates	Aughnacloy PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	24.02.2006
Brackaville Road	Primate Dixon PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	27.01.2006

Newry District Council Area
LOCATION	ASSOCIATED SCHOOL(S)	COMMENT	DATE OF REMOVAL
Rathfriland Road , Newry	Sacred Heart GS, Newry	Pelican/Lights controlled crossing	Vacant
Mourne Drive , Warrenpoint	St Dallan’s PS	Does not meet minimum pedestrian and traffic volume	07.04.2006

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