Worthing Borough Council Report

The report informs the Committee of a petition containing over 1000 signatures concerning the provision facilities for children.

A petition organised under the "banner" of VOCAL (Voices of Children About Leisure) was forwarded to the Director of Community Services in February.

The petition contained over 1000 signatures and raised a wide variety of concerns with regard to the provision of facilities for children within the Borough.

The pages of signatures are headed "We (the undersigned) believe that there are not enough areas for children to cycle, rollerblade and generally be children in safety. If you agree, please sign this petition so that we have a voice with which to approach our local politicians and Council."

The organisers state, however, that in addition to the above statement, the petitioners were shown a further document which developed the approach. This additional statement is set out in Appendix 1.

It is impossible to know how many of the signatories read, and fully support all of the detailed objectives of the group, but it is safe to assume that there is wide support for the generality of the statements.

The petition was acknowledged by the Director of Community Services, who pointed out that the petition raised issues which were beyond the sole remit of the Borough Council. In particular, cycling is a highly contentious issue which involves the County Council as Highways Authority, the Police, and the Borough (in areas controlled and managed by the Council). Additionally Members will be aware that cycling and related issues were strongly featured in the audit undertaken in preparation for the Crime and Disorder Audit undertaken in preparation for the Community Safety Strategy.

The Director of Community Services wrote to both Members and Officers of the County Council seeking their comment on the issues raised by the petition. Leading Members and senior Officers of this Council were also advised of the petition, and asked for any strong views.

The Assistant Director of Communiity Services (Leisure) has held a meeting with the main organiser of the petition, in an attempt to refine the issues that the petitioners feel should be addressed.

As a result of these discussions the following list of major issues were highlighted:-

i) safer cycle routes to and from school
ii) cycle routes generally,
iii) cycle routes in parks,
iv) cycling on Goring greensward,
v) safe crossings for children/cyclists on major traffic routes,
vi) speed enforcement,
vii) cycling on pavements,
viii) seafront/promenade cycling route to be reinstated.

Quite clearly many of the above issues are principally the responsibility of other agencies, although the Borough Council does have an interest in all of them.

The report addresses each issue in turn below, and informs the Committee of responses received from external consultees on issues which are multi-agency.

Discussions have taken place with the Principal Transport Planner at West Sussex County Council concerning this nation-wide initiative. The County Council have indicated that they have set aside a small capital provision to support this initiative, although so far no schemes in Worthing have been identitied.

It is possible that a survey of Worthing schools will be undertaken in 2001/2002. This survey will involve secondary school pupils and junior school parents and pupils, with possible capital schemes being identified for the 2003/2004 financial year.

Most schemes under this initiative have so far been linked to trunk roads and major traffic routes. It is likely that any schemes in Worthing would concentrate on such areas, particularly if they are identified through the survey/consultation process.

As Members will be aware the Worthing Cycle Strategy has been agreed for public consultation in the summer, and quite clearly this is the appropriate vehicle for the development of further cycle routes within the Town. The County Council is looking to identify a programme of major cycle routes to be progressed one at a time over the following years. It is hoped that minor works such as cycle parking provision will continue in parallel.

The County Council would like ultimately to develop a network of safe and convenient routes for cycle access to places of work, schools, colleges, shops, leisure and sports facilities, the countryside and visiting friends. It is envisaged that these routes will be used by both adults and children, although it will continue to be the responsibility of parents to decide at what age their own children should we different parts of the network unaccompanied.

Progress towards this ultimate objective will be determined largely by financial and practical considerations, and quite clearly the final objective will take some years to achieve fully.

The County Council has recently completed the cycle route along the A259 (Goring to Ferring) as part of the speed reduction scheme, and they are also about to install the Goring to town centre route.

The Leisure Services Committee and its predecessor Committees have, in the past looked at the possibility of introducing a limited number of cycle routes through parks owned by the Borough Council. However, cycle routes through parks, in isolation do not achieve significant benefit unless it is possible to link them to other routes to and from final destinations. The Worthing Cycle Strategy referred to above looks at the possibility of linking parks and open spaces into cycle routes, wherever possible, and following the public consultation it will be open to the Committee to look at this issue again, and consider whether any of the potential routes through parks and open spaces should be completed in isolation. Obviously, previous experience in relation to potential conflict between pedestrians and cyclists will need to be resolved, and financial resources necessary to develop the routes with appropriate segregation between pedestrians and cyclists, if agreed will need to be allocated.

The pedestrian route across the pitch and putt course at Brooklands was constructed to be wide enough for shared pedestrian/cyclist usage. The route is already used by cyclists many of whom are accessing the Lancing Industrial Estate. If the Leisure Services Committee is so minded, it may be possible to look at this route in isolation and consider any necessary additional accommodation works which might be necessary.

This issue is partly linked to the above, and also to cycling on the seafront/promenade at 4.8 below. Cycling on the greensward itself is not currently a problem, although it could in theory be prevented by the application of parks and open spaces byelaws. There may, ultimately be potential conflicts with other uses/users, and the Committee will need to keep this situation under review in the future.

The County Council has indicated that safe crossings for cyclists will normally form an integral part of the cycle routes in the network agreed as part of the Worthing Cycle Strategy, rather than being considered as isolate proposals. The County Council have indicated that a new crossing has recently been installed on the Littlehampton Road, and that work is proceeding on pedestrian crossings for West Parade and Rectory Road. The County Council will continue to respond to requests for crossings on the basis of demand and available resources.

The issue of vehicle speed is entirely a matter for the Sussex Police, but Members will be aware from recent press coverage that more robust enforcement by the Police has been agreed, and new policies are currently being implemented. It is hoped that this will have an impact on the issues raised by VOCAL.

Again this is principally a matter for the Police, but this is an issue on which there are very strong feelings. The issue of cycling on pavements is regularly raised at public meetings, and was high on the list of concerns identified through the Crime and Disorder audit. It is hoped that the development of convenient, safe cycle routes will ultimately have an impact upon the extent of illegal cycling on pavements, but in the meantime enforcement of the law in this regard rests with the Police.

The issue of the South Coast Cycle Route, and whether it should include any of the promenade is dealt with extensively in the Cycle Strategy Review document. It is intended by the County Council that this should be a central part of the cycle strategy consultation over the sumner period.
Members will be aware that this remains an issue on which there are deeply divided views within the Town. It will inevitably be a matter for further debate and discussion prior to any final resolution.

In addition to the above issues specifically highlighted in meetings with the organisers of the petition, there are a number of peripheral points raised which Members may wish to consider.

The petition mentions facilities for rollerblading. Members will be aware that, at present, roller blading/skating is expressly permitted on the promenade. In addition it is envisaged that the new skateboard facility in Homefield Park will be useable by rollerbladers and skaters as well as skateboarders. The new facility, costing in excess of £50,000, and grant aided by the National Lottery will be opened on        2000 by the Mayor.

The petition also raises general provision for childrens play, and Members of Leisure Services Committees will be aware that an annual capital expenditure of £50,000 is currently committed to improving and extending childrens play facilities within the Borough.
In addition, a new "commuted payments scheme" will ensure that developers of new housing contribute fully towards the provision of childrens play facilities needed to support their scheme.

It is clear that a number of the issues raised by the petition are actively under consideration by the various agencies, although it is acknowledged that development will take time to bring to fruition.

Quite clearly VOCAL should be referred to the consultation exercises due to take place in respect of both the Worthing Cycle Strategy and the Safe Routes to School, to which they should respond fully.

The Committees are recommended to note the report.