Green light for primary school expansion but timing of traffic surveys criticised

PLANNING permission to increase the size of Forest and Sandridge Primary School has been granted by Wiltshire Council, despite strong opposition from local councillors and concerned residents. 

Neighbours say the roads around the school are already ‘extremely congested’ and ‘dangerous’ and wouldn’t be able to cope with the additional traffic caused by an increase in the number of pupils attending the school.  

Further criticism has come after it was revealed that Wiltshire Council had undertaken traffic surveys at the school during school holidays and while pupil attendance was staggered due to Covid restrictions. 

Approval has been given by Wiltshire Council for four additional classrooms, a studio space and a remodelled nursery. The school has said that the expansion will support the school to increase its reception intake from 60 to 75, resulting in a “small and gradual” growth of the school, which currently has approximately 420 pupils.   

At Wiltshire Council’s Western Area planning committee meeting, cllr Jon Hubbard, in his role as a town councillor, urged councillors to refuse the application, emphasising the town council’s concern that there have been ‘considerable’ highway issues since the school opened.  

He also criticised the evidence used to support the planning application, highlighting that photos of the roads around the school were taken during the school holidays.  

He said, “If the photos had been taken during school pick up or drop off times, you would have seen the road snarled up with queues going as far back – at worse times – as far back as Eastern Way.”  

Cllr Hubbard also noted that the application’s transport statement – which says that ‘no highway problems or issues were observed’ – was done during ‘Covid times’ with staggered pick up and drop off time; when there was a second entrance on Snarlton Lane; and when some classes/ bubbles were not attending school because of Covid.  

“So, at no point when the planning process has been going through for this school,” said cllr Hubbard, “has highways’ officers actually been able to consider this [application] under normal operating circumstances, let alone what it would be with 25% more students and a significant increase in vehicles.”  

Cllr Hubbard also expressed the town council’s disappointment that Wiltshire Council was considering creating more school places at Forest and Sandridge School, rather than building a new primary school at the Pathfinder Place development in Bowerhill.  

Wiltshire councillor, cllr David Vigar, who is a Western Area planning committee member, also criticised the ‘quality’ of the highways team’s advice in the report, describing it as ‘ambiguous’ and with ‘no clear evidence’ about the impact the extension will have on traffic.  

However, cllr Vigar said that he could not see an ‘overwhelming reason’ to refuse the application and joined his fellow committee members to unanimously approve the plans. The committee did add that they will encourage the school to engage with Wiltshire Council’s highways team to discuss implementing a staggered drop-off and collection times for parents to reduce car parking congestion along the public highway.  

Local Wiltshire councillor, Mike Sankey, who had put forward his own ideas to ease the traffic problems told Melksham News, “I am disappointed that there was a missed opportunity to demonstrate a bit of joined up thinking regarding the school extension.  

“I am sure the school would wish to be good neighbours and surely won’t dismiss residents’ and parents’ concerns, nor the chance to resolve the issues surrounding pupil drop off and collection.  It is not too late for the school to do the right thing, even though this wasn’t imposed on them as a planning condition as I had hoped.  Time will tell.”  

In response to questions from Melksham News about the planning committee making its decision based on information that does not give an accurate picture of the traffic problems at the school, Wiltshire Council’s cabinet member for strategic planning, cllr Nick Botterill said, “Members of the Western Area planning committee, which determined this planning application, had the opportunity to read all agenda papers and relevant officer reports information ahead of the committee meeting on 11th May.  

“Before making a decision, they also heard from the planning case officer, who provided a verbal and visual presentation that addressed all of the material planning considerations. This included the consultation response provided by the highways authority and the concerns raised by Melksham Town Council, the local ward member and local residents about existing traffic associated to school opening and closing times.  

“Council officers visited the site three times to assess the application, and they are satisfied that the applicant’s statements were sufficient to fully appreciate the proposals and the impacts.  

“The committee resolved to approve the expansion of Forest and Sandridge School with a condition that obligates the school to implement the travel plan submitted and approved as part of the application. The travel plan has been developed in liaison with the council’s school travel plan advisor and will help ensure that any issues arising are mitigated as best as possible.   

“Based upon the guidance in the National Planning Policy Framework, council officers do not believe that the application would warrant a highways refusal.”