To improve safety for the local community, especially children and young people attending nearby schools, we plan to install two crossings on Church Road, Ferndown. Construction would take place during the school summer holidays.
We also need to put in some parking restrictions to make sure drivers have a clear view of people using the crossings.
Additionally, safer entry will be enabled into the nearby Albert Road and the junction at St Mary’s Road will be narrowed to make it safer for young children and their parents/carers to cross.
About Church Road
Church Road is a vital pedestrian route, with three schools serving over 1,500 pupils. The high volume of traffic, averaging 8,000 vehicles per day, can make crossing the road challenging for those attending the schools and other residents using the route to visit the shops or other facilities.
The proposed crossings will be situated at two points along the road that enable safe and convenient access to the schools and the town centre route.
Proposals
- Install a parallel crossing along Church Road (near to its junction with Albert Road). A parallel crossing is similar to a zebra crossing but has a separate marked area from pedestrians for bicycles and mobility scooters
- Install a zebra crossing along Church Road (opposite numbers 30 and 43)
- Install double yellow lines along Church Road near the crossings to improve visibility for the crossing and the safety of pedestrians
- Install dropped curbs and tactile paving to form an uncontrolled pedestrian crossing along Library Road, Ferndown (at its junction with Albert Road) to allow cycles to enter Albert Road from Library Road.
- Narrow the St Mary’s Road junction to slow vehicles so it is easier and safer for people to cross the road, especially younger children attending the First School and their parents/guardians
The proposed scheme layout:
Have your say on the Traffic Regulation Order for proposed parking restrictions on Church Road
Have your say on the Traffic Regulation Order for proposed changes at the junction with Albert Road
Road safety
We understand there are reservations about the scheme’s impact on traffic flow. However, road safety is the overriding concern.
Our proposals aim to ensure a safer route to school, whilst also reducing congestion outside the schools.
Currently, some people choose to park outside the schools causing congestion, road safety concerns and inconvenience for residents.
These changes create a safer environment on the road by enabling parents and carers to park further from school entrances and walk the remaining distance.
With safer pedestrian and cycling routes to the school gates providing a genuine alternative for travel to school, we will be able to work with the schools and residents to reduce the impact of problem parking and congestion at school drop-off and pick-up time.
School crossing patrol
As there are currently no formal crossing facilities on Church Road, a school crossing patrol (lollipop lady) has been helping children to cross for some years.
We recognise she is much valued by the local community and very popular, and the potential removal of this role is a cause of local concern.
However, people cross the road all day, 365 days of the year, not just during school arrival and departure times and the crossings will provide a safer crossing at all times for everyone.
To provide reassurance and acknowledging the strength of community feeling on this issue, we will continue to fund the post until the end of the staff member's current temporary contract in September 2026, allowing everyone time to adjust to the new arrangements.
We will conduct a safety review after the crossings are installed and before the Easter holidays.
Funding for the Church Road improvements
This scheme will be funded from our annual capital allocation from the Department for Transport as part of our Local Transport Plan for Dorset.