The Borough Council of Calderdale made The Borough Council of Calderdale (Cornholme Junior, Infant and Nursery School) (Greenfield Terrace and Other Streets) Experimental Traffic Regulation Order 2022 (the “Experimental Order”) to improve road safety around the school.
High traffic levels outside of schools created congestion, compromised air quality, presented a problem in terms of road safety, as well as obstructing access for pedestrians, residents, buses and emergency services. Removing vehicular traffic from roads in the vicinity of the school entrances helped to make journeys to school safer and made active travel to school (cycling and walking) more appealing.
The primary aim of the scheme was to make an improvement to road safety from the perspective of pedestrians and cyclists – thus helping to promote a shift to more sustainable and active modes of transport. Schools were selected based on a range of criteria, including the schools’ pro-active engagement with schemes aimed at improving their pupils’ travel arrangements
Experimental scheme
Following reported concerns due to traffic volume, road safety and the effect on school bus access, we monitored traffic levels and pupil movement on the roads outside of the school.
Following discussion with the school and local council members we introduced the following experimental proposals. They are split into three elements (see plan below for further information): -
1. School Street
School Streets involve closing the road outside of a school to cars and other motorised traffic at school drop-off and pick-up times only, with the aim of transforming streets into temporary pedestrian and cycle zones.
The closure is in place for the whole length of Carrfield Villas and the northern section of Greenfield Terrace (after the junction with Lennox Road). This tackles the issues caused by excess school traffic at peak times (the start/end of the school day). The closures are only in place during the school opening and closing times – 8.40am to 9.10am and 3.10pm to 3.40pm (Monday to Friday).
The road closure is staffed by the school using road closed signage, barriers, and cones at the junction of Greenfield Terrace. Access is still be made available for permitted residents and emergency vehicles. Whilst residents of the restricted roads are asked to avoid entering and leaving during the closures, they are able to apply for a permit for use in unavoidable situations. These permits are free and can be applied for from the Parking permits page.
2. One way street
To improve traffic flow (including access for the school bus) the whole length of Carrfield Terrace was changed from a two way road, to a one way route (flowing from west to east). Note that this is active permanently, it does not change throughout the day.
3. Parking restrictions
To improve visibility for pedestrians at junctions and improve access for the bus, “No Waiting and No Loading at any time” restrictions are included at some junctions. Please note that these are also in place at all times.
The Legal Order
The experimental scheme was supported by an Experimental Traffic Regulation Order (ETRO). The ETRO lasted for the maximum of 18 months. During the first six months of the experiment, there was an opportunity for people to contribute their views and anyone who was opposed to the restrictions continuing on a permanent basis could submit an objection.
The Council considered an experimental order to be appropriate because the implications of the scheme for the surrounding road network were uncertain when implemented. As such, the impact of the experiment was reviewed, monitored and assessed whilst the order was in operation; the ETRO allowed the Council to react more quickly if circumstances require the measures to be modified or removed.
The ETRO and the experimental proposals came into place on 17th October 2022.
At the end of the experimental order, the TRO Governing Body considered the responses received and a decision has been made to make the Experimental Order permanent. The minutes of the meeting and reasons for over-ruling any objections will be published on the website shortly on the TRO page (the 10th April 2024 meeting).
Supporting documents
Full details of the scheme can be found in the supporting documents below.
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These documents are also available for inspection at Halifax Central Library, Halifax, HX1 1QG, from 10am to 4pm on Mondays to Saturdays. Alternatively copies of the documents are available on request via proposedtro@calderdale.gov.uk or telephone 01422 288001 or 288002
What happens next?
Any person who wishes to question the validity of the new Order or of any of its provisions on the grounds that it or they are not within the powers conferred by the Act, or that any requirements of the Act or of any instrument made under it have not been complied with may, within six weeks from the date on which the Order was made (i.e. from 10th April 2024), apply to the High Court for that purpose.