St Gregory’s Primary raises fears over risk to pupils, parents and staff due to housing development road changes

St Gregory's Primary says straightening Manston Road will mean a risk of speeding vehicles

St Gregory’s Primary School has voiced major concerns about road lay out changes connected to a 250-home development which they claim will put the safety of pupils, parents, and staff at risk.

The development off Nash Road, originally submitted by Piper Developments but now headed by Bellway Homes, is for 45 x 1 and 2 bed apartments, 65 x 2 bed 110 x 3 bed and 30 x 4 bed homes.

It includes:

  • A new link road between Nash Road and Manston Road, with new roundabout on Manston Road for access into the site (and new service road for properties on Manston Road) and alteration to Nash Road to bring road directly through the site.
  • Closure of Nash Road arm of Coffin House Corner, meaning Nash Road only links to Empire Terrace and not via junction with Shottendane and Hartsdown Road, with changes to signalling.
  • Change in road layout at Manston Road/Shottendane Road junction.

The  “link road” will be between Manston Road and Nash Road and the development includes 546 car parking spaces on site and 10 school drop-off bays.

Permission for the scheme was initially approved for Piper Developments in 2017 but a request to reduce affordable housing was submitted the following year. Final approval was given in February 2022.

St Gregory’s staff and families say fundamental changes to the road layout near the school will cause problems for current vehicle and pedestrian access and there will be a danger of speeding vehicles in front of the school.

A school spokesperson said: “It is inevitable that a straighter Manston Road will lead to cars travelling at increased speed right in front of the school, which would spell increased danger to parents, pupils and staff when arriving and leaving the site, as well as to other motorists using the road.

“The developer’s solution is to create a new pedestrian access within the neighbouring housing estate. This plan is far from ideal as not only would children’s safeguarding be compromised, but also pupils and visitors would have to walk across a muddy field to reach the school.”

The spokesperson says school representatives met with developers on 29 March and were promised further information but have not yet received anything.

They say there are a number of safeguarding and security issues for the school which have been raised by the proposal and if they are not resolved there will be serious consequences to the way the school is able to operate.

The school is asking Thanet council and the developer to meet and discuss the issues.

A Thanet council spokesperson said: “The owners of St Gregory’s school have contacted us and we are speaking to them about the proposed development of the Nash Road site.

“The planned layout is currently being considered by the council. The application reference is R/TH/23/0156. This application does not include works to the highway.

The highways works were approved following public consultation and discussion with Kent County Council Highways. Further highways works will be subject to agreement between the developer and KCC.

A Bellway spokesperson said: “Outline planning permission was granted on February 2, 2022, for 250 homes.

“Importantly, this permission approved details of the site’s access arrangements and required off-site highway works, including changes to the prioritisation of the Shottendane Road/Manston Road junction.

“Bellway has submitted a reserved matters application to Thanet District Council. The proposal is fully in accordance with the permitted arrangements and Bellway has held two meetings with St Gregory’s School representatives to discuss this further.

“We will continue to work with all parties moving forward.”

 

3 Comments

  1. Would not a new entrance/exit onto the housing development for the school be a potential possibility with the costs be covered by the developer. This would also require a pelican crossing to be installed on the new road as well.

  2. These developers promise to build many things from primary schools doctors surgeries,community centres shops ,when they put in for planning permission ,but these things never materialise,when building comes around,can anyone name one ,development where this has happened,So the chances are they will not do nothing here ,but you can hope ,but they won’t

  3. Development consent is too freely given by TDC planning staff. There are many hideous and traffic jam causing developments on the go already.
    They should develop all the derelict wasteland sites first before creating new estates on the fields.
    And No, I haven’t seen any developer promises of infrastructure coming true, not even the trees and green spaces. They always promise so much to get past the feeble TDC planning process then they renege on it with rubbish excuses. If they cannot get their figures right first time then they cannot be good companies to deal with so TDC should remove the consents already given. The developers know how to play this game, unfortunately TDC doesn’t.

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