Manorbier.com
North Norton
Manorbier
Tenby
Pembrokeshire
SA70 7SR
Councillor Mrs. Pat Griffthis
Rock Farm
Manorbier
Tenby
Pembrokeshire SA70 8QB
8th August 2002.
Dear Councillor Griffiths
Reference School Children Walking To Manorbier School On A 4139
I have recently received a copy of a letter ( 5th August 2002) from Mr. Nick Ainger MP that you sent him dated the 31 July 2002, regarding the safety of the children from Jameston to Manorbier school, and it would appear that your letter to me is directed as a form of criticism regarding my involvement in the provision of a safe route for these children in the community. And that you require me to reply to you direct.
It would also appear that you been misinformed, as there are a number of misconceptions in your letter, which I will attempt to rectify.
The first misconception is that at no time have I approached Councillor Calver or indeed any other community councilor regarding the above matter. You say in your letter that you are puzzled as to why I have not contacted you regarding this matter. Like you, I am also puzzled, and could argue that you should have contacted me to discuss this matter if you felt I should mind my own business and not get involved.
You quite rightly state that I have lived at North Norton for over twenty years, and as regard to the other council matter that you mention in your letter, I can only recall that this was some sixteen years ago and certainly not a recent event.
However I will endeavor to explain as to why I have raised the issue of the road now, and not before. You must surely recognize that over the last ten years the volumes of traffic that use this stretch of road out side my property have increased over that period, and at this time of year it can become a busy road. Over the last few years I have noted at various times the children walking to school and often thought I would not want my children to have to walk to school along this part of the road. Apart from myself, and Mr. & Mrs. Harvey of the Slough cottages, are most affected and are best placed to be able to comment regarding the problems on this stretch of road.
In January of this year I started to construct new walls into the entrance of my property, and subsequently as a result of working close to the edge of the road, I was able to witness first hand, on a daily basis, the real risk from passing traffic to the children of Jameston village, accompanied by there parents walking on a very narrow road with no footpath to and from Manorbier school. On a number of occasions I was able to witness the near misses of vehicles trying to pass these children often by inches due to there excessive speed on this stretch of road. In early February of this year I contacted a Mr. Andrew Merrimen a road engineer with Pembrokeshire County Council (PCC), with a request that he visit this location in order that I could discuss with him several issues that were of concern to me, regarding road safety and the drainage of surface water from the road etc, and to date I am still awaiting his visit.
In May of this year I attended a meeting at Manorbier village hall hosted by the regeneration unit of PCC. During the meeting Mr. Alex Allison made reference to the possibility of funds being available for various community schemes such as the provision footpaths as safe routes to schools and made specific reference to the highways safety officers that are employed by PCC.
After the meeting was over, I approached him to obtain further information, and he suggested J should contact one of the safety offices.
This was the reason why I made contact with Mr. John Gobble the very next day to ask him if would he visit this location and carry out a written risk assessment. Mr. Gobi initial reaction was to say that he was totally unaware that there were any problems with the children walking along the A4139 road to and from Manorbier school. He further said that he felt sure that if there was a problem it would have been conveyed to him by school headmistress or the school governors. However he did agree to make a site visit.
When he visited the location, his response was, that he could see the reason why I was concerned and without doubt something should be done to remove the risk. He also informed me that he had subsequently ascertained that the headmistress bad on a number of occasions raised her fears about the children walking to school, but had conveyed her concerns through the school governors. I said that I find it hard to believe that the community council or the school had not raised the issue of the road before. Particularly when some of the community councilors were also school governors.
He did at that time ask me if I had contacted the community council and councilor Griffiths, regarding this matter. My reply to him was that I had not contacted either party because I have very little confidence in the ability of the community council in dealing with what I perceive to be a major safety issue, especially if they are not able to recognize the problem in the first place.
In May of this year I discovered that there was a election for the community council, and decided to stand for election and to canvass the support of the people of the community with regard to this road issue. And in the process of canvassing I did in fact knock on your door to discuss this issue with you personally, but unfortunately you were not there.
During the election period I openly criticized the community council for not being more proactive it should not be the case that I personally should have to make an issue of road safety and try to motivate the councilors for there failings, and laid-back approach in dealing with this very important issue. And perhaps the councilors were more motivated by self interest only.
Regarding your comment that you have decided to ask the community council to write to him to see if he is willing to donate a strip of land in front of his property, I assume this would be a majority decision of the community council. In principle I have no objection to this providing this is not in isolation and is part of an overall improvement, and is linked to a road traffic management scheme i.e.: the introduction a 40 mph speed limit etc. Incidentally you might well find the recent House Of Commons Select Committee ninth report of sessions 2001-2002 regarding Road Traffic Speed particularly helpful regarding speeding in rural areas on school routes.
When I first went to see Nick Ainger on the 21st June 2002,1 did in fact say to him I might be shooting myself in the foot, because I might well be called on to provide land for the provision of a footpath.
As you have raised the issue of donating land I would also just like to take this opportunity to comment on this, regarding your comments in your letter about land being donated by Manorbier Nurseries.
Know doubt you are aware that this magnanimous gesture of the donation of a 2 meter strip of land had a certain conditions attached to the donation, I note that planning application No 02025 made by PCC, to the National Parks, states that it is the provision of a 2 meter wide foot way including entrance into future housing development and improvement of visibility on bend. Perhaps PCC will make a similar application on my behalf for future housing development if I donate a 2 meter strip of land to PCC, as per the Manorbier nurseries application. I'm sure you will advise me accordingly ?
I sincerely hope this explanation of the facts wilt clear up these misconceptions that you have, and I will categorically state that I have no hidden agenda, pecuniary, political, personal, or any other self interest to declare. My only interest is purely for the safety of the young children and parents who have to walk, to and from Manorbier school. I would therefore urge you into putting all of your efforts into providing a safe route for these children not only for the Jameston children but for all of the children in the Manoibier community and indeed all areas of Pembrokeshire.
Please, could further advise either Nick Ainger, or my self as to whether your letter is an official reply to the letter sent to Mr. Huw Roberts highways director of PCC on the 26th June 2002 asking him on his views on a risk assessment on the A4139. As to date despite of a reminder no reply or acknowledgment has been received. I look forward to your reply at your convenience.
Yours Sincerely
A. L. Wales.
c.c. Nick Ainger MP
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