Davyhulme Primary School Expansion Proposals

Results updated 16 Jan 2023

Davyhulme Primary School Expansion Update - 16 January 2023

We would like to update you on the proposal made last year regarding the physical expansion of Davyhulme Primary School.

As you know the Council held an informal consultation in July 2022.

The Planning Application was then submitted in October 2022 and is waiting for further information before it can be determined. If you wish to review the planning application it can be found on Trafford Council’s public access database using the following reference number;

Ref No. 109348/FULL/22

The local authority was progressing the proposal to expand Davyhulme Primary School from 70 to 90 pupils per year group, starting from the reception cohort in September 2024. This was intended as a longer term strategy to meet the future projected growth indicated by pupil forecasts completed back in 2020/21. A recent review of pupil forecasts indicates an improved sufficiency position in the Urmston area and so the council has now taken a decision to pause this project once a planning decision is received, with a commitment for the sufficiency position to be reviewed again in April 2024. If future demand for places indicates expansion is required in this area, the proposal will be stepped back up.

 

This may come as a disappointment to some but it was felt that this was the most appropriate stage to pause a building project.

All further updates will be made on this page.

 

Comment on planning application - updated 2 November 2022

This scheme has now been submitted for planning permission and is available to view on Trafford Council’s planning portal. You can view the documents by clicking on the full link below or entering the following planning application reference number via the Simple Search tool:

 

Planning Application Reference Number: 109348/FUL/22 

Simple Search (trafford.gov.uk)

 

109348/FUL/22 | Erection of 2no proposed extensions to create additional classrooms to facilitate school becoming 3FE, along with an increase in car parking on site and other external alterations. | Davyhulme Primary School Canterbury Road Davyhulme M41 0QR (trafford.gov.uk)

 

Planners will write out to nearby properties but formal comments can also be made online via the following link:

Comment on a planning application (trafford.gov.uk)

 

Alternatively you can write to:

Planning and Development

Trafford Town Hall

Talbot Road

Stretford

M32 0TH

Please quote the planning application number and include your full name and address with your comments.

 

Davyhulme Primary School Expansion Consultation Comments and Responses

On Thursday 14^th July 2022 stakeholders were invited to an informal consultation event at the school. They were shown proposed plans and invited to comment, the same plans were then available to view online via the Council’s Citizen Space Consultation Hub from Friday 15th July 2022. The informal consultation then closed on Friday 29^th July 2022.

Summary.

45	people attended the above consultation event
27	written comments were received
14	in favour
8	not in favour
5	not sure
Below totals the number of comments on;
15	Traffic, congestion and parking
8	Construction and access
4	Benefits to school and community
6	Pupil numbers & education
3	Disruption & safeguarding
3	Timescales
2	Adjacent park and community centre
1	Active travel – cycling/scootering/walking
1	External areas and biodiversity
2	Sustainable features

 

All written comments received by the closing date (in bold) and responses (in italics) from the education, school and design team present at the consultation follow below.

There will be another opportunity to comment when the application is submitted for planning permission in September. All consultees will be informed when the application is validated with instructions on how to comment.

 

Comment 1 – Feedback form

Thank you for your time. The proposals seem right for the school and in keeping with the current style.

Can the containers please be painted as the paint seems to have run. I hope the foxes, bats, birds and trees will remain; they are important.

The contractor is aware of the importance of the existing ecology on the site. Ecological surveys at the school are on going and findings / recommendations will be implemented accordingly. Works will be undertaken outside of the appropriate nesting seasons and comply with all relevant legislation regarding protected species etc.

Comment 2 - Email

I have just looked at the published access plans for DPS at plan-9---proposed-site-access-plan.pdf (citizenspace.com)

 

When we discussed this, I believe XXX and I were told that access to works traffic would be controlled by a banksman arrangement to allow normal public access for park visitors and people with business at the community centre.

 

These plans seem to show that the road will be restricted during normal working hours can you please clarify the arrangements for us so that we can provide feedback.

The plans also show that people wanting to walk or cycle the length of the path will be diverted onto the field. This feels unacceptable to me. That field will be very wet most of the year and not suitable for foot or bike. I think this aspect needs to be rethought.

 

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project. All construction vehicles will be limited to rigid size vehicles and turning of vehicles will be undertaken within the site boundary to ensure safe forward-facing access and egress from site.

All deliveries will be co-ordinated outside of peak school drop off / collection hours.

Comment 3 – Citizen Space

I love the fact you are investing in this local outstanding school, providing access to more children in the local community to outstanding facilities and teaching. I’m sure all residents and the local community can deal with the small disruption for a mere 9 months, knowing that’s it’s for the greater good of our future generation!

Comment 4 – Citizen Space

Great idea, will really help with admissions

Comment 5 - Citizen Space

It is great to see provisions being made for more school places.

I believe there is however a missed opportunity to add secure cycle parking for children and staff.

Trafford council has declared a climate emergency and yet there is nothing about active travel or more sustainable ways of construction in these plans.

The school will be updating its Travel Plan which will describe how they plan to encourage more active travel amongst the staff and pupils.

Part of the proposals will be to provide cycle/scooter storage for the additional pupils and staff.

In terms of sustainability, the initial strategy is to heat the new blocks with heat pumps to move away from gas boiler heating. The design team are also looking at introducing solar panels to off-set the increased electrical demand. Further sustainability measures may be introduced where deemed suitable for this site.

Comment 6 - Citizen Space

The general proposals seem great for the local community providing more places in a good school.

The only 2 concerns I’d like to raise are around parking.

Firstly, with the increase in pupils this will increase volume of cars in the area during school run time. Are the school making adequate provisions to ensure parents are parking sensibly and not blocking drives, parking on corners etc.

There has recently been an increase in cars from the school parking all day on Canterbury Road. More staff and visitors within the school could increase this.

Secondly, just to ensure that during the construction, work vehicles are parking within the school grounds and not parking outside residential properties.

Traffic and inconsiderate parking are an understandable concern and an issue outside every school at drop off and pick up times. The school will be updating its Travel Plan which will describe how they plan to encourage more active travel amongst its staff and pupils and reduce the number of car journeys to the school. There is a plan to increase the number of parking spaces for staff and visitors to the school as part of this expansion proposal.

All contractor parking as part of the construction process will be housed on site in a designated area with instruction to all operatives that off site parking is strictly prohibited.

Comment 7 - Citizen Space

Concerns for noise and disruption for existing student. Will all contractors have DBS checks? As a local resident I have concerns with regards for additional traffic and the impact this will have long term, will there be any plans to reduce car traffic or offset additional pollution?

The contractor will enclose the site boundary with Heras fencing with debris netting. At key interfaces between the school and the site, additional measures such as solid hoarding / boarding will be in place to minimise any disruption to school activities.

All contractors’ staff will have DBS checks, and our site and operatives will be segregated from the live school environment. Our site accommodation will have independent toilet facilities and offices during the course of the works.

The school will be required to update its Travel Plan which describes how they plan to encourage more active travel amongst its staff and pupils and reduce car journeys to the site, this will have the co-benefit of reducing air pollution in the local area.

 

Comment 8 - Citizen Space

I feel the school can take on the capacity without any negative impact to my children. I would however like to know what the. Re catchment would look like and where these children would be coming from?

There are no plans at present to change the catchment area. 140 pupils come from the fact that Davyhulme Primary School currently admits 70 pupils per year group which equates to 2.5 forms of entry, 490 pupils in total. The Council’s strategy is to remove mixed age classes where possible and move to whole forms of entry. Therefore, the expansion would increase the size to 3 forms of entry which gives 90 pupils per year or 630 in total. The difference between the two is 140 pupils.

This does not mean that 140 extra pupils would turn up at the school, but it allows the school to offer 140 extra places (across 7 year groups) resulting in a gradual increase of 20 pupils per year over the next 7 years.

Comment 9 - Citizen Space

Although my child will have left Davyhulme Primary school when the work is complete, we are also a local resident already affected by traffic during school drop off and pick up, witnessing daily Canterbury Rd being brought to a standstill by parent carer vehicles and roads congested with parked parent carer vehicles. Another 140 pupils will add even more traffic. There is potential risk to children's safety, particularly Canterbury Road, Rochester Road, Furness Road.

Our area already has poor air pollution who will the increase in pupils affect this further.

The school will be required to update its Travel Plan which describes how they plan to encourage more active travel amongst its staff and pupils and reduce car journeys to the site, this will have the co-benefit of reducing air pollution in the local area.

Comment 10 - Citizen Space

Understand the need for the extension but to use the road up to the community centre and the park fields seems dangerous to say the least the road can be a bad to get in and out of at the best of times with the traffic on it now to add construction traffic to this seems an accident in waiting because as much as you can try to plan for it to be used at certain times by the contractors you cannot always rely on this due to hold ups on the roads or at yards picking up supplies and Children walk along this road to and from school, nursery and play group to Winchester Road and surrounding areas.

People walk up and down this road on the way to and from Urmston not to mention the dog walkers, park users and community centre users of all ages the mud alone on the road would be highly dangerous without the traffic.

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project. All construction vehicles will be limited to rigid size vehicles and turning of vehicles will be undertaken within the site boundary to ensure safe forward-facing access and egress from site.

All deliveries will be co-ordinated outside of peak school drop off / collection hours.

Comment 11 - Citizen Space

There is obviously a need for more school places to be available.  A lot of parents who are just out of the school catchment are very disappointed that their children cannot get a place.  Davyhulme school is very lucky to have spacious grounds to accommodate these extra children.  I do hope these plans go ahead.

Comment 12 - Citizen Space

I support the plans which have little long-term impact on residents living in surrounding properties. As a parent of a daughter who will potentially start at the school in 2023, I support the extra provision of classrooms to enable class sizes to reduce and remove the mixed classes.

I understand there will be a short-term impact from construction traffic which is fine as long as it's carefully managed and it sounds like there is a plan in place. However, I also would like to comment to ensure there is a consideration for any increased traffic longer term from the increased intake. If the catchment area increases, there is a potential for more parents to travel by car to drop kids off at school and it is already very congested at pick-up and drop-off.

I support the use of solar panels on the roof of the school and hope the extension could be seen as an opportunity to retrofit other areas of the school to increase its green credentials.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where an expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car. This is also more sustainable and contributes towards the Climate Emergency and drive towards net zero.

Comment 13 - Citizen Space

I live on XXX. I have problems with many inconsiderate parents parking across my driveway, parking at the corners of Tewkesbury Ave, parking on the pavement where I can’t even push my pram from Canterbury road to Tewkesbury without having to endanger my child as I have to push pram onto road to get home as I can’t get my pram past the parked cars on the pavement. Any extension would just make parking around the school much worse.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where an expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

Your comments will also be seen by the highways, traffic and road safety teams so they are aware of the current issues with parking in the area.

Comment 14 - Citizen Space

Attended meeting on the 14th of the month and was extremely disappointed that there was no representation from the council or highways department. I live opposite the proposed access road, which I understand to be unfit for purpose at the moment, i.e., the surface would not cope with the heavier vehicles needed to supply the construction team on site. However, I would be prepared to accept the inconvenience for the proposed 12-month period as long as it is managed properly, and the roads are returned to a good standard when work is completed. My concern is long term with the amount of traffic visiting the school on a regular basis. The proposal allows an additional 9 parking spaces. However, the head of school has already confirmed 8 further teachers would be required plus a further 8 assistants …. that’s a possible 16 additional spaces required. At present teachers/assistants have no room to park and use Canterbury Road to park their cars for the day. It is total bedlam at drop off and collection times with noise (slamming car doors, shouting & mobile phones) pollution from car engines running and cars parked with no consideration for residents, on pavements, corners, verges, across driveways and on double yellow lines. The present capacity to police the situation is obviously non-existent.

I would like some clarification on the increase in the total numbers of new pupils and hence the increase in traffic volume, as the information we have received so far is slightly ambiguous with an increase of numbers between 90 and 140 and the proposal implies that work may continue over a six-year period.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations.  

140 pupils come from the fact that Davyhulme Primary School currently admits 70 pupils per year group which equates to 2.5 forms of entry, 490 pupils in total. The Council’s strategy is to remove mixed age classes where possible and move to whole forms of entry.  Therefore, the expansion would increase the size to 3 forms of entry which gives 90 pupils per year or 630 in total. The difference between the two is 140 pupils.

This does not mean that 140 extra pupils would turn up at the school, but it allows the school to offer 140 extra places (across 7 year groups) resulting in a gradual increase of 20 pupils per year over the next 7 years.

The construction work is expected to take 9 months.

Comment 15 - Citizen Space

I attended the meeting last week at the school about the proposed building of new classrooms.  I was disappointed that it wasn't a formal consultation, just an informal presentation of the plans.  This is the first I have heard of the plan; has it been submitted to the Planning Committee.  If it has, why haven't we been notified?  If not, can you ensure that I am told when it is submitted as I have concerns, I want to raise.   I am concerned that contractors have already been appointed, and access to the site considered, it seems like a done deal to me.

The road infrastructure around the school cannot cope with the traffic generated by parents dropping off and picking up children.  I live on Tewkesbury Avenue, XXXX the school, and it is gridlocked on school days in the mornings and the afternoons.  Many parents park on the pavement, denying safe access to pedestrians with mobility difficulties and parents walking with prams.  The double yellow lines at the beginning of the Avenue are ignored and parked on.  The school seems to take no responsibility for this and increasing the number of children at the school is just going to make things worse for residents.   Parents Park on both sides of Canterbury Road leaving very narrow access for other drivers, parents open doors onto the road making that narrow access worse.  

I know that when the contractors said site access will be managed, what they mean i is that they will have a banksman.  Indeed, the contractor present confirmed this.  Which means that when a delivery turns up the banksman will guide to and through the access, it doesn't mean there will be any control of the size of wagons delivering or where they turn for access.  It is a health and safety position to protect the delivery man not to ensure deliveries are made at appropriate time, or that residents are not disturbed by large deliver lorries, or the frequency of deliveries.

The path opposite Tewkesbury Avenue through to Winchester Road is an access road to the Community Centre but then becomes a public footpath.   If, as seems likely from the presentation of plans, this is to be used for contractors’ access, it is going to be extremely disruptive to residents on and off Canterbury Road, possibly Winchester Road, and to Davyhulme Park.    After all the wonderful and hard work of the Friends of Davyhulme Park, areas of the park are going to be disrupted deliveries and the noise of a building site.

When a school is considered for expansion, a report detailing the justification and funding source is submitted to the Executive team, which, if approved, moves to the next stage. We then progress to procurement stage in order to select a Design and Build contractor. This happened earlier in the year. We can only meet with stakeholders when there are design proposals to show, we hold an informal consultation at this stage to give stakeholders advance notice of the proposals before they are submitted to the planning department. This project will not be submitted for planning permission until September when a formal consultation will take place. All consultees will be notified by email of the planning application number which will also be published on the Citizen Space consultation site, so you will be able to comment again on the final plans.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations. 

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project. All construction vehicles will be limited to rigid size vehicles and turning of vehicles will be undertaken within the site boundary to ensure safe forward-facing access and egress from site.

All deliveries will be co-ordinated outside of peak school drop off / collection hours.

Wardens will register with the Considerate Constructors Scheme where they will make every effort to ensure their presence is as unobtrusive as possible and work with the community through newsletters to keep everyone informed and safe whilst the works take place.

Comment 16 - Citizen Space

I am broadly in favour of the proposals. However, I am concerned that more pupils will attend from outside the present catchment area. This will add to traffic on already congested roads. I am aware that despite the school's efforts the request for more parents to bring and collect their children on foot, has fallen on deaf ears.

I understand that the road/path which accesses the community centre, pre-school and park may have no or restricted access during the construction of the six new classrooms. I would not like to see no access and I would not expect a temporary path to be built on the park so walkers and cyclists can go between Winchester Road and Canterbury Road. This area of the park gets extremely boggy every year and is currently part of a re-wilding project with young trees having been planted recently.

Most primary school journeys are less than two miles; however, some parents choose to drive this distance to save time or when on their way to work. The school will keep trying to reduce car journeys and encourage active travel by cycling, scooting or walking. They will be updating their travel plan as part of this expansion to set out their targets toward more active travel. More cycle and scooter racks will also be installed as part of the plans.

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project.

Comment 17 - Citizen Space

I live on XXXX. The new classrooms are behind the school and will not be seen once the project is complete. Traffic and parking are usually gone by 9:00am in a morning. Afternoon parking is a bit more of a problem, but I have cars outside my door now. There cannot be any more cars outside my house, the extra cars will park further up the road. Builders traffic may be a concern, we will have to see. I don't expect it to be constant traffic once majority of the materials are on site.

All in all, I have no objections to the plans.

Traffic and inconsiderate parking are an understandable concern and an issue outside every school at drop off and pick up times. The school will be updating its Travel Plan which will describe how they plan to encourage more active travel amongst its staff and pupils and reduce the number of car journeys to the school. There is a plan to increase the number of parking spaces for staff and visitors to the school as part of this expansion proposal.

All contractor parking as part of the construction process will be housed on site in a designated area with instruction to all operatives that offsite parking is strictly prohibited.

 

Comment 18 - Citizen Space

I am concerned that your response to an 8.1 increase in the birth rate in Trafford pre-pandemic is to increase the numbers in several schools in the borough.  How are you going to address a potential increase in birth rate over the next 10 years?  You need birth rate figures for 2020-22.   How much long-term planning has been involved in the LA decision, is it a financial or best interest of children decision?  I lived in Salford for many years where their ongoing short-term planning destabilised the city.  I am aware that the school has difficulties with its intake years (for which there are other resolutions), but the LA approached them with this proposal and not as resolution to their problem. 

Trafford Council has a statutory duty to provide sufficient school places for all residents within the borough. In order to meet this duty annual pupil projections for the next 5 years are made taking into account GP registration data, migration rates, patterns of demand, expected pupil yield from housing developments and local knowledge. This is compared to capacity data to determine shortfalls and surpluses. Governance is through Trafford School Places Board and Trafford Place Shaping Boards who make recommendations to Trafford Executive. The Council’s strategy is to remove mixed age classes where possible. At Davyhulme Primary this will benefit the KS1 children by being taught as single aged classes and the KS2 children by reducing the class size from 35 to 30.

The housing around Davyhulme Primary school is a mix of older residents and young families, with houses selling within days, the demographics of the area show no sign of changing, so the numbers at the school will either remain steady or increase with local residents. 

There have also been a number of housing developments in the Urmston area which will attract more young families wishing to access the schools. This together with migration into the area has increased the demand for places in the Urmston area.

You mention good transport routes, so are obviously looking to bring children in from outside the area. These children are far more likely to be dropped off by car.  Neither the school nor Trafford Council take any responsibility for current parking for school drop offs and pick up, and the parking is dangerous in most of the avenues near the school; on pavements preventing access to pushchairs, wheelchairs and those with impaired mobility or vision, on double yellow lines on the corners of the roads where they meet Canterbury.  I have taken some photos if you want to see them. How are the Council going to address current let alone any increased usage?

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations. 

And finally, you are proposing 9 months of disruption to residents, particularly in Tewkesbury Avenue, Davyhulme Park where so much good work by volunteers has increased usage, the community centre and access to and on the public footpath.  A banksman will be concerned with helping deliveries access the compound, not ensuring that cyclists and pedestrians can use this footpath safely.  The noise and dust from the work will be disruptive to all the above mentioned and use of community resources is likely to drop, including all the goodwill work in the park. And recently resurfaced Tewkesbury Avenue is likely to be used as a reversing/turning point for delivery lorries. 

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project. All construction vehicles will be limited to rigid size vehicles and turning of vehicles will be undertaken within the site boundary to ensure safe forward-facing access and egress from site.

All deliveries will be co-ordinated outside of peak school drop off / collection hours.

Wardens will register with the Considerate Constructors Scheme where they will make every effort to ensure their presence is as unobtrusive as possible and work with the community through newsletters to keep everyone informed and safe whilst the works take place.

As this seems likely to go ahead, I strongly suggest you provide access to the site and compound from Winchester Road.  The path is wider at this end, traffic will not affect the community centre and the park, and the path will be much more useable. 

Winchester Road has been considered as an access route; however, it is deemed too narrow for construction vehicles.

In my view it is a short-term stop-gap plan that will be hugely disruptive to local residents and to the community facilities adjacent to the school.

Comment 19 - Email

I have looked at the plans online for the proposed expansion of Davyhulme Primary School, and have a couple of questions:

1) Will pedestrian access remain available all the way through from Canterbury Road to Winchester Road whilst the building work takes place?

 https://trafford.citizenspace.com/children/davyhulme-primary-school-expansion-proposals/user_uploads/plan-9---proposed-site-access-plan.pdf

Plan 9 doesn't make this clear; there is a green footpath line from Canterbury Road to the community centre and another from Winchester Road to the corner of the field in the park. It isn't clear whether you'll be able to walk straight through past the community centre here (on the existing path), or will you have to go round through the park (on the other side of the community centre)?

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road.

2) I understand that the proposals will lead to three classes of 30 in reception, year 1 and year 2. What will happen to the number of classes/class sizes in years 3-6 which I understand currently have 2 classes of 35 each; will they have three classes of 30 each as well, once the larger intake year groups make their way through? If so, will the proposals include enough classrooms to cater for this as well or will there be further building work planned in future?

The school currently have 15 classrooms, with the addition of 6 new classrooms they will have three classes for each of the 7 year groups = 21, which is sufficient for a 3 form entry school, so no further building work is planned. So yes, the two classes of 35 will move to three classes of 30 as the intake moves up the school.

Comment 20 - Email

We have been residents since 1973, what a change for the worse, parking is bad as it is

Traffic in the morning and afternoon is horrendous, i would advise you it is very dangerous

Also you have no consideration to elderly residents

Why has there been no planning notices

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations. 

The reason you have not seen any planning notices is because this proposal has not been submitted for planning permission yet. This is programmed to happen in September, when we will notify all consultees of the planning application number and how to comment.

Comment 21 - Email

I attended the consultation on July 14th for the expansion of Davyhulme Primary school as a neighbour. I have been involved in education in Trafford for over 40 years and am in favour of all for schools having better facilities, however I did have a few questions. My questions and concerns were responded to at the consultation but notes were not taken and they were not completely answered!

My first concern was where the extra 140 pupils are coming from as the birth rate is coming down. I understand it is a popular school and is oversubscribed, so if the children are being taken from the local area will this have a negative impact on other smaller schools nearby?

The birth rate is increasing in the Urmston area and reducing the vacancy rate. In 2021-22 there were very few places in the infant and upper junior year groups across schools in Urmston. The reason Davyhulme Primary School has been identified for expansion is because it sits centrally in the Urmston area, has a site large enough to accommodate an expansion and has mixed year groups which can be resolved by this expansion.

140 pupils come from the fact that Davyhulme Primary School currently admits 70 pupils per year group which equates to 2.5 forms of entry, 490 pupils in total. The Council’s strategy is to remove mixed age classes where possible and move to whole forms of entry.  Therefore, the expansion would increase the size to 3 forms of entry which gives 90 pupils per year or 630 in total. The difference between the two is 140 pupils.

This does not mean that 140 extra pupils would turn up at the school, but it allows the school to offer 140 extra places (across 7 year groups) resulting in a gradual increase of 20 pupils per year over the next 7 years.

 

I do think there is a need for a SEN unit at a primary school in the area but this would need to be backed up with appropriate follow on provision at secondary level. 

The west neighbourhood is currently served by 3 small specialist classes (SSC) at Acre Hall Primary School. There is an identified need for an additional primary SSC in either the north or west neighbourhood of Trafford. All primary schools have been invited to submit an expression of interest to deliver this. It will be funded through the High Needs Provision Capital Allocation and there will be a separate consultation about the proposed projects for this fund. Resourced provision in the secondary sector has been recently increased with additional provision at Lostock High School and Wellington School.

If the pupils are to be taken from a wider area public transport will not be an option for primary children so this will create a great increase in traffic with 140 extra pupils and more staff.

 There is already a problem with parking along Canterbury road, people parking on double yellow lines, blocking people's drives, diving along pavements and the road surfaces have been broken up on side roads with parents spinning to turn round. The surface on Wimborne Ave has not been redone since the 1930's and is in a dangerous state.

I wondered if resurfacing the surrounding roads, the building of a large lay by or staggered start and finishing times for the pupils might help alleviate some of the difficulties.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations.

Resurfacing of surrounding roads is a matter for the Highways team, who will be consulted on this proposal and see all the comments. The school may consider staggered start and finish times which does often help but could extend the busy period in the morning and afternoon.

Comment 22 - Email

Dear Councillors

On Thursday 14th July, in response to a letter to residents from the school, I attended what was termed a 'consultation' on plans to expand the school.  Not exactly a consultation, more a chance to look at the plans and ask a few questions of the planners, the contractor,  and the education representative from Trafford. 

I have concerns on a number of levels as outlined below.

Education  

I am aware that Education has received severe cuts over the year, as have local councils.  I do not believe that increasing school numbers is good for our children.  Schools rarely have the resources nowadays to support children and, the larger they get, that lack of support means that children are more exposed to bullying, to drugs in secondary schools, to lack of support for  pupils with mental and physical health  conditions,  to expulsion.  The pandemic caused a huge amount of stress for schoolchildren of all ages - we are not over it yet as current figures show.  The choice to home school in the UK increased by 34% in England 2020, which speaks volumes, our children should be educated well ina safe and supportive environment.  Traffords' current policy is to increase school sizes rather than new builds.    What is more important, our children or money?   If its money, it’s a short term answer, in my opinion.

Use of Access Road/Public Footpath

I live on Tewkesbury Avenue, opposite the public footpath between the school and Davyhulme Park.  If, as seems to the first choice, this access road and public pathway is used to access the builder’s compound, it will be a huge inconvenience to residents.  I have Stage 4 cancer with bone mets, I can't walk or cycle far and use this road for exercise and access to the shops and library in Urmston when the park is busy - I am also clinically vulnerable and have to take the greatest care when outside, covid figures are rising again and are likely to go up again in winter months.  I have a neighbour in her late 80s, who has had two hip replacement ops in the last 2 years and uses this path for early morning walks to improve her mobility, on a hard surface, and again in covid safety.  Residents of Tewkesbury Avenue use the path to access the community centre.   The paths in the park are not the best for people with mobility problems.   The park is filled with dog walkers early morning, schoolchildren later in the morning and in the afternoon, and increased use of the park with the huge improvements made by the Friends of Davyhulme Park volunteers.  The part of this path desiginated for people on foot will not be safe to use with huge lorries driving down to the compound. And if this path is used for access, lorries are going to be reversing into Tewkesbury Avenue on a regular basis, and probably at all hours.  

Road Safety

Neither the school, nor Trafford Council take any responsibility for parking at school times.  Parents park on both sides of Canterbury Road and in the avenues near the school leading off Canterbury Road.  They regularly park on the pavement and on double yellow lines.  Polite notices and some cut out figures of small children outside the school are not much use, the parents get as close as they can elsewhere.  We do not have good public transport access to the school, a bus stop on Crofts Bank and a very limited service on Winchester Road.  And I and other residents  often have to walk on the road as the gaps are too narrow to traverse.  Increasing the number of pupils, particularly if they are from outside the area of the school, is undoubtedly going to increase the volume of school related traffic and the dangers caused to local residents. 

 

It would seem that a contractor has already been appointed and that the public pathway is likely to be used.  I think that, as local councillors, you should be contacting all residents of Canterbury, Salisbury, Exeter, Tewkesbury, Rochester, Wimborne and Lichfield, and Winchester as the roads currently most badly affected by the school runs on these plans.  Particularly as one of you is Vice Chair of the Planning and Development Committee, and another a member of the Committee.   You manage to contact every resident when votes count, you may find that votes count if this goes ahead without proper consultation.  We need to know what is going on and we need to be kept informed.

Thank you for your email and the points you’ve raised. I will forward your comments to the relevant people. I also went to the consultation – I wasn’t sure if you realised that the proposals have not been to Planning Committee yet, have not yet been approved.

You can access more information about the proposals, including the proposed timeline here: Davyhulme Primary School Expansion Proposals - Trafford Council's Citizen Space - Citizen Space

Once the proposal comes to the Planning Committee, you will be able to voice your objections again, either in person or in writing.

We’re very aware of the problems caused by parents choosing to park inconsiderately outside many of our schools in Trafford, it’s something that comes up again and again, and we are trialling different solutions around Trafford. Once solution is creating 20MPH zones, another is creating school zones, that don’t allow parents to park in the road around school opening and closing times.

One of the benefits of the extra classrooms will be a reduction in class size, as well as creating single form entry – currently, classes hold children from more than one school year.

I understand your concerns about access to the park and to the community centre. I’ve been assured that any lorries will be controlled by a banksman, and that they will be operating during business hours, only. In fact, that can be one of the conditions imposed by the Planning Committee, should the proposal be approved.

I accept your point about consultations – I would hope that there will be more than one opportunity before the proposal reaches the Planning Application stage.

Best wishes,

Ward Councillor

Comment 23 - Email

I attended the meeting last week at the school about the proposed building of new classrooms.  I was disappointed that it wasn't a formal consultation, just an informal presentation of the plans.  This is the first I have heard of the plan, has it been submitted to the Planning Committee.  If it has, why haven't we been notified?  If not can you ensure that I am told when it is submitted as I have concerns I want to raise.   I am concerned that contractors have already been appointed, and access to the site considered, it seems like a done deal to me. 

The road infrastructure around the school cannot cope with the traffic generated by parents dropping off and picking up children.  I live on Tewkesbury Avenue, opposite the school, and it is gridlocked on school days in the mornings and the afternoons.  Many parents park on the pavement, denying safe access to pedestrians with mobility difficulties and parents walking with prams.  The double yellow lines at the beginning of the Avenue are ignored and parked on.  The school seems to take no responsibility for this and increasing the number of children at the school is just going to make things worse for residents.   Parents park on both sides of Canterbury Road leaving very narrow access for other drivers, parents’ open doors onto the road making that narrow access worse.  

I know that when the contractors said site access will be managed, what they mean i is that they will have a banksman.  Indeed, the contractor present confirmed this.  Which means that when a delivery turns up the banksman will guide to and through the access, it doesn't mean there will be any control of the size of wagons delivering or where they turn for access..  It is a health and safety position to protect the delivery man not to ensure deliveries are made at appropriate time, or that residents are not disturbed by large delivery lorries, or the frequency of deliveries. 

The path opposite Tewkesbury Avenue through to Winchester Road is an access road to the Community Centre but then becomes a Public footpath.   If, as seems likely from the presentation of plans, this is to be used for contractor’s access, it is going to be extremely disruptive to residents on and off Canterbury Road, possibly Winchester Road, and to Davyhulme Park.    After all the wonderful and hard work of the Friends of Davyhulme Park, areas of the Park are going to be disrupted deliveries and the noise of a building site. 

I ask that you keep me, personally, informed on anything to do with this, and that you, as local councillors, consider a proper consultation with local people, perhaps in the Community Centre and directed at those who live on Canterbury and the Avenues off, and Winchester.

Thank you for your email – I have passed it on to the schools projects team, as you make some valid points.

So far, the plans for this have not gone to Planning Committee, and as such, do not have planning permission yet. You can find out more here: Davyhulme Primary School Expansion Proposals - Trafford Council's Citizen Space - Citizen Space

Once the proposal comes to the Planning Committee, you will be able to voice your objections again, either in person or in writing.

We’re very aware of the problems caused by parents choosing to park inconsiderately outside many of our schools in Trafford, it’s something that comes up again and again, and we are trialling different solutions around Trafford. Once solution is creating 20MPH zones, another is creating school zones, that don’t allow parents to park in the road around school opening and closing times.

One of the benefits of the extra classrooms will be a reduction in class size, as well as creating single form entry – currently, classes hold children from more than one school year.

I understand your concerns about access to the park and to the community centre. I’ve been assured that any lorries will be controlled by a banksman, and that they will be operating during business hours, only. In fact, that can be one of the conditions imposed by the Planning Committee, should the proposal be approved.

I accept your point about consultations – I would hope that there will be more than one opportunity before the proposal reaches the Planning Application stage.

Best wishes,

Ward Councillor

Comment 24 – Citizen Space

I'm in favor of the school having an extension but am concerned about the amount of traffic. As we live on Tewkesbury Ave trying to get in and out of our road at school times is horrendous as it is also for the adjoining roads. It is sometimes not possible to avoid leaving home or returning at school times for instance when we have an appointment. What if any is going to be proposed for the extra traffic. Why can't we have double yellow lines at the top of the roads so that we have a better chance to get out of the road safely.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations. They will consider whether double yellow lines are necessary and consult with all concerned.

Comment 25 – Citizen Space

My greatest concern is the extra traffic this will cause to what is now mayhem at school time twice daily. It is almost impossible to get home or leave Tewkesbury Ave safely at school time now.  Some of us have been sworn at for daring to want to come home at school time. How there has not been a serious accident on Canterbury Road at home time is a miracle.

I think the school is a good school, in fact my own children attended there and a grandchild is due to start in September but he will be walked there and back. The traffic problem needs consideration especially at this planning stage.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments and give recommendations.

Comment 26 – Citizen Space

Canterbury Road is already a busy and saturated with traffic with existing pupils parents bringing the children to school and cannot cope with volume of traffic now

If you are going to offer children places in the school from all over Trafford this is definitely going to add to the volume of traffic on Canterbury Road

Residents now have their drives continuously blocked for our own access even though we have painted T bars

I think it would be more beneficial if the T bars were repainted as most of the existing ones have faded and are not recognisable

There a issues with traffic parking in Rochester Road, Tewksbury rd. , Exeter Road and Salisbury Road where traffic is parked on both sides of the road on pavements causing considerable damage to the pavement also there is the issue of getting Emergency vehicles and Refuse collecting vehicles down these roads at certain times of the day

Such is the volume of traffic on these roads and with additional traffic we are looking at a recipe for accidents to children

We concerned as to what the highways department of the council are going to propose if anything or are they going to turn a blind eye if any incidents minor or major before anything is done

I think there should be some sort of restrictions put in place regarding parking especially near the school and roads leading onto Canterbury road for certain times of the day to stop this parking except for residents

The council has put a speed restriction of 20mph , Road humps and yellow parking lines in place but nobody is ever around to police the council’s actions

We are also concerned about what the state of the road is going to be like such as a dirty mess with construction traffic wagon’s turning off Canterbury Road and the state of the access route by the community centre and the bottleneck it’s going to cause

Other issues like environmental with more 4 wheel drive and large diesel vehicles which more women seem to drive these days will have an effect on polluting the atmosphere plus they are more difficult to park.

The problem of traffic, congestion and irresponsible parking is a concern at most schools. Where a school expansion takes place, the school is required to provide a Travel Plan where parents and pupils are encouraged to adopt more active forms of travel and walk, cycle or scooter to school rather than use the car.

A traffic statement has also been carried out which will look at current traffic levels and future predicted levels and give recommendations. The Highways department will also look at the proposals and your comments regarding H bars and give recommendations.

The Council has a statutory duty to provide a school place for every child resident within the borough. Therefore, when planning school places each planning area is considered separately to ensure school places are provided within a reasonable walking distance. This is 2 miles for under 8 year olds and 3 miles for over 8-year-olds. Therefore pupils will not be coming from all over Trafford, just the local area.

The contractor’s intention is to maintain safe pedestrian access walkways for the full length of the proposed access road. This will fully segregate all pedestrians and vehicles on the road. Construction banksmen will take responsibility for the vehicle routes for construction vehicles. Parking immediately on the access road will be restricted for the duration of the project, however community centre parking will be maintained. The access way will be cleaned and maintained on a regular basis, with any defects made good on the completion of the construction project. All construction vehicles will be limited to rigid size vehicles and turning of vehicles will be undertaken within the site boundary to ensure safe forward-facing access and egress from site.

All deliveries will be co-ordinated outside of peak school drop off / collection hours.

Comment 27 – Citizen Space

The expansion by 140 pupils of Davhulme Primary seems to be way too many for the existing catchment area.

The suspicion is that the council is either going to ignore the catchment or expand it. In this case it would be inevitable that the extra pupils would be travelling further and this would attract much more road traffic to an area already suffering from school run issues.

I have already mailed XXX from Trafford Schools asking for an explanation but have not received a response so I must object to this expansion.

There are no plans at present to change the catchment area. 140 pupils come from the fact that Davyhulme Primary School currently admits 70 pupils per year group which equates to 2.5 forms of entry, 490 pupils in total. The Council’s strategy is to remove mixed age classes where possible and move to whole forms of entry. Therefore, the expansion would increase the size to 3 forms of entry which gives 90 pupils per year or 630 in total. The difference between the two is 140 pupils.

This does not mean that 140 extra pupils would turn up at the school, but it allows the school to offer 140 extra places (across 7 year groups) resulting in a gradual increase of 20 pupils per year over the next 7 years.

The Council has a statutory duty to provide a school place for every child resident within the borough. Therefore, when planning school places each planning area is considered separately to ensure school places are provided within a reasonable walking distance. This is 2 miles for under 8 year olds and 3 miles for over 8-year-olds. This expansion is to cater for the Urmston population so pupils are not expected to be travelling from outside the area.