H: I’m Hakeem.
N:
I’m Nichaela.
H: I see that work has started on the Homezone for College park at last.
It seems a long time since we first got to know about it.
N:
Yes, They’ve really done a lot on the corner of Ponsard Road. Have
you seen the raised platform they’re building?
H: Yes. Do you know what it’s for?
N:
It brings the road up to the same level as the pavement. It will be easier
for people with prams and disabled people to cross the road.
H: Do you remember when we started the project in Year 5? All the mosaics
we made, and the leaflets we helped to produce?
N:
Yes. The mosaics are up on the school wall now. They look great. Everyone
says how informative they are, and how they make people stop and think
about the area.
H: (To audience) Perhaps we should remind everyone what a Homezone is.
N:
A Homezone is a place where people take priority over vehicles. It’s
a safer environment because there are stricter traffic controls, such
as lower speed limits and traffic calming. It’s been proved that
slower speeds cause fewer deaths in road accidents, and at the moment
some people drive very fast around our streets.
H: That’s a very good thing to have near a school. At College park
we have had a say in what we would like in our Homezone.
N:
We’d like to tell you what the Council intend to do to make College
Park a Homezone.
H: The work will be carried out in 2 phases. Phase 1 will be completed
by April 2002, and Phase 2 by April 2004.
N:
There will be 20mph speed limits on all roads. The ways in and out of
College Park will have platforms at their junctions to slow cards down.
H: There will be Homezone signs to let people know that they are entering
a Homezone. We have sent lots of designs to John Birch, a Borough Engineer.
We have made them as bright and eye catching as possible. Our local Councillor,
Wesley Harcourt, asked us to do this for the Council.
N:
College Park is only 8 streets, bordered by the Harrow Road and Scrubs
Lane. It’s like a little village cut off from the surrounding area.
H: Many people use College Park as a Rat Run in the mornings to avoid
the traffic lights in Scrubs Lane. This makes more traffic. People who
work in the nearly businesses park here too, which makes the area very
crowded.
N:
At the moment there is a barrier across Waldo Road, but the traffic still
cuts through.
When Phase 2 is complete, it will be impossible to use College park as
a rat run.
H: An extra barrier will be put across Ponsard Road. This will divide
the area into two separate halves. It may be a bit difficult for the residents
but it will make the area quieter.
N:
We have thought that it would be nice to have some sort of sculpture to
mark the entrance into College Park.
H: We thought maybe an arch with “College Park Home Zone” on
it. We discussed this with Daria Wignall, Hammersmith & Fulham’s
Art Inspector.
N:
We talked to Alistair Lambert, an artist, and have lots of ideas, but
they will cost a lot of money and probably won’t happen.
H: We’re looking forward to the Homezone. We asked the residents
what they thought, and most of them were very positive about it.
N:
Some want residents only parking, because of all the cars in the daytime.
There are lots of dumped cars too, and if there was residents parking,
the wardens would spot these earlier.
H: As we said, we have produced a leaflet on the College Park Homezone.
After SATS we are going to deliver them to all people who live in College
Park. They can find out from our leaflet information about College Park
and how it’s changed these past years. Everyone will be aware of
what’s happening in their area and about the Homezone. You’re
welcome to have one as well.
N:
Don’t forget, our school is hosting an event soon. It’s to celebrate
the work that different schools have done on this “Safe Routes to
School” project. We will be telling schools about our project and
they will be doing the same. There will be entertainment
too!
H: We can give out our leaflets then. Thank you for your kind attention.
Discussing the progress of the College Park Home Zone plans with Steve
Beverley, H&F Travel Plan Co-ordinator and
Posing a question to the councillors in the Council Chamber
