Dismissive Council response - and missing complaints?

Cardiff Council have responded to the petition with the following e-mail. It came from Councillor Ramesh Patel (a Canton Ward Councillor, and member of the Fitzalan Governing Body who made the decision to move the end of their school day, and who was until recently Cabinet Member for Transport). It is copied here in full:- "Thank you for the petition which you presented to full Council on the 26th January 2017 regarding road safety outside Ysgol Pwll Coch and Fitzalan High School. I did notice however that the Petition did not contain any addresses or postcodes of the persons who signed it. I would confirm that Officers are currently undertaking a public consultation for a road safety scheme for Lawrenny Avenue. The scheme will include additional traffic calming measures, together with a 20mph speed limit. Additionally, the Council's Road Safety Education team are working directly with Ysgol Pwll Coch and Fitzalan High school to assist them in raising road safety awareness with pupils and parents. Indeed, Cardiff Council’s policy is to encourage and promote the increased use of sustainable travel modes, and it is important for us to get that message across to pupils and parents. Emphasis is placed on travel by active modes where this is possible, and on providing the facilities and opportunities at the school for students to travel by walking, cycling and public transport. Fundamentally, the reduction of congestion at the school gate is key to ensuring the safety of pupils and to mitigate the negative impacts on the local neighbourhood.We would suggest that both schools develop robust School Travel Plans and continue to work with their parents to take action to reduce the number of car journeys to the site.There are a number of initiatives that the schools could consider, such as BikeIt to increase cycling to school, the Park and Stride initiative and the Walking Bus scheme. In addition to the road safety measures proposed for Lawrenny Avenue, we are also currently investigating whether a footway link could be provided to the rear of Ysgol Pwll Coch, as this would provide an alternative route for pupils to enter the school. I trust this information is of assistance." This evasive response ignores the change in school hours as a factor in increasing congestion. The 'footway link' plan has been mentioned for years - and has now finally been costed - but no progress has been made. Unless the Council can give us a schedule for delivery, the rear footpath 'plan' is just a fob off. And despite lip service paid to 'sustainable travel modes', the Pwll Coch bus service was reduced in 2015 from two buses to one, to serve one of the largest primary school catchment areas in Cardiff. Consequently some children stopped using the school bus. Cycling is not an option for very young children on the busy main roads with very poor or non existent safe cycle lanes leading to Lawrenny Avenue. While I was waiting for a response to this petition, I uncovered something baffling. Cardiff Council produced a document last year called 'Transport Projects Investigations 2015'. 155 pages long, it is a "comprehensive investigation of road safety and accessibility issues" throughout Cardiff. It says "the investigations have taken into account new issues raised by Councillors and members of the Public, along with existing issues and areas of concern." Guess what's missing? Under 'Canton Ward', there are no concerns listed about traffic outside schools on Lawrenny Avenue. The 'rear footpath' is mentioned - but nothing about parking problems, increased congestion, or road safety issues. Yet all of these things were raised as areas of concern by parents and Pwll Coch governors in 2015. They contacted local Councillors, Cabinet Members, the Council Transport Dept, as a matter of urgency - so why is this not recorded in this document? Problems outside other schools are mentioned, recorded as areas of concern by members of the public. But there is no mention of any problems reported outside schools on Lawrenny Avenue. I'm trying to find out why. Meanwhile, if anyone would like to contact the Council themselves - Ramesh Patel has been replaced as Cabinet Member for Transport, Planning etc by Councillor Caro Wild. He can be contacted on caro.wild@cardiff.gov.uk, or on 02920 872631. Thanks, Helen.