Representation by Royal School for the Deaf Derby (Royal School for the Deaf Derby )
- Date submitted
- 23 July 2019
- Submitted by
- Members of the public/businesses
Royal School for the Deaf – Derby A38 Junction Improvements Please find an outline of all principle submissions that we intend to make in relation to this application. Royal School for the Deaf Derby is a unique provider of day and residential placements to deaf children and young people (CYP) from a nationwide catchment area. A growing number of children have complex educational needs and over forty percent of CYP are placed by Derby City. It is a vital asset to CYP, parents and carers, Local Authorities and wider stakeholders including the Deaf community, children’s commissioners. As a registered charity with a sole income made up of placement fees agreed under placement agreements with placing partners it is essential that any disruption does not jeopardise the School’s ability to demonstrate it is a going concern, fulfil its contractual duties and retains all CYP placements. As a small school the loss of only a handful of placements could jeopardise its financial sustainability. The following actions would allow for the school’s day to day operations to continue. • The erection of a noise attenuation barrier which would double as a security fence along the north western boundary of the blue temporary possession land. This would ideally need to be constructed on ‘day one’ of the project, before the demolition of the houses. It is important that there is as little noise disruption as possible and that security can be maintained throughout the school including the integrity of the school boundary for safeguarding reasons. The barrier would be 4 meters in height and be as aesthetically pleasing as possible in keeping with the current wildlife friendly green and leafy campus so enjoyed by CYP. Proposed materials include wood, metal or plastic and a combined bund with a smaller barrier on top. There should be potential for planting, artwork and for bats to roost. In terms of the maintenance of the noise barrier, it is thought that this should fall to Highways England. • There are concerns that the pond at 4/7d may surcharge with the additional flow from the highways and create a maintenance liability for the Royal School for the Deaf. • Fire hydrants and all other services to the school need to be continuous throughout the works. The switching over of major services would need to be done during school holidays to minimise inconvenience and ensure continuity of everyday activities at the school. • The school has a sensory garden which is located approximately within 4/7c and 4/11. This will need to be relocated and reconstructed. The cost of this will need to be covered within the disturbance or equivalent reinstatement claim. • There are concerns relating to the need for continued access to the school. Access will need to be maintained at all times barring necessary periods for tarmac laying etc. During such periods, alternative access will be needed. The alternative access should be suitable with sufficient width access gates, a sufficient deceleration lane and good visibility. Additionally, if works which impact the access could again be done during school holidays that would greatly minimise the impact on the school. It is also of merit to note that some CYP travelling to and from the school require medical interventions. It is crucial that any disruption to traffic flow is kept to an absolute minimum. Should there be any disruption, that the School has plenty of notice to make suitable arrangements. This is also true of bus routes to allow Post 16 young people to attend external providers such as Derby College. • It will need to be ensured that the A38 can be crossed safely by pedestrians and that that the area is well lit. • The school would like to retain the old Victorian gates which leading to the current Queensway slip road are to be removed for future use. • The School would like to maintain the current “Mundy” wall running along its boundary with Ashbourne Road and note verbal reassurances that should this be taken down it will be restored in keeping with its former character. • Royal School for the Deaf Derby stakeholder meetings to address concerns specific to the school community which are accessible to Deaf people and monoglot British Sign Language users together with photomontages to ensure information is visual and can be accessed by all. • The provision of a stakeholder liaison officer during the work to provide timely information to the School throughout the works supported by a British Sign Language Interpreter. • Reassurance that pollution, noise and air, will not deteriorate on campus during or after the works and should it do so, adequate mitigation or compensation is agreed wherever possible in advance. We hope that you can consider these points favourably to allow for the continued operation of the school.