Agenda and minutes

Councilllor John Hensley attended the meeting as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Residents of St Giles Avenue are annoyed at having their vehicles damaged and wing mirrors broken by large vehicles.
• Residents are frustrated that they are continually required to move their own vehicles to allow lorries and refuse collection vehicles pass as the carriage-way is not wide enough.
• If one or both sides of the pavement were mountable (i.e. footway parking) and not subject to parking tickets this would alleviate the current situation.
• Current levels of congestion along St Giles Avenue mean that it is difficult for emergency vehicles to use the road.
• The high density of parked vehicles presents a road safety problem as children do not have clear sight lines and safe places to cross the road.
• St Giles Avenue is close to Ickenham Underground station and Beck Theatre and suffers because of this.
• The Council could consider making St Giles Avenue exempt from footway parking regulations and as a next step, design a formal scheme and consult residents.
• If footway parking were permitted it was suggested that paving slabs be removed and replaced with tarmac to remove the trip hazard arising from the weight of parked vehicles.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns presented by the petitioners and the comments made by the Ward Councillor. He informed them that in view of the problems which they had been experiencing, the difficulty posed to emergency services and the road safety concerns which had been raised, St Giles Avenue would be added to the programme of footway parking schemes. In terms of the timescale to do this, he confirmed that officers would be able to start assessing the road conditions within the next few weeks but that subsequent meetings between him and Ward Councillors would be required before this could be taken forward.

Resolved –

1.         Considers the petitioner’s request for footway parking in St. Giles Avenue, Ickenham

2.         Asks officers to add St. Giles Avenue to the programme for Footway Parking             Exemption Schemes so that subsequently, design and consultation with residents can be carried out.

Reasons for recommendation

The layout of St. Giles Avenue will allow footway parking to take place in accordance with the Council’s criteria.

Alternative options considered

None as the petitioners made a specific request to park on the footway.

Councillor Edward Lavery attended the meeting as Ward Councillor. At the request of the petitioners, he spoke on their behalf.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Morford Close is a small Close comprising of 10 homes, situated off Field End Road and surrounded by a number of residents parking schemes.
• The Close is situated near to shops, the local Underground station and  a taxi rank.
• Ninety percent of the occupiers of the Close have signed the petition in support of joining a residents parking scheme.
• To request that the Cabinet Member approve the officer recommendations.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns presented. He explained that the Council had previously attempted to include the Close as part of a residents parking scheme but there had been insufficient support. He confirmed that he was aware that the Close was now suffering from displaced traffic and that a number of dropped curbs had made it increasingly difficult to park within the Close.

Resolved -

1. That the Cabinet Member meets and discusses with the petitioners their concerns with parking in Morford Close.

2. Asks officers to add the request to the Council’s overall parking programme so detailed design and statutory consultation can be carried out on a residents parking scheme at the earliest opportunity.

Reasons for recommendation

The petition was signed by a majority of the households in Morford Close requesting the introduction of residents parking.

Alternative options considered

None at this stage, as the petitioners have requested a Residents Parking Scheme. However, further options could arise from the discussion with petitioners.

Neither the petition organiser nor any of the petitioners were present at the meeting. The Cabinet Member considered the petition and the report in their absence.

Councillor Douglas Mills and Councillor Susan O’Brien attended as Ward Councillors.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns and points raised by the Ward Councillors. After careful consideration he requested officers to draft a letter on behalf of himself and Ward Councillors suggesting that the Safer Neighbourhood Team employ their local speed guns and Automated Number Plate Recognition vehiclesto reduce traffic speeds, thereby improving road safety on Victoria Road / Sidmouth Drive.

Resolved –

1. That the Cabinet Member discusses with petitioners their concern with road safety on Victoria Road to identify suitable improvement options that could be considered for introduction.

2. That Officers be asked to continue monitoring Victoria Road and Sidmouth Drive and inform the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation immediately if there are any adverse increases in accident rates.

3. That officers be instructed to work in partnership with the Safer Neighbourhood Teams in monitoring Victoria Road / Sidmouth Drive

Reasons for recommendation

To allow the Cabinet Member to discuss in detail with petitioners their concern with road safety to develop suitable options for further investigation to determine the feasibility to introduce measures including the associated costs.

Alternative options considered

These can be identified from the discussion with petitioners.

Councillor David Benson attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·        Brickfield Lane has been used extensively by non-residents for free parking.

·        Parking schemes in adjoining roads have meant that the residents of Brickfield Lane have experienced parking transfer.

·        Small businesses based in Harlington currently use the road for parking.

·        Road safety has reduced as a result of the significant amount of traffic using the road.

·        Bus services run to Heathrow Airport from this area which has made parking conditions more difficult (as a result of park and ride).

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns presented by the petitioners and the comments made by the Ward Councillor. He accepted that the situation had deteriorated and the area was suffering from displaced traffic. It was acknowledged that local parking management schemes had been driven by residents and introducing a scheme in Brickfield Lane would be beneficial to local residents.

Cllr Burrows explained that a consultation document about a Parking Management Scheme in Zone H1 had been produced in a draft form for him to review. Local residents (including Brickfield Lane) should receive a copy of this within the next week or so and residents were urged to return the feedback form to ensure that their views were recorded.

Resolved –

1. That the Cabinet Member meets and discusses with petitioners their concerns with parking in Brickfield Lane.

1. Asks officers to include Brickfield Lane in the subsequent review of the Heathrow Parking Management Scheme Zone H1.

Reasons for recommendation

To allow the Cabinet Member to discuss with petitioners their concerns and if appropriate to include Brickfield Lane in the subsequent review of Heathrow Parking Management Scheme Zone H1.

Alternative options considered

None as petitioners have made a request to be included within the Heathrow Parking Management Scheme Zone H1.

Councillor Judith Cooper attended the meeting as ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• The Parade is the only area locally where there is no pay and display or yellow line restrictions.
• Brunel University students park their cars on the Parade for long periods at a time which means that shop customers do not have convenient parking. This has adversely affected trade.
• The close proximity of Heathrow Airport has also meant that parking spaces are monopolised by airport workers or persons travelling abroad.
• A request that some parking restrictions should be introduced to help residents and shop keepers. For example, 30 minutes free parking, followed by fees.
• People are abusing the parking spaces by parking vehicles which have been advertised for sale and these are left on the road for several days / weeks at a time.
• The parking issue for the Parade is especially bad, but to sole this, the Council must look at the bigger picture such as the impact of  studentification on certain areas in the Borough.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns presented by the petitioners and the comments made by the Ward Councillor. He agreed that local parking had become displaced and measures would need to be taken to address the problems posed by an increasing student population. He explained it was fortuitous timing that the petition request for a stop and shop scheme could be examined under the Cowley Parking Management Scheme which was due to be reviewed in August / September 2010 when students were returning from summer leave and an accurate picture of the problem could be created.

Resolved –

1. That the Cabinet Member meets and discusses with petitioners their concerns with parking in The Parade, Cowley.

1. Asks officers to carry out informal consultation with business occupiers and residents of The Parade to establish if there is sufficient support for the consideration of a ‘Stop and Shop’ scheme and report back.

Reasons for recommendation

To allow the Cabinet Member to discuss with petitioners their concerns and if appropriate to include The Parade, Cowley to the overall Parking Programme.

Alternative options considered

The petitioners have made a specific request for one of the Councils ‘Stop and Shop’ parking schemes, but options can be discussed with petitioners.