Agenda and minutes

RESOLVED: That all items be considered in public.

Please note that individual petitions may overrun their time slots.  Although individual petitions may start later than advertised, they will not start any earlier than the advertised time.

Councillor Hensley attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Pedestrian safety was a concern.
• The pavement was narrow and uneven and needed to be widened and levelled.
• The bushes were overgrown which forced people to walk single file.
• Glebe Avenue was a fast and busy road.
• A sign was required to identify Lawrence Drive.
• Residents were aware that parking issues on Crosier Road were being investigated.
• The resurfacing that took place was not to a good standard.

Councillor Hensley spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues.

• That he was currently liaising with Transport for London (TfL) in regards to the overgrown trees as the land did not belong to the Council.
• Residents of Crosier Road had also petitioned the Council for parking measures which were being investigated.
• Junctions needed to be kept clear.
• He had previously campaigned for a safer approach to the bridge but the local residents association did not support.
• The implementation of speed tables may help.
• The parking problems had transferred to other parts of Ickenham.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows explained to petitioners that the bridge was not owned by the Council but by TfL.  Widening the bridge was not a simple job.  Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the Mayor of London was looking at bridge improvements across London.

Councillor Burrows explained the Council’s Vehicle Activated Sign Programme to petitioners. These signs had been proven to deter motorists from speeding as they displayed the speed of the travelling car.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met with the petitioners and considered their request for a review of pedestrian safety and parking in Glebe Avenue. 

2. Asked officers to include this request on the Council’s Road Safety Programme for further investigation and the development of possible options and to include an inspection on pavements.

3. Instructed officers to add Glebe Avenue to the Council’s Vehicle Activated Signs Programme.

4. Instructed officers to inspect the trees and bushes and to undertake any necessary work.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

The petition hearing provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed in greater detail with petitioners.

Councillors Shirley Harper O’Neill and Allan Kauffman attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• West End Road was excluded in the South Ruislip Parking Management Scheme.
• Residents were forced to park a considerable distance away from their home.
• Residents on West End Road had little or no available off-street parking.
• West End Road was a busy, dangerous road and was not a practical place to park.
• Parking bays were under utilised in roads that had parking restrictions.

Both Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• Residents of West End Road were previously consulted but the majority did not want to join the scheme.
• Petitioners are unable to park on Edwards Avenue.
• One side of West End Road has the use of a lay-by.
• There was a high volume of traffic.
• West End Road was linked to the A40.
• Would like the grass verges made into parking bays.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the South Ruislip Parking Management Scheme was on the priority list to be reviewed.  Councillor Burrows explained to Members that it would cost the Council a considerable amount of money to convert grass verges into parking bays and therefore was not a suitable option.  Councillor Burrows informed the lead petitioner that they would be contacted by the Transport and Project Team the following week.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their concerns with parking in West End Road, Ruislip.

2. Instructed officers to undertake a parking stress survey in the current SR1 Parking Management Scheme.

3. Subject to the above, asks officers to discuss the results of the parking stress survey with Ward Councillors for a suitable solution forward.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

To allow the Cabinet Member an opportunity to discuss the concerns and suggestions of petitioners.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.

Councillors Susan O’Brien and Douglas Mills attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Petitioners were requesting parking restrictions for an hour in the morning and an hour in the afternoon.
• Commuters were parking in the road from 8am.
• Green Walk was a narrow road.
• Manor Cottages were not permitted to have driveways and therefore had no access to off-street parking.
• Commuters should use the public car park on Pembroke Road.
• Parking at weekends was an issue which was associated with the local church.
• Both the emergency services and refuse collection teams had problems accessing the road.

Both Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• There was strength in feeling from petitioners which was evident from those who had attended the meeting.
• The area in question was unique.
• Off-street parking was not an option for some living in the conservation area.
• The roads were narrow which only allowed parking on one side.
• Car parks in the area were not utilised as they should be and commuters were taking advantage of the free parking in residential roads.
• Parking was a premium.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows explained how residents’ parking schemes worked.  The Cabinet Member also highlighted that waiting restrictions apply to everyone.  Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the Council had a legal requirement to consult with residents on such proposals and that there was a process which could take between 12 to 18 months.  Residents were advised to return their consultation document to ensure their views were taken into account before any decision was made.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discussed with petitioners and listened to their request for residents’ only parking in Windmill Way and Green Walk, Ruislip.

2. Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s overall parking programme for subsequent investigation.

3. Asked officers to investigate access issues in liaison with the Emergency Services.

4. Asked officers to investigate access issues in liaison with the refuse collection team.

Instructed officers to undertake a 24/7 speed survey for 7 days a week.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

To allow the Cabinet Member to discuss with petitioners their concerns and if appropriate to add their request to the parking schemes programme.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.

Councillors Mary O’Connor, Beulah East and Neil Fyfe attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• It could take up to half an hour to find a space.
• People who worked in the shops took up the available parking spaces.
• Selfish parking took place because the bays were not individually marked.
• Other shopping parades in the Borough had parking schemes.
• The revenue created would pay for the installation of a parking scheme.

All three Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• A petition from residents in nearby Chesil Way was heard in December.
• There were vacant shops which should be factored into any consultation that takes place.
• There is support from shopkeepers as they did not want to lose business.
• Save our shops was the headline of the petition.
• People park selfishly which reduces the available parking space.
• The double yellow lines should be retained to maintain access for the buses.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that a total of 28 responses were received to the previous consultation representing a 35% response rate. From those responses, 21 indicated they were satisfied with the current unrestricted parking arrangements and of these 7 were residents and 14 were business occupiers.  Councillor Burrows explained to petitioners that there was no mandate to proceed with a scheme unless there was support from the majority of those who would be affected by the proposals.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their request for a “Stop and Shop” parking scheme in Kingshill Avenue.

2. Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s parking programme for possible consultation on an existing detailed design. 

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

To allow the Cabinet Member to an opportunity to discuss with petitioners their concerns.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

None as the petitioners were requesting a controlled parking scheme.

Councillors Mary O’Connor, Beulah East and Neil Fyfe attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Frequents both Hayes End and Kingshill Avenue shops.
• Belmore Parade was thriving because of the parking measures installed there in 2003.
• Shops were losing potential business.
• The majority of shops supported a parking scheme.
• A local car dealer was taking up available spaces.
• Hayes End Library had reopened with less parking provision than before.
• There needed to be a wider scheme to ensure parking measures did not have an impact on residents.

All three Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• There was support from shopkeepers.
• Most of the signatures were from local residents in the surrounding roads.
• The post office had recently been refurbished.
• The solicitor firm had limited parking within their grounds.
• Home Farm Residents Association and Councillor Jackson (a local resident) supported the petition and gained a majority of the petition signatures.
• Shops were losing potential business.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that there was a split view when residents and businesses were first consulted on parking proposals.  Therefore it was agreed in consultation with local Ward Councillors that the proposed scheme be deferred and residents and businesses be re-consulted twelve months later.

The second consultation was carried out in July 2010.  Of the responses received 12 indicated they were satisfied with the existing parking arrangements and 8 wanted a ‘Stop and Shop’ scheme.  Councillor Burrows explained to petitioners that there was no mandate to proceed with a scheme unless there was support from the majority of those who would be affected by the proposals.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their request for a “Stop and Shop” parking scheme in Hayes End in the service road between Nos 1250 and 1366 Uxbridge Road, Hayes End.

2. Noted the outcome of two previous consultations in 2009 and 2010.

3. Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s parking programme for possible consultation on a detailed design.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Inclusion of the request on the parking programme will allow a further consultation to be carried out for a controlled parking scheme outside the shops in the slip road alongside the Uxbridge Road in Hayes End.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

None as the petitioners requested a controlled parking scheme.

Councillor David Routledge attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• There was an issue with the phasing of the lights on the junction of Cowley Mill Road and Waterloo Road.
• Learner drivers used the area and were often stuck at the lights.
• The problem with the lorries was getting worse.
• Houses would shake from the movement of lorries causing roof tiles to fall off.
• The Council should control the situation and planning consent should not have been given.
• A depot with additional lorries has heightened the problem.
• Would like the log books of a local lorry company inspected.
• A lorry was recently grounded on the bridge.
• Lorries were creating potholes in the road.
• Cowley Mill Road was not suitable for the amount of traffic that was using it.
• A width restriction was needed to stop people using Cowley Mill Road as a cut through to Slough and Iver.

Councillor David Routledge spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues.

• Uxbridge Trading Estate has been a problem for the past 60 years.
• Sat on the planning committee that refused the application that was approved by the planning inspectorate.
• The phasing of the traffic lights needed to be addressed.
• A larger bridge would help.
• Would be better if commercial vehicles were not allowed to use the bridge.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the Planning Inspectorate went against the Councils decision and approved the planning application in favour of the developer. 

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that a 24/7 speed survey had already been commissioned by himself and the results were being analysed by officers.  Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that he had been contacted regarding the phasing of the traffic lights and had instructed officers to investigate as he was also concerned that there was not a phase for pedestrians.

Officers informed petitioners that the data was being pulled together to come up with a solution that was fit for purpose.  The times of the day would also be taken into account.  Officers highlighted that the air quality in the area was below the European threshold.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1)     Met and discussed with petitioners their concerns regarding lorry traffic along Cowley Mill Road, Waterloo Road and Swan Bridge and the surrounding streets and the impact this is having on road safety, residential amenity and public health.

2)     Noted the existing availability of data that could be used to inform a transportation study in the area.

3)     Instructed officers to incorporate evidence from petitioners and to collect, collate, analyse and interpret this data and report back to him with details of traffic speed and volume, and in particular its effect upon road safety, residential amenity and public health together with options for effective interventions to address these matters.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

The petitioners’ complaints, coupled with the recent incident of a lorry  ...  view the full minutes text for item 14.