Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED:  That all items of business be considered in public.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting a residents' parking scheme. The petition organiser was not present. Councillors Jazz Dhillon and John Morse attended the meeting as Ward Councillors for Pinkwell and supported the petition.

Councillor Dhillon highlighted the detrimental impact of the current parking arrangements on Northfield Park on residents and submitted that officers already had a detailed knowledge of this petition. He noted that the residents of the adjacent cul-de-sac were unlikely to be affected by any changes to ‘waiting restrictions'. Councillor Dhillon added that weekday commuters were making the issue more problematic and that this was likely to get worse. Councillor Morse supported the submissions made and noted that two schemes had been rejected in the past.

The Head of Transport and Town Centre Projects outlined the advantages and disadvantages of implementing 'waiting restrictions' in an area such as Northfield Park. He identified that there were risks associated with the requested ‘waiting restrictions’ including a loss of footway parking, but the conditions could be self-policed by residents. He also outlined that there had already been two informal consultations with residents investigating various forms of parking restrictions. This had led to a formal consultation where a number of objections to the proposals were recorded.  It was suggested that signs indicating ‘no parking beyond this point’ may work better in the area as it would deter non-residential parking without impacting the current parking spaces available.

Councillor Burrows noted that it was residents’ preference to have waiting restrictions but considered that a ‘no parking beyond this point’ scheme could be more beneficial. Councillor Burrows confirmed that, although there had been two previous informal consultations with residents, a third consultation would be required to ascertain the best way forward.  Councillor Burrows agreed that a further consultation would be undertaken offering three options; a permit parking post scheme, parking restrictions of two hours or leaving the arrangements as they were. Councillor Burrows emphasised that it was important that each of the options detailing their advantages and disadvantages were explained properly to residents so that an informed decision could be made.

RESOLVED:

In the absence of the petition organiser, meeting with the Ward Councillors, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1.    Listened to their concerns with the parking situation in Northfield Park.

2.    Noted the previous results of consultations with residents of Northfield Park.

3.    Asked officers to add the request to the Council's Parking Scheme Programme for future informal consultation.

Reasons for decisions

The petition hearing provided the Cabinet Member to fully understand petitioners’’ concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered / risk management

None at this stage.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting traffic calming measures and a residents' permit parking scheme. The petitioner organiser was in attendance at the meeting and noted a number of concerns, including the following:

·         The petition organiser was disappointed with the way their queries had been handled by the London Borough of Hillingdon's Housing and Anti-Social Behaviour and Environment teams.

·         There had been a number of reports of vehicles parking on the grass outside of properties on Croyde Avenue and Lundy Drive, blocking residents' cars in.

·         Commercial vehicles took up residential parking spaces leaving limited parking for residents.

·         There was anti-social behaviour and a drug issues on the roads in questions and reports had been made to the Police and Council regarding this.

·         The prevalence of speeding vehicles had caused a number of incidents in the area.

Councillor Jazz Dhillon attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition. He attested all the submissions made and explained that there were speeding issues in the area and cars were regularly blocked access despite clear bay markings. He also noted the danger of parked cars causing cars to manoeuvre oncoming traffic dangerously and welcomed the need for speed breakers.

Councillor John Morse was in attendance as Ward Councillor for Pinkwell and also supported the petition. He drew attention to the commercial vehicles that had been left that caused obstruction to residents parking for sometimes a number of months. No enforcement action had been undertaken by the Council.  It was also noted that residents had resorted to painting their own parking bays to help people adhere to the correct parking spaces.

The Head of Transport and Town Centre Projects explained the limitations of Council regulations for parking on housing land off of the public highway and that the private parking in Croyde Avenue could not be covered by a parking management scheme.

It was also noted that the anti-social behaviour and drug concerns had been reported to the authorities.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petition organiser and was sympathetic to the issues raised. Councillors Burrows explained that it was difficult to take action on land that did not fall as part of Highways however speed surveys could be undertaken to try to resolve the speeding issues in the area.  Councillor Burrows agreed the location of three traffic speed surveys, in conjunction with the petition organiser, Ward Councillors and the Head of Transport and Town Centre Projects. Councillor Burrows added an additional recommendation asking officers to consult on the possibility of installing double yellow lines to avoid the obstruction of residents parking.

Councillor Burrows also explained that the issues pertaining to parking on private housing land would be referred to the Cabinet Member for Social Services, Housing, Health and Wellbeing for investigation.

RESOLVED: Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1.    Listened to their request for traffic calming measures in Croyde Avenue and Lundy Drive, Hayes.

2.    Noted the information  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting a 'Stop & Shop' parking scheme. The petition organiser was in attendance at the meeting and noted a number of concerns and reasons for their request, including the following:

·         People were using the parade of shops as a car park, noting a specific incident whereby a car was left parked for a period of two weeks.

·         The current use of the parade's parking facilities was having a detrimental effect on businesses and business owners on the parade of shops requested pay & display' machines installed with 30 minutes free parking.

·         28 – 34 High Road was one of the only parades in the local area not to have 'pay & display' parking.

Councillor Roy Chamdal attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Brunel in support of the petition. Councillor Chamdal reiterated that this parade of shops was one of very few parades without 'pay & display' machines and that the 30 minutes of free parking had worked successfully for other shop parades in the Borough.

Councillor Keith Burrows read an email from Councillor Richard Mills, Ward Councillor for Brunel. In summary, Councillor Mills supported the recommendations in the officer’s report, was keen to see the results of a consultation as a previous consultation had received little feedback and highlighted that similar schemes had been successful in other parts of the Borough.

Councillor Brian Stead attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Brunel in support of the petition. He welcomed the scheme as he considered that this could increase trade for local businesses in the area.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised. Councillor Burrows considered that if local businesses in the parade of shops and residents were supportive of the scheme, the scheme could bring positive results and be successful.

RESOLVED:

Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1.    Met with petitioners and discussed their concerns about the parking situation in the service road in front of the shops at Nos. 28 to 34 High Road, Cowley.

2.    Asked officers to add the request to the future Parking Scheme Programme and, when resources permitted, to carry out informal consultation with business occupiers and residents to establish if there is sufficient support for the consideration of a “Stop & Shop” scheme.

Reasons for decision

The petition hearing provided the Cabinet Member with additional information to determine if there was potential for the introduction of a controlled parking scheme along the service road fronting the shopping parade at Nos. 28 to 34 High Road, Cowley.

Alternative options considered / risk management

These were discussed with the petitioners.

The Cabinet Member decided to defer this petition as, although written representations had been made by Ward Councillors, the petition organiser was not present to put their case forward.

RESOLVED: This item was deferred to a future petition hearing.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting traffic calming measures. The petitioner organiser was in attendance at the meeting and noted a number of concerns and reasons for their request, including the following:

·         The road had been resurfaced in 2016 and was in a “very good condition” making it prone to misuse and anti-social behaviour, particularly from motorbike and moped riders.

·         Pedestrian safety was an issue and two separate incidents of pedestrians almost being hit by speeding vehicles on Micawber Avenue had been witnessed by the petitioner organiser.

·         The anti-social behaviour, including the revving of car/motorbike engines, often occurred in the early hours of the morning.

·         Only one resident of the road had refused to sign the petition on the grounds that speed breakers or bumps would cause damage to vehicles.

Councillor Brian Stead attended the meeting as Ward Councillor for Brunel and supported the petition and comments made by the petitioner organiser. He explained that the resurfacing of the road was being abused by young people riding scooters and motorbikes up and down the road. Councillor Roy Chamdal was also in attendance as Ward Councillor for Brunel and he voiced his strong support for the petition. He expressed the need for preventative measures to avoid any serious accidents. He also noted that drivers may be using Micawber Avenue as a shortcut in order to avoid the double roundabout on the A437.

Councillor Keith Burrows read an email from Councillor Richard Mills, Ward Councillor for Brunel. In summary, Councillor Mills supported the local residents and their request for traffic calming measures. Councillor Mills noted that the smooth surfacing of the road made it attractive for misuse and conceded that a traffic survey would confirm suspicions that vehicles were travelling in excess of the speed limit on Micawber Avenue and adjacent roads.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. Councillor Burrows explained that an independent traffic survey would be commissioned through a specialist company in the normal manner. He explained agreed suitable locations to be monitored with the petitioners and the Ward Councillors. The results from the surveys would be shared with Ward Councillors.

RESOLVED:

Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1.    Listened to their request for traffic calming measures in Micawber Avenue, Hillingdon.

2.    Asked officers to undertake further traffic surveys, at locations agreed by the petitioners, and to then report back to the Cabinet Member.

Reasons for decisions

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

Alternative options considered / risk management

None at this stage.