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 pelican crossing close to Field End Infant School in Ruislip. The petition organiser was not present. Councillor Steve Tuckwell attended the meeting as Ward Councillor for South Ruislip and Councillors Heena Makwana and Eddie Lavery attended as Ward Councillors for Cavendish; all three councillors were in support of the petition.

It was highlighted that the proposed crossing intersected the boundary between Cavendish and South Ruislip Wards. Councillor Tuckwell spoke as Ward Councillor for South Ruislip, thanking the petitioners for raising the matter and noting that the petition had received 62 signatures. Councillor Tuckwell enquired whether there was a highway engineering issue in this area of Field End Road and sought clarification as to the feasibility of an additional crossing. Councillor Lavery and Councillor Makwana attended the meeting as Ward Councillors for Cavendish; Councillor Lavery spoke, endorsing the officer's report on the matter. He noted the proximity of the proposed crossing to the existing crossing adjacent to Field End Junior School. Councillor Lavery also recommended that speed and traffic surveys be carried out at the proposed site to clarify the feasibility of the petitioners' request.

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, Councillor Keith Burrows, highlighted the fact that the petition organiser was not present to articulate petitioners’ concerns and make suggestions. He also noted the existing crossing that was situated approximately 200 metres from the proposed location, and felt this should be adequate for parents and children accessing both the infant and junior schools. The Cabinet Member noted that the petitioners’ request was specifically associated with Field End Infant School and, in consultation with the Ward Councillors present, agreed the exact locations for the speed and traffic surveys.

The Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager suggested that a discussion with the school could give an idea of the footfall accessing the school from the opposite side of Field End Road. Ward Councillorsnotified the Cabinet Member that Councillor Barnes, Ward Councillor for Cavendish, had previously been in contact with the school regarding this matter.

RESOLVED:

The Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1)    Considered petitioners' request for a Pelican Crossing on Field End Road, Eastcote close to Field End Infant School;

2)    Asked officers to add the petitioners’ request to the Council’s Road Safety Programme for further detailed investigation;

3)    Asked officers to commission independent speed and traffic surveys at locations agreed by the local Ward Councillors and then to report back to the Cabinet Member; and,

4)    Invited Ward Councillors to make contact with the school to encourage them to work with the Council's Road Safety and School Travel Team.

Reasons for decisions

The petition hearing provided the Cabinet Member with an opportunity 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 a parking management scheme in Beech Avenue, Eastcote.The petitioner organiser, who was in attendance at the meeting, informed the Cabinet Member that they had been a resident of Beech Avenue for five years and expressed a number of concerns, including the following:

• The implementation of a Parking Management Scheme in neighbouring Columbia Avenue had caused an increase in commuter parking in Beech Avenue;

·         The petition organiser had witnessed an increasing number of vehicles parking alongside their property since the installation of double yellow lines nearby;

·         The proximity of Beech Avenue to the Piccadilly Line, linking Eastcote to Heathrow Airport, meant non-residents' cars had been parked overnight on occasion and left whilst they went on holiday;

·         Frustrations were shared by neighbours; specifically elderly neighbours whose carers and family were unable to park on the road;

·         There had been instances of cars blocking off residents' driveways.

The petition organiser informed the Cabinet Member that they would welcome the implementation of waiting restrictions on Beech Avenue.

Councillors Heena Makwana and Eddie Lavery attended the meeting as Ward Councillors for Cavendish; Councillor Lavery noted a number of points in support of the petition, including the following:

• The parking situation along Beech Avenue had worsened since the implementation of the Parking Management Scheme in nearby Columbia Avenue;
• The volume of parked cars has increased in recent months;
• It was important to avoid a repetition of what had happened with regards to the Columbia Avenue Parking Management Scheme, whereby parking in neighbouring roads, including Beech Avenue, had worsened as cars were pushed out to the surrounding roads;
• Rather than implementing all-day waiting restrictions, one hour restrictions would offer residents the most flexibility;
• A nearby car park in Oak Grove, offering free parking, was not signposted well enough for commuters to utilise.

The Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager explained the implications of having one hour waiting restrictions, specifically noting a similar scenario in Northwood Hills where residents had requested differing waiting restrictions. The petition organiser and Ward Councillors were informed that there would be multiple options for residents when it came to the consultation; noting that the one hour waiting restrictions would aid works vans visiting properties on the street.

Councillor Burrows highlighted the need to avoid a domino effect of commuters moving to neighbouring roads should a Parking Management Scheme be introduced in Beech Avenue; it was therefore suggested that Linden Avenue and Oak Grove be considered for further investigation. The Cabinet Member also highlighted the issue of the signage indicating free parking at the nearby Oak Grove car park and accordingly amended the officers' recommendations.

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

1)    Discussed with petitioners their concerns with parking in Beech Avenue, Eastcote and request for a Parking Management Scheme;

2)    Resolved that residents’ request for a Parking Management Scheme in Beech Avenue, Oak Grove and Linden Avenue, Eastcote be added to the Council’s  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting traffic calming measures in Parkfield Avenue, Denziloe Avenue and Charville Lane West, Hillingdon. The petition organiser was in attendance at the meeting, with a number of residents, and noted some concerns and reasons for their request, including the following:

·         There was a speeding problem in all three roads which had worsened over a number of years;

·         An increase in families on the roads in question meant that the area became very busy at the start and end of the school day, especially since there were two primary schools and Swakeleys High School nearby;

·         It was reported that there had been instances of motorbikes and cars travelling at speeds in excess of 50mph late at night;

·         An incident had occurred whereby a speeding vehicle collided with a neighbour's wall;

·         Residents preferred to prevent an accident from occurring rather than reacting to an accident once it had happened.

The petition organiser stated that previous speed surveys on these roads had not been accurate enough as drivers could see the rubber strips in the road and reacted by reducing their speed. It was noted by petitioners that the neighbouring London Borough of Ealing had implemented 20mph zones in residential streets and they requested the same approach in Parkfield Avenue, Denziloe Avenue and Charville Lane West.

Councillor Wayne Bridges attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Hillingdon East in support of the petition. Councillor Bridges endorsed the residents' petition request and highlighted the proximity of the roads to two primary schools which had both expanded in recent years. He also outlined the importance of extending a 20mph zone to the roads in question similar to that outside primary schools. Councillor Bridges noted that parked vehicles could cause blind spots and stated that he was not in favour of further speed survey cables in this instance.

Councillor Alan Chapman attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Hillingdon East in support of the petition. Councillor Chapman echoed some of Councillor Bridges concerns that speed survey cables were not comprehensive enough in capturing valid data as, when drivers become aware of them, they subsequently reduced their speed. He indicated that, when the three nearby schools finished for the day, there was a mass of young people utilising the three roads in question. Councillor Chapman acknowledged that drivers turning onto these roads, from the 40mph Uxbridge Road, were failing to sufficiently reduce their speed.

The Cabinet Member outlined the fact that police-recorded collision data was how the Council monitored road safety; however incidents were only recorded if there was subsequent injury to those involved. Councillor Burrows also informed petitioners that implementing a 20mph zone would need to be justified with data clearly showing that there was a speeding issue; he confirmed that speed surveys, conducted by an external company, were the most effective way of doing this. Councillor Burrows added that there needed to be evidence of speeding to substantiate why the Council would be introducing the  ...  view the full minutes text for item 32.

A decision was taken to defer this item prior to commencement of the meeting.

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

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting a parking management scheme in Drayton Gardens, West Drayton. The petitioner organiser was in attendance at the meeting and noted a number of concerns and reasons for their request, including the following:

·         The houses had been constructed after World War II when there were fewer cars on the road; the infrastructure was not built to handle the current vehicular demand;

·         Commuters to other London Boroughs and specifically the BAA offices at Waterside were using Drayton Gardens for parking;

·         Commuters were parking in a more obtrusive manner, specifically users of West Drayton train station;

·         The access of emergency vehicles was of particular concern;

·         There was a nearby car park on Brandville Road which could be utilised by commuters.

The petition organiser noted that a previous consultation on a Parking Management Scheme in Drayton Gardens had been unpopular with residents; this was attributed to a potential lack of understanding on the part of residents as to what the implementation of the scheme would entail. The lead petitioner stated that 10am to 12pm waiting restrictions would eliminate the issue of commuter parking, but also noted that any scheme would need to suit everybody, and compromise would be required.

Councillor Janet Duncan attended the meeting as Ward Councillor for West Drayton and supported the petition organiser's comments. She acknowledged that the two absent West Drayton Councillors also supported the petitioners’ request but could not attend due to ward surgery commitments. Councillor Duncan explained that a similar Parking Management Scheme in Swan Road had been very successful with residents but had pushed commuters to park more often in Drayton Gardens, causing obstruction to residents there. Councillor Duncan noted that part of Drayton Gardens was widened which would aid emergency vehicles if waiting restrictions were observed appropriately. Councillor Duncan endorsed the careful implementation of on pavement parking to make sure the area was still wheelchair and pushchair accessible.

Councillor Keith Burrows acknowledged that the number of residents present at the meeting indicated the strength of feeling in support of the petition. He noted that a previous similar scheme had been rejected by residents and indicated that he did not want to commit Council time and money to a scheme that could once again be rejected. It was therefore agreed that a meeting with West Drayton Ward Councillors and the lead petitioners would be arranged thereby ensuring that any proposed scheme complied with residents' wishes.

RESOLVED:

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

1)    Discussed with petitioners their concerns regarding parking in Drayton Gardens, West Drayton;

2)    Noted the results of the previous consultation with residents of the area on a possible Parking Management Scheme;

3)    Instructed officers to arrange a meeting with petition organisers and Ward Councillors to suggest a scheme that would be more likely to succeed at the consultation stage; and,

4)    Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s extensive parking programme for further informal consultation.

Reasons for  ...  view the full minutes text for item 34.