Agenda and minutes

It was confirmed that the meeting would take place in public.

One of the petitioners had emailed Democratic Services and the Cabinet Member to notify that they were unable to attend.

Councillor Keith Burrows agreed for the petition to be postponed to another hearing but stated that the petition would be heard in the absence of the petitioners if they did not attend a subsequent meeting.

Councillor John Hensley attended as a Ward Councillor in support of the

petitioners. 

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• The Buntings, Boniface Road, Ickenham was sheltered housing accommodation and the majority of residents were disabled or elderly.
• Access to private parking bays was frequently blocked.
• Some residents had been threatened by people who used the road to park.
• Commuters and people using the local shops were taking up the available spaces.
• There was no problem parking at weekends.
• Would like restricted parking for 1 hour in the morning and 1 hour in the evening.
• Yellow lines would not help as residents relied on regular visits from carers, children and family.
• The bedrooms were located at the front of the properties and residents were often woken up by noise.
• In the event of an emergency residents access would be blocked due to inconsiderate parking.
• Some of the activity that took place on Boniface Road was associated with the local pub.
• Narrowing the footpath would accommodate more parking.
• A bay reserved for carers.

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

• There was no clear view, some residents wanted a parking management scheme and others wanted yellow lines.
• The Ickenham Parking Management Scheme was proposed to extend to part of Boniface Road and Rectory Way.
• 24 hour parking restrictions would be ideal, although not practical.
• A Parking Management Schemes would allow visitors to park.
• Carers can gain exemption with a carers permit.
• Restrictions should be consistent with the rest of Boniface Road.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of petitioners and responded to the points raised.

The Cabinet Member informed petitioners that some solutions would not be appropriate given the activity associated with The Buntings, Boniface Road.  Councillor Burrows advised petitioners that he would change the recommendations laid out in the officers’ report.  Councillor Burrows explained the importance of returning any future consultation document and to not rely on others to do so.  Should the proposed scheme in the other part of Boniface Road be implemented the presence of Civil Enforcement Officers may deter people from parking near The Buntings. 

Officers stated that the private parking bays were not enforced as they did not form part of the public highway.  Officers understood the need for access in The Buntings and the need to provide parking and would take this into account when designing alternative proposals.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1.      Met and discussed with petitioners their request for parking restrictions in the section of Boniface Road outside The Buntings.

2.      Instructed officers to take into account the activity associated with The Buntings when investigating other solutions in conjunction with Ward Councillors.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Residents have made a request for changes to be made to the current proposals for ‘at any time’ waiting restrictions in part of Boniface Road outside The Buntings.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

The Council could decide to proceed with the double  ...  view the full minutes text for item 31.

Councillor John Hensley attended as a Ward Councillor in support of the

petitioners. 

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Some residents had lived there for 40 years.
• Lodore Green was a cul-de-sac.
• There was an issue when the TfL Low Emission control zone was implemented which by-passed Lodore Green.
• There was a total of 12 properties on the road.
• Did not mind people parking for a couple of hours.
• Did not want vans or lorries parking on their road.
• Would like controlled parking but did not want parking permits.

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

• Lodore Green was not near the Ickenham Parking Management Scheme.
• If a single yellow line was implemented then no one would be able to park there during its operational times.
• A parking management scheme would give residents control of who parked on their road.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of petitioners and responded to the points raised.

Councillor Burrows explained how residents’ parking schemes worked and why they have become popular with residents within the Ickenham area and across the Borough.  Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the Council had a legal requirement to consult with residents on such proposals and that there is a process which could take between 12 to 18 months.

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their request for parking restrictions in Lodore Green, Ickenham and;
2. Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s overall parking programme for further investigation when resources permit.
3. Instructed officers to liaise with TfL with regards to the Low Emission Zone.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Although parking schemes are not generally considered for individual roads, due to the isolated location of Lodore Green, the Cabinet Member may decide that a scheme could be considered in advance of a scheme which took in a wider area.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.

Councillors Brian Crowe, Philip Corthorne and John Riley attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.  

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• There was a problem with large lorries blocking the road.
• Not just one shop was causing the problem.
• Petitioners understood the importance of deliveries and collections.
• That Penalty Charge Notices were not tackling the problem as the company could afford to pay the fines.
• The size of the vehicle should be limited.
• If the loading times were extending from 20 minutes to 40 minutes it would increase disruption on the High Street.
• Deliveries should take place in the morning and collections in the afternoon.
• The service road at the back of the High Street should be utilised for deliveries and collections.
• The lorry drivers are effectively engaging in Anti Social Behaviour by causing this disruption.

All three Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• Did not want to hamper traders from receiving deliveries.
• Requested that enforcement is increased.
• Extending the loading period would reward bad practice.
• That the rules were being ignored by the drivers carrying out the deliveries and collections.
• That it was important to keep a balance on the High Street.
• Extending the loading time will not help the current situation.
• Deliveries and collections should take place during the early hours of the morning and late at night to lessen the disruption in the day.
• Reducing the size of the bus cage could alleviate some of the issues.
• Smaller delivery vans should be used.

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

Councillor Burrows was in agreement with petitioners that loading and unloading should not impact on traffic flow on the High Street.  Councillor Burrows was also mindful that High Street, Ruislip was a busy shopping area and there was a need for businesses to accept deliveries and collections to carry out their business.  Councillor Burrows suggested that High Street, Ruislip be enforced on a more frequent basis and that those abusing the rules would be issued a Penalty Charge Notice. 

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1.    Considered the petitioners’ objection to the proposed extension to the times to load and unload within the loading bays that form part of the High Street, Ruislip Stop & Shop Parking Scheme and;

2.            Asked officers to take the petition into account including relevant points raised by the petitioners at the petition hearing together with all other representations from the public in the forthcoming report on the consultation for changes to the High Street, Ruislip ‘Stop & Shop’ parking scheme.

3.      Instructed officers to discuss more pro-active loading/unloading enforcement on High Street, Ruislip with the Council’s Civil Enforcement Officers.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

To allow the Cabinet Member to consider the petition that objects to the changes proposed to the loading facilities close to High Street, Ruislip.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.

Councillors Dominic Gilham, Peter Kemp and Paul Harmsworth attended as Ward Councillors. 

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• COMAG was a long established employer in the Yiewsley area and contributed to over £100k on rates each year.
• The company was a freeholder in Tavistock Road since 1979 and had good relationships with residential neighbours.
• Employs over 170 staff, of which 70 are Hillingdon residents.
• Agreed with the Statement of Reason behind the scheme ‘to restore the balance of parking in favour of residents, visitors and local businesses.’
• The company had explored alternative initiatives to reduce parking pressures on their staff which included flexible working, cycle to work schemes and out of office working.
• Commuters were often taking up the available space.
• The proposed restrictions would have a detrimental impact on their business and may force them to move out of the local area.
• COMAG did not want their business or their staff to be penalised for a problem that is caused by commuters.

All three Ward Councillors spoke and raised the following points:

• There was a public car park located on Brandville Road that provided all day parking for £2.
• That both workers and commuters were taking up the available space leaving residents with no where to park.
• That a parking stress survey would assist with investigations.
• There were only 25 residential homes on Tavistock Road.
• Wanted the scheme to be progressed for the benefit of residents.

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

Councillor Burrows explained that the petition would be taken into account in a forthcoming report which would incorporate all representations received during the statutory consultation period.  Councillor Burrows sympathised with petitioners but explained that he could not promise that the proposed scheme would not go ahead.  

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their request not to implement the proposed parking restrictions in Yiewsley and;

2. Asked officers to include the petition request and the outcome of discussions with petitioners in the forthcoming report incorporating all representations received from statutory consultation on the proposed extension to the Yiewsley (Y1) Parking Management Scheme.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Following statutory consultation on parking proposals, all comments received must be considered by the Council before a final decision is made.  A report will subsequently be drafted detailing these comments which can include this petition together with the outcome of discussions with the Cabinet Member at the petition hearing.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

None at this stage.