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

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Ruislip used to be a rural area with less than 1000 residents which had subsequently increased to 47,000 when the Metroline was introduced.
• There was an increasing high volume of traffic.
• Some accidents were not reported.
• There was no sign to slow down vehicles.
• Pedestrians found it hard to cross.
• The Council needed to be proactive rather than reactive.
• Whiteheath School was in local proximity.
• Ladygate Lane was used as a rat run.
• Different traffic users abused Ladygate Lane such as rat runners, boy racers and inconsiderate parents.
• Ladygate Lane was either congested or clear.

All three Ward Councillors spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

• Traffic issues on Ladygate Lane had been a major concern for a period of time.
• The majority of parents did not walk their children to or from school.
• Ladygate Lane was a secondary distribution road in the Borough and it was difficult to see where traffic would be redistributed.
• The School Travel Plan needed to be factored into any subsequent proposals.
• Would like 24/7 speed surveys set up at 2 locations of Ladygate Lane.
• The site lines needed to be investigated as visibility was not clear when entering/exiting junctions.
• There was no ancient wall as suggested previously.
• The relevant landowners needed to be contacted as it was their responsibility to cut back foliage.
• The junction at Bury Street was not appropriate to signalise.
• Had observed many near misses.
• Cars often mounted the pavement.
• There was a need for a combination of traffic calming measures.
• Could often hear screeching tyres as the road was used as a race track.
• Issues raised had been discussed at a Local Safer Neighbourhood Team meeting a few years ago.
• It was only a matter of time before there was a fatality.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.  Cllr Burrows stated that he had recently visited Ladygate Lane and witnessed some of the issues that concerned petitioners.  Cllr Burrows informed petitioners that the Council followed the Killed and Seriously Injured (KSI) accident data which was detailed in the officers’ report.  The data would ascertain whether the Council had grounds to investigate a need for suitable traffic calming measures.

Cllr Burrows informed petitioners that Hillingdon Council was the only local authority in London who dedicated funds for road safety.  Cllr Burrows stated that previous rumble strips located on Breakspear Road created noise which received negative feedback from residents and therefore were removed and just repainted red.  Cllr Burrows stated that petitioners concerns would be investigated further and any proposals would be subject to consultation with everyone that lived in local proximity.

Petitioners indicated on a plan where they would like the 24/7 speed surveys to be placed on Ladygate Lane, Ruislip.

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met with petitioners and considered their  ...  view the full minutes text for item 35.

Councillor Judy Kelly attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• Residents were not happy that parking restrictions were implemented in other roads.
• Residents were not happy that the previous parking proposals for Walnut Way were dropped.
• The majority of residents of Walnut Way had signed the petition supporting a residents parking scheme in their road.
• Parking had displaced to Walnut Way since parking restrictions were implemented in other roads.
• It was a nightmare to park.
• An ambulance recently had trouble accessing the road.
• The grass verges were being ruined by vehicles.
• There was often inconsiderate parking by non-residents.

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

• Walnut Way was a narrow road, parking could not take place on both sides.
• The refuse vehicles had trouble accessing Walnut Way.
• There was no turning point at the end of Walnut Way.
• The parking problems had transferred to surrounding roads outside the scheme.
• Residents from other roads were parking in Walnut Way.

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

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that Councillor Kauffman also supported petitioners request but could not attend the meeting as Mayor.  Councillor Burrows noted the photos which were taken by residents which clearly showed that the road was too narrow for parking to take place on both sides.  Cllr Burrows was aware that residents had previously been formally consulted on parking proposals for Walnut Way but the responses received objected to a scheme being implemented which was the main reason the scheme was not progressed. 

Cllr Burrows decided that residents should be consulted on the previous detailed design used for a proposed scheme in Walnut Way as the majority of residents had already indicated support via the petition.

Cllr Burrow concluded that it was often the case that residents would not realise the impact parking proposals in surrounding roads would have on theirs.  Petitioners were reminded to send their views to the Council when consulted on a detailed design.

RESOLVED –

That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discussed with petitioners and listened to their request for parking restrictions in Walnut Way, Ruislip.

2. Explained to petitioners that the existing proposals for a Parking Management Scheme in Walnut Way appeared to maximise the overall amount of kerbside space for parking without causing obstruction but were previously rejected during the formal consultation process.

3. Noted that the scheme shown in this report was previously the subject of a statutory consultation and unfortunately drew a small response with a majority opposed to the proposals. On this basis, the scheme was never progressed at that stage.

4. Decided that residents be formally consulted on the previous detailed design for a parking scheme in Walnut Way when resources permit.

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 Jonathan Bianco and Andrew Retter attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

• The parking situation was getting worse.
• The local garage, Jehovah Witness meeting place and commuters were adding to the problem.
• There were approximately 15 parking spaces which were fully utilised.
• As a parent the parking problem made it difficult to go shopping with children.
• Oakdale Avenue was treated like an alley and people were often dumping rubbish or urinating.
• Request parking permits but did not want bays.
• The parking would be transferred to roads where residents had driveways.
• The road needed to be kept clear as it was very narrow.

Both Ward Councillors present spoke in support of petitioners and raised the following points:

• Parking bays would need to be implemented if permits were introduced.
• The parking situation was getting worse in Northwood Hills.
• Residents in other roads have suggested they support parking restrictions, especially if residents of Oakdale Avenue had them implemented.
• A parking management scheme needed to be considered for the Northwood Hills area.
• A parking scheme could reduce the kerb space.
• There had been refuse issues reported.

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

Councillor Burrows noted the photos provided by the lead petitioner and saw that there was an issue with parking in Oakdale Avenue.  Cllr Burrows explained how residents’ parking schemes worked and also highlighted that waiting restrictions applied to everyone.

Councillor Burrows informed petitioners that the Council had a legal obligation to consult with residents on such proposals that there was a process which could take between 12 to 18 months.

RESOLVED

That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discusses with petitioners and listened to their request for parking restrictions in Oakdale Avenue, Northwood Hills.

2. Decided that the request for parking restrictions in Oakdale Avenue should be added to the Council’s future parking scheme programme for further investigation and more detailed consultation with residents in an area defined by Ward Councillors when resources permit.

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.