Agenda and minutes

None.

RESOLVED: That all items be considered in public.

Councillor John Hensley attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         Residents welcomed parking restrictions but did not want to the problem to be transferred to surrounding roads.

·         The officers' report highlighted the parking issues well.

·         There was often congestion on the junctions.

·         Residents were concerned about pedestrian safety.

·         There was a school in local proximity.

·         Residents had witnessed drivers mounting the pavement or carrying out dangerous manoeuvres.

·         Commuters and people using the shops were taking up the available parking.

·         There were parking and traffic issues associated with the local school.

·         Residents did not want a temporary solution.

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

·         Had visited the school and discussed the parking issues in the area.

·         Waiting restrictions did not always solve the problem and would restrict carers and residents from parking.

·         A Parking Management Scheme would be a better option for residents enabling them to park, as well as their visitors or carers using the permit or voucher system.

·         Surrounding roads such as Hoylake Crescent and Bushey Road should also be consulted on options to address parking problems.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Cllr Burrows concurred with the Ward Councillors views and elaborated that waiting restrictions applied to everyone.  Cllr Burrows agreed with the suggestions of roads, given by Cllr Hensley, to be consulted on options to address parking.  Parking was an emotive issue and as the Ickenham Parking Scheme had been developed other roads were now experiencing a transfer of parking.  Additionally there was pressure to ensure the safety of school children.

Cllr Burrows gave a copy of the Parking Management Scheme guide to the lead petitioner for information.  It was explained to residents the importance of returning their consultation document.  Cllr Burrows would be given a report to make a decision based on the results submitted by residents.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discussed with petitioners and listened to their request for a residents' parking scheme in Copthall Road East, Ickenham.

2. Approved informal consultation with the residents of Copthall Road East and other roads in the vicinity on options to address parking issues with the extent of this consultation to be agreed in liaison with the local Ward Councillors.

3. Deferred the previously proposed waiting restriction in Copthall Road East, Ickenham until the outcome of the informal consultation with residents is known and has been reported to the Cabinet Member.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

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

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.

Councillor John Hensley attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         Had a business for over 30 years in Ickenham Village and had lived in Ickenham for 40 years.

·         There was confusion with the statement indicated in the officers' report, as petitioners were not requesting an end to the 'Stop and Shop' scheme.

·         The 'Stop and Shop' scheme worked well, although an extra half hour provision of parking would benefit customers.

·         Employees were not able to park near their place of work.

·         The concerns of residents were understood.

·         There should be flexibility for employees to park.

·         The Council could come up with more imaginative ways to address parking problems.

·         Businesses were struggling to get staff.

·         Wanted a way that residents and businesses could work together.

Cllr John Hensley spoke in objection of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

·         The Parking Management Schemes in Ickenham Village had taken a number of years to develop in consultation with both businesses and residents.

·         The request for parking controls in the shopping parade was instigated by businesses that were experiencing a loss in trade due to commuters and employees using the available space.

·         The parking restrictions were not politically motivated as alluded to by the lead petitioner in a letter.

·         If the proposals were approved for a nearby supermarket then this would also have an effect on the Ickenham Village shops.

·         Businesses needed to respond to the needs of customers.

·         Commuters had no loyalty to businesses.

·         The Ickenham Residents association agreed.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Cllr Burrows read a letter received by Democratic Services signed for and on behalf of Ickenham Residents (not the Ickenham Residents' Association).  The letter highlighted that parking had been an emotive issue for the past few years.  The letter stated that residents were opposed to any change to the present arrangements as they found them to be satisfactory.

Cllr Burrows explained that traffic legislation would not allow qualified parking on yellow lines and that waiting restrictions applied to everyone, apart from those displaying a valid Blue Badge.  Cllr Burrows supported Cllr Hensley's concerns in relation to petitioners' request and concurred that the parking restrictions in Ickenham were a result of businesses and residents petitioning the Council to address the parking issues.

Cllr Burrows informed petitioners that it was the responsibility of businesses to encourage alternative modes of transport for their employees to get to work if there was no parking provision.  Other 'Stop and Shop' schemes had been implemented in the Borough and there were no reported issues elsewhere.  Businesses had complained that they were failing due to the available parking being taken up by commuters.  If the Council allowed businesses employees to park near their place of work it would set a precedent all over the Borough. 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discussed with petitioners and listens to their concerns regarding the parking arrangements in  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillors June Nelson and Manjit Khatra attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         Had lived in the road for 34 years.

·         Residents were previously consulted on a proposed extension to the Heathrow Parking Management Scheme.

·         Parking had transferred to School Road.

·         There was a school located on School Road.

·         The school had sufficient parking.

·         Had witnessed community transport having difficulties with collecting and dropping off a young local resident.

·         Emergency services would have difficulty accessing the road.

Cllr June Nelson and Manjit Khatra spoke in support of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

·         Supported residents' concerns.

·         There was parking pressure in Harmondsworth and surrounding areas.

·         Heathrow Airport staff were often parking in roads where there were no restrictions.

·         School pick up and drop off times were an issue.

·         School Road was narrow.

·         Residents had been subjected to abuse from commuters.

·         A wider area needed to be consulted to ensure parking did not transfer.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Cllr Burrows concurred with the views of petitioners and Ward Councillors.  It was thought that due to the number of funeral services that took place in Harmondsworth that parking restrictions would not work in the High Street.  Cllr Burrows suggested that Moorland Road, Cambridge Close and Summerhouse Lane should be consulted as well as School Road.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1. Met and discussed with petitioners their request for residents only parking in School Road, Harmondsworth.

2. Asked officers to add the petition request to the Council's Parking Programme for further investigation when resources permit.

3. Approved informal consultation with residents of School Road and other roads in the vicinity on options to address parking issues with the extent of this consultation to be agreed in liaison with the local Ward Councillors.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

Discussions with petitioners allow the Cabinet Member to fully understand their concerns and whether it is considered appropriate to add the request to the Council's extensive parking programme.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These will be discussed with petitioners.