Agenda and minutes

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

Concerns and suggestions from the petitioner included the following:

·         Damage had been occurring to homes in the form of cracks to the interior and exterior of homes caused by vehicles travelling over the speed tables in the road.

·         Children, dog walkers and cyclists were at risk from large lorries and speeding traffic.

·         Noise pollution had been occurring from vehicles travelling over speed tables.

·         The noise had been causing stress and sleepless nights because of constant noise and vibration.

·         Some residents had to sleep in their smaller back rooms.

·         A request was made to rectify the situation by removing the source of the noise and vibrations from outside residents' homes.

·         There had been incidents of coaches using Sidmouth Drive and causing damage to parked cars.

·         When Station Approach was blocked, lorries' Sat Nav systems often directed them via Sidmouth Drive.

·         The speed tables were ineffective as they did not slow down the traffic.

·         A request was made for the installation of width restrictions in the road to prevent lorries from using the route as a cut through.

·         Reference was made to Ruislip High School being open to working with residents to find a solution to the problem of school coaches driving down Sidmouth Drive.

·         The petitioner made reference to finding alternative locations for speed tables which were away from the front of homes.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, responded to the petitioner and commented that there was no factual evidence that the cracks in the houses had been caused by vehicles travelling over the speed tables.

Cllr Burrows referred to the success of the introduction of the weight restrictions traffic order on Sidmouth Drive, together with the enforcement cameras, had resulted in a large number of Penalty Charge Notices. In addition there had been a 44% reduction in the number of lorries using the road since the introduction of these measures.

Reference was made to the original petition which had requested the introduction of speed reduction measures and the surveys and consultations with residents which had said that the scheme had been a success. Local Ward Councillors had also agreed that the scheme had been a success.

Discussion took place regarding the positioning of the speed tables and the petitioner was informed that moving the tables would result in an additional speed table being needed. In addition there would be a cost implication of doing this.

The petitioner was asked to make contact with his Ward Councillors if he was still dissatisfied with the scheme.

Resolved - Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.         Listened and discussed the request to remove the existing raised tables and to implement the measures to prevent commercial vehicles from using Sidmouth Drive.

2.        Noted the results from camera enforcement of the existing weight prohibition in Sidmouth Drive.

3.         Agreed that after giving careful consideration to the issues raised by the petitioners that no further action be taken on the request for further measures to prevent commercial vehicles from using Sidmouth Drive.       

Councillor Ray Graham was present as a Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from the petitioners included the following:

·         There were safety issues arising from speeding drivers in the section of Sweetcroft Lane, Nos. 86 & 105A to 133, north of Hercies Road.

·         A request was made for the introduction of traffic calming measures such as speed bumps.

·         Sweetcroft Lane was a narrow lane, with no pavements and with a dangerous blind bend in the road.

·         The lane was frequently used by drivers aiming to jump the queuing traffic in Hercies Road, weekdays daily, mornings and evenings.

·         The lane was the main thoroughfare for patrons of Sweetcroft Lane Day Care and for the scout hut.

·         This single track section of Sweetcroft Lane had never been intended for the kind of traffic which had been occurring.

·         The lane was used by a large number of playing children and was also used by a significant number of dog walkers and other pedestrians who were accessing the adjacent common land.

Councillor Ray Graham spoke in support of the petitioners and asked that officers give consideration to implementing the most effective measure to reduce the speed of vehicles in the lane.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, responded to the petitioner and reported that officers would be asked to commission vehicle speed surveys to assess the problem.

Resolved - Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.         Listened and discussed the concerns regarding vehicle speeds in Sweetcroft Lane.    

2.         Asked that officers undertake classified traffic volume and speed surveys at the locations which had been agreed with the petitioners and the Ward Councillor at the meeting.

3.      Subject to the outcome of the of the above, and if appropriate, consideration be given to adding Sweetcroft Lane to future phases of the Council's Vehicle Activated Signs programme and add the petitioners' request to the Council's Road Safety Programme for further investigation.   

Councillor Ray Graham was present as a Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         The excessive speeds of traffic travelling up and down Vine Lane and Honey Hill at all times, but particularly from 7.30am to 9.00am and 3.30pm to 7.30pm.

·         Traffic entering Vine Lane from the Uxbridge Road accelerates at it rounds the corner by the Vine Public House, and then speeds down Vine Labe until forced to slow down at the existing width restrictions. Traffic then accelerates down Honey Hill.

·         A request was for effective speed restrictions along the length of the whole road to prevent accidents involving both cars and pedestrians.

Suggestions put forward by petitioners included:

• Build-outs or alternative parking spaces on either side of the road, so that traffic did not have a straight run and did not use the pavement.
• A mini roundabout at The Rise / Chetwynd Drive / Vine Lane junction, which would be constructed so that vehicles could not drive over it.
• Review of the double yellow lines on Honey Hill and a continuation of the 20mph speed limit for the whole of Vine Lane and Honey Hill.
• Re-design of the mini-roundabout at the Blossom Way junction so that it was more effective. (Currently traffic coming down Vine Lane had a free run as no contact was made with the roundabout).
• A more prominent speed sign at the entrance to Vine Lane from the Uxbridge Road.
• A zebra crossing at the south end of Vine Lane to facilitate pedestrians crossing by the Vine Public House. This would require a flashing traffic warning sign before the turning to Vine Lane.
• A mini roundabout at the junction of Vine Lane and Court Park. (Currently, traffic turning left or right was largely 'blind' to oncoming traffic).
• Alternatively parking on Central Avenue, Hayes, had been suggested as a model.

Councillor Graham spoke in support of the petitioners and asked that consideration also be given to the option of introducing speed tables.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, responded to the petitioner and reported that the data from the independent surveys undertaken would be reported back to him, and he would then share this data with Ward Councillors.

 Resolved - Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.         Listened and considered the petitioners' concerns regarding vehicle speeds in Vine Lane and Honey Hill.

2.      Asked that officers undertake classified traffic volume and speed surveys at the locations agreed with the petitioners and the Ward Councillor at the meeting.

3.         Subject to the outcome of the above, if appropriate, consideration be given to adding the petitioners' request to the Council's Road Safety Programme for further consideration.       

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         There were commuters using Hillingdon London Underground Station who parked their vehicles on Bridge Way whilst they used the tube.

·         There were occasions where vehicles were parked for 48 hours.

·         Emergency vehicles and refuse vehicles had difficulty accessing the road due to the hazards caused by parked vehicles.

·         There were safety concerns for children and for pedestrians generally.

·         A request was made for 2 hour parking restrictions from 11.00am till 1.00pm, Monday to Friday with parking allowed outside these hours, partly on the footway.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, responded to the petitioners and referred to the residents' request for a 2 hour parking restriction and commented that this was effectively asking for a residents' permit parking scheme on the road. The petitioners were informed that this restriction would inconvenience residents and reduce parking for them. 

Resolved - Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.         Considered the petitioners' concerns with footway parking in Bridge Way, Ickenham.

2.       Noted that the creation of a formalised parking scheme would result in an overall reduction of parking capacity in comparison with the present unregulated situation.

3.         Asked officers to investigate further the request for a formalised footway parking scheme, by way of an informal consultation in Bridge Way and to report back to the Cabinet Member and Local Ward Councillors on the feasibility of a scheme.        

Councillors Janet Gardner and Phoday Jarjussey were present as Ward Councillors.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         Victoria Close was a residential cul-de-sac which comprised of mainly bungalows without the benefit of off-street parking.

• Vehicles parked at the entrance to the close blocked the road which made it difficult for emergency vehicles and deliver vehicles from accessing the road.
• Residents of the close were mainly elderly and some of them were vulnerable and ill. Reference was made to one resident who required regular medical treatment and the difficulties ambulances had in accessing the close to take the resident to hospital for treatment.
• Vehicles parked on the grass area which ruined the grass.
• The close was used by people to park their cars instead of using Heathrow Airport car parking. Some cars were left for several weeks.
• Elderly residents could not park their cars outside their homes.
• Some of the residents used mobility scooters but their use was impaired by vehicles parking on the pavements and causing obstructions.
• Elderly residents felt powerless to intervene.
• The introduction of a parking management scheme would enable residents to park their vehicles close to their home and return the close to a quiet and peaceful area to the benefit of the elderly residents.

Both Councillor Janet Gardner and Councillor Phoday Jarjussey spoke in support of the petitioners and asked that the Cabinet Member give urgent consideration to the Petitioners' request because of the age profile of residents in the close, and the vulnerability of some of these.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, responded to the petitioner and reported that he was aware of the parking problems in the close and the difficulties of vehicle access. Reference was made to parking being displaced from nearby roads which were subject to parking management schemes.

The petitioner was informed that because of the profile of the residents in the close and the vulnerabilities of some of the residents, urgent discussions would take place with the Transport and Projects Team to put in place plans to mitigate against this problem and improve the environment for residents.

Resolved - Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.         Listened and discussed the request for a Parking Management Scheme to be introduced in Victoria Close.    

2.         Agreed that subject to discussions with officers, that Victoria Close be added to the Council's future parking scheme programme.