Agenda and minutes

Councillor Dominic Gilham declared a non-pecuniary interest in item 5 owning a property in the road and remained in the room during the discussion and decision on the matter.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that the reports and discussion would take place in public.

The Cabinet Member welcomed the lead petitioners and other neighbours who attended on each item. He explained how the petition hearing worked and how important the views of residents were in ensuring any decisions taken forward by the Council were successfully implemented. The Cabinet Member acknowledged a number of Ward Councillors who had attended to support or provide their insight on the petitions received.

At the hearing, the Cabinet Member considered 5 petitions, with a summary of the discussion and final decision made set out in this notice.

The lead petitioner spoke and outlined his concerns about the recent statutory consultation to introduce 'At Any Time' waiting restrictions in a small section of Badgers Close to remove obstructive parking, which had been received from another local resident on road safety grounds.

The petitioner believed such a course of action would result in reduced parking spaces for residents and that any concerns that emergency vehicles or refuse vehicles would find the road too narrow to travel down were largely unjustified, as he had witnessed no problems with such large vehicles.

After listening to the petitioners' views, and upon advice from the Highways Officer present, the Cabinet Member indicated that the proposed scheme would be put on hold at the current time, pending further discussions with the Emergency Services and also the Refuse and Recycling Service at the Council. The Cabinet Member requested, following this, a report would be prepared for him to consider all views on this matter and then he would make a decision whether or not to proceed.

The Cabinet Member thanked the lead petitioner for attending.

DECISION

Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Considered the issues / concerns raised regarding the proposed waiting restrictions.

2.    Asked officers to seek the views of the emergency services.

3.    Asked officers to report the outcome of this meeting and the comments received to the formal consultation of proposed waiting restrictions on Badgers Close and to include all these views in a separate subsequent report for his consideration.

The lead petitioner spoke and outlined her concerns over the increased commuter parking in Ruffle Close which was just outside the West Drayton Parking Management Zone.

The lead petitioner, joined by other neighbours at the hearing, stated they had seen a noticeable rise in the number of vehicles and traffic using the small close in recent years, which had caused a detrimental knock on effect for residents. Ward Councillor, Dominic Gilham attended to support the residents, who along with them explained that the primary factor was Ruffle Close's proximity to the nearby West Drayton Mainline Railway Station (last in Zone 6) and that the problem would only get worse once Crossrail services commenced in a few years time.

Emails of support for the petitioners had also been received from Councillors Sweeting and Duncan, which were read out at the hearing.

A useful discussion took place on possible parking restrictions that could be imposed to prevent commuter parking and how the type of scheme would be critical to not disadvantage residents themselves.

After listening to the petitioner's views, and upon advice from the Highways Officer present, the Cabinet Member indicated that he would add Ruffle Close to the Parking Scheme Programme and undertake informal consultation on possible options for residents to consider. The Cabinet Member encouraged residents to respond to the consultation so he could have a mandate to implement a scheme to their advantage.

The Cabinet Member thanked the lead petitioner and residents for attending.

DECISION

Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Listened to their concerns with the parking situation in Ruffle Close.

2.    Asked officers to add the request to the Council's Parking Scheme Programme for future informal consultation.

A large number of neighbours joined to support the lead petitioner who spoke and outlined the proposal to install waiting restrictions along a section of Halford Road, which was the only remaining part without parking restrictions.

The lead petitioner believed that an increase in commuter parking by those who use Hillingdon Underground Station had resulted in a number of detrimental issues making the section of the road hazardous for highways users, whilst also difficult for large vehicles or emergency services to navigate.

It was noted that the proposals for waiting restrictions now had a far higher level of support locally than a previous consultation on the matter in 2010. Ward Councillor for the Ickenham area, John Hensley, had also sent an email of support of the petitioners, which was read out at the hearing.

After listening to the petitioners' views, and upon advice from the Highways Officer present, the Cabinet Member agreed that given the high level of support for the waiting restrictions, he would ask officers to commence formal statutory legal consultation on introducing the same waiting restrictions as on the rest of the road (operational Monday to Friday 8:30 - 10:30am and 3:30 - 4:30pm), rather than re-consult residents informally first. It was noted that this would speed up the process, but that the Cabinet Member would need to consider any objections formally that may arise as a result. The Cabinet Member thanked the lead petitioner and residents for attending.

DECISION

Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Listened to their request for parking restrictions to be introduced in the remaining unrestricted section of Halford Road, Ickenham between the junctions with The Grove and Swakeleys Drive.

2.    Agreed that the request for parking restrictions in this section of Halford Road to be added to the Council’s future parking scheme programme for formal consultation with residents.

The lead petitioner spoke and outlined her concerns over the inconsiderate driving, speeding traffic and vehicles mounting the pavement in order to travel down the narrow road. The petitioner explained the hazardous nature of this to residents and pedestrians, with particular concerns over children from a nearby school and elderly residents at Barringers Court.

The lead petitioner, joined by other neighbours at the hearing, suggested consideration be given to traffic calming measures. A number of proposals were put forward including passing areas, 20mph speed limit, speed bumps, one-way traffic and priority traffic flow schemes.

The three ward councillors attended to extend support and insight into the petitioner's requests. Councillor Philip Corthorne indicated his sympathy with the petition and expressed the view that a wider approach should be taken to ensure any proposals do not disadvantage other part of the road. Councillor Brian Crowe provided useful views on the benefits and disadvantages of the particular traffic calming proposals put forward by petitioners.

A useful discussion took place with all present, with the use of a large map to pin-point possible locations for 24/7 speed and traffic surveys to take place.  

After listening to the petitioners' views, and upon advice from the Highways Officer present, the Cabinet Member indicated he would add Sharps Lane to the Council's Road Safety Programme and importantly request officers attend to observe first hand, at relevant times, some of the problems along the entire stretch of the road. It was noted that following a comprehensive review, the Cabinet Member would receive a technical report with a comprehensive view on possible options to inform the three Ward Councillors to discuss in more detail with the lead petitioner and other local residents.

The Cabinet Member thanked the lead petitioner and residents for attending.

DECISION

Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Considered their concerns regarding vehicle speeds in Sharps Lane;

2.    Noted the previous work associated with an earlier petition request, including the speed of vehicles recorded during a traffic volume and speed survey undertaken in October 2015, relevant details of where set out in the body of the report

3.    Agreed that officers should undertake further classified traffic volume and speed survey(s) at location(s) to be agreed with the petitioners and the relevant Ward Members;

4.    Subject to the above, asked officers to add the petitioners’ request to the Council’s Road Safety Programme for further investigation and;

5.    Requested officers first attend Sharps Lane to undertake observations of traffic movements over a period to be agreed by the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling.

Ward councillors, Lynne Allen and Pete Curling attended to present their views supporting the lead petitioner who was unable to attend the hearing and had kindly sent her apologies. The Cabinet Member considered that it would be appropriate to hear the petition in her absence, which ward councillors agreed.

Councillor Allen outlined the problems of inconsiderate parking in East Avenue, particularly drivers parking over residents' driveways and the need for improved enforcement of the area. Councillor Allen cited building work going on in Coldharbour Lane with more cars fighting for fewer parking spaces. As such, additional enforcement was requested along with the suggestion that once local developments in the area had been completed, a fresh review of parking restrictions should be considered. Councillor Allen proposed that any parking management scheme should be confined to the top end of East Avenue and included within the Hayes Town Centre Scheme.

After listening to the views of the ward councillors, and upon advice from the Highways Officer present, the Cabinet Member indicated he would defer consideration of parking restrictions in East Avenue until a later date, but in the meantime agreed to instruct Parking Services to undertake more proactive enforcement of inconsiderate parking in the area.

DECISION

The Cabinet Member:

1.    Considered the lead petitioner's request for a Parking Management Scheme to be introduced in East Avenue, Hayes;

2.    Subject to further discussions with relevant officers, will decide whether the request for a Parking Management Scheme in East Avenue be added to the Council’s future parking scheme programme for further investigation and a more detailed consultation when resources permit and;

3.    Instructed Parking Services to undertake proactive enforcement of this area, in consultation with relevant Highways Officers and the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation & Recycling.