Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

RESOLVED: That all items be considered in public.

Councillors Roy Chamdal and Richard Mills attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors in support of the petition, noting that there was a lot of support from local residents for the petition.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting by the Lead Petitioner included the following:

·         No parking for residents outside their own homes until the weekend, and parking across dropped kerbs or residents' driveways;

·         Parking on the blind bend where double-yellow lines end;

·         Restricted access for emergency services, particularly fire engines, due to inconsiderate parking that has resulted in firemen lifting cars onto the pavement to allow emergency service access, but leads to people walking on the road around a dangerous bend as they can no longer access the footpath;

·         Local students often use the road to park due to bus stops nearby; and

·         Cars which do not belong to residents are often left on the road from Monday to Friday.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and commented that he was in agreement with residents that a consultation on prospective changes should take place, but it was also important to discuss whether other neighbouring roads should be included in the consultation to prevent the problem of the traffic just moving to nearby roads.

With regards to the concerns about emergency service access that was raised by the lead petitioner, the Cabinet Member confirmed that a further recommendation would be added to ask the emergency services to look at the access to the road and report back on the outcome.

Councillor Burrows stated that he would discuss with the local Ward Members to agree which roads should be included in the consultation, and following these discussions, the consultation will be sent to local residents. Councillor Burrows confirmed if neighbouring roads did not want to be included in the parking management scheme then they would not be, however, this would not prevent other roads from becoming part of the scheme should the consultation indicate the majority of residents on that road wish to be.

The Cabinet Member encouraged all residents to respond to the consultation to ensure their voices were heard and considered.

RESOLVED: Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Listened to the petitioner's request for the inclusion of New Peachey Lane, Cowley, into the Cowley Parking Management Scheme;

2.    Decided that the request for the extension to the Cowley Parking Management Scheme in New Peachey Lane, Cowley, and the surrounding area, should be added to the Council's future parking scheme programme for further investigation and more detailed consultation when resources permit; and,

3.    Confirmed that the emergency services would be asked to investigate the access to New Peachey Lane and report their findings to the Cabinet Member.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

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

Options were discussed with the petitioners.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting by the Lead Petitioner included the following:

·         The residents who live above the shops in Field End Road were not allowed the equal opportunity to find parking close to their homes, like the other residents of Field End Road and the surrounding areas;

·         The majority of residents in surrounding roads already have off-street parking, and the residents of the flats do not benefit from this off-street parking, nor do they have priority in the 'Zone E' parking area.

·         The lack of parking nearby impacts on families with young children, elderly residents and those carrying heavy shopping. This is of particular concern in bad weather.

·         Residents understand the parking permits were introduced to stop people parking in the local roads and then commuting into London by train, however, this does not take away from the local residents' parking needs.

·         In local roads, a large amount of parking spaces are available during working hours following the introduction of the parking management scheme.

·         24 houses were approached when the petitioner was seeking signatures, and all of these houses signed the petition.

The Cabinet Member listened to the concerns of the petitioners and noted the support of the local residents. The petitioners were informed that parking surveys in the area would need to take place before any changes were made to the scheme, and a consultation of local residents would also be required.  Councillor Burrows encouraged all the local residents to respond to this consultation, and confirmed that he would speak to the local Ward Councillors regarding parking arrangements before the consultation was sent out to local residents.

RESOLVED: Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Discussed with the petitioners their request to be entitled to permits to park within the Eastcote Parking Management Scheme Zone 'E';

2.    Noted that residents who live above business premises are already entitled to zone 'E1' permits; and,

3.    Subject to the outcome of the above, instructed officers to undertake parking stress surveys to establish the amount of spare parking capacity in the roads close to Eastcote Town Centre, then report back to local Ward Councillors and the Cabinet Member with results.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

The petition hearing will provide a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

None at this stage.

Councillors Allan Kauffman and Judy Kelly attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors in support of the petition.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting by the Lead Petitioner included the following:

·         Local residents can't park down their road due to non-residents using the road for parking, including staff from companies that car-share and leave their cars on the road all day;

·         Two car sales companies work nearby and often cars are left along Glebe Avenue overnight, causing parking problems twenty-four hours a day, which affects residents who are shift workers;

·         Glebe Avenue is a small road and when residents don't have on-street parking, they often have to park far from their homes. Furthermore, non-residents parking on the street often block driveways. A new block of flats has recently been built too, but with one parking space per residence, many residents are parking their second cars on Glebe Avenue too as the parking allocation is not enough for many owners of the flat.

·         The local Gaelic Athletic Association is currently undergoing renovation, and club events often lead to an overspill of parking which has been exacerbated further by the renovation works.

Councillor Kelly confirmed that the local Ward Councillors were fully supportive of the petitioners' request, as they currently have a struggle to find anywhere to park. As the last road before the A40, it is important for them to have a Parking Management Scheme. Councillor Kauffman reiterated his support for the petition, and expressed his hope that once the GAA refurbishment was complete, parking issues that arose from GAA events would no longer be a problem.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that some neighbouring roads did not wish to be part of the Parking Management Scheme when it was introduced, and stated that when a consultation is sent out to local residents, neighbouring roads would be consulted as well following discussions with Ward Councillors over which roads should be included in the consultation. Councillor Burrows confirmed that if neighbouring roads did not want to become a part of the Parking Management Scheme, this would not impact upon the residents of Glebe Avenue, as long as a majority of residents wished to be included in the scheme.

Councillor Burrows commented that previously, there had been a preference from residents to not paint parking spaces on the road, and suggested that if a parking management scheme was to be introduced in Glebe Avenue following the consultation, signage is put up at the entrance to the road stating that the road allows residents' parking only. The lead petitioner was receptive to this suggestion, and the Cabinet Member confirmed that this option, as well as timings, would be included in the consultation. Councillor Burrows encouraged all the local residents to respond to the consultation.

RESOLVED: Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Discussed with petitioners their concerns with parking in Glebe Avenue, South Ruislip; and,

2.    Decided that the request to introduce a residents' permit parking scheme in Glebe Avenue, Ruislip, should  ...  view the full minutes text for item 5.

Councillors Allan Kauffman and Judy Kelly attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors in support of the petition.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting by the Lead Petitioner included the following:

·         Parking restrictions which were introduced in Bracken Hill have led to vehicles now being parked on Diamond Road, and preventing residents from parking on their own road.

·         The build-up of parked cars in Diamond Road is a result of local workers from the nearby industrial estate leaving their cars for the working day, vehicles from the local mechanics being left on-street overnight and local car salesmen leaving cars on the road.

·         Residents have to park far from their homes, which is problematic for small children and elderly residents.

·         Parents dropping children off for Queensmead School has also become a big problem in mornings and evenings, as residents often have their drives blocked during this time. Therefore, a parking restriction between 8am and 8pm would be desirable.

Both local Ward Councillors confirmed they were very supportive of the scheme. Councillor Kauffman commented that vans parking near the turning from Jubilee Drive to Diamond Road are a potential hazard for emergency services' access to Diamond Road, and a parking permit scheme was a necessity for local residents. Furthermore, staff from local businesses also use Diamond Road to park while they are at work, and school-time parking has become a huge issue for local residents. The parking management scheme in Princes Way was very successful, and something similar in Diamond Road would be desirable.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that a parking management scheme would help to limit parking, and the Council would design a scheme that gives the maximum amount of parking to residents and consult with residents on this proposal. The Transport and Projects Manager commented that there were a number of dropped kerbs on the road, and as those residents would not be affected by the parking management scheme, this might impact upon how many residents respond to the consultation. Councillor Burrows commended the petitioners for supporting such a well-supported petition, but encouraged as many residents as possible to respond to the consultation.

RESOLVED: Meeting with petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1.    Discussed with petitioners their concerns with parking in Diamond Road, South Ruislip; and,

2.    Asked officers to add the request to the Council's extensive parking programme for further informal consultation in a possible area agreed with Local Ward Councillors.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATIONS

The petition hearing will provide a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED

None at this stage.