Agenda and minutes

Petition Hearing - Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation - Wednesday, 14th March, 2018 7.00 pm

Venue: Committee Room 3 - Civic Centre, High Street, Uxbridge UB8 1UW. View directions

Contact: Liz Penny  01895 250185

Items
Note No. Item

8.

Declarations of Interest in matters coming before this meeting

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

9.

To confirm that the business of the meeting will take place in public.

Minutes:

RESOLVED: That all items be considered in public.

7pm

10.

Woolacombe Way, Hayes - Petition Requesting a footway parking scheme in Woolacombe Way pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting a footpath parking scheme in Woolacombe Way, Hayes. A petitioner spoke in support of the petition. Councillor John Morse also attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition.

 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         It was reported that there were significant problems with parking in Woolacombe Way as there were 130 properties along the road with only 40 parking spaces allocated;

·         When residents resorted to parking on footpaths, they were ticketed;

·         It was believed that, in the fullness of time, the number of cars seeking parking along the road would increase significantly;

·         It was acknowledged that safety issues would need to be taken into consideration if the petitioners' request were granted.

 

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. He noted that health and safety matters such as ensuring the accessibility of utility inspection covers and fire hydrants and the safe passage for pedestrians were referred to in point 4 of the Information section of the report. With this in mind, Councillor Burrows moved the recommendations in the officer's report.

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

 

1.    met with the petitioners and listened to their request to allow footway parking in Woolacombe Way, Hayes;

 

2.    asked officers to add the request to the forward parking scheme programme for further detailed investigation and report back to him with the outcome of these investigations;

 

3.    subject to the above, asked highways officers to report on the suitability of the relevant existing areas to accommodate parking by vehicles and report back to him.

 

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 / risk management 

 

These will be discussed with petitioners.

 

11.

Petition Requesting a Residents Only Parking Management Scheme in Columbia Avenue, Eastcote pdf icon PDF 100 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting a residents parking management scheme in Columbia Avenue, Eastcote. A petitioner spoke in support of the request. Councillor Eddie Lavery also attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the application.

 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         The petitioner confirmed that Columbia Avenue was a very narrow road which was very popular with commuters due to its close proximity to Eastcote Station via a footpath which was used as a short-cut;

·         Resident parking was not an issue as most residents had their own allocated parking spaces; the main problem was commuter parking. It was confirmed that commuters sometimes parked inconsiderately and access was therefore restricted;

·         It was reported that emergency vehicles and refuse collection vehicles were at times unable to pass along the road. Recently an ambulance had been unable to gain access.  On another occasion a resident's property had been damaged by a refuse collection vehicle as it attempted to turn in the road; 

·         It was confirmed that the road was very busy during the week, particularly between the hours of 7.30am and 5pm, but was relatively quiet at weekends;

·         Ward Councillor Lavery confirmed that commuter parking was a problem - particularly near the entrance to the footpath. Councillor Lavery supported the idea of daytime parking restrictions but reported that, when this issue went to consultation on a previous occasion, residents' responses were very mixed;

·         It was confirmed that access via the footpath could not be restricted and there was a legal requirement for the footpath to remain open.

 

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. He commented that a discussion with emergency services could possibly speed things up if it was confirmed that this was an area of concern. It was agreed that the petitioners would speak to the Ward Councillor after the meeting regarding the damage caused by the refuse collection vehicle; this incident had already been reported to the Council. The consultation process was explained to the petitioners - all residents would receive a hand-delivered letter and it was important that they all responded to ensure their views were taken into consideration. The requested parking scheme would not be enforced if there was no majority. It was estimated that the consultation would take place in the summer / autumn.

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

 

1.    Met with and listened to the petitioners' request for the introduction of a residents' only parking scheme on Columbia Avenue, Eastcote;

 

2.    Asked officers to add the request to the Council's extensive parking programme for further informal consultation on a possible area agreed with ward councillors;

 

3.    Asked officers to contact the Waste Services department to establish whether they had encountered any issues in this area and to report back to the Cabinet Member;

 

4.    Asked officers, as part of the Transport Liaison Group meeting, to ascertain if there were any issues experienced by  ...  view the full minutes text for item 11.

12.

Petition requesting a Residents only Parking Management Scheme in Meadow Way and Measures to prevent speeding in Meadow Way and Hawthorne Avenue, Eastcote pdf icon PDF 138 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered two separate petitions; one requesting a parking management scheme in Meadow Way and one requesting measures to prevent speeding in Meadow Way and Hawthorne Avenue.

 

A petitioner spoke in support of the two requests. Councillors Lavery and Haggar also attended the meeting as Ward Councillors and expressed their support for the requests of the petitioners.

 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         The lead petitioner stated that the principal concern was that of safety as Meadow Way was home to a large number of young families and it was becoming increasingly difficult and dangerous to cross the road;

·         The Cabinet Member was advised that it was at times extremely difficult / impossible for residents to reverse out of their own drives due to the large commercial vehicles parked along the street which reduced visibility and due also to the speeding vehicles passing along the road;

·         There had been a number of vehicle accidents along the road and road rage was becoming a problem;

·         The large commercial vehicles parked along the street did not belong to residents and were sometimes left there for days at a time;

·         Surrounding roads had parking management schemes in place which meant that Meadow Way appeared to have become a free car park for many people;

·         It was felt that the majority of residents would favour the introduction of a parking management scheme;

·         Residents of Hawthorne Avenue already had a restricted parking zone in place but expressed concern regarding speeding vehicles along their road. They were also unhappy with the white lines painted across their drives and did not understand the purpose of these;

·         It was reported that both Meadow Way and Hawthorne Avenue were being used as a 'rat-run' to avoid the high street traffic lights in Eastcote particularly during rush hour (6-10 a.m. and 4-7pm);

·         The petitioners had produced a list of suggested measures to reduce speeding which were handed to officers and the Cabinet Member;

·         The lead petitioner reported that her neighbour had been knocked down by a speeding motorbike approximately two years ago and was badly hurt;

·         Councillor Haggar stated that all the Ward Councillors supported the request of the petitioners for permit parking and recognised that there was a problem in the area. Most of the surrounding roads had parking management schemes in place which meant that Meadow Way and Deane Way were attractive places for non-residents to park. With this in mind, Councillor Haggar requested that Deane Way should also be considered as part of the proposed parking management scheme;

·         Councillor Haggar also supported the request to commission speed surveys in both Meadow Way and Hawthorne Avenue as speeding vehicles along these road was an area of some concern;

·         Councillor Lavery referred to the traffic surveys commissioned by the Council in March 2016 at locations on Hawthorne Avenue and Morford Way which ascertained that restrictions were not required at the time. Councillor Lavery suggested that new surveys should be commissioned as the situation  ...  view the full minutes text for item 12.

13.

Petition requesting a Parking Management Scheme for specific properties only on Yeading Lane, Hayes pdf icon PDF 117 KB

Additional documents:

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered a request for a parking management scheme for specific properties only on Yeading Lane, Hayes. The petitioner and Ward Councillors were not in attendance at the hearing.

 

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

 

1.    Considered petitioners' request for parking controls to be introduced in Yeading Lane;

 

2.    In the absence of petitioners / Ward Councillors instructed officers to write to Barnhill & Yeading Ward Members to seek a steer from them regarding the report and its recommendations and requested that officers then report back to the Cabinet Member to enable him to make a final decision;

 

3.    Subject to the outcome of the above, the Cabinet Member will decide if the request for a parking scheme should be added to the Council's future parking scheme programme for further investigation and more detail consultation.

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

To allow the Cabinet Member to consider petitioners' concerns, request feedback from Ward Councillors and, if appropriate, add the request to the parking schemes programme.

 

Alternative options considered / risk management 

 

These will be discussed with petitioners.

 

 

14.

Request for a Parking Management Scheme in Bourton Close pdf icon PDF 535 KB

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered a request for parking permits or a gate at the start of Bourton Close, Hayes. No petitioners were in attendance. The three Ward Councillors (Councillors Lynne Allen, Peter Curling and Robin Sansarpuri) sent their apologies but submitted comments which were read out by the Cabinet Member. The Cabinet Member expressed his gratitude to the Ward Councillors for their detailed and helpful contributions.

 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         It was recognised that the parking situation was problematic in Bourton Close, particularly at Minet School opening/closing times;

·         Most of the residents of Bourton Close were leaseholders and had their own allocated parking spaces; the Council was unable to control who parking in these bays;

·         It was reported that restricted parking at certain times would alleviate the parking situation in Bourton Close but would lead to problems further afield in the Village Garden Estate and Glenister Gardens;

·         At the request of Councillors, the school had sent letters to parents asking them to park responsibly. Councillors had also attended with Police and ASB officers at school opening and closing times;

·         Councillors had suggested a Stop and Drop scheme on the frontage of the school but the school had opted for increased school parking spaces instead.

 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

 

1.    Considered the request for a residents' permit parking scheme to be introduced in Bourton Close, Hayes;

 

2.    Decided that the request for a permit parking scheme in Bourton Close should be added to the Council's future parking scheme programme for further investigation and more detailed consultation when resources permitted;

 

3.    Advised that the request for a gate at the end of the road could not be considered as the carriageway at the entrance to Bourton Close was adopted highway;

 

4.    Noted that the enforcement criteria within any permit parking scheme would not extend to the existing private car parking spaces outside the houses in Bourton Close.

 

 

Reasons for recommendations

 

To allow the Cabinet Member to consider petitioners' concerns and, if appropriate, add the request to the parking schemes programme.

 

Alternative options considered / risk management 

 

These will be discussed with petitioners.