Agenda and minutes

Petition Hearing - Cabinet Member for Public Safety & Transport - Wednesday, 14th April, 2021 7.00 pm

Venue: VIRTUAL - Live on the Council's YouTube channel: Hillingdon London. View directions

Contact: Ryan Dell  01895 250833

Items
No. Item

6.

Declarations of Interest in matters coming before this meeting

Minutes:

There were no declarations of interest.

7.

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

Minutes:

It was confirmed that all items of business would be considered in public.

8.

To consider the report of the officers on the following petitions received

Please note that individual petitions may overrun their time slots. Although individual petitions may start later than advertised, they will not start any earlier than the advertised time.

9.

EASTCOTE ROAD, RUISLIP - PETITION REQUESTING ROAD SAFETY MEASURES (BETWEEN SPRING DRIVE UP TO AND INCLUDING WINDMILL HILL ROUNDABOUT) pdf icon PDF 2 MB

Minutes:

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting urgent safety measures on Eastcote Road. The lead petitioner attended and made the following points:

 

  • The main negative impacts experienced were pedestrian safety concerns and speeding.
  • The issue of speeding had increased exponentially over the past 18 months, particularly on the ‘S’ bend and on the straight part of Eastcote Road.
  • There was also an ongoing concern over the number of, and speed of, HGVs using the road, which meant there were limited safe spaces to cross the road (i.e. zebra crossings), which was a concern for the safety of school children.
  • The crossing at the Windmill Hill roundabout was considered dangerous, as were narrow pavements and low kerbs. There had been occasions where vehicles had mounted the pavement.
  • The ‘S’ bend often hid pedestrians from vehicles coming round the corner.
  • It was noted that the frequency of HGVs using the road had increased over the past 18 months.
  • There was a concern regarding the speed and weight of vehicles which it was suggested were causing the shaking of, and cracks within, properties as well as noise and air pollution, often at unsociable hours.
  • Residents had counted that HGVs were using the road at a rate of one HGV per minute.
  • The petitioner had contacted the companies in question directly, with limited response.
  • It was noted that the road may be used by HS2 contractor companies, although HS2 had informed the resident that this road was not a designated route for these vehicles. Contractor vehicles were not displaying HS2 signs on the dashboard, as they were meant to. The petitioner asked the Council to contact HS2 to investigate this.
  • Low bridges in South Ruislip was suggested as a reason why some vehicles were using Eastcote Road.
  • It was noted that other local Councils had implemented 20mph speed zones near the A40, and that this method of speed reduction could be useful here.
  • A speed survey and road re-surfacing were requested as a matter of urgency.

 

Councillor Denys and Councillor Haggar attended as Eastcote and East Ruislip Ward Councillors, making the following points:

 

·       The officers report was noted.

·       It was noted that some re-surfacing works were ongoing.

·       Ward Councillors had recently met with the petitioner and visited the road, and confirmed the one HGV per minute rate.

·       Heavy HS2 vehicles carrying earth caused noise and potentially cracks in properties to appear.

·       The ‘S’ bend part of the road was of concern as the pavement was small.

·       There was a safety concern for children who frequently crossed the road here.

·       Some possible actions and solutions were noted:

o   To build up the roundabout to slow traffic;

o   A speed camera on the ‘S’ bend;

o   Additional signage;

o   A 20mph speed zone;

o   It was noted that traffic lights would not solve the issue, and potentially cause more traffic build up and rat runs.

·       It was noted that discussions with HS2 were not the most effective due to alternative priorities (constructing HS2 rather  ...  view the full minutes text for item 9.