Agenda and minutes

There were no declarations of interest.

It was confirmed that all items were in Part I and would be considered in public.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting traffic calming measures on North Road, West Drayton. The petition organiser was not present; however, Councillor Jan Sweeting, Ward Councillor for West Drayton, highlighted a number of reasons for supporting the petition, including:

• with regard to paragraph 2 in the officer report, the Member agreed that traffic and speeding had increased down North Road from Porters Way since the inception of Park West, using this as a cut through to come out of Bell Avenue.
• This had subsequently resulted in several reported incidents of vehicle damage in this area.
• The main problem was not necessarily speeding in the area, but more to do with dangerous and reckless driving, including racing.
• These issues were most prevalent through the Park West condominium as well as along Porters Way (adjacent to the estate), Cherry Lane and Sipson Road.
• These problems could be a result of the large development located at Drayton Garden Village and other nearby estates, which could be providing shortcuts that were being utilised as ‘rat runs’.
• These issues had been brought to her attention on multiple occasions at Ward Surgery meetings by numerous residents.
• The petition had received 60 signatures, which highlighted the depth of feeling from residents regarding these issues.

The Cabinet Member responded and suggested that speed checks might be an easy and inexpensive method for gaining more quantitative information regarding these issues. It was noted that there were other potential solutions such as signage etc. However, the Cabinet Member reminded attendees that those methods did not necessarily guarantee an impactful deterrent. Contrary to suggestions in paragraph 6 of the officer report, it was highlighted that there was a general reluctancy to address such issues with the installation of speed bumps. The Cabinet Member also echoed assertations in paragraph 7 of the officer report regarding the effectiveness of speed guns used by the police and also the lack of enforcement powers held by the Council, in comparison to the Metropolitan Police.

The Ward Councillor suggested that road narrowing, raised tables or potentially even closing the road altogether ought to be considered as possible solutions to these issues.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the Ward Councillors’ response and advised that there were ways of implementing natural speed and traffic calming measures, such as through relaxed pavement parking.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    met with petitioners and listened to their request for the Council to investigate options for possible traffic calming measures for North Road, West Drayton; and

2)    asked officers to commission independent 24/7 traffic and speed surveys on North Road, West Drayton at locations agreed with petitioners.

Reasons for recommendations:

The Petition Hearing provided provide a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered / risk management:

None at this stage.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting the removal of double yellow lines and replacement of the grass verge with parking bays on Harmondsworth Road, West Drayton

The Lead Petitioner was present and made a number of points, including:

• the grass verge was in poor condition.
• The service road (adjacent to Harmondsworth Road), in addition to the grass verge, was constantly congested and abused for double parking. Parking on pavements and drives was also noticeable in this vicinity.
• The removal of the grass verge was requested due to its ineffectiveness. The verge was requested to be paved over and converted into new parking bays, in order to provide safe parking spaces (estimated to be between 8-10 new spaces) for shoppers and residents whilst visiting the nearby commercial premises.
• The proposed construction of a new leisure centre nearby, in order to commemorate the platinum jubilee, would further limit parking availability for local businesses and residents.
• The double yellow lines should be removed to facilitate improved parking.
• The cycle lane requiring the double yellow lines was rarely used, and bicycles and buses allegedly used the entirety of Yiewsley High Street without double yellow lines, suggesting that they were unnecessary.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the difficulties set out and also accepted the potential problems with parking as a result of the planned leisure centre.

Councillor June Nelson, Ward Councillor for Heathrow Villages reaffirmed her support for the petitioners stating:

• The subject matter of this petition had been a problem for a number of years now.
• Accessibility for emergency vehicles was a worrying consequence of these issues.
• The lack of a parking management scheme was problematic for residents and local businesses, and the removal of the grass verge would contribute towards solving a number of the complications that had arisen from the situation.

A local business owner raised a different issue regarding parking complications in the locality; and asserted that people were often leaving their cars parked for weeks and sometimes months outside their premises, which was affecting their business due to a lack of customer parking.

·         The Cabinet Member responded, advising that more parking spaces (as requested by the petitioner) wouldn’t necessarily deter long term parking, but rather encourage it.

·         A pay and display implementation may benefit the local businesses but could adversely affect residents.

·         Regarding a resident parking scheme, the Cabinet Member replied that the criteria for such a solution stipulated a large area and confirmed that this issue did not fall under such a categorization.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    met with petitioners and listened to their request to remove part of the grass verge between the service road and main carriageway fronting numbers 13-19 Harmondsworth Road.

2)    Asked officers in the Council’s Highways team to investigate the feasibility of this request and to report back to him.

3)    Asked officers to investigate whether it might be possible to remove the double yellow line on the main carriageway;

Reasons for recommendations:

The Petition  ...  view the full minutes text for item 4.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting traffic speed mitigation measures on Bishop’s Road and York Avenue, Hayes. The lead petitioner, Cllr Scott Farley, was present and made the following points:

• this particular issue had been the subject of a former petition and had been resubmitted due to the persistence of the Issue.
• Cllr Farley and other Ward Councillors had received a number of concerns from residents via email and they responded to these by speaking with local residents in order to gauge first-hand the severity of the issue.
• The ‘2 wheels on the road’ policy administered on Bishops Road and York Avenue, brought about by Council action in 1999 and 2001, did not work (in terms of acting as a coincidental speed calming measure).
• The Member also questioned the effect of the yellow lines that had been installed.
• There had been significant damage to vehicles in the area.
• Concerns remained regarding children and animal safety.
• It was suggested that speed tests should be carried out in the first instance. In terms of long-term solutions, the Member reminded the Cabinet Member that the residents had voiced their disagreement on potential implementation of speed bumps or raised tables. Instead, the Member proposed pedestrian traffic islands, dropped curbs alongside York Avenue and Bishops Road, or even chicanes as potential methods for addressing some of the complexities raised.
• It was also suggested that it might be worth collaborating with the nearby school, Wood End Park Academy on this matter, as it related to child safety.
• The effectiveness of the speed guns used by the Police to address such issues was highlighted.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the points made by Cllr Farley and agreed that speed checks should be carried out as soon as feasible.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    met with petitioners and listened to their request for traffic and speed surveys and subsequent speed mitigation measures; and

2)    asked officers to commission independent 24/7 traffic and speed surveys on Bishops Road and York Avenue at locations agreed with petitioners and Ward Councillors, and to report back to the Cabinet Member on the outcome.

Reasons for recommendations:

The Petition Hearing provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered / risk management:

None at this stage.

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting parking controls in Abbotswood Way, Hayes.

The Lead Petitioner was present and made a number of points, including:

• Emergency vehicles were unable to pass through Abbotswood Way to surrounding areas as cars were double parked and there is not enough room to get through (most cars are big SUV’s/ 4x4’s). One of the signatories to the petition divulged that she had previously called for an ambulance for her husband and the ambulance could not get through.
• Cars were often stopping in the middle of the road, as they were unable to get through because of vehicles being double parked.
• Residents in the area were unable to exit their driveways due to parking problems between the hours of 07:30am-09:00am and 14:30pm-16:00pm.
• As a result of these problems, vehicles were now being forced to park elsewhere and in unorthodox/ illegal locations such as on private driveways.
• Teachers at the nearby Guru Nanak Sikh School were avoiding parking there as well, as they were also aware of the problems.
• The lead petitioner’s personal vehicle had been damaged by a 4x4 in the past as it tried to squeeze through the road in question.
• Parents dropping off children to school were sometimes abusive and rude towards residents.
• The issues were predominantly occurring during school times, as issues were not being reported during non-school hours.
• These problems were due to get worse as a result of planned construction works nearby.
• Mitigation measures seen at other schools, such as no parking zones, could be considered.
• Attempts to address the matter with the school had been unsuccessful.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged points made by the lead petitioner. 

Councillor Stuart Mathers, Ward Councillor for Wood End, echoed the lead petitioner and made the following points:

• the nearby school should take greater responsibility to address the issues.
• The ongoing construction of Avondale Estate nearby would likely amplify the problems through additional construction traffic etc.
• A parking management scheme could be a viable solution but
• the Council could employ a ‘school time-only’ parking restriction at specific locations in the immediate area.

Councillor Elizabeth Garelick, Ward Councillor for Wood End, also endorsed the lead petitioners concerns and made the following points:

• a park and ride initiative could be instigated, located at the Sainsbury’s car park nearby to the school.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the arguments made by the petitioner and Ward Councillors and pledged further investigation to provide a long-term answer. The Cabinet Member agreed that further dialogue with the school was likely required.

RESOLVED That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    met with petitioners and listened to their requested parking controls in Abbotswood Way and possible surrounding road.

2)    Asked officers to add this request to the Council’s extensive Parking Scheme Programme for further investigation and possible informal consultation in an area agreed with Ward Councillor’s; and

3)    Asked officers to investigate further into cooperation with the school.   

Reasons for recommendations:

The Petition Hearing provided a valuable opportunity  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6.

The petition was withdrawn by the petitioner prior to the hearing.