Agenda item

Councillors Phoday Jarjussey, Mo Khursheed and Peter Curling attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors. 

Concerns and suggestions raised by petitioners included the following:

• Given the current economic climate, traders were keen to make changes that would result in improvements to the local area which would, in turn, encourage residents to shop in the area;
• It was noted that customers had advised traders that they would like to see the two ends of Station Road rejoined and opened up to two way traffic;
• Concern was expressed that a significant amount of anti-social behaviour took place in the town centre as there was no passing traffic to deter it.  It was thought that opening up the road would expose, and therefore prevent, this behaviour;
• Petitioners believed that dividing the road into two areas had resulted in the provision of fewer parking spaces for shoppers which impacted on the traders.  This had also resulted in some serious road rage incidents.  It was suggested that a CCTV camera be installed to resolve the parking issues; and
• An improvement initiative (Make Hayes a World Class Town) was being launched by a local resident in 2013.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns of petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that, in the past, Hayes had been an industrial heartland but that this had changed as the large businesses had moved out of the area – this had resulted in fewer people being employed in the area and reduced the footfall in the town centre shops.  Members believed that the presence of a sustainable nighttime economy would help to eradicate the anti-social behaviour issue experienced in Hayes town centre.  

Ward Councillors were of the opinion that opening up the road to two way traffic would not solve the problems in Hayes town centre and that a more comprehensive regeneration package needed to be put in place.  In fact, local opinion was divided as it was thought that opening the road could possibly make the situation worse as the road could potentially then be used as a third leg to the Hayes bypass and be subjected to traffic jams which would then deter shoppers from coming into the town centre.  Councillor Burrows noted that the road had been closed in 1984 at the request of local people for exactly these reasons. 

Furthermore, it was thought that, if the road was reopened, it would need to be reconstructed as the current surface would not be able to cope with a significant increase in usage.  It was anticipated that this would cost a significant amount of money that was not currently available in existing Council budgets.

It was suggested that a full consultation exercise be undertaken to look at the vitality of the whole area which included residents in Crown Close and on the Austin Road estate.  Petitioners were advised that there had previously been two consultations undertaken in relation to Hayes town centre but that neither had resulted in a clear majority either way (50/50 and 49/51).  To be able to take any proposals forward, the Council would need a clear majority in favour. 

It was acknowledged that the Council had recently installed speed survey strips in Hayes town centre to monitor traffic flows through the town.  This was just the first step in what could be a very long process that would involve several rounds of funding bids to the Mayor of London and other Government initiatives. 

The Council had already implemented improvements to shop fronts and private forecourts with funds of £240k from the Mayor of London. Petitioners were reminded that consideration needed to be given to the bigger picture and implications of imminent developments which would include the creation of Crossrail.

Officers had been involved with a Steering Group which was looking at shop fronts and shop windows and had drafted a leaflet which would be discussed at the Group’s meeting on Friday.  With regard to consultation, officers would be discussing timeframes with the Cabinet Member and then looking at possible venues for consultation events. 

With regard to the parking issues raised by petitioners, Councillor Burrows advised that there was nothing that the Council could do to improve driver behaviour. 

Petitioners were advised that officers were currently looking at the “spine” in Coldharbour Lane.  Consideration was being given to whether or not this traffic calming measure was still needed. 

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Member:

1. met and discussed with the petitioners their concerns with the current traffic arrangements in Station Road, Hayes.

2. asked officers to include the petition request and the outcome of discussions with petitioners in the ongoing study for possible improvements to traffic movements in Hayes Town Centre which must be subject to a full consultation with traders and residents if decided to make changes to the current road layout.

Reasons for recommendation

To give the Cabinet Member an opportunity to discuss the petitioners’ concerns.

Alternative options considered

These will be discussed with petitioners.