Agenda item

Concerns, comments and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Residents found it difficult to leave the estate in the morning due to the volume of cars cutting through the narrow roads and due to parked cars, were considered wide enough only to accommodate one-way traffic.
• This was a residential area which was experiencing substantial safety issues, as speeding cars made it difficult for residents parked in the opposite direction between parked cars, to pull out onto the road.
• Two car accidents had occurred as a result of this issue.
• It was suggested that parents walking their children to local schools struggled to cross the roads.
• Due to the narrow roads, cars often mounted the kerbs and it was almost impossible for residents to access Lymington Drive.
• The issues concerning the roads had resulted in residents’ cars being damaged.
• Petitioners stated that permanent restriction would be acceptable, as officers had stated in their report that the request for the restriction of a ‘one-way’ flow of traffic on a part-time basis was not permitted by law.
• Appreciated that in order for any traffic measures to be introduced, the residents in the roads concerned, as well as those living in surrounding roads would have to be consulted and the majority would be required to be in support of any scheme.
• It was reiterated that speeding cars drove through Lysander Road, Chichester Avenue and Lymington Drive.
• Suggested that that Lymington Drive should be made into a permanent one-way direction in the easterly direction with a ‘no entry’ and a ‘no left turn’ turning into Lysander Road and Lymington Drive.

A Ward Councillor spoke (giving apologies for the other 2 Ward Councillors who were otherwise engaged on Council business) and raised the following points:

• Advised that he had been involved with issues raised by petitioners for some time and empathised with those who lived in the affected roads.
• It was suggested that the area was never designed for the volume of traffic, and neither were the size of the roads designed for the level of traffic.
• The roads were used as a short –cut during the morning rush hour to get to the ‘White Bear Roundabout’ and this has resulted in a half increase waiting time to exit the estate.
• The area was in close proximity of 3 train stations, namely Ruislip, Ruislip Manor and Ickenham stations compounded by Breakspear and Wood End Road which were usually extremely congested.
• Petitioners had highlighted a huge problem in the area, both in terms of safety issues for residents, as well as transportation issues.
• Requested a detailed survey to be undertaken, particularly in respect of petitioners being able to exit the estate in the mornings and asked that petitioners also be invited to accompany officers when they go on site, to assist in ensuring that the correct areas were targeted.
• Re-iterated support for petitioners in trying to achieve an acceptable outcome.
• Suggested that there were significant safety concerns regarding this issue and urged that consideration be given to possible combination of schemes to try and alleviate the problem.
• Acknowledged that the majority of residents would need to be in support of any proposed scheme and would welcome being involved in looking at a range of options.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. The Cabinet Member stated that he was aware of the issue of traffic congestion in the area and advised that Hillingdon had the largest car ownership in London. With regard to the request to notify residents when officers were conducting the traffic survey, this request could not be granted as officers would be conducting a 24-hour, seven day traffic speed and volume survey.

Officers advised that the proposed survey device that would be conducted would be the ‘Road Tubes’ as it was capable of capturing any type of vehicle and the speed at which they were travelling in. The information collected would then be analysed and submitted to Councillor Burrows. 

Councillor Burrows stated that a 24-hour seven day traffic speed and volumesurvey would help the Council assess the traffic volume and  speed at which the vehicles travelled and would ultimately help the Council to assess the problem in the area and determine the appropriate action that could be taken. Officers would discuss the outcome of the findings with petitioners and their Ward Councillors before undertaking the consultation process, which would require a majority mandate in order to proceed with possible options.

Using the plans attached to the report, petitioners indicated to officers the specific areas that were of particular concern. The ‘Road Tubes’ would be placed in, or close to areas specified. 

Resolved - That the Cabinet Member:

1.       Met and discussed with petitioners their concerns with traffic          using Lymington Drive and Lysander Road as a cut through to      Ickenham Road.

2.      Noted that a permanent one-way system would be acceptable in the          area.

3.      Subject to the concerns raised by petitioners, instructed officers to            investigate the petitioners’ concerns in greater detail as part of the            Council’s Road Safety Programme and to conduct a comprehensive           24-hour seven day traffic speed and volume survey.

Reasons for recommendation

Petitioners are concerned with the volume of vehicles using their roads as a cut through. The recommendations of this report will enable officers to investigate the extent of the problem by conducting speed and volume surveys.  The results of the surveys will be reported back to local Ward Councillors and the Cabinet Member for further consideration and possible options.

Alternative options considered / risk management

These formed part of the recommendation of this report.