Agenda item

Councillor John Hensley attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         Had a business for over 30 years in Ickenham Village and had lived in Ickenham for 40 years.

·         There was confusion with the statement indicated in the officers' report, as petitioners were not requesting an end to the 'Stop and Shop' scheme.

·         The 'Stop and Shop' scheme worked well, although an extra half hour provision of parking would benefit customers.

·         Employees were not able to park near their place of work.

·         The concerns of residents were understood.

·         There should be flexibility for employees to park.

·         The Council could come up with more imaginative ways to address parking problems.

·         Businesses were struggling to get staff.

·         Wanted a way that residents and businesses could work together.

Cllr John Hensley spoke in objection of the petitioners’ request and raised the following issues:

·         The Parking Management Schemes in Ickenham Village had taken a number of years to develop in consultation with both businesses and residents.

·         The request for parking controls in the shopping parade was instigated by businesses that were experiencing a loss in trade due to commuters and employees using the available space.

·         The parking restrictions were not politically motivated as alluded to by the lead petitioner in a letter.

·         If the proposals were approved for a nearby supermarket then this would also have an effect on the Ickenham Village shops.

·         Businesses needed to respond to the needs of customers.

·         Commuters had no loyalty to businesses.

·         The Ickenham Residents association agreed.

The Cabinet Member, Cllr Keith Burrows, listened to the concerns and responded to the points raised.

Cllr Burrows read a letter received by Democratic Services signed for and on behalf of Ickenham Residents (not the Ickenham Residents' Association).  The letter highlighted that parking had been an emotive issue for the past few years.  The letter stated that residents were opposed to any change to the present arrangements as they found them to be satisfactory.

Cllr Burrows explained that traffic legislation would not allow qualified parking on yellow lines and that waiting restrictions applied to everyone, apart from those displaying a valid Blue Badge.  Cllr Burrows supported Cllr Hensley's concerns in relation to petitioners' request and concurred that the parking restrictions in Ickenham were a result of businesses and residents petitioning the Council to address the parking issues.

Cllr Burrows informed petitioners that it was the responsibility of businesses to encourage alternative modes of transport for their employees to get to work if there was no parking provision.  Other 'Stop and Shop' schemes had been implemented in the Borough and there were no reported issues elsewhere.  Businesses had complained that they were failing due to the available parking being taken up by commuters.  If the Council allowed businesses employees to park near their place of work it would set a precedent all over the Borough. 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1. Discussed with petitioners and listens to their concerns regarding the parking arrangements in Ickenham Village Town Centre.

2. Asked officers to conduct a further review of the Ickenham Village 'Stop & Shop' Parking Scheme to see if the majority of businesses support the continuation of the 'Stop & Shop' parking scheme.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

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 were discussed with petitioners.