Agenda item

Concerns and suggestions from petitioners included the following:

·         The petition requested action to be taken to address the parking issues in Westwood Close.

·         Whiteheath Infant and Nursery School was partly responsible for traffic congestion and parking problems locally.

·         Parents parked on the footway which posed a threat to pedestrian safety.

·         Inconsiderate parking affected access and egress to the Close.

·         Inconsiderate parking also posed access difficulties to refuse vehicles as well as the Emergency Services.

·         As there was no parking at the school, local roads were badly affected, especially at drop off and picking up times.

·         Non-residents parked within the Close for prolonged periods, despite the notices which highlighted bays were for residents only.

·         There was inconsiderate parking on the grass verges within the Close. This activity hampered lines of sight and made manoeuvring vehicles more hazardous, as well as posing a threat to pedestrian safety.

·         Several residents had approached the Council regarding the perimeter fence and asked for this to be reinstated.

·         To address the parking problem, the petitioner suggested that double yellow lines could be installed alongside the footpath and further signage added about the current parking restrictions. It was also suggested that Officers should be more proactive in taking enforcement action.

·         Further action was required to protect the grass verge which had been badly damaged by cars parking on it. The suggestion was made that Officers might consider the erection of bollards or the introduction of a limited amount of stepped pavement to address this issue.

·         To increase the amount of available parking within the Close, the petitioner suggested that the lay bys were enlarged and diagonal parking bays installed which would create another 6 to 10 parking spaces and help to ease congestion.

Councillor Philip Corthorne attended as a ward Councillor.  He explained ward Councillors supported what residents had set out to achieve in relation to their parking issues and agreed that in principle further action was required. With regards to the request to reinstall the fence, he explained that while he was sympathetic, outstanding legal issues needed to be resolved.

Cllr Burrows explained the petition was unusual because it cut across the responsibilities of two Cabinet Member portfolios, namely the Cabinet Member for Social Services and Housing as well as the Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling. Before addressing the points raised by the petitioner, Officers commented on the requests for signage and the reinstatement of the boundary fence.

In relation to signage, Officers confirmed that an order had already been placed with a contractor and the works should be completed by the end of December 2014.

With regards to the perimeter fence, Officers explained that although they sympathised with the request, the legal remedy was difficult to resolve because of the complexity of the land holdings within the Close. Officers reported that overtime, a number of the Council owned properties had been purchased and become private freeholds and as a result the covenants were complex.

It was noted that a number of the properties which had requested the reinstatement of the boundary fence abutted Ladygate Lane and Breakspear Road, whereas the petition originated from Westwood Close.  The crux of the matter was that officers could not prevent access to the highway from those properties which had gateways installed through the fence.  Officers also reported that enforcing the conditions of a perimeter fence was also very difficult.

Cllr Burrows confirmed that current legislation meant the Council could not take any action which might stop access to the highway.  However, Officers might consider using bollards or double height kerbs in those areas which were currently used as a thoroughfare. With regards to the request for yellow lines, Councillor Burrows confirmed that Officers were already investigating this request and the matter was currently being taken forward.

Councillor Burrows explained there appeared to be several options. These included the introduction of a limited time restriction zone which would need to be imposed on everyone (including residents) that used the Close. Another option included the introduction of a Parking Management Scheme. Councillor Burrows commented that Parking Management Schemes were generally very effective and did help to relieve congestion.

However, any decision would need to be guided by the local residents. To ensure all residents of the Close had the opportunity to make their views known, Councillor Burrows requested Officers to undertake an informal consultation and to report back to him as Cabinet Member, as well as ward Councillors before any further action was taken.

Turning to the recommendations, 1,2 and 3 were agreed and an alternative recommendation 4 was moved as follows:

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1. Note the views and concerns of the petitioners,
2. Note the action which is being taken,
3. Discuss with petitioners the options which are open to the Council regarding parking and access into Westwood Close,
4. That Officers be requested to conduct an informal consultation to gauge the feeling of residents in Westwood Close and report back to the Cabinet Member and ward Councillors and then take the majority view forward.

REASONS FOR RECOMMENDATION

• A request for double yellow lines at the entrance to Westwood Close has been received through the Council's Road Safety Suggestion Scheme which is currently under investigation but may resolve some of the road safety concerns raised by petitioners.
• Verge protection will be installed opposite No 10 Westwood Close to prevent damage to the verge and maintain sight-lines. This edge protection is necessary and appropriate to prevent further damage to the verge and to support the safe movement of pedestrians and vehicles.
• Signage will be installed to the rear of 68-71 Westwood Close to deter nuisance parking in front of garages. The provision of this final sign on the estate is necessary and appropriate.
• Based upon legal advice, no action is taken in relation to the access points which have been created in boundary fences adjoining Westwood Close. The Council cannot prevent residents accessing the highway via a gate in their rear boundary and it is not considered practical or proportionate to prevent residents from walking over a grass verge onto the estate.
• Estate based improvements could be considered at Westwood Close as part of the 'works to stock' programme. Any work would need to be considered alongside other priorities identified across the managed stock. This work would seek to increase the amount of off-street parking provision by using existing verges and other green spaces on the estate. This approach is not recommended given that it would fundamentally change the character and appearance of this small infill estate.

ALTERNATIVE OPTIONS CONSIDERED / RISK MANAGEMENT

These were discussed with petitioners.