Agenda item

Cllr Higgins declared a pecuniary interest as a resident of Hillside Road. He stayed in the room for the duration of the item as a resident.

The lead petitioner addressed the Committee and raised the following points:

·         Hillside Road had 2 hills and 3 blind bends. It had become a rat run for speeding cars.

·         The situation improved following installation of 3 speed tables. However, following a water leak and repairs, residents felt ground vibration from passing cars.

·         The petitioner believes that proposed speed tables would also cause vibration, and they would instead prefer to see chicanes installed. Ward Councillors had suggested that the Council would give residents the choice.

·         The proposed speed table would be in a area susceptible to flooding, and was likely to act as a dam.

·         Elderly residents and school children would be more easily able to cross the road safely.

Cllr Flynn, Ward Councillor for Northwood Hills, submitted a statement in advance in support of the petition:

"Since my election as a Councillor for Northwood Hills ward in May 2014 I have been liaising with residents on Hillside Road on the need to implement some traffic calming restrictions in the road. As those of you who have driven or walked along Hillside Road will testify, the road is very undulating with steep downhill slopes. This results in many motorists regularly travelling at speeds in excess of the 30 mph limit. This was demonstrated by the Council's own traffic survey which found that a majority of cars were travelling in excess of the 30 mph limit.

The overwhelming support from a majority of Hillside Road residents for the initial installation of raised tables followed by a majority supporting the installation of chicanes courtesy of this petition, demonstrates the overwhelming level of support for traffic calming measures among residents in Hillside Roads. In Hillingdon, we proudly put our residents first, therefore my primary concern is that there are no further delays and that traffic calming measures are installed as soon as possible.

Having said this, I am mindful of the concerns of some Hillside Road residents that the installation of raised tables could increase noise, create vibration and consequently have an adverse impact on some residents. This is a particular concern given the number of HGVs travelling on Hillside Road. I am also very much aware of the very strong level of support from Hillside Road residents for chicanes over raised tables as demonstrated by this petition. For these reasons, I therefore strongly support the installation of a suitable chicane system in Hillside Road as soon as possible."

The Cabinet Member and petitioner discussed the history of proposed measures to control speeding on Hillside Road, and a document submitted by the petitioner in response to the officer report. The petitioner stated that Council officers should decide on the type of chicanes, but speed tables were unsuitable. Officers suggested that chicanes may be unsuitable given that Hillside Road is on a bus route, though the petitioner indicated that it is often buses which are exceeding the speed limit.

The Cabinet Member proposed that officers investigate a potential mixed measures scheme given the strength of resident response to the petition, but reminded the petitioner that any conclusions would be subject of a new consultation.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1.    Noted the previous petition which specifically requested speed tables, and the results of subsequent consultations, which also strongly supported the proposal for traffic calming using speed tables.

2.    Discussed the petitioner request to consider chicanes or similar measures instead of the proposed raised speed tables.

3.    Noted that neither a 'non over-runnable' chicane arrangement (i.e. with raised kerbs), nor a 'give way priority working' bollard arrangement  is considered inappropriate for Hillside Road for reasons set out in the body of the report.

4.    Noted that the proportion of Heavy Goods Vehicles which already use Hillside Road is significantly less than one percent of the total traffic volume, but recognised the petitioners opposition to this assessment.

5.    Asked officers to undertake further investigations under the Road Safety Programme and report back to him, taking into account flooding and giving consideration to a mixed measures scheme.

6.    Instructed officers to discuss the problem of speeding with bus operators.