Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting a review of the parking situation in Portman Gardens, Hillingdon. In support of the petition, the petitioners expressed their concerns and made suggestions including the following:

·         Residents from 23 of the 24 houses in the cul de sac had signed the petition;

·         Portman Gardens was a 15 minute walk from Hillingdon Station and was regularly being used for commuter parking;

·         Commercial vehicles were also parking in Portman Gardens overnight;

·         Many of the surrounding streets already had waiting restrictions in place.

Councillor Raymond Graham attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition. Councillor Graham acknowledged that parking in Portman Gardens was a problem and confirmed that commercial vehicles often parked there overnight.

Councillor George Cooper also attended and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition, explaining that residents in Portman Gardens were the victims of 'parking drift'.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. He requested clarification regarding the current parking situation in Portman Gardens and was advised that most houses had off-street parking. Councillor Burrows outlined the options available to the residents including limited time waiting restrictions which would dispel commuters but would also impact on residents who wished to park on the road. Alternative options outlined were a parking management scheme, either with parking bays or with signage at the entrance to the cul de sac indicating residents' parking permit holders only past this point. It was explained that the latter option would operate in the same way as a full parking management scheme with permits and vouchers for visitors but would not include marked bays in the road. This option would also be quicker to put into operation as there would be no need to design parking bays. Double yellow lines could also be painted along a section of the road as part of a scheme if requested. It was confirmed that one permit and a book of ten vouchers for visitors would be issued to each house free of charge if this option was chosen; additional permits would cost £40 each. Schemes were usually in operation between the hours of 9am - 5pm but this was negotiable. The petitioners were informed that a consultation document would be hand-delivered to them early in the New Year and it was vital that all residents responded to ensure their views were taken into consideration.

RESOLVED:  Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1)    considered the request for a review of current parking arrangements in Portman Gardens, Hillingdon;

2)    asked officers to add the request for a review of the parking in Portman Gardens, Hillingdon to the Council's future parking scheme programme for further investigation and informal consultation with residents when resources permit.

Reasons for recommendations

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.