Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition received from residents requesting the suspension of the parking management scheme in Hewens Road. A representative of the petitioners addressed the Cabinet Member. Comments and suggestions included:

·         The petitioner asserted that there was no designated pick up/drop off point within Hewens Road for parents taking their children to and from the school and nursery on Hewens Campus

·         This made it very difficult to manage children's journeys when in bad weather or poor health

·         Hewens Road has 73 residential houses

·         The school's parents/guardians came in approximately 300 cars, with circa 400 children, so traffic was a significant issue. Those involved were unhappy about having to walk a long distance from side roads, where they now park.

·         The petitioner suggested that a drop off point be installed on the field side, as this would not result in additional traffic issues

Councillor Oswell addressed the Cabinet Member as Ward Councillor for Charville, and confirmed:

·         A previous petition had been submitted by residents of Hewens Road, which had resulted in the current parking management scheme

·         The local school had chosen not to take part in the Council's consultation on road safety and parking management, and had not submitted a traffic plan

·         At peak times (morning/afternoon), traffic was a significant issue for residents of Hewens Road, due to the influx of parents travelling to and from the school

·         A bus route was also present on the road, further compounding traffic congestion

·         Whilst Councillor Oswell had sympathy for the petitoners, his first duty of care was to residents of his ward, living within Hewens Road, and therefore recommended that the present parking management scheme remain

·         Councillor Oswell went on to suggest that perhaps a wholly new scheme could be contemplated, that would benefit all parties

Councillor East addressed the Cabinet Member as Ward Councillor for Charville, and reiterated Councillor Oswell's comments, though appreciated the difficulty for parents attempting to pick up and drop off their children from the school

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners, and responded to the points raised by the lead petitioner. Councillor Burrows confirmed that the issue affected two Wards (Hillingdon East and Charville) and that he had received written testimony from all three Ward Councillors for Hillingdon East, who had echoed the points set out by Councillor Oswell.

Councillor Burrows confirmed that, as set out in the officer's report, a formal consultation had been undertaken prior to the introduction of the residents permit only parking scheme in Hewens Road. This included notices placed on nearby lamp columns, and published in a local newspaper and the London Gazette. In addition, an information letter and plan was delivered to every residential property in Hewens Road as well as the school, college, and directly affected businesses in adjacent roads. Councillor Burrows confirmed that the Council had abided by the relevant legal framework and associated regulations, and had not breached the four points of the Operational Guidance to Local Authorities on the Traffic Management Act 2004 referred to within the submitted petition. Therefore, there were no grounds to suspend the present parking management scheme.

However, Councillor Burrows did confirm that, as stated by Councillor Oswell, the school had not responded to the Council's communication nor had submitted a Green Travel Plan, and suggested that the school would need to engage with the Council in order to discuss potential actions moving forward.

Councillor Burrows therefore moved the following recommendations:

RESOLVED:  Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Listened to their concerns with the Parking Management Scheme in Hewens Road;

2.    Decided that there was not sufficient evidence to agree to suspend the parking scheme;

3.    Instructed officers to send a letter on behalf of the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling, inviting the school to meet and discuss any current issues relating to parking and to discuss their Green Travel Plan; and

4.    Instructed officers to consult all six Ward Councillors from the two affected Wards (Hillingdon East and Charville) for their overall views on the current parking arrangements.

Reasons for recommendations

The Petition Hearing will provide a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered

None at this stage.