Agenda item

Councillor Lynne Allen attended the meeting and spoke as a Ward Councillor in support of the petition.  Councillor Janet Gardner had submitted her support for the petition in an email which was read out to those present.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

·         The lead petitioner advised that this issue had been going on for the last two years with many roads in the area affected by inconsiderate parking;

·         Whilst residents were accepting of parents needing to drop their children off at school and then pick them up, they requested that an enforcement officer be present to issue penalty charge notices to those drivers that blocked driveways and parked in such a way that prevented emergency vehicles from accessing the road;

·         The lead petitioner advised that he had photographs of the issues in Barra Wood Road and Wood End Green Road which he would be happy to forward to the Council.  One photograph showed a driver parked on the pavement on a corner;

·         Residents had been quite vocal about not wanting a residents' parking scheme or bollards and the lead petitioner was keen to not cause any additional expenditure to the Council.  It was recognised that the introduction of residents parking was likely to displace the parking rather than get rid of it;

·         Rosedale Primary School had written to residents about constructing a driveway on the school premises to enable parents to drop their children off, thus alleviating the impact on residents but no further action had been taken;

·         It was suggested that the school pay for a parking enforcement officer;

·         Although the school had inspected the area around the school for the first couple of months after this issue had been raised by residents, these inspections were no longer undertaken;

·         Emotions sometimes ran high and children had witnessed adults verbally abusing each other.  Residents had also formally reported instances of anti social behaviour; 

·         It was suggested that the installation of a zebra crossing would improve the safety for school children as there had been instances where there had almost been an accident involving them;

·         It was noted that there had been no problems in the area before the school had been extended and that consideration should have been given to the impact of the associated traffic when the school was developed;

·         Although they had been told not to, ice cream vans continued to park outside the school at the end of the school day which added to the congestion;

·         Civil Enforcement Officers patrolled the area around Rosedale Primary School on an intermittent basis; and

·         It was suggested that the school be invited to attend a meeting with the Ward Councillors and Council officers to resolve the issue.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  He clarified with the petitioners that they did not want a residents only parking scheme but would potentially like some form of parking restrictions.  It was noted that Council officers had tried to encourage Rosedale Primary School to develop a School Travel Plan but the school had not progressed this.  Councillor Burrows asked officers to contact the school again on his behalf to remind them of their duty of care to the children and to ask that they complete a School Travel Plan. 

The Cabinet Member was aware that sending Civil Enforcement Officers out to the area would not resolve the issue in the long term and that a more permanent solution was needed.  Councillor Burrows advised that he would not be putting Wood End Green Road in the Residents Only Parking Management Scheme but would ask officers to ensure that parking enforcement patrolled the area on a regular basis.  The Cabinet Member for Education and Children's Service would also be contacted if his support was needed.  

RESOLVED:  Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    listened to their concerns regarding parking in Wood End Green Road, Hayes.

2.    instructed officers to contact the schools and invite them in to review the School Travel Plan and meet with the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling for discussion regarding the drop off and pick up point as suggested by the petitioner.

3.    instructed officers to ensure that Parking Enforcement carried our regular visits to the area and reported results back to the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling.

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 

Discussed with petitioners.