Agenda item

Councillor John Hensley was in attendance and spoke as a Ward Councillor.

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• There had been issues with parking on the street for several years.
• Commuters who travelled from the station were using the road to park in during the day. As well as staff members for the school and parents dropping/picking up children.
• The residents had brought this up with the school who had done nothing.
• People were obstructing drive ways and access for residents. 
• Residents had notified traffic warden, who did nothing but asked drivers to move their cars. This was not always straight away. No parking fines were issued to the drivers.
• People were illegally parking on the pavement.  
• Petitioner felt this was the last port of call as no one else was doing anything about solving the parking issues on the street.
• The parking issues made it dangerous for school children, the elderly and disabled and there had been occasions were people were almost hit by cars. Also difficult for pushchairs and mobility scooters who had to use the roads instead of the pavements as cars were parked on the pavement.
• People parked in front of dropped kerbs and on pavements whilst waiting for their children to finish school.
• There had been instances were people could not get out of their drive.
• There were problems driving out in the mornings and when school finished.
• There was a suggestion that the school could ask parents to be courteous and use a one-way system.

The Ward Councillor commented on the petition:

• Councillor John Hensley commented that traffic wardens had not been helpful and allowed people to park illegally.
• That the police/safer neighbourhood team had been contacted and asked to visit the school to explain the issues but they also achieved nothing in doing so.
• A suggestion made was not to have yellow lines but resident parking scheme. That the parking scheme concur with Willow Tree Way.
• The option of Mon – Fri or Mon – Sat was discussed. And this process would be discussed with residents.

Councillor Keith Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. 

• Residents could register their dropped kerb driveway with the council. This meant that if someone parked in front then a council officer would come out to issue a ticket on that car.
• There was clear evidence shown that people were parking on the pavement and this matter would be looked into.
• The Cabinet Member commented that yellow lines may not be of benefit to residents unlike a resident parking scheme.

Officers advised that:           

• That they would be contacting the school themselves to inform them of the issues from parents parking. They would also give the school a warning that those parked illegally would be issued with tickets.

DECISION

That the Cabinet Member

1.                  Met and discussed with the petitioners their concerns with parking in Edinburgh Drive.

2.                  That all households of Edinburgh Drive, Edinburgh Close and The Paddock be informally consulted regarding support for a Residents Permit Parking Scheme.

Reasons for Recommendation:

Discussions with the petitioners allowed the Cabinet Member to gully understand their concerns and considered it appropriate to consult residents in the area of Ickenham, bounded by a railway line, a major road and a school.

Alternative Options Considered:

None at this stage, as the petitioners requested a Residents Permit Parking Scheme. Yellow lines was discussed at the Petitions meeting.

Relevant Ward:

Ickenham