Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting an extension to the operational times of the West Drayton parking management scheme in Warwick Road, West Drayton. In support of the petition, the petitioners spoke of their concerns and suggestions including the following:

·         Parking in Warwick Road currently operated Monday to Friday from 9am to 5 pm. Petitioners requested a change in the band from WD1 to U1 (9am to 10 pm - 7 days a week).

·         Commuter parking meant that there was limited parking for residents and this had a significant impact on elderly residents and families with young children.

·         There was authorised access to West Drayton station trough the back and people were using the area as commuter parking. This created additional pressure on residents.

·         Parking was an issue 7 days a week as in the evening and weekend commuters used Warwick Road to travel into town for leisure and social activities.

·         There were issues raised about abuse of residents on adjacent roads using parking tickets incorrectly.

·         It was also raised that the parking meter and parking bay had been removed from West Drayton station after refurbishments and had not been replaced.

·         Petitioners shared survey results of the cars that had been parked without tickets without any enforcement action being taken.

Councillor Stuart Mathers attended the meeting as Ward Councillor and supported the petition and comments made by the petitioners. He expressed sympathy for the residents and agreed that there were parking pressure in the area due to commuter parking. Councillor Mathers indicated that there was also parking pressure in the evening as often people used Warwick Road as an area to park and travel to London. This would be likely to increase with Crossrail coming in the near future. Councillor Mathers noted that that there was a car park in close vicinity of Warwick Road which was cost effective.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised. Councillor Burrows noted the concerns raised in relation to the lack of meter and parking bays replacements and assured petitioners that these matters would be taken forward with the relevant teams for action. Councillor Burrows noted the concerns regarding commuter parking and confirmed that Warwick Road would be added to the future parking scheme programme for informal consultation. Suitable locations for the parking management schemes would be confirmed with Ward Councillors.

In considering the matters, Councillors Burrows made the following decisions. 

RESOLVED -

Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member:

1.    Listened to their request for the operational times of the West Drayton Parking Management Scheme to be extended in Warwick Road, West Drayton.

2.    Decided if the request for an extension to operational times of the parking scheme in Warwick Road, West Drayton and any other roads in the immediate surrounding area should be added to the Council’s future parking scheme programme for informal consultation with residents.

3.    Instructed Officers to inform parking services of current issues regarding visitor vouchers and also instructed them to investigate the missing bays and parking meter.

Reasons for decision

The petition hearing provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered / risk management

These were discussed with the petitioners.