Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting a parking management scheme in Beech Avenue, Eastcote.The petitioner organiser, who was in attendance at the meeting, informed the Cabinet Member that they had been a resident of Beech Avenue for five years and expressed a number of concerns, including the following:

• The implementation of a Parking Management Scheme in neighbouring Columbia Avenue had caused an increase in commuter parking in Beech Avenue;

·         The petition organiser had witnessed an increasing number of vehicles parking alongside their property since the installation of double yellow lines nearby;

·         The proximity of Beech Avenue to the Piccadilly Line, linking Eastcote to Heathrow Airport, meant non-residents' cars had been parked overnight on occasion and left whilst they went on holiday;

·         Frustrations were shared by neighbours; specifically elderly neighbours whose carers and family were unable to park on the road;

·         There had been instances of cars blocking off residents' driveways.

The petition organiser informed the Cabinet Member that they would welcome the implementation of waiting restrictions on Beech Avenue.

Councillors Heena Makwana and Eddie Lavery attended the meeting as Ward Councillors for Cavendish; Councillor Lavery noted a number of points in support of the petition, including the following:

• The parking situation along Beech Avenue had worsened since the implementation of the Parking Management Scheme in nearby Columbia Avenue;
• The volume of parked cars has increased in recent months;
• It was important to avoid a repetition of what had happened with regards to the Columbia Avenue Parking Management Scheme, whereby parking in neighbouring roads, including Beech Avenue, had worsened as cars were pushed out to the surrounding roads;
• Rather than implementing all-day waiting restrictions, one hour restrictions would offer residents the most flexibility;
• A nearby car park in Oak Grove, offering free parking, was not signposted well enough for commuters to utilise.

The Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager explained the implications of having one hour waiting restrictions, specifically noting a similar scenario in Northwood Hills where residents had requested differing waiting restrictions. The petition organiser and Ward Councillors were informed that there would be multiple options for residents when it came to the consultation; noting that the one hour waiting restrictions would aid works vans visiting properties on the street.

Councillor Burrows highlighted the need to avoid a domino effect of commuters moving to neighbouring roads should a Parking Management Scheme be introduced in Beech Avenue; it was therefore suggested that Linden Avenue and Oak Grove be considered for further investigation. The Cabinet Member also highlighted the issue of the signage indicating free parking at the nearby Oak Grove car park and accordingly amended the officers' recommendations.

RESOLVED: Meeting with the petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Planning, Transportation and Recycling:

1)    Discussed with petitioners their concerns with parking in Beech Avenue, Eastcote and request for a Parking Management Scheme;

2)    Resolved that residents’ request for a Parking Management Scheme in Beech Avenue, Oak Grove and Linden Avenue, Eastcote be added to the Council’s future parking scheme programme for further investigation and informal consultation with residents when resources permitted; and

3)    Instructed officers to review signage for the car park in Oak Grove, as noted by Ward Councillors, and to report back to the Cabinet Member.

Reasons for decisions

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.