Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition requesting traffic calming measures in Parkfield Avenue, Denziloe Avenue and Charville Lane West, Hillingdon. The petition organiser was in attendance at the meeting, with a number of residents, and noted some concerns and reasons for their request, including the following:

·         There was a speeding problem in all three roads which had worsened over a number of years;

·         An increase in families on the roads in question meant that the area became very busy at the start and end of the school day, especially since there were two primary schools and Swakeleys High School nearby;

·         It was reported that there had been instances of motorbikes and cars travelling at speeds in excess of 50mph late at night;

·         An incident had occurred whereby a speeding vehicle collided with a neighbour's wall;

·         Residents preferred to prevent an accident from occurring rather than reacting to an accident once it had happened.

The petition organiser stated that previous speed surveys on these roads had not been accurate enough as drivers could see the rubber strips in the road and reacted by reducing their speed. It was noted by petitioners that the neighbouring London Borough of Ealing had implemented 20mph zones in residential streets and they requested the same approach in Parkfield Avenue, Denziloe Avenue and Charville Lane West.

Councillor Wayne Bridges attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Hillingdon East in support of the petition. Councillor Bridges endorsed the residents' petition request and highlighted the proximity of the roads to two primary schools which had both expanded in recent years. He also outlined the importance of extending a 20mph zone to the roads in question similar to that outside primary schools. Councillor Bridges noted that parked vehicles could cause blind spots and stated that he was not in favour of further speed survey cables in this instance.

Councillor Alan Chapman attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor for Hillingdon East in support of the petition. Councillor Chapman echoed some of Councillor Bridges concerns that speed survey cables were not comprehensive enough in capturing valid data as, when drivers become aware of them, they subsequently reduced their speed. He indicated that, when the three nearby schools finished for the day, there was a mass of young people utilising the three roads in question. Councillor Chapman acknowledged that drivers turning onto these roads, from the 40mph Uxbridge Road, were failing to sufficiently reduce their speed.

The Cabinet Member outlined the fact that police-recorded collision data was how the Council monitored road safety; however incidents were only recorded if there was subsequent injury to those involved. Councillor Burrows also informed petitioners that implementing a 20mph zone would need to be justified with data clearly showing that there was a speeding issue; he confirmed that speed surveys, conducted by an external company, were the most effective way of doing this. Councillor Burrows added that there needed to be evidence of speeding to substantiate why the Council would be introducing the restrictions. Furthermore, the Cabinet Member explained that implementing a 20mph zone would require other measures, such as raised tables, to ensure drivers adhered to the speed limit.

The Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager assured petitioners that the data from the traffic survey would be required to justify a scheme; he also noted that this method was used by the Metropolitan Police, other road safety and traffic practitioners and was a valid method of data collection.

Petitioners and Ward Councillors agreed on the exact locations where traffic surveys would take place. Councillor Burrows outlined to petitioners that the process of data collection, consultation and implementation could take some time.

RESOLVED:

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

1)    Listened to their request for traffic calming measures in Parkfield Avenue, Denziloe Avenue and Charville Lane West, Hillingdon; and,

2)    Asked officers to undertake further traffic surveys, at locations agreed by the petitioners, and to then report back to the Cabinet Member.

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

None at this stage.