Agenda item

Councillors Mohinder Birah and Jagjit Singh attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors for Yeading. 

The lead petitioner was in attendance, and stated a number of concerns and suggestions, including the following:

·         Residents reported that the area was littered with both small and larger items of rubbish which were being dumped indiscriminately;

·         The roads throughout the estate were long and relatively clear of traffic, hence people often drove at speed along them –this was an accident waiting to happen;

·         Residents were extremely concerned about the level of criminal activity in the area – it was thought that CCTV would help in this regard;

·         Reported police collision data for the three years to end December 2018 had recorded five incidents across the estate; in reality there had been many more unreported incidents;

·         It was felt that CCTV cameras could assist in catching the perpetrators of illegal flytipping; this would have a positive impact on the public purse as the Council would no longer be required to collect the dumped rubbish;

·         It was noted that there was a school in close proximity to the estate. Parents used the roads to drop off / collect their children which added to the volume of traffic in the area;

Ward Councillors Mohinder Birah and Jagjit Singh indicated that they supported the petitioners’ requests. They reported that they lived in the vicinity and were extremely concerned about the amount of flytipping on the estate and about speeding traffic in the area, which was extremely dangerous. The Cabinet Member was informed that there were also drug dealing issues in the area. Ward Councillors reported that the problems were widespread and were not solely confined to Brookside Road.

Councillor Burrows listened to the concerns of residents and Ward Councillors and responded to the points raised. He noted that the request for CCTV cameras did not fall within his Cabinet Member portfolio; however, this request would be referred on to the appropriate Local Authority department for further action. The Cabinet Member explained that the police collision data only included those incidents where the police had attended and there had been personal injury. He advised that the Council needed evidence from the traffic survey to support the installation of traffic calming measures before any further action could be taken.  Maps were provided and Ward Councillors and residents present were invited to agree where the traffic surveys should be located. It was confirmed that the speed surveys would not be installed during school holidays when traffic volume would be significantly lower. Democratic Services agreed to circulate the crime figures provided by the petitioner to both the Cabinet Member and to the Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Manager. The Cabinet Member moved the recommendations as set out in the report.

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

1.         Noted their request for permanent and mobile cameras to deal with the dumping of rubbish and agreed to refer this request to the Council’s Anti Social Behaviour and Environment Team;

2.         Listened to their request for a 20mph speed limit and traffic calming measures on Brookside Estate;

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

Reasons for recommendations

To allow the Cabinet Member to discuss with petitioners their concerns and, if appropriate, add their request to the traffic calming programme.

Alternative options considered / risk management

These will be discussed with petitioners.