Agenda item

Councillors Jonathan Bianco, Duncan Flynn and John Morgan were in attendance at the meeting as Ward Councillors for Northwood Hills.

A petitioner addressed the Cabinet Member and noted a number of concerns, including the following:

·         Three petitions have been raised in the area over the past five years, and this latest petition has over 800 signatures in support, including both past and present local MPs, the Headteacher of Harlyn School, parents and local residents;

·         Previous action was taken to address parking issues in Tolcarne Drive and Cuckoo Hill in 2013, but this was never extended to Harlyn Drive, Chamberlain Way and Catlins Lane;

·         Traffic calming measures were put in place in Cheney Street without KSIs and an 85^th percentile that was lower than that on the three roads named in the petition;

·         Following the action taken in 2013 on Cuckoo Hill, traffic volume and traffic speed has increased in Harlyn Drive, Chamberlain Way and Catlins Lane;

·         Data figures used by the Council to calculate increased traffic volume and speeds come from 2016-18, but these time frames should be extended back to 2013 when the speed bumps were introduced in Cuckoo Hill, as that was when more the three roads became a rat-run to avoid the speed bumps;

·         The speeding in the area put vulnerable groups in danger.

Councillor Duncan Flynn, Ward Councillor for Northwood Hills, thanked the residents for their hard work on the issue over the years and noted that Hillingdon Council had a proud record on road safety. Councillor Flynn commented that there were serious concerns regarding this road and the size of the petition demonstrates this. The Cabinet Member heard that views of the residents must be considered and there has been a large increase in residents who have signed this petition in contrast with previous petitions. Councillor Flynn noted the support of the local care facility, Harlyn School, the driving test centre, police and local MP, and asked that action be taken to address these concerns that did not arrive alongside measures in Tolcarne Drive and Cuckoo Hill.

Councillor John Morgan, Ward Councillor for Northwood Hills, commented that statistics may not say that speed is an issue in the area, but residents know differently. When measures were implemented in Tolcarne Drive and Cuckoo Hill, the residents of Harlyn Drive, Chamberlain Way and Catlins Lane did not support measures on their roads but they do now. Councillor Morgan stated that it was usual to have a 20mph zone near schools, and Harlyn School is situated nearby. The Cabinet Member heard that speed was an issue on Catlins Lane, and measures were needed to slow traffic and make the roads safer. Councillor Morgan noted that the 800 plus signatures were nearly 10% of the Northwood Hills Ward, which should the strength of feeling, and the Council should not just look at statistics, as residents see the issues first hand and know there are problems.

Councillor Jonathan Bianco, Ward Councillor for Northwood Hills, stated that speed bumps were not his preferred route to improve road safety due to noise and environmental concerns, and there were also concerns over whether 20mph zones would be regularly policed. Councillor Bianco also noted that Harlyn School had signed the petition but previously were not involved in the Council’s School Travel Plan. Councillor Bianco stated that while he was not supportive of certain traffic calming measures, the wishes of the constituency and ward should be respected and this issue must be looked at again. The Cabinet Member heard that the correct route to do this was via an independent traffic study, and this would be a good starting point to tackle the issue, but it cannot be rushed because it may lead to a rat-run elsewhere.

Councillor Burrows noted that officers had confirmed that Harlyn School had been in touch with the Council and would be meeting with the Road Safety and School Travel team on 13 February 2020, which was a positive development. The Head Teacher of Harlyn School was in attendance and stated that the school took road safety matters seriously and had taken action in this regard over the last 12 years.

The Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation noted that the Council had received no indication of Police action, and although two visits were reported, the Council had not received any shared data from the Police, and this would be raised imminently.

Councillor Burrows commented that traffic surveys were required for the Council to have the most up-to-date data on the roads, and this data would feed into any judgement of moving forward in the future. The Cabinet Member stated that he was mindful of the increased number of signatures on the current petition, and also noted that he was mindful that residents did not want action taken in the past.

The petitioners were informed that Councillor Burrows was mindful that residents want something done in the area and that all options were on the table, but it was important that the data received from the traffic surveys supported this.

The Cabinet Member confirmed that petitioners and Ward Councillors could choose when and where to place the equipment required to secure the traffic data. Residents confirmed that they would need some time to consider where traffic data would be collected and would return the locations to their Ward Councillors, along with a suggested time period for the traffic surveys to be put in place.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation:

1.    Met and discussed with petitioners their request to improve road safety in Harlyn Drive, Chamberlain Way and Catlins Lane, Pinner;

2.    Noted the detailed information provided with the petition;

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

4.    Welcomed Harlyn School’s engagement with the Council’s School Travel and Road Safety Team to work towards tackling some of the issues of concerns to petitioners;

5.    Noted the last available Police recorded personal injury data for Catlins Lane, Harlyn Drive and Chamberlain Way; and,

6.    Asked officers to discuss the recent operations undertaken by the Police with colleagues in the Northwood Hills Safer Neighbourhood Team in greater detail, with a view to coordinate future initiatives.