Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from Botwell Ward Councillor Janet Gardner, the lead petitioner, requesting a formal consultation by Hillingdon Council on the introduction of a 20 mph limit and other traffic calming measures. Councillor Gardner from the petition was in attendance and made the following points: 

·         Concerns were raised regarding safety, disturbance and noise as a result of speeding vehicles.

·         There had been a number of issues with speeding in the area that had caused incidents such as traffic lights, walls, railings and telegraph posts being hit. 

·         People drove around the roundabouts the wrong way recklessly often doing ‘donuts’.

·         The roads where issues had been identified involved two wards and the situation was dangerous.

·         The concerns had been raised with the police and petitioners were advised to raise the issues with the Council. Speed surveys had been conducted by the police.

·         Surveys were requested so that information regarding speed could be collected and further action could be taken.

Councillor Jazz Dhillon attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor in support of the petition. Councillor Dhillon supported all the points raised by the petitioner and added that there were often unorganised car events that started in the Asda car park, Hayes, later effecting roads in the whole area. The police had been made aware of the issue and although people had been identified, it was difficult to take action as drivers drove off quickly or used false number plates. It had been questioned whether speed bumps could be provideda along  Millington Road to try and stop the activity and whether the issues could be escalated with the Asda car park owners. Cllr Dhillon emphasised that there was a significant disturbance to the neighbourhood and action needed to be taken. Residents were frustrated with the situation. Concerns were also highlighted about cars speeding along Station Road and it was raised whether Transport for London could be contacted regarding the phasing of the traffic signals.

Councillor Oswell attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillor. Cllr Oswell considered the 20 mph speed limit zone to be a good start to address the issues and urged the Council to contact the Asda Car Park to take action.

Councillor John Morse attended the meeting as Ward Councillor and added that Bourne Avenue ought to be added to the consultation as it had similar issues. Residents needed to see some demonstration from the Council that action was being taken to address the issues raised.

Councillor Scott Farley attended the meeting as Ward Councillor and highlighted that Council owned car parks were also being used inappropriately. Concerns raised about speeding and noise were reiterated.

David Knowles emphasised that collaboration and a joined-up approach with the police was needed to manage the issues raised. The Asda car park (Millington Road Estate) was not within the Council’s remint as it was a private estate and traffic calming measures could not be introduced unilaterally by the Council. There had been reports of other areas in the Borough experiencing similar rapidly organised events, publicised over social media with no formal authorisation, where people raced around in modified vehicles, and the negative impact on residents was acknowledged.

Councillor Riley listened to the concerns of the petition organiser and Ward Councillors and was sympathetic to the issues raised. Councillor Riley noted that there were clear aspects of anti-social behaviour. It was noted that the Asda car park was a private estate. Although traffic calming measures could not be imposed in that area, the Council could encourage the owners of the car park to put measures in place to prevent car gatherings.

With regard to the concerns about the Millington Road Estate, it was confirmed that the identity of the estate ownership and responsibilities for its management would be clarified, and once established, a letter would go out in Cllr Riley’s name highlighting the issues raised.

It was noted a large area was affected and surveys would provide greater clarity in terms of speeding issues. Cllr Riley asked Ward Councillors to agree areas where best to undertake speeding surveys, once the data was collected it could then be shared with the police and the Council could consider appropriate action.

RESOLVED:

Meeting with the Petitioners, the Cabinet Member for Public Safety and Transport:

1)    Met with petitioners and listened to their concerns in regard to inconsiderate drivers along Blyth Road, Botwell Common Road, Botwell Lane, Clayton Road, Dawley Road, Millington Road, Nestles Avenue, Nield Road, North Hyde Road, Printing House Lane, Redmead Road, St Anselm’s Road, Station Road and Trevor Road;

2)    Asked officers to undertake 24/7 traffic speed surveys in suitable locations within the above road network, as agreed with petitioners and local ward councillors;

3)    Asked officers in the Council’s Transport and Town Centres Team to investigate any specific road safety concerns that petitioners may highlight along the roads identified;

4)    Instructed officers to consider appropriate measures which could be implemented as appropriate in the road network concerned, and reports back to the Cabinet Member on the findings, including projected costs;

5)    Asked officers to investigate suitable sources of funding to support the implementation of a suitable scheme;

6)    Noted that any physical traffic calming measures would normally also need to be the subject of appropriate statutory consultation.

7)    Asked Ward Councillors to inform officers of the appropriate roads where speed surveys could be undertaken within two weeks.

8)    Asked Officers to write to the Asda Car Park estate owners raising awareness of the ongoing issues in the car park.

Reasons for decisions

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.