Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting traffic calming measures, a 20mph speed limit, a pedestrian crossing and a review of the Parking Management Scheme in Harefield Road, Uxbridge.  The lead petitioner was in attendance and highlighted the following points:

·         A scheme to the northern section of Harefield Road had been the subject of a recent informal consultation but the town end of the road had not been included;

·         A large number of damage-only accidents had occurred along Harefield Road resulting in extensive damage to parked cars, scratches, cars being written off, crashes and near misses due to speeding vehicles;

·         Residents felt unsafe when accessing their cars from the road side;

·         Residents at the Uxbridge town centre end of Harefield Road often struggled to park outside their houses after the current parking controls finished;

·         Residents had suggested a number of possible solutions to include a pedestrian crossing, an extension to the times of the parking management scheme and a 20mph zone – it was noted that Ealing already had a 20mph speed limit in many parts of the Borough. 

Ward Councillor Martin Goddard was in attendance and addressed the Cabinet Member in support of the petition. Councillor Goddard noted that Harefield Road was a main thoroughfare leading from the A40 into Uxbridge. It was recognised that problems relating to speeding were worse at the north section of the road; however, there were also problems at the southern end, particularly in the evenings. Councillor Goddard noted that measures for traffic calming to the north of the road were already proposed but felt a solution was required for the southern end – he suggested that further traffic and speed surveys may not be helpful. Councillor Goddard observed that the parking situation was likely to deteriorate further, once the current Wickes/Halfords retail site had been converted into an old people’s home. Ward Councillor David Yarrow was also in attendance and expressed his support for the petitioners’ request.

Councillor Riley listened to the concerns of petitioners and Ward Councillors. He thanked petitioners for highlighting the large number of damage-only accidents which had occurred along the road recognising that the Council did not routinely have access to such data.

In response to residents’ requests for a 20mph zone, it was noted that such zones were not encouraged as they could not be enforced by the police or the local authority. It was recognised that 20mph zones were used in other boroughs, but it was reported that, in Hillingdon, they were used exclusively on roads where there was a school in close proximity. Councillor Riley agreed to investigate this matter further with colleagues in other boroughs and with members of London Councils.

The Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager confirmed that there was potential to extend the current speed mitigation measures to include the southern part of the road. It was further suggested that speed activated signs could be an effective measure to tackle speeding. Speed cushions were also a possibility. It was agreed that a draft design of a proposed holistic scheme would be prepared detailing multiple mitigation options. Petitioners were requested to indicate their preferred siting for the speed activated signs / speed cushions and were asked to encourage their neighbours to respond to the consultation in due course.

It was confirmed that there would be a consultation with residents in relation to the requested extension to the current parking management scheme. The design for the northern end of the road had already been out for consultation and the responses were currently being analysed.

RESOLVED That the Cabinet Member for Planning and Transportation:

1.    met with petitioners and listened to their concerns over vehicle speeds and their request for traffic calming measures, a 20mph speed limit and a review of the current operational times of the Parking Management Scheme;

2.    instructed officers to undertake detailed site investigations in light of resident testimony and provide him with engineering options for his consideration; and

3.    asked officers to add the request to review the current operational times of the Parking Management Scheme to the extensive parking scheme programme for informal consultation.