Agenda item

The Cabinet Member considered a petition from residents requesting a residents parking scheme at Coldharbour Lane, Hayes.

The Lead Petitioner was present and made a number of points, including:

• The area had become significantly busier over the last 6-10 years.
• Parking meters installed in Hayes town centre as a part of the ‘Stop and Shop’ arrangements had transferred problems on to the nearby residential areas.
• One of the main issues was the severe influx of cars and vans which often appeared to be illegally on sale on the public highway, which had taken away parking spaces from residents and sometimes made personal driveways inaccessible. Council-issued notices were being ignored by the traders and a significant number of these vehicles were being left without tax or insurance, which contravened legislation. Moreover, the few spaces left by traders were being taken up by large company vehicles and Uber taxi drivers proliferating from Hayes town centre.
• Some of the larger vehicles, such as minibuses, caused severe visibility issues for those residents who benefitted from off-road parking, as when these vehicles were parked very close to driveways, it often made it difficult for those residents to emerge into Coldharbour Lane.
• The Petitioner had been in contact with the anti-social behaviour team at the Council regarding this problem and traders had been prosecuted as a result of this.

Councillor Janet Gardner, Ward Councillor for Hayes Town, informed the Chairman of her support for the Petitioners and mentioned personal experience of the issues raised, which a resident parking scheme could help combat.

The Chairman noted that the proposed resident parking scheme would not, in all likelihood, completely remedy the situation. It was known to often result in a net-loss of available spaces but, most noticeably, transferred the issues onto other nearby areas. The Chairman acknowledged that this factor was a significant contributor to the existing problem experienced by Petitioners (parking scheme in Hayes town centre transferring issues onto surrounding areas, as evidenced on Coldharbour Lane). Furthermore, the Chairman highlighted that a residents’ parking zone required a substantial area, as opposed to one linear road. It was also confirmed by the Chairman that continued collaboration with the anti-social behaviour team would be necessary to resolve the situation.

Another resident and co-petitioner was invited to speak by the Chairman and reiterated the point that signage issued by the Council was being destroyed and largely disregarded by the affiliated traders.

Officers made the following points:

• They understood the impact associated in part with the influx of non-residents and unwelcome motorists and people allegedly selling vehicles illegally.
• A residents parking zone or PMS (Parking Management Scheme) would help return the street to the residents but, if installed, would adversely affect the number of spaces available and could also transfer the problems elsewhere; however, as the influx of outsiders parking had been severe, the net gain for residents would clearly be an improvement compared to the status quo.
• In reference to the Chairman’s statement surrounding the size of the area required for a PMS, officers suggested that this, if agreed, could be expanded into the sideroads off Coldharbour Lane and invited ward Councillors to provide a steer on this using their local knowledge.

The Lead Petitioner suggested that parking meters, as opposed to a PMS, could be a solution.

The Chairman accepted the points made by officers and petitioners and restated his desire for a solution, which would necessitate cooperation between all parties involved. It was agreed that the matter would be investigated further and any evidence of illegal on-street parking reported to the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team.

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1)    Met with petitioners and listened to their request for parking controls in Coldharbour Lane between East Holme and Hesa Road.

2)    Asked officers to add this request to the Council’s extensive Parking Scheme Programme for further investigation and possible informal consultation in an area agreed with ward Councillors; and,

Asked that any evidence they could provide of illegal on-street vehicle sales activity was relayed to the Council’s Anti-Social Behaviour Team for further investigation.