Agenda item

The Chairman considered a petition from residents requesting Zone E parking permits for residents on Field End Road.

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

·         Reminded the Chairman that he had also submitted the same petition 5 years prior. It was highlighted that a parking stress survey was conducted, which was to assess the parking capacity in Zone E. The Lead Petitioner alleged that the Council communicated to him and fellow petitioners suggesting they could see no reason why petitioners were not included in the Residents’ Parking Scheme.

·         However, the Lead Petitioner divulged that after consultation with ward Councillors at the time of the previous petition, the decision was changed to not include the petitioners in the Residents’ Parking Scheme.

·         The Lead Petitioner highlighted that he had made contact with his local Member of Parliament [Mr David Simmonds CBE] over this petition who supported the Lead Petitioners concerns and suggested that he submit another petition to the Council on the matter.

The Chairman accepted the contextualisation to the petition provided by the Lead Petitioner and confirmed the Lead Petitioner’s assertation that the Ward Councillors representing residents at the time had decided against the petitioners being incorporated into the Zone E Residents’ Parking Scheme. Furthermore, the Chairman reminded those present that Field End Road at the time had been shared between 2 wards which meant 6 Councillors were involved in the original consultation and decision. To juxtapose the Member of Parliament for Ruislip, Northwood and Pinner; the Chairman noted that the Residents’ Parking Scheme in question related to the streets off Field End Road and not to Field End Road itself as it had a different scheme.

Officers seconded the Chairman’s remarks and clarified that Field End Road uniquely possessed a hybrid parking scheme as it allowed for free ‘stop and shop’ and ‘pay and display’ parking between certain hours and also awarded residents above the flats in this vicinity with permits to park in nearby car parks. Further to this, officers pointed out that if the petitioners were to join the Zone E Resident’s Parking Scheme as requested, the current permissions would be rescinded.

The Lead Petitioner accepted the statements made by the Chairman and officers on the matter but, in additional regard to earlier remarks on the previous petition that he had submitted, questioned the purpose and intention behind the parking stress survey report that was conducted if the Council didn’t originally sympathise with the petitioner’s request.

The Chairman responded to the Lead Petitioner’s query and argued that the original parking stress survey was justified in the way that it allowed officers to explore possibilities. The Chairman also informed the Lead Petitioner that he would have to give this matter a bit more thought but also that he was encouraged by the fact that residents were currently allowed to use nearby car parks free of charge.

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

1)    met with petitioners and listened to their request to be entitled to join “Zone E” residential parking scheme and any comments made by Ward Councillors.

2)    Noted the results of the previous parking stress surveys undertaken and the views expressed at the time by the Ward Councillors.

3)    Agreed to discuss the matter with the Cabinet Member for Residents’ Services; and,

4)    subject to the outcome of the above, would decide if officers should add this request to the Council’s extensive Parking Scheme Programme for further investigation.

Reasons for decision

The Petition Hearing provided a valuable opportunity to hear directly from the petitioners of their concerns and suggestions.

Alternative options considered and rejected

None at this stage.