Agenda item

The Cabinet Member introduced the item and welcomed the lead petitioner’s nominated representative to present the petition. The petitioner’s representative addressed the Cabinet Member. Key points of their address included:

·         It was noted that Edgar Road had different characteristics along its length, and one part of the road had very small front gardens with a limited capacity for the possibility of off-street parking and dropped kerbs.

·         Since permit parking had been introduced in Colham Avenue, there had been a displacement of the parking problems into Edgar Road whereby people were parking there and using the West Drayton train station; and as such, residents were requesting that Edgar Road be included in a Parking Management Scheme.

·         It was highlighted that, should permit parking be implemented on Whitethorn Avenue and Providence Road, the residents of Edgar Road would be incredibly limited in places to park their vehicles.

The Cabinet Member sought to clarify with residents that the parameters of parking bays were strictly governed and often resulted in a reduction in the total capacity of parking when compared to an unrestricted road. It was also highlighted for residents of Edgar Road that there had been recent changes to the Council’s Dropped Kerb Policy which could open up the possibility of off-street parking where it had previously been unviable.

Officers confirmed that there was an adjacent Parking Management Scheme (PMS) called Y1 which incorporated Colham Avenue. There had previously been a number of petitions relating to parking in the area and Whitethorn Avenue and Providence Road had been consulted with fairly recently with regard to the implementation of a PMS, which would most likely be an extension to the Y1 scheme. Officers highlighted that when Edgar Road had been consulted with previously, the Council had in fact received a strongly worded petition opposing the introduction of parking restrictions in Edgar Road.

The Cabinet Member noted that it was likely that a PMS would be implemented on Whithorn Avenue and Providence Road and sought to consult with the residents of Edgar Road as to whether they would want to be included in the scheme. Residents were encouraged to engage with the consultation to ensure that the Council received a comprehensive picture of the appetite for a PMS on Edgar Road. The Cabinet Member reiterated that, as long as the majority of residents in Edgar Road were in favour of a scheme, the Council would endeavour to implement one. Officers highlighted that there are often roads of more than one type of character, and in these roads, it could sometimes be found that residents of one part of the road felt differently to those of another; this was a scenario in which local ward councillors could inform discussions as to whether a scheme o along a portion of the road may be appropriate.

RESOLVEDThat the Cabinet Member for Property, Highways and Transport:

1. Met with petitioners and listened to their request for Edgar Road to be included in any possible Parking Management Scheme implemented in nearby roads;

2. Noted the results of the previous consultations undertaken with residents of Edgar Road;

3. Asked officers to add the request to the Council’s extensive Parking Scheme Programme for further investigation and possible informal consultation.