Agenda item

The lead petitioner was not in attendance but had submitted a written representation which was read out for the attention of the Cabinet Member. Key points highlighted included:

• Petitioners expressed concerns about the increased traffic on Dulverton Road over the past 3-4 years. They noted that the road was often used as a cut-through, causing congestion, noise, and pollution.
• Various types of vehicles, including SUVs, trucks, lorries, delivery drivers, and food delivery bikes, had been passing through.
• Residents were distressed by the reckless speed of vehicles, making it unsafe to cross the road. They had difficulty reversing out of their driveways due to the high traffic volume.
• The high traffic volume posed a significant risk to the safety of residents, especially children and the elderly. Parents found it dangerous to cross the road during rush hours. Mobility scooters had been honked at by motorists, causing distress.
• Motorists had been harassing and hooting at Council bin collection trucks to try and make them speed up. Several minor accidents had occurred, with a major concern about potential accidents involving children.
• Residents had lost the right to a peaceful night due to constant noise from speeding motorists. Those working night shifts found it difficult to sleep during the day. Keeping windows open was a challenge due to traffic noise.
• The petitioners highlighted various possible solutions, including speed bumps, chicanes, narrowing roads, speed cameras, radar signs, lowering speed limits, pedestrian crossings, restricting certain vehicle types, public awareness campaigns, and increased enforcement.
• They urged the relevant authorities to take their concerns seriously and take prompt action to restore the safety and tranquillity of Dulverton Road.

The Cabinet Member thanked petitioners for their submission. In response to questions from the Cabinet Member, officers confirmed that two accidents in the area had been recorded. However, it was noted that officers only had access to Police data where the emergency services had been called out; minor scrapes and bumps were not recorded.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged that Dulverton Road was sometimes used as a ‘rat run’ to avoid busy areas. He noted the proximity of Lady Bankes School and suggested that it might be helpful for the Safer Neighbourhood Team to introduce a community watch scheme.

At the request of the Cabinet Member, the Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager explained that the proposed 24/7 traffic surveys would record the speed and types of vehicles using the road and would help to identify any patterns. It was confirmed that the pneumatic monitoring tubes would be in place to capture this information over a period of 10 days (school holiday times would be avoided). These surveys would provide officers with inciteful data and enable them to consider all the possible options available to them to address any issues identified. It was confirmed that officers would subsequently engage with residents and local Ward Councillors to discuss a way forward.

It was agreed that the Traffic, Parking, Road Safety and School Travel Team Manager would suggest where best to position the monitoring tubes and would keep Ward Councillors informed. 

The Cabinet Member congratulated Lady Bankes School on their TfL Gold accreditation. 

RESOLVED: That the Cabinet Member:

1)    Heard from petitioners and listened to their request for traffic calming measures and a 20mph zone on Dulverton Road, Ruislip;

2)    Asked officers to commission independent 24/7 speed and traffic surveys on Dulverton Road, at locations agreed with petitioners and Ward Councillors; and

3)    Noted the ongoing excellent work undertaken by Lady Bankes School with the support of the Council’s STARS Team that had contributed to the school achieving TfL Gold accreditation.