Agenda item

Councillors Lindsay Bliss and John Major attended the meeting and spoke as Ward Councillors in support of the petition.  Although they were unable to attend, it was noted that Councillors Allam and Duncan, who were Ward Councillors for Yeading, also supported the petition. 

Concerns and suggestions raised at the meeting included the following:

• Residents believed that the fear of crime was widespread amongst those people that used the pedestrian subway as there had been periodic serious crimes committed there (three sexual assaults and a violent robbery) as well as a number of robberies.  In one incident, the victim was unconscious for a number of months and had since lost all confidence;
• Parents dropping their children off at the local school were walking a significantly longer route to avoid using the subway;
• Residents felt that they had been let down as TfL had produced a report in January 2009 but only some of the recommendations had since been implemented.  The vegetation around the entrance to the subway had been cleared some months ago but had since grown back – consideration needed to be given to keeping this area cleared on a regular basis;
• Concern was expressed that negotiations were still ongoing between the Council and TfL with regard to how the CCTV would be operated and managed once it was installed;
• Residents requested that CCTV cameras be installed as a matter of urgency.  John McDonnell MP, school staff and parents and the Safer Neighbourhood Team all supported the proposal to install CCTV at the subway; and
• Criminals had used the subway as an escape route.

Councillor Douglas Mills listened to the concerns of the petitioners and responded to the points raised.  It was noted that the Council had been working in partnership with TfL on improving security at the subway and had resulted in improved lighting being installed and dome mirrors being erected.  There had not been any lack of effort made to find a solution in the area but hard-wired CCTV cameras at the site had proved to be too expensive.  TfL had met with residents on site in July 2010.  Since then, an alternative more cost effective wireless solution had been agreed between the Council and TfL which would see the installation of two wireless CCTV cameras at the subway by the end of December 2010.  

With regard to the clearance of the vegetation around the subway, it was noted that investigations were underway to reduce the height of the embankments.  This work was being undertaken separately to the installation of the CCTV cameras in order that no delay was caused and would include surveying the carriageway structure so as not to undermine it. 

Although the wireless CCTV cameras were already on order, an agreement still needed to be drawn up between the Council and TfL with regard to the ownership and maintenance.  As well as a built in hard drive in the CCTV cameras which would record footage, the police and the Council would be able to dial into the wireless system to get real time images.  Residents were also reassured that the images recorded by the cameras were of good quality, even at night. 

It was noted that the CCTV cameras would be in place for at least four years.  Councillor Mills advised that, whist he was Cabinet Member for Improvement, Partnerships and Community Safety, he would ensure that the cameras remained in situ but that he was unable to predict decisions made in the future by his successors.  Furthermore, Councillor Mills urged officers to speed the process up as much as possible and suggested that Council officers write to the TfL Director responsible for signing off the funding to ask him to expedite the matter. 

RESOLVED:  That the Cabinet Member for Improvement, Partnerships and Community Safety considered the petitioners’ request, discussed with them in detail their concerns regarding the subway in Carlyon Road, Yeading, and advised petitioners that:

1. Transport for London (TfL) is responsible for the site as it falls within the environs of the A312 Parkway (Hayes By-Pass);

2. the Council shares residents views that this is a priority location for safety and will continue to work with TfL to make sure that improvements are made;

3. TfL have agreed to install CCTV cameras at the entrances to the subway with a target date for installation of the cameras, which are new equipment, by the end of December 2010 (or earlier if possible);

4. other improvements to the area have been made due to liaison between Hillingdon’s Community Safety Team and TfL’s Community Safety Manager since the attack on a woman at the subway in November 2008.  These improvements are:
   • up-graded street-lighting giving a much brighter light;
   • vegetation on the banks cut back; and
   • mirrors installed and paint applied above the subway entrances;

5. a lighting audit has been carried out and the lighting levels in the subway itself are above the levels required by the Department for Transport; and

6. residents are requested to continue to notify all incidents to the Police on 0300 123 1212 (non-emergencies) or the Community Safety Team via 0800 694 0240 (for non-crimes) in order to continue to identify this area as a priority for action.

Reasons for recommendation

To address the concerns of the residents. 

Alternative options considered

None at this stage – it is felt that if the measures above are implemented then it will not be necessary to consider alternatives.