Minutes:
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:
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:
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.
Supporting documents: