Agenda item

Purpose

To consider the public response to the proposed MI Middlesex Road area residents' parking zone, in the context of the wider Programme of Consultation on Residents' Parking.

RECOMMENDED that the Cabinet Member approves

1.         That the MI Middlesex Road area parking zone proposed under TRO 17/2020 is implemented as advertised;   

2.         That appropriate parking restrictions are proposed for the north side of Goldsmith Avenue, outside of the MI zone boundary, to address specific issues should they arise;

3.         That the following confirmation is noted:

            Under this proposal (TRO 17/2020), residents of Devonshire Avenue would continue to be able to park on either side of their road, as enabled by signage, despite each side being allocated to a different zone to the north and south.

1.    Agreed that the MI Middlesex Road area parking zone proposed under TRO 17/2020 is implemented as advertised;

2.    Agreed that appropriate parking restrictions are proposed for the north side of Goldsmith Avenue, outside of the MI zone boundary, to address specific issues;

3.    Noted the following confirmation:

Under this proposal (TRO 17/2020), residents of Devonshire Avenue would continue to be able to park on either side of their road, as enabled by signage, despite each side being allocated to a different zone to the north and south.

Kevin McKee, Parking Team Manager, introduced the report. He read out deputations against the recommendations from Catherine Isaac, Richard Kear and Percy Critchett.

Nikki Musson, Senior Transport Planner, responded to points made in the deputations, many of which are the same as for the proposed MH RPZ.

Although residents cannot choose their zone (vehicles are registered to addresses) Devonshire Avenue residents, where the majority of parking is on-street, can park on either side of it in the shared bays but not in either zone.

In response to questions from members, officers explained that

There is so little parking in Winter Road that if there are any shared bays residents who have them outside their houses might object to so many others having access to them.

Residents sometimes object to aspects of a proposed zone, not the principle of a zone. When the ME zone was introduced there were many complaints due to displaced parking. Surveys are not a vote but a chance to give views which inform recommendations. Where residents are in favour of a zone in principle but object to the proposed timings it is considered as an objection. Officers acknowledged it would be helpful if results of consultations gave a breakdown of this information. As with the MH zone, it is not possible to accommodate all preferences. However, timings can be adjusted after zones have been implemented.

Councillor Bosher felt the approach to RPZs was too piecemeal and black and white. He mentioned a response from a resident who may not have been in favour of a zone but now felt forced to agree to it. The decision should be taken on the terms of what is proposed in the TRO, not an informal survey. Where results of a consultation are very close, as in this case, it could be argued that the RPZ should not be implemented. Officers said the survey informs the TRO which forms the basis of a decision.

Councillor Stagg confirmed that decisions are always made in line with the majority response in formal consultations, even if it is a majority of one. Zones can be reviewed later if there are problems.

Councillor Stagg said ideally there would be no parking zones but the underlying problem is that there are too many vehicles. The zone can be reviewed after a year. She agreed to remove the words "should they arise" from recommendation no.2 to take into account work being done on the neighbouring GB zone.

DECISIONS

The Cabinet Member for Traffic and Transportation:

1.     Agreed that the MI Middlesex Road area parking zone proposed under TRO 17/2020 is implemented as advertised;

2.     Agreed that appropriate parking restrictions are proposed for the north side of Goldsmith Avenue, outside of the MI zone boundary, to address specific issues;

3.     Noted the following confirmation:

Under this proposal (TRO 17/2020), residents of Devonshire Avenue would continue to be able to park on either side of their road, as enabled by signage, despite each side being allocated to a different zone to the north and south.