Agenda item

To consider requests that have been received for either the introduction of new parking restrictions or changes to existing restrictions at various sites in Epsom and Ewell.

That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed:

(i)      to the advertising of the proposals in Annex 1, subject to the following amendments:

Drawing 1: additional disabled bays to be added in this area on the same basis as the one currently included;
Drawing 3: The double yellow line should be in Timbercroft in the areas of numbers 9-13 and not The Warren;
Drawing 4: Double yellow lines on corner of Bridle Close to extend 15m in each direction to maintain sight lines;
Drawing 5: Lymington Gardens – additional lines to be added opposite exisiting;
Drawing 12: Ewell By-pass to be amended to read to Kingston Road;
Drawing 16: Double yellow lines to extend 10m into Lansdowne Road;
Drawing 36: Double yellow lines to extend to The Orchard;
Drawing 38: Lines in Horton Hill are no longer required;
Drawing 47: Road description should be Higher Green and not The Green;
Drawing 49: Extend single yellow line across the allotments to corner and around to allow parking adjacent to the allotment.  Double yellow line across footway and entrance;
Drawing 54: Yellow line to be extended further up East Dean;
Drawing 59: Extend double yellow line adjacent to 29 Chartwell Place;
Drawing 72: Double yellow line at the end of Tealing Drive on Tolworth side for first length of verge (add to Drawing 3)

(ii)     That the committee contribute £40,000 funding towards the proposals from the 2017/18 parking review surplus;

(iii)     That the County Council’s intention to make an order under the Road Traffic Regulation act 1984 be advertised and, if no objections are maintained, the order be made;

(iv)    That if objections are received the Parking Strategy and Implementation Group Manager is authorised to try and resolve them, in consultation with the Chairman / Vice Chairman of this committee and the county councillor for the division, and decides whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the order should be made, with or without modifications.

Reasons:  Changes to the highway network, the built environment and society mean that parking behaviour changes and consequently it is necessary for a Highway Authority to carry out regular reviews of waiting and parking restrictions on the highway network.

It is recommended that the waiting restrictions in this report are progressed as they will help to:

·          Improve road safety

·          Increase access for emergency vehicles

·          improve access to shops, facilities and businesses

·          Increase access for refuse vehicles, buses and service vehicles

·          Reduce traffic congestion

·          Better regulate parking

Declarations of Interest: Cllr Woodbridge declared a personal interest as a resident of Corbett Road which is referenced in the review.

Officers attending: Stephen Clavey, Senior Parking Engineer

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: Several members of the public were present and asked questions in relation to the proposed parking restrictions.

Drawing 45: Dirdene Gardens.  There was concern that restricting parking on the bend will lead to increased traffic speeds.  There was a request for the proposed lines on the corner of Dirdene Gardens to be shortened.  The parking engineer reported that these had been requested as a fire engine had been unable to pass through and that the highway code states that parking should not take place within 10m of a junction.

Drawing 49: parking for the allotments.  It was noted that the tenancy agreement for the allotments precludes parking on site and allotment holders do not consider that there is sufficient space.  Cllr Chinn agreed to raise the issue with the Borough Council as there is some evidence of parking.  It is not practical to park in Albert Road.  There is a need to maintain access to the allotments in case of emergency.  Residents feel that allotments are an important asset to enrich people’s lives and improve their health and everything should be done to ensure that allotment holders are not deterred by problems parking.  The proposed time limited yellow line aimed to stop spaces being taken up by commuter parking whilst maintain access to the footpath and the allotments.

There was no indication of any further public questions or statements so the

Committee moved to debate the options.

Member discussion –key points

Drawing 45: noted that there are a number of anomalies in relation to the restrictions on East Street and these would be tidied up as part of this review.

Noted that primrose lines would be used where necessary in conservation areas.

Cllr Kington reported that the initial trial verge parking ban area had worked well and was largely self-policing and he hoped that the next one proposed in this review would be supported.  He thanked the resident who had collected the support of residents via a petition for her hard work.  Any cost associated with the implementation of the scheme will be balanced by the savings made in the cost of repairing verges.  It was noted that a national verge parking ban except where this is explicitly permitted is being considered by Government.

Noted that it is planned to advertise the proposals between 12 July and 9 August with the aim of having restrictions in place by October.

The Committee thanked the parking engineer for his hard work in drawing up the proposals.

Resolved:

(i)      to the advertising of the proposals in Annex 1, subject to the following amendments:

Drawing 1: additional disabled bays to be added in this area on the same basis as the one currently included;
Drawing 3: The double yellow line should be in Timbercroft in the areas of numbers 9-13 and not The Warren;
Drawing 4: Double yellow lines on corner of Bridle Close to extend 15m in each direction to maintain sight lines;
Drawing 5: Lymington Gardens – additional lines to be added opposite existing;
Drawing 12: Ewell By-pass to be amended to read to Kingston Road;
Drawing 16: Double yellow lines to extend 10m into Lansdowne Road;
Drawing 36: Double yellow lines to extend to The Orchard;
Drawing 38: Lines in Horton Hill are no longer required;
Drawing 47: Road description should be Higher Green and not The Green;
Drawing 49: Extend single yellow line across the allotments to corner and around to allow parking adjacent to the allotment.  Double yellow line across footway and entrance;
Drawing 54: Yellow line to be extended further up East Dean;
Drawing 59: Extend double yellow line adjacent to 29 Chartwell Place;
Drawing 72: Double yellow line at the end of Tealing Drive on Tolworth side for first length of verge (add to Drawing 3)

(ii)     That the committee contribute £40,000 funding towards the proposals from the 2017/18 parking review surplus;

(iii)     That the County Council’s intention to make an order under the Road Traffic Regulation act 1984 be advertised and, if no objections are maintained, the order be made;

(iv)    That if objections are received the Parking Strategy and Implementation Group Manager is authorised to try and resolve them, in consultation with the Chairman / Vice Chairman of this committee and the county councillor for the division, and decides whether or not they should be acceded to and therefore whether the order should be made, with or without modifications.

Reasons:  Changes to the highway network, the built environment and society mean that parking behaviour changes and consequently it is necessary for a Highway Authority to carry out regular reviews of waiting and parking restrictions on the highway network.

It is recommended that the waiting restrictions in this report are progressed as they will help to:

·          Improve road safety

·          Increase access for emergency vehicles

·          improve access to shops, facilities and businesses

·          Increase access for refuse vehicles, buses and service vehicles

·          Reduce traffic congestion

·          Better regulate parking