Councillors and committees

Agenda item

EPSOM AND EWELL PARKING REVIEW (PHASE 12) [EXECUTIVE FUNCTION - FOR DECISION]

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.

 

Since the introduction of Decriminalised Parking Enforcement (DPE) in May 2005, new parking / waiting restrictions in Epsom and Ewell have been introduced in eleven phases, with the most recent being implemented through 2019.

 

This report details locations and general proposals for the Phase 12 parking / waiting restriction review, to be progressed in 2019 and seeks approval to carry out statutory consultation on the proposals.

 

Decision:

That the Local Committee [Epsom & Ewell] agreed:

 

(i)       To advertise all the proposals outlined in Annexe 1 of the report, subject to the following amendments and additions:

 

       That the proposals to split the Zone M residents parking area and change the hours as set out in the petition submitted by residents be added to the review;

       That double yellow lines at the junction of Sunnymede Avenue and Riverhome Drive to improve sight lines be added to the review;

Map 21 Orchard Close should read Carnforth Close;

       Maps 27 and 34 road names to be checked and corrected if necessary;

       Map 30 Queensmead Avenue to extend the one hour restriction to Sheer Avenue

       Maps 36/37 and 38 junction protection lines to be longer than the statutory minimum;

       Map 55 – disabled bay/s to be advertised in Castle Road in the vicinity of number 14;

       Map 59 – to advertise restrictions in the spaces not currently included at the top of the Lynwood Road;

 

       Maps 62/63 – restrictions to be added outside number 14 Milburn Walk.  Two unrestricted spaces to be left outside number 7 Milburn Walk, proposals to be changed to make parking on alternate sides in Walnut Close as in the adjacent roads if residents agree;

      

(ii)      That the committee contribute £18,000 funding towards the proposals in Annex 1 from the 2018/2019 parking surplus.

(iii) That the committee contribute £12,000 funding towards the proposals shown in Annex 1 for a verge parking ban, from the 2019/2020 parking surplus and the amendments to Zone M as outlined above also be funded from next year’s budget, subject to their agreement.

(iv) 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;

(v)   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.  The decision in relation to maps 68 and 70 to be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee

 

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

Minutes:

Declarations of Interest: Bernie Muir declared a prejudicial interest as a resident of St Margaret Drive and left the meeting during the consideration of the proposals in that area.

 

Officers attending: Steve Clavey, Parking Engineer; Nick Healey, Area Highways Manager

 

Petitions, Public Questions/Statements: Questions had been considered in the open forum and in Item 4

 

Member discussion –key points

 

Noted the amendments to the report published in the supplementary agenda.

 

Members agreed to the changes to the Zone M resident parking area discussed in the open forum.  Although they will be advertised this year if they are agreed implementation will be in the following financial year as there is insufficient funding available in the current year.  The Committee also agreed the amendments and additions outlined below.  Noted that it is not possible to apply a three hour limit for the use by disabled drivers of residents bays in The Parade.

 

In relation to the proposals for Abelea Green, the Chairman who is the divisional member stated that she did not feel that they would help in accessing the School and that the proposals included for White Horse Drive would be safer and more effective.  A walking bus could be established from White Horse Drive and young children would not have to walk along the main road to access the School.  All residents of the Abelea Green estate except three are opposed to the proposals and this has been confirmed by a petition which has been received.  However there is an opposing petition from the School seeking the relaxation of parking restrictions in Abelea Green.

 

The Area Highways Manager reported that providing improved facilities for parents to drop off and collect their children by car from St Joseph’s School could encourage more parents to drive.  If the proposals for White Horse Drive do not result in any further parents driving and the commuters currently displaced from this area decide to use sustainable transport methods it could be a sustainable option but this may not be the case.  He considered that the situation at the School was similar to many others in the County and asked what the Committee hoped to achieve.

 

Many members felt that the Committee should not be encouraging more vehicles into the Borough by making parking easier.  Others felt that all options should be explored and that they should be advertised in order to get as wide a range of views as possible, including the residents of both White Horse Drive and Rosebank.  It was suggested that there could be a case for independent mediation between the school, parents and residents to try and find an acceptable solution to the issues in accessing St Joseph’s School.  It was considered that there were other options that the school could explore to make a difference such as car sharing or minibus transport. 

 

On a vote in relation to map 68 there were 7 votes FOR including the proposals in the advertisement and 2 AGAINST.  In relation to map 70 there were 8 votes FOR it’s inclusion and 1 AGAINST.  The Committee requested that the final decision on whether or not to implement these proposals should be made by the Committee, but that this should not delay the implementation of the remainder of the review.

 

There was a discussion on whether the two residents bays at the top of Rosebank should be added to the review for possible removal or relocation to help with the school pick up and drop off zone.  The Borough Council owns a small strip of land between the pavement and the school fence which could potentially be used to improve public access and or to relocate the resident bays, but the Area Highways Manager advised that until the feasibility study is complete not all the information is available to advise the Committee on these options.  The Parking Engineer indicated that feedback from residents suggests that they are unhappy that there are insufficient residents bays available as they are being used by parents.  On a vote it was AGREED by 7 VOTES for to 1 AGAINST not to include the removal of the resident parking bays at the top of Rosebank in the review.

 

Resolved:

 

(i)       To advertise all the proposals outlined in Annexe 1 of the report, subject to the following amendments and additions:

 

       That the proposals to split the Zone M residents parking area and change the hours as set out in the petition submitted by residents be added to the review;

       That double yellow lines at the junction of Sunnymede Avenue and Riverhome Drive to improve sight lines be added to the review;

Map 21 Orchard Close should read Carnforth Close;

       Maps 27 and 34 road names to be checked and corrected if necessary;

       Map 30 Queensmead Avenue to extend the one hour restriction to Sheer Avenue

       Maps 36/37 and 38 junction protection lines to be longer than the statutory minimum;

       Map 55 – disabled bay/s to be advertised in Castle Road in the vicinity of number 14;

       Map 59 – to advertise restrictions in the spaces not currently included at the top of the Lynwood Road;

 

       Maps 62/63 – restrictions to be added outside number 14 Milburn Walk.  Two unrestricted spaces to be left outside number 7 Milburn Walk, proposals to be changed to make parking on alternate sides of Walnut Close as in the adjacent roads if residents agree;

      

(ii)      That the committee contribute £18,000 funding towards the proposals in Annex 1 from the 2018/2019 parking surplus.

(iii) That the committee contribute £12,000 funding towards the proposals shown in Annex 1 for a verge parking ban, from the 2019/2020 parking surplus and the amendments to Zone M as outlined above also be funded from next year’s budget, subject to their agreement.

(iv) 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;

(v)   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.  The decision in relation to maps 68 and 70 to be brought back to a future meeting of the Committee.

 

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

Supporting documents: