Agenda and minutes

The minutes of the meeting held on 7 July 2015 were agreed as a correct record and signed by the Chairman.

Report attached

The Committee considered a report that outlined the responses received to a consultation to close Hubbards Close to motorised traffic at its junction with the A127 Southend Arterial Road on an experimental basis using an Experimental Traffic Order.

The report informed the Committee that officers had discussed the proposals with the emergency services who had confirmed that they had no objections to the Experimental Traffic Order and that they would avoid using Hubbards Close as a matter of routine.

The closure would be of a physical nature such as concrete barriers or manhole sections filled with concrete together with appropriate signage.  In addition, advance warning signs would be installed along the westbound carriageway of the A127 to inform drivers about the road closure subject to the approval by Transport for London (Road Space Management Directorate) as the A127 was under their jurisdiction.

Members noted that approximately 662 letters were delivered in the consultation area to those potentially affected by the impact of the experimental closure with a closing date of 19 June 2015. Notices were also installed on site to give interested persons an opportunity to provide their views on the proposals.

The report detailed that the ward councillors, Committee Members and statutory consultees such as London Buses, the Emergency Services, Transport for London (Road Space Management) and other interest groups were also consulted. 

At the close of the consultation, twenty-six responses had been received. The responses were summarised in the report. The results indicated that 73% of respondents (19 respondents) were in favour of the closure whereas 23% were against the closure (6 respondents).  One respondent did not give a preference either way.

The comments of the respondents had raised issues that varied by location in the consultation area depending on the impact they experienced. Most residents of Hubbards Close and Hubbards Chase wanted a permanent closure. Many residents considered that permanent closure would provide safety for the local residents, for school children particularly when walking to and from school and overcome the long standing rat-running traffic issue. The Emerson Park & Ardleigh Green Residents’ Association and the local Neighbourhood Watch had expressed support for the proposals.

Some residents responded by e-mail and had not included their postal addresses and so staff were not able to gauge their location.

Those who objected to the scheme raised a number of issues such as the problems being caused by the traffic signals at Ardleigh Green which needed changing; that the scheme would force the commercial operators in Hubbards Close to access via the County Park Estate; that the Council had over-estimated the problem; that the closure should be somewhere else and that a gate should be provided so commercial operators could have a key.

In officers’ view the experimental closure would allow the scheme to be tested and experienced in order to monitor and assess whether any of the concerns proved to be a reality and staff would work with any residents having real issues to see if they could be dealt  ...  view the full minutes text for item 21.

Report attached

The Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED:

1.            To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that the bus stop accessibility improvements on Front Lane detailed in the report  and shown on the following drawings attached to the report be implemented

·         QO001-OF-A247-A248-A

·         QO001-OF-A249-A250-A

2.         Noted that the estimated cost of £14,000 for implementation (all sites) would be met by Transport for London through the 2015/16 Local Implementation Plan allocation for Bus Stop Accessibility.

Report attached

The report before the Committee detailed responses to a consultation for the provision of fully accessible bus stops along Clockhouse Lane.

The report informed the Committee that improvements to the bus stop environment such as raised kerbs, relayed footway surfaces, providing short footway links to stops would help with making bus stops fully accessible to all people. The introduction of bus stop clearways improved the accessibility of bus stops by providing sufficient space for buses to pull in close to the kerb.

The proposals for accessibility improvements had been developed for various bus stops along stops along Clockhouse Lane:

The report detailed that at the close of public consultation on 29 June 2015, five respondents commented on the proposals.

London Travelwatch supported the proposals whilst a resident of Hunters Grove requested for a discounted vehicle access be provided as part of the works and expressed anticipation that the works would not damage their garden wall.

The Collier Row Methodist Church requested that the stop currently outside 95 Clockhouse Lane (drawing QO001-OF-A172&A173-A) be relocated outside the church between the car park access and No.77 with footway parking removed to improve access to the church.

The Committee noted that following the response from by the Collier Row Methodist Church, officers undertook to amend the proposals for the northbound stop currently outside 95 Clockhouse Lane (drawing QO001-OF-A172&A173-A) and re-consulted an alternative proposal.  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23.

Report attached

The Committee considered a report that outlined the responses to a consultation for the provision of fully accessible bus stops along Mungo Park Road.

The report informed the Committee that improvements to the bus stop environment such as raised kerbs, relayed footway surfaces, providing short footway links to stops would help with making bus stops fully accessible to all people. The introduction of bus stop clearways improved the accessibility of bus stops by providing sufficient space for buses to pull in close to the kerb.

It was important with the provision of buses in London that are fully wheelchair accessible, because the benefits of low-floor/ kneeling buses were considerably reduced (if not removed) if the bus cannot position next to the kerb.

In accordance with the public participation arrangements the Committee was addressed by a member of the public who supported the scheme.

The resident spoke in favour of scheme option 2 stating that the existing layout was poor in terms of accessibility and that wheelchair users would also benefit from a fully accessible bus stop.

The resident commented that the proposal would resolve the off-street parking issues faced by some residents with the re-design and relocation of the bus shelter allowing for the installation of vehicle crossovers. The resident also stated he had a 10 signature petition in support of the proposal.

During the debate, a Member commented on the loss of footway parking spaces with the bus stop clearway aspect of the scheme. It was suggested that the bays outside no. 268 be retained.

A Member suggested that the stop outside no. 205 be moved closer to Wood Lane or the bus clearway on the approach to the stop be reduced. Members were informed that the relocation towards Wood Lane would need to be consulted on again.

Following debate it was proposed that the footway parking bay outside no. 268 be retained and for the stop outside no. 205 to be re-consulted on and potentially moved further towards Wood Lane.

The Committee RESOLVED:

1.            That subject to the retention of the footway parking bay outside no. and a further consultation to consider moving the bus stop outside no. 205 further towards Wood Lane

to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that the bus stop accessibility improvements on Mungo Park Road detailed in the report and shown on the following drawings in the report be implemented;

·         QO001-OF-A183-A184-A/2 (option 2)

·         QO001-OF-A185-A186-A

·         QO001-OF-A187-A188-A

·         QO001-OF-A189-A

2.         Noted that the estimated cost of £16,000 for implementation of the scheme would be met by Transport for London through the 2015/16 Local Implementation Plan allocation for Bus Stop Accessibility.

Report attached

Following Members commendation on the redesigned scheme and clarification on the location of the stop that was proposed nearby to the humped bridge the Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED:

1.            To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that the bus stop accessibility improvements on Ockendon Road set out in the report and shown on the following drawings be implemented;

·         QO001-OF-A136-A137-A

·         QO001-OF-A138-A139-A

·         QO001-OF-A140-A

·         QO001-OF-A141-A

·         QO001-OF-A142-A

·         QO001-OF-A143-A

·         QO001-OF-A144-A145-A

·         QO001-OF-A146-A

·         QO001-OF-A147-A

·         QO001-OF-A148-A

2.         Noted that the estimated cost of £61,000 for implementation (all sites) would be met by Transport for London through the 2015/16 Local    Implementation Plan allocation for Bus Stop Accessibility.

Report attached

The Committee considered the report and without debate RESOLVED:

1. To recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment that:

a.    The proposed extension of the ‘At Any Time’ waiting restrictions in Western Avenue and the relocation of the Free parking on the northern side of Western Avenue, as shown on the drawing be implemented as advertised

b.    The effect of any agreed proposals be monitored.

c.    The estimated cost for the proposals in Brentwood Road, as set out in the report was £500, which would be met from the 2015/16 Minor Parking Schemes budget.

Report attached

The Committee considered a report that outlined the responses received to the informal consultation and the advertised proposals for the creation of a new permit parking zone (RV1), and the introduction of waiting restrictions and Pay and Display parking provision in the Rainham Ward.

The report detailed that about 1200 questionnaires were delivered in the area with a closing date of 7 November 2014. From the 158 responses that were received back, 112 respondents were in favour of the proposed scheme and 46 were against.

Out of the 112 responses in favour of the proposals, 81 were in favour of resident parking, 6 in favour of business parking and 21 in favour of just waiting restrictions (yellow lines) and the remaining respondents did not specifically outline a preference. 

The report informed Members that following the informal consultation, and based on the collected data, officers had produced an appropriate design and formally consulted.  The proposals were designed in consultation with the Ward Members and stakeholders and had been advertised. Residents and businesses in the immediate area of the proposed scheme were formally consulted by letter with a closing date of 20 March 2015; site notices were also placed throughout the area.

Officers’ also held a consultation drop in session at Rainham Library, between 9.30am and 7.30pm on Wednesday 4 March 2015, to deal with residents’ questions. It was noted that the session was well received with approximately 100 residents attending.

The report detailed that this part of Rainham Village was within walking distance of the National Rail Station (Rainham). Local residents faced daily issues with obstructive and inconsiderate parking, which was a particular issue in Melville Road and Cowper Road.  Traffic and Parking Control received frequent complaints relating to commuter parking in these roads.  Residents’ difficulties were further compounded because off-street parking to the front of properties was not an option for many as gardens were insufficient in size to accommodate off-street parking. Residents therefore had a greater demand for on-street parking, as kerb space was further reduced by commuter parking.  This had led to a high level of complaints and requests for parking restrictions in the area, which was further supported by the comments made during both the informal and formal consultations.  Furthermore, enforcement could not be carried out due to the lack of restrictions.

The proposals were designed to enhance the area by significantly increasing the available kerb space for all residents and visitors and limiting long term non-residential parking. 

From the feedback officers received at the drop in session at Rainham Library and the responses received from the consultation, it was clear to officers that the residents of Cowper Road and Melville Road favoured implementation of the scheme which would improve traffic flow, limit commuter parking and make further parking provision for residents and visitors.  Residents in the other roads consulted did not support the scheme.

The Council had set out in the recent budget strategy an increase to permit parking charges, which were subsequently agreed and  ...  view the full minutes text for item 27.

Report attached

It was RESOLVED that consideration of this item be deferred at officers’ request in order to address concerns over the release of certain information in the report.

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to work in progress and applications - Report attached

The Committee considered a report with all the new highway scheme requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee had considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as against each request and are appended to the minutes.

The Committee is requested to consider the report relating to minor traffic and parking schemes - Report attached

The report before the Committee had detailed all Minor Traffic and Parking Scheme application requests in order for a decision to be made on whether the scheme should progress or not before resources were expended on detailed design and consultation.

The Committee had considered and agreed in principle the schedule that detailed the applications received by the service.

The Committee’s decisions were noted as against each request and are appended to the minutes.

The Committee noted receipt of the schedule detailing the programme of works for the relining (white lines) of road markings on the borough’s roads.