Agenda item

The report before the Committee detailed responses to an informal consultation undertaken in the Upminster Ward area for the Upminster Controlled Parking Zone and its periphery.

The report outlined that a consultation of Upminster Ward was undertaken in December 2016 and the Committee at its meeting in March 2016 agreed to a further consultation in Upminster Ward on parking restrictions within the area indicated in Appendix 1 of the report.

  The consultation was split in to two, the area north of St Mary’s Lane was consulted on a full Controlled Parking Zone. The rest of the area of consultation south of St Mary’s Lane to Park Drive Road and Gaynes Park Road was consulted on Permit Parking areas as outlined in Appendix 2 of the report.

Residents of Little Gaynes Lane to Parkland Avenue and from Park Drive to Ockendon Rd had been sent information that their road would be assessed for junction protection if needed.

All of the responses to the consultation were outlined in the table appended to the report in Appendix 3 of the report.

The report informed Members that the principles of the proposal were to design a resident parking scheme in the Upminster Ward, with operational restrictions Monday to Saturday 8.30am to 6.30 pm, which would limit non-resident parking and increase the parking provision for residents, businesses and their visitors.

The report also indicated that the design of ‘At any time’ waiting restrictions on all junctions, bends and multi-vehicle accesses was to facilitate unhindered access and improve safety for all road users.

The report mentioned that the proposed consultation areas had been designed in conjunction with the Ward Councillors.

In accordance with the public speaking arrangements the Committee was addressed by a business owner of premises in Gaynes Park Road. The speaker sought clarification on  the proposed parking arrangement for the customers of the shops in Gaynes Park Road who had been using the parking bays near the shopping parade. The speaker raised concerns over the proposed parking restrictions and their impact on trade to the local businesses. In response the Committee was informed that officers would be approaching the local businesses individually to collate their view on the parking bays opposite the parade.

With its agreement Councillor Ron Ower addressed the Committee.

Councillor Ower commented that Ward Councillors had been monitoring the progress of the scheme over the past 18 months and were in support of the recommendations.

Councillor Ower also requested that the northern sides of both turning circles in Stewart Avenue be restricted with double yellow lines and that a Public Space Protection Orders area around Branfil School, in Cedar Avenue, be given a higher priority.

During a brief debate a Member of the Committee concluded that as Ward Councillors supported the proposals they should be progressed.

A Member commented that CPZ’s over a wide area seldom receive public support and suggested that the proposals should be scaled back to cover a smaller consultation area..

The Committee considered the report and RESOLVED to recommend to the Cabinet Member for Environment, Regulatory Services and Community Safety that:

·         The area outlined in appendix 1 of the report be formally consulted for the creation of a controlled parking zone;

·         Oak Avenue and Maple Avenue, Avenue, Acacia Drive, Sycamore Avenue and South View Drive be formally consulted on waiting restrictions with the operational hours of 8.00am to 9.30am Monday to Friday.

·         Stewarts Drive to be consulted on double yellow lines on the south side and that junction protection be consulted in Coniston Avenue, Parkland Drive and Tadlow Close.

Members noted that the estimated cost for the proposals was £20,000 which would be met from the Capital Parking Strategy Investment allocation.