Agenda item

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) which sets out the results of the informal consultation, the statutory consultation and the recommended course of action.

Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of resident permit parking schemes, parking places and other waiting restrictions, together with a verge protection order (VPO) in various roads, Handside Ward, Welwyn Garden City.

The report noted that In April 2018, the Council undertook a parking survey with residents and businesses in Handside, Welwyn Garden City. This followed on from work already completed in the Longcroft Lane and Parkway areas of the Ward. The scope of the survey took in all roads to the west of Parkway and extended south from Brockswood Lane to its boundary with Lemsford Lane. The purpose of the survey was to engage with residents and businesses in seeking their views on parking options for the area.

Responses were received and a number cited non-residential long stay parking e.g. commuters and local workers etc., as responsible for creating parking pressure in their roads. The parking survey form offered residents several options to choose from; including yellow line waiting restrictions and resident permit parking schemes. Also included was the option ‘Do Nothing’ – leave things as they are. Residents were also given the opportunity to determine on which days and times they would like their restrictions to operate. The survey returns indicated a particularly high demand for resident permit parking (RPPS) schemes in the Guessens and Stanborough areas. A number of other responses also specifically related to safety concerns around schools. As part of this survey, residents were also asked to provide details of where they thought additional parking provision might be provided.

Three schemes from the survey were progressed to the formal state.  A further two schemes have been added from other locations, to address issues, which became apparent during the monitoring period of previous schemes. The relocation and expansion of a general practice surgery to Birdcroft Road, and a request for additional junction protection in the Longcroft Green area have also been included in this Order.

Following discussions with Hertfordshire County Council, roads in which one or more sides do not have a footpath, parking will be permitted on the extended dropped kerb on the side in which there is no footpath. There are some in Handside, an example of this is Elmwood. Pedestrians can use dropped kerbs as another way of crossing from one side of the road to another. If there is no footpath, parking on the extended dropped kerbs would not deem to be obstructive to pedestrians. This is one of the main reasons for introducing a Verge Protection Order.

Members considered the problems highlighted within the six areas listed in the report and appendices attached; together with the objections received.

Members expressed concern in relation to the Birdcroft Road parking.  The Officer explained that there is an existing parking scheme in operation and that in October 2019 a letter was sent out to residents in Birdcroft Road, including St Bonaventure’s Church and Garden City GP practice proposing to insert two shared use parking bays in Birdcroft Rad to help increase parking provision for patients visiting the Surgery.  The current restrictions allow people to park for two hours. Due to comments received from residents relating specifically to the two hours, Parking Services issued a notice in January 2020 proposing to modify the Order.  The proposal would reduce the waiting limit from two hours to one hour to maximise the availability of parking for the surgery but would not encourage people to use these parking spaces to visit the town centre.  It was noted that no objections had been received.

The report noted that Guessens area attracted a high level of non-residential parking, attributed to commuter, local workers and shoppers. The design stage of the consultation was completed in February 2019, residents were notified by letter that majority response from residents in the area opted for a resident parking permit scheme to operate Monday-Saturday, 8am-6pm. This was the scheme which would be progressed to the formal stage of the consultation. There was a delay to progressing the scheme due to a member of the Parking Services leaving. Therefore, the formal stage of the consultation did not commence until December 2019. It was noted that during this formal stage of the consultation, a petition was received from eleven residents in Farm Close and ten residents in Guessens Road who park in Farm Close. The main objection was the proposed resident parking permit scheme operating on a Saturday.  As the Order had already been advertised the only two options were to either remove the road from the proposals completely, or to progress the scheme to implementation and monitor the impact during the 6 months after completion.

The Council Officer has spoken to the petition organiser and both options discussed. The petition organiser agreed with the recommendation to progress the scheme to implementation due to concerns of displacement, which would be likely to occur if they were not included in the scheme at all. Parking Services have agreed to send out a survey form after 4 months of the scheme been operational, to see if residents included in the petition would like for any changes to be considered.

Discussion was held on the Stanborough Green area and the response from the survey.  A petition was received during the formal stage of the consultation relating to the resident parking permit scheme.  Ward Member were involved with residents and the consensus was to remove Marsden Close and Marsden Green from the proposals, but if they do go ahead in the surrounding roads to monitor as is the standard practice. Resident would need to contact Parking Services if they would like to be included in the scheme during the 6-month monitoring period.

A discussion was held on Applecroft Road – school drop off and pick up traffic/parking issues; the differing number of parking restrictions currently in place, it was decided that it would be helpful to review the proposals and simplify the restriction around the school.  The new parking proposals would retain parking opposite the school on the north-east kerb-line.  To prevent the possibility of double parking an additional double yellow line had been proposed directly outside the school to compliment the zig-zag markings already in place. The majority response from resident in this area was for single yellow lines and not a resident parking permit scheme. The split am/pm restricts have been removed to be replaced by no waiting Mon-Fri 9am-11am.  A low level of concern was expressed in that the restrictions did not extend to Saturdays.

During the formal stage of the consultation the NHS submitted an objection which covered a few of the proposals. This is included in the report.
After contacting the NHS they advised that there is a family clinic which operates out of Applecroft School between 9am-12pm which would be affected by the proposed restrictions. Contact was made with the District Manager of the clinic and they were made aware of the proposals. They advised that they ran several clinics in other locations, some of which have no parking provision close by. The clinic at Applecroft School was one of the lucky ones, which did have some parking provision relatively close by. They were advised of the roads which could still be used for parking, as the restrictions did not extend that far, and they are a short walk from the clinic. Parking Services agreed to monitor the restrictions during the 6-month monitoring period, if any issues came to light these would be considered as part of this project.

A discussion was held on Verge Protection Order (VPO) and narrow roads. A number of objections from such roads were concerned this would significantly reduce the amount of parking in the road and this would leave displacement to adjoining roads. Stevenage Borough Council have been introducing VPOs for several years and did lead the way in Hertfordshire.  Their best practice is if they receive objections from residents in roads which are 4.5m or less these are automatically removed from the proposals. Five roads had been identified within this parameter: Downfields, Guessens Walk, Handside Close, Handside Green and Melbourne Court. These will be removed from the VPO proposals.

The following points were raised:

·         Trades people visiting residents – it was confirmed that the homeowner needs to provide a permit for any visitor to their property.

·         Stanborough Green – the area around the flats was considered. 

·         Sunday enforcement was minimal and sometimes difficult.

·         Restrictions in Springfields to remain as requested by residents within the area.

RESOLVED:

(7 for and 4 abstained)

1.    The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Various Roads, Handside, Welwyn Garden City) (Restriction of Waiting, Parking Places and Permit Parking Zones) Order 2019.

That the Panel considers the objections received in Para 4 and in addition the issues raised in Section 15 around equalities and diversity. Having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions; recommends to Cabinet to proceed with the creation of the amended traffic regulation order (Appendix H) excluding Marsden Green and Marsden Close, from the proposed Permit Zone A13, for the reasons set out in this report.

2.    The Borough of Welwyn Hatfield (Various Roads, Handside, Welwyn Garden City) (Prohibition of Stopping and Waiting on Verge or Footway) Order 2020.

That the Panel considers the objections received in Para 4 and in addition the issues raised in Section 15 around equalities and diversity. Having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions; recommends to Cabinet to proceed with the creation of this traffic regulation order as amended (Appendix H) for the reasons set out in this report.