Report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of waiting restrictions and verge and footway prohibition in various road, Salisbury village, Hatfield.  It sets out the results of the informal consultation.

Members considered the report of the Corporate Director (Resources, Environment and Cultural Services) on the introduction of waiting restrictions and verge and footway prohibition in various roads, Salisbury Village, Hatfield and noted that Salisbury Village is a predominantly residential area encircled by the Ellenbrook Fields sport and leisure area, the University of Hertfordshire de Havilland Campus and the Hatfield Business Park. Salisbury Village contains 355 known, confirmed Houses of Multiple Occupation (HMOs) and student accommodation properties.  The exact number could be higher, due to the high-turnover of its partially transient population.

Hertfordshire County Council (HCC) is currently working on plans to adopt the highway in this area. Presently, there are some parking controls within some roads, however, once the highway is adopted, all private parking restrictions on public highways would cease immediately. This will include all permit schemes or yellow lines that currently sit within Salisbury Village.

There was a drop-in surgery held at the Howe Dell Community Hall.  The turnout for the event was good in comparison to other drop-in sessions the Council has held in Hatfield, with at least 12 varied requests arising.  There were several comments and requests relating to the current restrictions, which are operational 24/7 and why this cannot be considered. The Council’s parking enforcement contract covers the period Monday – Saturday 8am-6pm with three days of later finishes of 7pm and Sundays 10am-5pm. Therefore, we would not be able to accommodate this request.

In March 2020, parking survey forms along with a covering letter and a self-addressed envelope (SAE) were sent to all properties within the Salisbury Village area (Appendix A). The survey was also available online using Survey Monkey. Residents were offered several options such as a resident permit scheme, single yellow line or nothing. Junction protection in the form of double yellow lines and a verge protection order (VPO) was also consulted on. Due to a low response rate, both online and postal returns, the survey was sent again with a covering letter encouraging residents to complete the form and return it in the SAE (Appendix B). The online survey was also available.  Each survey was accompanied by the relevant maps. As is standard practice all documents posted to residents are available on the WHBC website.

The report set out the results of the informal consultation. A total of 1515 properties and all landlords of properties had been consulted. Of which, 355 properties are listed and registered as being HMOs and/or occupied by students.

Members debated the following:

·         Parking around the school area, especially during drop off and pick up times.  Would it be possible to allocate a period whereby enforcement could be relaxed for approximately 45 minutes to an hour for parents at the start of the day and at the end of school day?  It was clarified that this may not be possible.  The Officers explained that they have consulted with the school and had no response. However, the Council will again contact and work with the school to resolve the concern of dropping and picking up children from the school.

·         Parking around the community hall was considered together with hall’s car park being full when an event is on and additional parking required.  Officers would look at ways to try and mitigate this demand for parking.

·         Would it be possible to have an hour parking bays to accommodate people wishing to park on a short-term basis to visit friends or view a property in the locality?

·         Protection of greenery within the area to allow people to enjoy green outdoor space. 

·         Officers reminded the Panel that they were being mindful that this is a high density area and therefore cannot be compared with The Ryde or Old Rectory Drive, which are commuter areas.

·         It was clarified that the scheme did not cover the private parking; only the carriageway. Restrictions were discussed together with providing two hour parking bays/areas.

RESOLVED:

(Unanimously)

1.    That the Panel having considered the results of the survey objections, and to progress the consultation to the next stage, to advertise proposals to introduce resident permit scheme operating Monday – Friday, 8am – 6pm. Proposals to formalise existing double yellow lines which are already in situ on the highway in order for civil enforcement officers to be able to carry out enforcement under the Traffic Management Act 2004 would progress on grounds of safety.  And in particular the issues raised in Section 15 around equality and diversity and having considered all the detailed issues in this report including any proposed mitigating actions, recommends to Cabinet to proceed to the next stage (Appendix C) and advertise the draft proposals of the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) for all the reasons set out in this report.

2.    That the Panel agreed the inclusion to the next stage of short term parking arrangements and parking around the school area.