Agenda item
Petitions
- Meeting of Highways Committee, Wednesday 9 February 2011 7.00 pm (Item 6.)
- View the background to item 6.
(a) Petition requesting a review of the Maybank Avenue One Way System
This petition submitted by local residents requests the following:-
“A review of the Council’s decision on one way system resulting in the closure of Maybank Avenue to traffic entering it from Harrow Road.”
A report regarding this item appears under item 6 in the agenda.
(b) Petition requesting a review of timing restrictions for parking in the Temple Road area, GM CPZ
This petition submitted by local residents requests the following:-
“Brent Council should consider the views of the local community and look at the issue of parking in Temple Road. The request is to reduce the current timings to 10:00am – 3:00pm as in the neighbouring GA CPZ zone. This will help with the health and safety of the community and the local health club members in particular older and female members. We feel that the current meter charges are excessive with rates of £4 for 2 hours which are double compared to rates in other Boroughs.”
A report regarding this item appears under item 7 in the agenda.
(c) Willesden Lane Bus Stop near Christchurch Avenue NW6
This petition submitted by local residents requests the following:-
“Restore the Christchurch bus stop to its original position for pedestrian and vehicle safety.”
A report regarding this item appears under item 8 in the agenda.
(d) Petition against the changes to residential parking on Cobbold Road NW10
This petition submitted by local residents requests the following:-
“We the undersigned hereby object to the proposed changes in residential parking scheme in Cobbold Road.”
A report regarding this item appears under item 9 in the agenda.
Decision:
that the contents of the petitions and the decisions on items 6-9 be noted.
Minutes:
The Committee noted that the following petitions containing in excess of 50 signatures had been received:-
(i) Petition requesting a review of the Maybank Avenue One Way System
The petition which was presented by Councillor Daly, ward member, requested the following:
“A review of the Council’s decision on one way system resulting in the closure of Maybank Avenue to traffic entering it from Harrow Road.”
In addressing the Committee, Councillor Daly stated that she had been approached by a large number of residents who had expressed concerns about the existing Maybank Avenue one-way system on grounds of serious obstruction to the emergency services (ambulance, fire and police), increased traffic and increased congestion in the Maybank Avenue area. Councillor Daly requested the Committee to instruct the Head of Transportation to undertake another full consultation with residents to assess the situation that had arisen since the decision to introduce the one way system was made.
RESOLVED:-
that the contents of the petition be noted.
Further decisions regarding this petition appear under minute 6.
(ii) Petition requesting a review of timing restrictions in Temple Road, GM CPZ zone.
The petition which was presented by Mr Demos Philiastides, the owner of the local Manor Health Club requested the following:
“The aim of this petition is to request that Brent Council considers the views of our members and members of the local community and looks at the issue of parking in Temple Road. The request is to reduce the current timings (for example like the neighbouring GA Zone’s timings of 10 am- 3 pm). This will help the Health and Safety of all our members in particular our older and female members. We also feel that the current meter charges are excessive with rates of £4 for 2 hours. These rates are double and more compared to rates in other boroughs”.
Mr Demos Philiastides informed members that Manor Health Club was losing membership and revenue due to the extended hours of operation of the controlled parking zone for GM zone from 10:00am-9:00pm. In support of his petition, he referred to a letter from one of his members who gave notice of termination of her membership due to lack of parking, the extended hours of the CPZ hours of operation and exorbitant pay and display rates. Mr Philiastides requested members to reduce the hours of operation to bring the GM zone into parity with the neighbouring GA zone where controlled parking timing was 10:00am-3:00pm.
Ms Helen Saunders a local resident also spoke but in objection to the petition. Ms Saunders informed members that the petition submitted by Mr Philiastides did not have the support of local residents as it was organised by and for the benefit of the management and users of Manor Health Club only. As most of the signatories did not live in the area, the petition did not reflect the sentiments of local residents. She continued that the GM CPZ hours of operation was introduced in 2003 after extensive consultations with residents, 74% of whom were in full agreement. Ms Saunders added that currently it was difficult for local residents to find parking spaces for their vehicles and that any reduction in the timings for GM CPZ zone would add to the existing parking problem i n the Temple Roads area.
RESOLVED:-
that the contents of the petition be noted.
Further decisions regarding this petition appear under minute 7.
(iii) Petition requesting changes to parking arrangements in Cobbold Road, NW10.
The petition which was presented by Mr Damien Brola, a local resident requested the following:
“We hereby object to the proposed changes in residential parking scheme. We feel that the proposed changes are unfair and will make us pay more than we currently pay and we feel this is another excessive charge for what we are already charged for our road tax. We do not want our street to be part of this scheme.”
Mr Brola in his address to the Committee stated that the proposed emission based charging system which he felt had been rushed through without adequate consultation with residents would be excessive as well as punitive. Mr Brola urged members to scrap the proposed emission based charging scheme which he added would result in steep increase in the cost of residents and visitor’s parking permits.
RESOLVED:-
that the contents of the petition be noted.
Further decisions regarding this petition appear under minute 8
(iv) Petition requesting the relocation of a bus stop in Willesden Lane near Christchurch Avenue
The petition which was presented by Mr Robert Sanger, a local resident requested the following:
“A petition to restore the Christchurch bus stop to its original position for pedestrian and vehicle safety.”
Mr Sanger informed the Committee that the present location of the bus stop had given rise to numerous personal injury accidents due to a lack of pedestrian refuge and poor visibility which made overtaking almost impossible. He complained that residents were not consulted about the relocation of the bus stop until after it had been implemented. Mr Sanger urged members to re-assess the pedestrian and vehicular safety of the bus stop and consult with all local residents in identifying a suitable location for the bus stop.
Councillor Cheese, a ward member echoed the sentiments expressed by Mr Sanger.
RESOLVED:-
that the contents of the petition be noted.
Further decisions regarding this petition appear under minute 9