Agenda item
Tubbs Road Councillor Call for Action Request
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee has received a councillor call for action request from Councillor Powney relating to the volume of traffic using Tubbs Road. Councillor Powney believes that the road is being used as a cut through by people seeking to avoid High Street Harlesden and Station Road to get to Old Oak Lane. As a result the street is congested, polluted and residents are concerned about road safety. Councillor Powney would like the Overview and Scrutiny Committee to consider this issue and recommend a solution to the problems at Tubbs Road.
The Overview and Scrutiny Committee will need to decide whether or not to take the Tubbs Road issue forward and could use the criteria set out in the protocol to help to make the decision.
Minutes:
With the agreement of the Chair, Beatrice Barleon, representing residents of Tubbs Road and Nightingale Road, addressed the Committee on this item. Beatrice Barleon stressed that the main concern was the volume of traffic travelling down Tubbs Road and Nightingale Road. The problem was exacerbated by roadworks at the end of Tubbs Road and pollution caused by the large amount of traffic was also a concern. Beatrice Barleon explained that although Tubbs Road was classified as an ‘A’ road, it was a narrow road and this increased congestion for traffic that was using the road as a shortcut to the A40. Members heard that although Scrubs Lane was wider, it was not used as much as it was a longer route to the A40. Beatrice Barleon stated that residents wanted both short and long term solutions to the problems posed, suggesting that there be no right turn into the top of the road permitted and no left turn permitted out of the bottom of the road. She did not think that measuring traffic speed was necessary as it was not an issue and she stressed that the volume of traffic and the level of pollution be monitored and appropriate measures be put in place to reduce these. In reply to a query from Councillor Motley, Beatrice Barleon stated that residents had observed that there was a considerable number of vehicles turning left at the bottom of Tubbs Road.
With the agreement of the Chair, Councillor Powney, who had made the Councillor Call for Action request and who was ward councillor for the area concerned, also addressed the Committee on this matter. He stated that the protocol for Councillor Call for Action had been followed, explaining that there had been several meetings with local residents and the Transportation Unit had visited the site twice to consider the issues raised. In addition, TfL and the Department of Transport had also been consulted about the problems being experienced on these roads. He felt that a detailed solution was required to what was a complicated traffic problem. Councillor Powney stated that a request needed to be made to the Secretary of State to reclassify Tubbs Road as a ‘B’ road. In reply to a query from Councillor Motley, Councillor Powney stated that in his view Tubbs Road was being used by vehicles as the easiest route to by pass the Park Royal Estate.
During discussion by the Committee, Councillor Mistry, speaking on behalf of Councillor Joseph, stated that since a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) scheme was introduced to Tubbs Road, this had resolved the problem of vehicles being abandoned in the road. Nightingale Road similarly benefitted from having a CPZ introduced. However, as Tubbs Road was a relatively short road, the large volume of traffic on it often became congested. In addition, residents faced significant problems finding parking spaces along these roads from Friday evenings until Sunday evenings and therefore residents also wanted to be re-consulted over the operational times of the CPZ scheme. It was noted that Councillor Joseph would be happy to be involved in discussions over what measures could be undertaken. Councillor Thomas, ward councillor for the area concerned, asserted that Tubbs Road had recorded the slowest moving traffic in the country for an A-road. He felt that the solution was to reclassify the road from an ‘A’ road to a ‘B’ road, however as the Council did not have powers to implement this, the Department for Transport would need to be approached. Councillor Clues commented that any measures to be considered for Tubbs Road should be considered within the context of providing a solution to traffic problems for the whole of Harlesden area.
The Chair felt that the protocol for the Councillor Call to Action had been followed correctly and Members agreed to her suggestion that the item be re-considered at the next meeting of this Committee, that the Transportation Unit and TfL representatives be invited to the attend this meeting and that in the meantime, Members undertake a site visit to Tubbs Road.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that it be agreed that the Tubbs Road Councillor Call for Action Request be considered at the next meeting of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee and that representatives from Transportation Unit and TfL be invited to attend this meeting to respond to questions from Members; and
(ii) that Members of the Overview and Scrutiny Committee undertake a site visit of the roads prior to the next meeting.
Supporting documents:
- Tubbs Road CCfA Covering Report, item 9. PDF 58 KB
- Tubbs Road Appendix 1 (CCfA Form), item 9. PDF 72 KB
- Tubbs Road Appendix 2 (Cllr Joseph Questions), item 9. PDF 232 KB