Agenda item
Petition: parking controls outside Islamia School, Salusbury Road
- Meeting of Highways Committee, Tuesday 17 July 2012 7.00 pm (Item 5a)
- View the background to item 5a
This Report informs the Committee of a petition from some parents at Islamia Primary School 129 Salusbury Road, London, NW6 6PE regarding parking problems.
Decision:
(i) that the petition and issues raised be noted;
(ii) that the course of action taken so far by officers from the Environment and Neighbourhood Services Department, as outlined in the report submitted, be noted and continue to be pursued.
Minutes:
Representatives of the school outlined the main issues behind the petition submitted which expressed how unhappy parents were regarding the parking problems outside the school. It was felt that, on a daily basis parents had to go through a challenge to find parking in order to get their children to school. Assurances were given that the school was prepared to continue to work on producing a school travel plan but parents were feeling that their needs were not being met. It was pointed out that the Parent School Association did not condone illegal parking but they were asking for limited dispensation from parking restrictions around the school during the time that parents collected their children. Mrs Nur Enver, PSA chairperson, added that many parents had 3 or 4 children they needed to drop off and collect and many had to use their cars because they did not live close to the school. She pointed out that the school did not have the usual yellow zig zag markings outside it and this created a danger to the safety of the children.
David McKibbin, Interim Head of Highways and Transportation, responded that some of the points raised at the meeting went beyond the content of the petition. The zig zag markings were a safety issue rather than a traffic management issue and would be considered separately. He submitted that the issues facing the school were not unusual for many schools in Brent and one of the many reasons why efforts were made to encourage sustainable transport. In the meantime it had been identified that there was a serious problem with illegal parking taking place around the school. Parking was available on a paid basis. He referred to the request for assistance in purchasing a school bus for which the Council did not have the funds but, as part of the school travel plan process, may be able to provide the school with some advice. He hoped the plan could be more strongly supported by the school.
David McKibbin introduced the report submitted to the Committee that responded to the issues raised in the petition.
Members of the committee asked about the prospects for the school purchasing a bus, car sharing, walking buses and public transport links. It was recognised that whilst it might not be commercially viable for one school to purchase a bus, it might be possible to work with other schools in the area to raise funds and share costs. There appeared scope to increase the amount of car sharing and walking buses had proved successful with some schools. The public bus links were good and cycling could be more actively encouraged.
David Thrale, Head of Service, Safer Streets, responded to accusations that parking restrictions around the school were being over-zealously enforced. He explained that between 15 June and 6 July, 20 schools had been visited and 1276 vehicle movements recorded, of which 1120 were compliant. Only two parking tickets had been issued but he stated such surveys would continue around the borough in order to deter illegal parking.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the petition and issues raised be noted;
(ii) that the course of action taken so far by officers from the Environment and Neighbourhood Services Department, as outlined in the report submitted, be noted and continue to be pursued.
Supporting documents: