Agenda item
Proposals to introduce pay and display parking controls in Preston Road & Bridge Road
- Meeting of Highways Committee, Wednesday 27 July 2011 7.00 pm (Item 8.)
- View the background to item 8.
This report outlines the representations received in relation to the consultation, including the statutory consultation in association with the Traffic Order process. The report also considers those representations in the context of the original proposals and recommends that the Committee approves implementation of the proposals.
Decision:
(i) that, having given proper consideration of the matters raised by way of objections and representations summarised in Section 6 and Appendices 2 and 3 and discussed in detail within the report, and in the context of the policy and other reasons set out in the report and the Equality Analysis, approval be given to the introduction of schemes of pay and display parking in Preston Road and Bridge Road (and adjacent side roads), as described in the report;
(ii) that the proposal to undertake a review of the operation of the scheme(s) no later than 12 months after their implementation and present the outcomes of that review to the Committee upon completion of that review Committee be noted;
(iii) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to give priority to working with the lead member, ward members, and others representing local residents and businesses, to (i) identifying and introducing measures to improve awareness and use of the Preston Road car park and (ii) to explore opportunities to pilot a charging regime in that car park that would further increase use of the car park and the vitality of businesses in Preston Road and could be considered for introduction in all town centre car parks.
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report that outlined the representations received in relation to the consultation, including the statutory consultation in association with the Traffic Order process. The report also considered those representations in the context of the original proposals and recommended implementation of the proposals. In setting the background to the proposals, Tim Jackson, Head of Transportation stated that the report had its origins in a report in December 2010 on fees and charges considered by the Executive Committee that agreed the proposals to “review anomalies for charging for on-street parking spaces on Bridge Road (Wembley), Preston Road and on the Park Royal Industrial Estate”. He reminded the Committee that, at their meeting in March 2011 they delegated authority to the Head of Transportation to implement pay and display parking controls at identified sites subject to appropriate consultation arrangements being followed and the identification of funding for implementation. He advised that the report was being presented now because of the significant number of non-vexatious objections to the proposals for Bridge Road and Preston Road.
Tim Jackson drew members’ attention to the following pertinent issues:
(i) They (free short term bays) represented an inconsistency since motorists parking in those bays did so free of charge whilst they would be charged at generally similar locations elsewhere (outside and within CPZs).
(ii) The inconsistency could be argued as being contrary to the Council’s general policy of encouraging the use of more sustainable transport modes and discouraging non-essential car journeys
(iii) Enforcement was resource intensive coupled with generally a low level of compliance with the one hour maximum stay and hence their purpose is undermined.
To overcome the above issues, proposals introducing pay and display controls in both Preston Road and Bridge Road and side roads where free short term parking bays exist were developed. If introduced, motorists would have to pay to park in these bays from Monday to Saturday between 8am and 6.30pm in Preston Road and side roads and from Monday to Saturday between 9.30am and 4.30pm in Bridge Road and side road. He continued that the proposals had generated a number of objections and drew members’ attention to the representations and the analysis of responses as set out in the report.
Tim Jackson recommended the Committee to approve implementation of the proposals at both locations. He added that the responses to the consultation identified that an opportunity existed to encourage use of the Preston Road car park, in a way that would not be contrary to the Council’s wider strategy on sustainable use as well as address a number of concerns in relation to the vitality and viability of Preston Road as a local centre and that this was covered within the recommendations. He also recommended that officers work with representatives of the local community on measures to increase awareness and use of the car park and to explore opportunities to adopt a pilot charging regime in the car park that could further support activity in Preston Road and could be considered for introduction in all town centre car parks.
Mr Bill Kemp, Chair of Preston Amenities protection Association (PAPA) stated that the proposal to introduce pay and display as set out in the report would have an adverse impact on local businesses and employment. He added that the present arrangement that allowed free 1 hour parking encouraged motorists to stop and shop, thus adding to the vitality of the area. He continued that if members were minded to agree to the proposals then any surplus of income over expenditure should be applied towards improving parking facilities.
Councillor HB Patel on behalf of Brent North Conservative Association in reference to the 3 reasons put forward to justify the introduction of pay and display in the Preston Road and Bridge Road areas stated that there were no inconsistencies in the current arrangement that worked perfectly in those areas. He added that the answer to the issue of resource requirement was the recruitment of traffic wardens. Councillor HB Patel continued that there was a clear and overwhelming rejection to the proposals by residents and businesses as the scheme was revenue driven and would cause parking displacement. He urged the Committee to reject the proposals.
Mr Robert Dunwell speaking on behalf of QARA submitted that the issues raised as a result of the consultation and the resulting petition which contained in excess of 2,700 signatures had not been fully addressed in the report. He urged the Committee to retain the existing arrangement and not to agree the proposal to introduce pay and display in the Preston Road and Bridge Road as the scheme would be detrimental to the regeneration of Brent.
Mr Stephen Dennison representing Wembley Park Traders’ Association submitted that the proposal would adversely impact on traders and local residents. He added that there was no evidence to support the claims that the proposal would encourage sustainable transport and resource intensiveness for enforcement of the present arrangement. He continued that the proposal for pay and display failed to consider the impact on businesses in the areas and that its implementation should be considered only after a full consultation. In urging members to reject the proposal, Mr Dennison questioned the consultation process and added that the proposal would contravene the Government’s Localism Bill and adversely affect the traders.
Mr Simon Gurevitz in objection to the proposal expressed a view that it would constitute indirect discrimination and adversely impact on the predominantly Jewish population in the Preston Road area whilst they attended the local synagogue and the Learning Tree Centre. He did not think that adequate consultation, full assessment of the diversity impact and the financial implications of the proposed pay and display had been undertaken. Mr Gurevitz did not accept the claim that the current arrangement was resource intensive and urged members to reject the proposed pay and display.
Mr Michael Maurice, a local resident expressed his concerns about the effect that the removal of the free parking bays on Preston Road would have on the local community. He added that within the current economic climate, the shopkeepers who provided good, friendly services were struggling to keep their businesses viable. He continued that as Preston Road was equidistant from two supermarkets namely Asda (Wembley Park) and Sainsbury’s (Kenton) both of which provided free parking, the proposed pay and display would drive customers away from the Preston Road area to the supermarkets with the resultant loss of local businesses, employment and revenue (business rates) to the Council.
Mr Maurice added that instead of standardising parking arrangements, the council should modify its policies to suit local needs and consider the Preston Road area as a secondary shopping parade that required locally suitable parking arrangements. He suggested to the Committee to consider schemes similar to those available in neighbouring boroughs which allowed free parking for either ½ hour or 1 hour pay and display, if they were parking for a longer period. For the above reasons, Mr Maurice urged members to re-consider the proposal for pay and display in the Preston Road area.
Mr Prakash Raja speaking in a similar vein added that the proposal would have an adverse impact on the local businesses which were already operating on tight margins. He expressed doubts on the financial implications of the proposal did not add up.
Councillor Shafique Choudhary, member for Barnhill ward stated that the retention of the present arrangement for free parking was essential to the viability of the local businesses. He added that the proposal would adversely impact on businesses in the Preston Road and Bridge Road areas. Councillor Choudhary urged members to reject the proposals.
Councillor Harrison, member for Preston ward expressed her concerns about the reasons put forward to support the proposed pay and display in the Preston Road and Bridge Road areas. She expressed doubts about measures to encourage motorists to use the car park in Preston Road. Councillor Harrison considered that the proposal would drive potential customers away from the Preston Road area to Asda (Wembley Park) and Sainsbury’s (Kenton) both of which provided free parking to their customers, with serious consequences for the local shops.
Councillor Hossain, Preston ward echoed the sentiments expressed by Councillor Harrison, emphasising the serious adverse impact on the local shops.
During members’ discussion Councillors Jones and Beswick asked the Head of Transportation to comment on the views expressed by the objectors to the proposal. Councillor Powney asked the officer to comment on the financial models and whether Preston Road was being treated differently from other shopping centres within the Borough.
In response, the Head of Transportation stated that the Council had a policy of charging uniform rates for parking in pay and display bays throughout the Borough regardless of whether the bays were inside or outside of CPZs. He continued that the consultation process that took place in June 2011 was consistent with the arrangements approved by the Highways Committee and drew members’ attention to the responses received from residents and businesses. He advised members that an equality impact assessment had been made and set out in full in the report.
RESOLVED:-
(i) that, having given proper consideration of the matters raised by way of objections and representations summarised in Section 6 and Appendices 2 and 3 and discussed in detail within the report, and in the context of the policy and other reasons set out in the report and the Equality Analysis, approval be given to the introduction of schemes of pay and display parking in Preston Road and Bridge Road (and adjacent side roads), as described in the report;
(ii) that the proposal to undertake a review of the operation of the scheme(s) no later than 12 months after their implementation and present the outcomes of that review to the Committee upon completion of that review Committee be noted;
(iii) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to give priority to working with the lead member, ward members, and others representing local residents and businesses, to (i) identifying and introducing measures to improve awareness and use of the Preston Road car park and (ii) to explore opportunities to pilot a charging regime in that car park that would further increase use of the car park and the vitality of businesses in Preston Road and could be considered for introduction in all town centre car parks.
Supporting documents:
- Short term parking Preston Road & Bridge Road, item 8. PDF 140 KB
- Bridge Road P&D consultation, item 8. PDF 131 KB
- Preston Road P&D, item 8. PDF 186 KB
- Short term parking Appendix 2, item 8. PDF 85 KB
- Short term parking Appendix 3, item 8. PDF 38 KB
- Preston Road and Bridge Road PD Appendix 4 - EIA, item 8. PDF 507 KB