Agenda item
Petition for changes to CPZ restrictions in vicinity of Howard Road Mosque
- Meeting of Highways Committee, Tuesday 18 December 2012 7.00 pm (Item 6.)
- View the background to item 6.
This report informs the Committee of a petition requesting a review of the controlled parking zone surrounding the Mosque in Howard Road NW2.
Decision:
(i) Noted the contents of the petition and the issues raised.
(ii) Instructed the Head of Transportation to work closely with representatives of the Mosque, residents and business representatives, local members and lead member in identifying opportunities that mitigate the impact of traffic to the area without compromising the Council’s policies and obligations.
(iii) The main petitioner be informed of the outcome of the Highways Committee decision in regard to this matter.
Minutes:
Members considered a report on a petition requesting a review of changes to controlled parking zone restrictions in the Howard Road area to enable Muslim worshippers to use empty parking bay in the area. The petition which was addressed by Councillor Hashmi stated as follows;
We the undersigned petition Brent Council to review the Controlled Parking Zones surrounding the Mosque in Howard Road to assist worshippers to use currently empty parking bay spaces in the wider area.”
Councillor Hashmi informed the committee that, working with officers, the mosque had identified potentially 150 empty car parking spaces in the wider area which could be used by the worshippers to alleviate parking problems on Friday afternoons only. He added that the trustees of the mosque were currently working on the travel plan which had been requested by officers. He continued that the mosque which had been in the area since 1976 had not caused problems to the local residents.
Paul Chandler, Head of Transportation confirmed that officers had worked closely with the trustees of the mosque and surveys undertaken had shown that potentially additional 150 car parking spaces could be made available. He continued that the Mosque had been requested to provide officers with data on travel arrangements for worshippers (number of car borne visitors, travel choices) so as to enable officers to understand the demand and estimate impacts. To date no information had been received. Members heard that although there was potential for further parking provision, it was not possible to predict how future growth in numbers of vehicles to the area would impact on local congestion.
The Head of Transportation informed members that the provision of additional parking was likely to encourage more car-borne trips to the Mosque, which could increase congestion and place greater burden on local street parking. He added that simply extending the current Friday parking arrangement to the streets shown in the survey would not necessarily mitigate the impact of relatively large numbers of visitors attending the Mosque on Fridays, and may potentially increase car use and local congestion by increasing parking availability.
In the discussion that followed members emphasised the need for officers to receive the travel plan from the trustees of the Mosque so as to be able to assess how far worshippers can be encouraged to use alternative means to access the mosque. They pointed out that in addition to good public transport network in the area, arrangements could be made to use the car park facilities at B & Q, Matalan and Wickes shops. In accepting the recommendations, members stated that a working party comprising of officers, local members, residents and business representatives, the lead member and the Mosque representatives should review the current arrangements and consider opportunities for reducing car dependency that satisfy all parties without compromising Council policies and obligations in reducing congestion and managing the network.
RESOLVED:
(i) that the contents of the petition and the issues raised be noted;
(ii) that the Head of Transportation be instructed to work closely with representatives of the Mosque, residents and business representatives, local members and lead member in identifying opportunities that mitigate the impact of traffic to the area without compromising the Council’s policies and obligations;
(iii) The main petitioner be formally informed of the outcome of the Highways Committee decision in regard to this matter.
Supporting documents: