Agenda item

This report informs the Committee of a petition received from local businesses in the vicinity of the former Greyhound Public House on Harrow Road, Wembley, requesting the removal of a CCTV enforcement camera situated between Jesmond Avenue and Clifton Avenue.  The full text of the petition is set out in the report.

(i)            Noted the contents of the petition and the issues raised.

(ii)          Agreed that the the CCTV camera located between Jesmond Avenue and Clifton Avenue on Harrow Road be retained.

(iii)         Noted the trader’s concerns in relation to loading activities and instructed officers to proceed with the Option 2 scheme described in this report, which will increase available space for loading activity and amend existing traffic orders.

(iv)         Noted that progress of this scheme will be subject to securing capital funding through TfL, and that it will be subject to the outcomes of stakeholder and public consultation.

(v)          Agreed that objections or representations to the informal and statutory consultation be considered by the Head of Transportation under delegated authority, unless significant or substantial objections are raised, in which case the matter be brought back to the Committee.

(vi)         Agreed that the main petitioner be informed of the decision of the Highways Committee in regard to this matter.

Members considered a report that informed them about a petition received from local businesses in the vicinity of the former Greyhound Public House on Harrow Road, Wembley.  The petition requested the removal of a close circuit television (CCTV) camera situated between Jesmond Avenue and Clifton Avenue which was being used for enforcement of waiting and loading restrictions.

Paul Chandler, Head of Transportation noted that the key issue was that trade vehicles obstruct a bus stop whilst loading and unloading and had received a large number of PCNs as a result. There was clear evidence of this obstruction occurring and photographic evidence was shown to members. He went on to inform the Committee that at a meeting with local businesses, officers and members, the need to carry out enforcement and the appeals process was explained. The traders were also informed that penalty charge notices (PCN’s) were reviewed on a case by case basis in accordance with the requirements of the Traffic Management Act 2004 and, where enforcement was found not to be reasonable, PCN’s may be cancelled. As a result of a review of the PCNs, a small number of cases were found to be unreasonable and therefore cancelled. He continued that options for improving existing loading restrictions as set out in the appendices to the report were considered.

Option 1 would involve creation of a new lay-by approximately 22m long by 2.4m wide for loading, using a section of the footway outside the Greyhound Pub.  As this option would involve major alterations including utilities the estimated cost of its implementation would be £14,000.

Option 2 would involve extending the length of the lay-by that could be used for loading / unloading by shortening the length of the existing bus cage and would result in a  loading area of 28m, which would allow two 10m long goods vehicles to comfortably stand. This option which would not involve alterations to utilities would cost approximately £9,000.  Paul Chandler therefore recommended the adoption of option 2 which had clear advantages over option 1.

RESOLVED:

(i)           that the contents of the petition and the issues raised be noted;

(ii)          that the CCTV camera located between Jesmond Avenue and Clifton Avenue on Harrow Road be retained;

(iii)         that the trader’s concerns in relation to loading activities be noted and instruct officers to proceed with the Option 2 scheme described in the report as it would increase available space for loading activity and amend existing traffic orders;

(iv)         that progress of this scheme would be subject to securing capital funding through Transport for London (TfL), and that it would be subject to the outcomes of stakeholder and public consultation;

(v)          that objections or representations to the informal and statutory consultation be considered by the Head of Transportation under delegated authority, unless significant or substantial objections are raised, in which case the matter be brought back to the Committee;

(vi)         that the main petitioner be informed of the decision of the Highways Committee in regard to this matter.