Agenda item

Report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place)

To consider the above petition, bearing 63 signatures, which is being supported by Councillor Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for consideration of this item along with the petition organiser.

The Cabinet Member considered a report of the Deputy Chief Executive (Place) concerning a petition, bearing 63 signatures, which was being supported by Councillor Bailey, a Cheylesmore Ward Councillor, who attended the meeting along with the petition organiser Karen Band and they spoke on behalf of the petitioners. The report had been requested by the petition organiser following the receipt of the determination letter. The petitioners were requesting changes to the existing residents’ parking/ limited waiting restrictions on Michaelmas Road and the introduction of a 20mph speed limit.

The report indicated that Michaelmas Road was a straight road connecting Warwick Road to Stoney Road. A location plan was set out at an appendix to the report. In 2011 a scheme was introduced which prevented right turns into and out of Michaelmas Road at its junction with Warwick Road, this reduced the volume of traffic using the road as a cut through and was installed as part of the mitigation measures proposed in the Section 106 Agreement relating to the Frairgate development.

Michaelmas Road was also part of the Cheylesmore West Residents’ Parking scheme. The restrictions on Michaelmas Road were shared use parking bays, which were residents’ parking Monday to Saturday 8am-6pm (CW permits) and limited waiting of 30 minutes, no return within 3 hours during the same Monday to Saturday period. The Cabinet Member noted that the shared use bays were introduced due to the proximity of King Henry VIII school, providing the opportunity for people to park safely whilst collecting and dropping off their children, but prevented all day parking. 

The determination letter had advised of the importance of targeting road safety measures in the city. A review of Michaelmas Road showed no injury collisions had been recorded in the last three years, so the location didn’t meet the criteria for the introduction of a safety scheme. Since the petitioners were concerned about speeding, they had been advised of the Community Speed Watch initiative and provided with the relevant contact details.

The petitioners were also advised that there were no proposals to introduce a separate parking zone for Michaelmas Road residents or to reduce the 30 minute waiting time for non-residents during the time the restriction operates. Parking surveys had been undertaken, at different times during the day, which showed that there were spaces available. However, misuse of the permits would be monitored and additional measures, including changes to the permit registration process coupled with the use of an ANPR enforcement car, would be introduced to help detect permit misuse and improve the effectiveness of enforcement. A copy of the determination letter was set out at a second appendix.

The petition organiser reported on the misuse of visitor permits in the area and referred to the parking concerns of local residents informing that the parking situation was likely to get worse with any future developments at Friargate. Reference was also made to inconsiderate drivers when dropping off and picking up school pupils. 

Councillor Bailey informed how the 30 minute waiting time was being abused with uber drivers parking in the shared use parking bays. He also referred to the misuse of parking permits.

Officers reported further on the pilot scheme being undertaken to deal with the misuse of parking permits and how this could be extended to Michaelmas Road and the surrounding roads in due course. It was agreed to use a vehicle active sign on the road to deter speeding vehicles. 

RESOLVED that:

(1) The concerns of the petitioners be noted.

(2) It be endorsed that the actions confirmed by determination letter to the petition spokesperson (as detailed in paragraphs 1.6, 1.7 and 1.8 of the report) are undertaken.

(3)  Approval be given to the use of a Vehicle Activated Sign on Michaelmas Road.