Agenda item

Report of the Director of Transportation and Highways

To consider the above petitions, bearing 10  signatures which is being supported by Councillor Blundell, a Wainbody Ward Councillor, who has been invited to the meeting for the consideration of this item along with the petition organiser.

The Cabinet Member for City Services considered a report of the Director of Transportation and Highways, which responded to a petition requesting a barrier along 377a Green Lane, at the junction with Daleway Road.  The petition was supported by Councillor J Blundell, a Wainbody Ward Councillor, who, together with the Petition Organiser, attended the meeting and spoke on behalf of the petitioners. 

The petition submitted contained 10 signatures and in accordance to the City Council’s procedure for dealing with petitions, those related to on street parking are heard by the Cabinet Member for City Services.  The Cabinet Member had considered the petition in advance of this meeting and requested that the petition be dealt with by a determination letter rather than a formal report being submitted to a meeting, to be able to deal with the matter more efficiently.  On receipt of the determination letter, the petition organiser advised that he wanted the issue to be considered at a Cabinet Member for City Services meeting.

The report indicated that Daleway Road is a residential road off Green Lane, opposite Finham Primary School.  A location plan was appended to the report.  The determination letter, which was appended to the report, advised that there are existing double yellow lines that prohibit waiting on the pavement and road and that the Council would not propose an extension of the existing pedestrian guard rail, which is already more extensive than at many similar locations.  Civil Enforcement Officers increased patrols at the school and further visits were made before the end of the summer term.

Councillor Blundell and the Petition Organiser explained that the petition had been raised due to irresponsible parking in the area.  Cars were not only parking on the double yellow lines, but parking half across the pavement at school time.  There is also a pharmacy at the location and there have been issues with people accessing the pharmacy.  In addition, drivers have been sitting in their cars with their engines running to keep the driver cool.  It was highlighted that although the Council have been asking parents to move away from school entrances in order to reduce air pollution in the vicinity of the schools, this has not been happening.  The Petition Organiser drew to the Cabinet Member’s attention a recent publication by Francis Crick regarding the impact of air pollution and highlighted that additional fencing on the junction would move cars away from the school without major roadworks and would also deal with the air pollution.

Officers responded to clarify that double yellow lines cover both the road and the pavement and are subject to enforcement action.  It was accepted that running engines can have a negative impact on the area and it was recognised that, unfortunately, this is not uncommon outside schools.  Work is undertaken with schools directly to ensure that they reinforce the issues raised by advising parents not to park on double yellow lines and to turn engines off.

The Cabinet Member sought clarification that the school has put in place the usual measures to reduce the impact of vehicles on residents.  Officers confirmed that in terms of restrictions, the school have keep clear markings directly outside of the school on Green Lane.  The double yellow lines were included on Daleway Road to give protection, not just because of the junction, but also the proximity to the school.  The school also have bollards on the pavement.  Whilst some schools locate bollards on the kerbside, it was not felt that this would resolve the issue on Green Lane.

Councillor Blundell indicated that he had been advised that the ANPR car which travels around schools for enforcement purposes was unable to go to Finham Primary School as the traffic orders at the school are not the same as in other locations.  Officers responded that they were not aware of such difficulties and understood that the ANPR car could be deployed in the area but agreed to investigate with Parking Services.

The Shadow Cabinet Member, Councillor Heaven, requested a discussion outside of the meeting regarding the issue of car engines left idling as this is against the law.

The recommendation within the report was for the Cabinet Member for City Services to endorse the actions set out within the determination letter.  However, having heard from the Petition Spokesperson and Councillor Blundell, the Cabinet Member indicated that, rather than agree the recommendation in the report, she would undertake a site visit with officers to assess the situation in the area and would request that Enforcement Officers continue to make regular visits.

RESOLVED that, the Cabinet Member for City Services, agreed to undertake a site visit to assess the impact of parking and idling vehicles in the area and to request that Enforcement Officers continue to make regular visits.