Agenda item

9.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report outlining objections received to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROS) associated with school keep clear markings and waiting restrictions outside Carfield, Meersbrook Bank and Hunters Bar Schools.

9.2

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)

resolves that the TRO for Binfield Road be implemented with the amended times;

(b)

resolves that the TRO for Argyle Road be implemented with the amended times be made but not all bays be marked out and the proposal for extending the double yellow lines on Argyle Road be dropped;

(c)

resolves that the TRO at Cowlishaw Road be implemented as advertised;

(d)

requests that the objectors be informed accordingly; and

(e)

requests investigation of double yellow lines on a section of Argyle Close.

9.3

Reasons for Decision

9.3.1

A resident had made comment about the advertised time when School Keep Clear markings would operate outside Meersbrook School on Binfield Road. Reference was made to loss of parking for residents if the marking operated at all times. Officers therefore recommended that the times of the no parking restrictions be reduced to Monday to Friday 8.00am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4.00pm, so that outside those hours, parking would be available for residents.

9.3.2

Several residents of Argyle Road raised objections to the proposal to introduce limited waiting opposite their homes. A meeting was held with residents on site on 27 February. Following this and discussion with ward members officers proposed that the times be reduced to Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 9.30am and 2.45pm and 3.45pm with a maximum stay of 15 minutes, so that outside those times, parking would be available for residents. In addition, the length of the proposed limited waiting be reduced so that there was more unrestricted parking available for residents.

9.3.3

A resident at Cowlishaw Road objected to the introduction of waiting restrictions on Cowlishaw Road at Hunters Bar School, as it would cause acute parking problems. Cowlishaw Road currently formed part of the Sharrowvale Residents Parking Scheme and as such, was already subject to parking restrictions along most of its length. This current scheme aimed to introduce a TRO at an existing keep clear marking. It would also change existing markings at the junction with Kirkstall Road, where the combined keep clear and double yellow lines would be replaced with double yellow lines with a loading ban. Both of these proposals would make the markings more enforceable and help to reduce congestion and increase visibility at the busy T junction.

9.3.4

Having considered the objections to the introduction of TROs at the three schools in the South Community Assembly area officers considered that the reasons set out in the report outweighed the objections but accepted that the hours of operation should be reduced for Meersbrook School and Carfield School.

9.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.4.1

In this circumstance, the proposed TRO was the best solution to congestion and parking problems which had existed for a number of years. Until the TRO was in place, the markings could not easily be enforced by Parking Services officers. No alternatives had therefore been considered.

9.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

9.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

1.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

1.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

9.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report outlining objections received to proposed Traffic Regulation Orders (TROS) associated with school keep clear markings and waiting restrictions outside Carfield, Meersbrook Bank and Hunters Bar Schools.

9.2

Kristina Irwin attended the meeting to make representations on behalf of 12 residents of Argyle Road. She commented that many residents had children who attended Carfield School and the road safety problems in the area were readily apparent. The school had over 550 pupils and the entrance was on Argyle Close. There was a traffic warden on Argyle Road but no supervision on Argyle Close. There was a clear danger to pedestrians and children when people tried to drive up Argyle Close which would then mean they had to make a dangerous manoeuvre to come back out of Argyle Close. Residents believed that the measures proposed ignored the main priority which was to stop people driving up Argyle Close to drop their children off. Residents didn’t believe parking bays on Argyle Road were the solution as they believed people would still attempt to drive up Argyle Road. They would also actually help to increase the problems as other car users may not park further away and walk to the school if they believed a parking bay may be free on Argyle Road. She submitted a 55 signature petition calling on the Council to resolve traffic problems in the area and requested that everyone work together to resolve the problems.

9.3

Ward Councillor Cate McDonald commented that she shared many of the views of local residents and agreed that one of the biggest problems was people using Argyle Close to drop their children off. She had worked with the school and the Police to try and resolve the problems. She suggested that, although she supported the recommendations at this stage, the possibility of extending the double yellow lines on Argyle Close should be investigated to tie in to future Traffic Regulation Orders.

9.4

John Bann commented that the comments made highlighted the problem officers had in that people had different views in respect of a solution to the problems. There had been a proposal to extend the double yellow lines on Argyle Close but this had been rejected by a number of residents although this could be included in a future Traffic Regulation Order should the proposal now be supported.

9.5

Members commented that they supported the recommendations at this time but requested a review of the operation of the scheme be undertaken in 3 months time at the end of the academic year.

9.6

RESOLVED: That the Committee:-

(a)

resolves that the TRO for Binfield Road be implemented with the amended times;

(b)

resolves that the TRO for limited waitingon Argyle Road be implemented with the amended times be made but not all bays marked out and the proposal for extending the double yellow lineson Argyle Road be dropped; and a review of the scheme be undertaken in three months time at the end of the academic year;

(c)

resolves that the TRO at Cowlishaw Road be implemented as advertised; and

(d)

requests that the objectors be informed accordingly.

9.7

Reasons for Decision

9.7.1

A resident had made comment about the advertised time when School Keep Clear markings would operate outside Meersbrook School on Binfield Road. Reference was made to loss of parking for residents if the marking operated at all times. Officers therefore recommended that the times of the no parking restrictions be reduced to Monday to Friday 8.00am to 9.30am and 2.30pm to 4.00pm, so that outside those hours, parking would be available for residents.

9.7.2

Several residents of Argyle Road raised objections to the proposal to introduce limited waiting opposite their homes. A meeting was held with residents on site on 27 February. Following this and discussion with ward members officers proposed that the times be reduced to Monday to Friday between 8.30am and 9.30am and 2.45pm and 3.45pm with a maximum stay of 15 minutes, so that outside those times, parking would be available for residents. In addition, the length of the proposed limited waiting be reduced so that there was more unrestricted parking available for residents.

9.7.3

A resident at Cowlishaw Road objected to the introduction of waiting restrictions on Cowlishaw Road at Hunters Bar School, as it would cause acute parking problems. Cowlishaw Road currently formed part of the Sharrowvale Residents Parking Scheme and as such, was already subject to parking restrictions along most of its length. This current scheme aimed to introduce a TRO at an existing keep clear marking. It would also change existing markings at the junction with Kirkstall Road, where the combined keep clear and double yellow lines would be replaced with double yellow lines with a loading ban. Both of these proposals would make the markings more enforceable and help to reduce congestion and increase visibility at the busy T junction.

9.7.4

Having considered the objections to the introduction of TROs at the three schools in the South Community Assembly area officers considered that the reasons set out in the report outweighed the objections but accepted that the hours of operation should be reduced for Meersbrook School and Carfield School.

9.8

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

9.8.1

In this circumstance, the proposed TRO was the best solution to congestion and parking problems which had existed for a number of years. Until the TRO was in place, the markings could not easily be enforced by Parking Services officers. No alternatives had therefore been considered.