Agenda item

5.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report setting out the proposed response to objections received to the advertised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to introduce parking restrictions at three locations for small highway schemes being promoted by the former Central Community Assembly.

5.2

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Chesterwood Drive, Broomhill, be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-1, introduced;

(b)

consideration be given to extending the Broomhill Permit Parking Zone to include Chesterwood Drive;

(c)

discussions be held with Ashdell School in respect of implementing a Travel Plan to improve parking in the area;

(d)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Orchard Road, Walkley be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-2, introduced, subject to removing the proposal for the double yellow lines next to 90 Orchard Road;

(e)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-3, introduced on a stage by stage basis beginning with the double yellow lines on the corner of the junction of Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley;

(f)

the Traffic Regulation Order, as amended, be made in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(g)

all the respondents be informed accordingly.

5.3

Reasons for Decision

5.3.1

The Traffic Regulation Order for the schemes included in this report was considered necessary to introduce parking restrictions at each of the locations with a view to resolving problems which had been brought to the attention of the City Council.

5.3.2

Local Ward Councillors and officers had given due consideration to the views of all the respondents in an attempt to find acceptable solutions. The recommendations were considered to be a balanced attempt to address residents’ concerns and aspirations.

5.3.3

It was agreed to remove the proposal for double yellow lines on the north east side of the road next to 90 Orchard Roadas it was believed that this would lead to increased parking problems in the area and was not necessary.

5.3.4

It was agreed to introduce the double yellow lines on Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley on a staged basis as it was felt that the impact of each stage should be assessed before deciding whether the next stage was necessary as a number of residents perceived the full restrictions unnecessary and would create additional parking and safety problems in the area. Consultation would take place with local Ward Councillors at each stage to decide if further restrictions should be implemented.

5.4

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

5.4.1

These schemes had been designed to meet local needs/priorities as identified by former Community Assembly members. The proposals put forward were considered to deliver the required outcomes to resolve the problems which had been brought to the attention of the former Assembly.

5.4.2

These schemes had since been amended, where necessary, to try to address the concerns raised by residents/businesses.

5.5

Any Interest Declared or Dispensation Granted

None

5.6

Reason for Exemption if Public/Press Excluded During Consideration

None

5.7

Respective Director Responsible for Implementation

Simon Green, Executive Director, Place

5.8

Relevant Scrutiny and Policy Development Committee If Decision Called In

Economic and Environmental Wellbeing

5.1

The Executive Director, Place submitted a report setting out the proposed response to objections received to the advertised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) to introduce parking restrictions at three locations for small highway schemes being promoted by the former Central Community Assembly.

5.2

Mr Fraser Hartley, a resident of Chesterwood Drive, attended the Session to make representations to the Cabinet Member. He commented that a number of residents had originally requested the installation of double yellow lines on Chesterwood Drive as the pavement was unusable. This situation had now improved, however, and double yellow lines were no longer needed. The issue was commuters using Chesterwood Drive to park all day. Consideration should be given to introducing a permit parking scheme for residents.

5.3

Ash Connolly, a resident of Fulwood Park Mansions, commented that he believed the proposals would cause more problems in the longer term. There was already limited parking on Chesterwood Drive and could lead to the blocking of residents garages amongst other things. The residents were not the problem and this would punish them further. A more effective solution would be a residents parking scheme and a 30 minute short stay parking around the school.

5.4

In response, Stan Collier, Senior Technician, commented that the scheme took into consideration residents objections. It was believed that there was a need to protect part of Chesterwood Drive with restrictions. The area adjacent to the entrance to Nos.1-6 Fulwood Park Mansions would be kept clear for parking.

5.5

John Bann, Head of Transport, Traffic and Parking Services, added that there was only a small budget for Permit Parking Schemes but consideration could be given to including Chesterwood Drive in the Broomhill Permit Parking Zone.

5.6

Mr Hayden Fields attended the Session to make representations to the Cabinet Member in relation to the Orchard Road proposals. He commented that the majority of residents were elderly and with mobility issues and often had district nurses visiting so it was important that they had places to park. A Residents Parking Scheme was more appropriate and this view was supported by a local Ward Councillor.

5.7

Kirsty May, a resident of Walkley Road, commented that she did not believe parking was a major issue and the proposals would create parking problems as many residents would have no alternative but to park on Walkley Road.

5.8

John Bann reported that the request for double yellow lines had been received from a local Ward Councillor who had informed officers that there was a problem in the area.

5.9

Councillor Leigh Bramall, Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development, commented that he could see that parking was a problem in the area but believed that, taking residents comments into account, a compromise solution could be agreed where only part of the Order would be implemented.

5.10

In respect of the Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley scheme, Alec Gibbons attended the Session to make representations to the Cabinet Member. He stated that there had been no road traffic collisions in the area in the last 8 years so safety concerns were not an issue. If the restrictions were agreed residents would have to park in other areas and this would create problems in those areas. There had been no complaints from the emergency services or Veolia that their vehicles had not been able to get down the road.

5.11

Mr Gibbons further commented that the parked vehicles actually helped to improve safety as they slowed cars down who used the road. He believed that the issues stated in the report did not exist and a petition, signed by 71 people, against the proposed parking restrictions showed that residents did not back the proposals.

5.12

Mrs Gleadall, a local resident, commented that she believed that there was a problem in the area. There had been a lot of damage caused to parked cars because of the narrowness of the road. 62 people had signed a petition stating that some restrictions were needed and the reduction in the restrictions from that originally proposed was the best compromise for all.

5.13

Alex Thompson, a resident of Fern Road, stated that the proposals would lead to extra parking problems in the area. He said that one of the signatories to the petition had removed their name as they had originally believed that the proposals involved some physical measures. He considered that the proposals were not needed and the Cabinet Member should not approve them.

5.14

In response John Bann commented that the majority of those who had signed the petition against the proposals were not residents of Fern Road or Welbeck Road. He accepted the point that the parked vehicles helped to slow traffic down but some parking would still be allowed.

5.15

Councillor Bramall commented that he believed there was a need for some of the restrictions proposed and resolved that the order be approved but that it should be implemented on a staged basis to assess the impact in the area.

5.16

RESOLVED: That:-

(a)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Chesterwood Drive, Broomhill, be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-1, introduced;

(b)

consideration be given to extending the Broomhill Permit Parking Zone to include Chesterwood Drive;

(c)

discussions be held with Ashdell School in respect of implementing a Travel Plan to improve parking in the area;

(d)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Orchard Road, Walkley be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-2, introduced, subject to removing the proposal for the double yellow lines on the north east side of the road next to 90 Orchard Road;

(e)

the objections to the proposed traffic regulation for Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley be upheld, in part and the revised proposals as shown in the plan included in appendix E-3, introduced on a stage by stage basis beginning with the double yellow lines on the corner of the junction of Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley;

(f)

the Traffic Regulation Order, as amended, be made in accordance with the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984; and

(g)

all the respondents be informed accordingly.

5.17

Reasons for Decision

5.17.1

The Traffic Regulation Order for the schemes included in this report was considered necessary to introduce parking restrictions at each of the locations with a view to resolving problems which had been brought to the attention of the City Council.

5.17.2

Local Ward Councillors and officers had given due consideration to the views of all the respondents in an attempt to find acceptable solutions. The recommendations were considered to be a balanced attempt to address residents’ concerns and aspirations.

5.17.3

It was agreed to remove the proposal for double yellow lines on the north east side of the road next to 90 Orchard Roadas it was believed that this would lead to increased parking problems in the area and was not necessary.

5.17.4

It was agreed to introduce the double yellow lines on Fern Road/Welbeck Road, Walkley on a staged basis as it was felt that the impact of each stage should be assessed before deciding whether the next stage was necessary as a number of residents perceived the full restrictions unnecessary and would create additional parking and safety problems in the area. Consultation would take place with local Ward Councillors at each stage to decide if further restrictions should be implemented, with the decision delegated to the Head of Transport, Traffic and Parking Services in consultation with the Cabinet Member for Business, Skills and Development.

5.18

Alternatives Considered and Rejected

5.18.1

These schemes had been designed to meet local needs/priorities as identified by former Community Assembly members. The proposals put forward were considered to deliver the required outcomes to resolve the problems which had been brought to the attention of the former Assembly.

5.18.2

These schemes had since been amended, where necessary, to try to address the concerns raised by residents/businesses.