To consider a report by the Executive Director of Place.
Minutes:
The Committee considered a report
by the Director of Place which explained that, following the advertising of
proposed implementation of parking restrictions in Pony Drive in Upton,
objections had been received to the proposals. Consequently, the Committee was
now being asked to give consideration to those
objections and decide whether the proposals should be implemented as advertised.
The waiting restrictions on Pony Drive, Upton were seen to be necessary as a result of unregulated parking that was causing
congestion and safety issues.
With the aid of a visual
presentation, officers explained the reasoning behind the need to impose
the waiting restrictions and the basis on which the objections received had
been made. Photographs and plans were shown to the Committee by way of
illustration. These showed where the proposals would be situated, the character
of the roads and their setting within the town in that Pony Drive lead to a
residential area, situated opposite a free car park that was used predominantly
for walkers using Upton Country Park, there being another pay and display car
park in an easterly direction approximately three hundred metres from Pony
Drive.
What was being proposed was
designed to improve the safety situation and congestion being caused by
unregulated parking on or near the junction of Pony Drive and Poole Road.
Objections received considered that
the new proposals would serve to disenfranchise those residents who wished to,
or needed to, park on street or visitors to them and the inconvenient this
would cause.
When the public consultation
completed, those objections raised enabled Dorset Council to consider a revised
proposal which could well better accommodate residents and visitors – this
being ‘No Waiting Between the Hours Of 9.00am and 5:00pm’ The views of Lytchett Minster & Upton
Town Council and Local Councillors were sought on this. However, they
confirmed their decision to
continue to support the original proposal.
Two of the local Ward Members for
Lytchett Matravers and Upton – Councillors Alex
Brenton and Bill Pipe - supported the proposals, as did the Town Council, as
mentioned previously
Officers
acknowledged that whilst the changes would not necessarily be universally
welcomed, on balance, they were considered to be
beneficial and, on that basis, were now being recommended for approval as
advertised.
Notwithstanding the objections
received, the wider community had seemingly accepted the proposals, so they
were now being recommended to be implemented on that basis.
Of some consideration was that the
Upton House, BCP managed car park had recently started charging for its use
that this had seemingly coincided with and exacerbated the issues being seen on
Pony Drive, with displaced parking needs being met there instead. It was felt
that the Upton House car park could be better utilised with improved signage,
its proximity to the house and in being more convenient.
The implementation of a ‘No Waiting
at any Time’ restriction along sections of Pony Drive would address the issue
of inconsiderate and potentially dangerous parking whilst improving access at
junctions for large vehicles including refuse vehicles, delivery vehicles and
emergency service vehicles. The downside to this proposal was that, during
non-peak hours, the restriction would still be active thus restricting
residents possible parking opportunity.
The revised proposal after the public
consultation for the implementation of the ‘No Waiting between 9am and 5pm’
restriction along sections of Pony Drive, would also address the issue of inconsiderate
and potentially dangerous parking whilst improving access at junctions for
large vehicles including refuse vehicles, delivery vehicles and emergency
service vehicles.
The limited time restriction might well
ensure that availability for residents to park in the evening and overnight on
the road was available, if required. The downside to this proposal was that
after 5pm, when the restriction ended, the junctions and areas where parking
would cause visibility and traffic flow issues would be unprotected.
Officers considered that the Implementation
of yellow lines would help enforce no parking around junctions or opposite
junctions and increase visibility when emerging from Pony Drive. The revised
proposal was put forward for consideration after feedback was received from
residents during the public consultation stage. The proposed single yellow line
could enable residents parking options if required between the hours of 5pm
until 9am thus addressing concerns raised about safety and opportunity to park
on the highway if required by visitors and residents. This would however leave
the identified disruptive and possibly dangerous areas exposed when the
restriction ends.
Having considered all the responses received
and proposed an alternative restriction to Local members and Lytchett Minister
and Upton Parish Council, officers conclude that both proposals had equally
balanced advantages and disadvantages. As a result, officers considered it
appropriate to recommend proceeding with the proposal as originally supported
by the Parish Council and local members rather than leave the situation as
existing.
The majority of the Committee supported this
stance, however a minority of members asked what prospect there was of some
sort of hybrid measures being implemented that would both satisfy the issue of
the congestion being experienced and the residents’ parking needs and concerns.
The solicitor explained that such provision would require a readvertisement of
measures from scratch - as it had not be proposed or considered before – and, in
that event, might not necessarily progress given the need for the support of
the Town Council in its advancement. Even if this was to be the case, then
local public opinion might well again be
divided, all of this taking some considerable months to progress, whereas what
was being proposed was seen to be necessary to be implemented now to address
the issues identified.
Having had the opportunity to discuss the
merits of the proposal and an
understanding of all this entailed; having taken into account the officer’s report
and presentation; the written
representations; and what they had heard at the
meeting, in being proposed by Councillor Alex
Brenton and seconded by
Councillor Mike Dyer, on being put to the
vote, the Committee agreed - by
9:2 - to be minded to accept the recommendation as set
out in the officer’s report.
Resolved
1)That the waiting restrictions proposed for
Pony Drive Upton be implemented as advertised and that a TRO be made to that
effect
2)That the Cabinet and/or the Portfolio Holder
for Highways, Travel and Environment - be authorised to endorse this decision.
Reason for Decision
To regulate parking in the interests of road
safety and the free flow and passage of vehicles.
Supporting documents: