Agenda item

Report ES16046

Following concerns from residents and Ward Members, a number of Penge roads have been identified with parking problems and informal consultation was undertaken on the level of support for local permit parking. A parking scheme for a road would only be considered where a majority of residents in the road considered it had a parking problem or might be adversely affected by a proposed scheme nearby. 

The consultation indicated that a majority of residents in a number of roads supported permit parking (i.e. Crampton Road, Kingswood Road, Phoenix Road, Lucas Road, Southley Street, Raleigh Road, Cottingham Road, Kingsdale Road and Kenilworth Road) and to progress a parking scheme it was intended to formally consult residents in those roads, particularly as a petition against any form of permit parking for a number of the roads had been received in 2011. Formal consultation would detail proposed changes, costs, Controlled Parking Zone times, location of bays, waiting restrictions (yellow lines) and local amendments for the scheme’s objectives.

For a number of other roads across the area, informal consultation indicated conflicting views on the need for permit parking, including a small majority against in St Johns Road, Wordsworth Road, and Royston Road, and a small majority supportive in Station Road, Torr Road, and Clevedon Road. Views from Barsons Close residents indicated an equal number in support and against. Further consultation would include a number of such roads providing mixed feedback; any scheme might directly impact residents and cause displacement, creating other issues that could impact views. 

Parking permits are not supported by residents of Penge Lane, Mosslea Road, Queen Adelaide Road, Montrave Road, Westbury Road and parts of the High Street, Penge as few parking problems are experienced. The roads would therefore be excluded from any scheme at this time.

A scheme would also need to consider other road users given the close proximity of Penge High Street and ensure that commuter parking is not displaced to other roads. As a result, additional Pay and Display parking is likely to be needed.

Welcoming the review, and supporting recommendations in Report ES16046, Cllr Peter Fookes (Penge and Cator) highlighted the level of consultation response, preferring to see a higher level of feedback in future consultations. Thanking officers for work to date, Cllr Kevin Brooks (Penge and Cator) highlighted that not all residents in the area were aware of the likely £80 cost of a parking permit operating in excess of four hours or for all day use. 

Members were advised that the consultation questionnaire was bland in order to gauge views on whether parking is a problem in Penge roads. Should a majority of residents in a road consider parking a problem, more detail on a proposed scheme could be provided in a second, more formal, consultation. Historically, response levels to consultations had been low, and a response rate above 20% was considered reasonable. The rate of response had not improved significantly with online consultation. The Portfolio Holder welcomed any Ward Member input on the wording of questions for the second consultation and a further report would be brought to the Portfolio Holder via the Committee following the further consultation. 

A Member questioned whether the roads listed at paragraph 4.7 of Report ES16046 should be excluded from any scheme design as they appeared to be in the centre of the proposed scheme area. For residents in roads not expressing parking concerns, the Portfolio Holder suggested a further communication listing roads where it was intended to proceed with a scheme and highlighting the potential for parking displacement. The Head of Traffic and Road Safety saw no difficulty in going back to residents on this basis. The Portfolio Holder felt that a scheme should be progressed in roads such as Kenilworth Road where there is a clear majority in support. But in other cases with a small majority/minority, the Portfolio Holder implied that residents should be approached again as there might be specific reasons for the views of residents e.g. possible parking in Royston Road associated with the nearby Citroen dealership. Although this would amount to a re-consultation, the Chairman suggested that no scheme plans are drawn up for roads having no overall support e.g. those roads at paragraph 4.7 of report ES16046 but should there be parts of such roads where residents would like a permit scheme it was suggested that this be considered.

RESOLVED that the Portfolio Holder be recommended to agree that:

(1)  Crampton Road, Kingswood Road, Phoenix Road, Lucas Road, Cottingham Road, Kingsdale Road, Southey Street and Raleigh Road be further consulted on the possibility of a Controlled Parking Zone for the area with the required plans showing the proposed changes; 

(2)  Torr Road, Wordsworth Road, St Johns Road, Station Road, Barsons Close and Lucas Road are also further consulted with appropriate plans on the possibility of a Controlled Parking Zone / permit parking scheme being implemented;

(3)  Clevedon Road and Royston Road be further consulted on the possibility of a permit parking scheme also being implemented, given the likely introduction of a Controlled Parking Zone to Kenilworth Road and other adjacent roads within the area;

(4)  any minor adjustments to the consultation to be delegated to the Executive Director of Environment & Community Services with the input of Ward Members and the agreement of the Portfolio Holder; and

(5)  further to the formal consultation to be carried out, any scheme suggested for implementation be scrutinised by the Environment PDS Committee.