Agenda item

Report ES10112

At its meeting on 26^th July 2010 the Environment PDS Committee had scrutinised a proposed decision to approve proposals to improve on street parking in and around Orpington town centre following the completion of the Tesco store. There had been extensive public consultation, but a number of additional concerns had been raised by Ward Councillors, and the Committee had decided to recommend to the Portfolio Holder that the report be deferred for further consideration of displacement and provision of free bays, with the detailed comments of Ward Members being incorporated into the scheme wherever possible. 

The Portfolio Holder considered an updated report taking into account the comments made at the PDS committee meeting, and new plans were tabled. He had visited the area earlier in the day and now proposed additional recommendations (he also asked officers to ensure that Maltby Close was cleaned.)

Councillor Tony Owen, Ward Councillor for Petts Wood and Knoll, made comments in relation to his Ward. He supported the proposals to restore yellow lines in Lucerne Road, to take no further action in Novar Close, and to introduce pay and display in Mayfield Avenue near St John’s Church. He also suggested that more “free” bays should be provided in this area.

Councillor William Huntington-Thresher, Ward Councillor for Orpington, commented that he would support additional “free” bays in Bedford Road and Court Road. He reported that residents in Park Avenue supported the introduction of loner controlled hours in their road, but they did not feel that restrictions were necessary after 4.30pm or on Saturdays. In Felstead Road, he suggested taking the different one hour restrictions on each side of the road along the whole length. With these comments, he supported the proposals. He also pointed out that as only a few residents in Repton Road and Charterhouse Road had been consulted it was misleading to measure the percentage response against the total number of properties. 

In response to the comments about the controlled hours in Park Avenue, the Portfolio Holder pointed out that if there was no consistency about the hours across the area there was a risk that motorists would be confused and uncertain about where they could park. 

The Portfolio Holder recorded his thanks to Paul Nevard of the Environmental Services Department for his work on what was the largest parking consultation ever undertaken in the Borough, and to Councillor George Taylor for his assistance in developing the proposals during the previous Council year. 

RESOLVED that

(1)  Proposals for on street parking as described in paragraphs 3.9 to 3.12 of the report and the simplified permit system described in 3.22 to 3.25 of the report and shown on Drawing Numbers ESD-10539-2, proposals 1-24, be approved. 

(2)  Prior to the detailed design stage, the area be re-examined to identify any further flank wall parking that might be added.

(3)  Prior to the detailed design stage, the area be re-examined to determine whether additional “free” spaces can be found on any road which might serve to increase the available parking stock and assist in speed management, subject to any such bay not impeding the sightlines of any driveway or road junction.

(4)  The proposal to introduce a “Restricted Zone” in Orchard Green, Orpington be abandoned.

(5)  No action be taken in Novar Close at this time.

(6)  A final decision as to the nature of the restrictions to be applied within The Ridge and possibly Hilltop Gardens, Pound Court Drive, Pound Close and Darrick Wood Road be deferred for a cycle to consider further options.

(7)  Consideration be given to the possible conversion of existing Pay and Display bay to “free” bays in Vinson Close and Maltby Close to help minimise early morning movements of Post Office Staff in nearby side roads.

(8)  Ward Councillors representing Chelsfield and Pratts Bottom and Cray Valley East Wards be consulted to elicit their opinions as to what roads, if any, within their wards they believe might be at risk from possible displacement problems.

(9)  Any minor changes needed at the detailed design stage, including the addition or deletion of any other parking areas identified and the uniform nature of all-day waiting restrictions (0800 to 1830), be delegated to the Director of Environmental Services, in consultation with Ward Members and the Portfolio Holder.

(10)  The parking amendments be kept under review and any further changes necessary be delegated to the Director of Environmental Services, when the scheme is reviewed approximately six months after implementation.

(11)  A public meeting/exhibition be organised at the time of the final review to enable all interested parties a final opportunity to discuss and seek amendments to any aspects of the scheme concerning them.

(12)  A contingency sum of £10,000 be set aside for the review.