Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2019/146

Contact: Hugh Potter, Team Leader – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by the Interim Director for Community Operations (CMDE4).

New Controlled Parking Zones (CPZs) are being proposed across Oxford to address parking pressures for residents due to commuter parking. In addition to the difficulties residents face in finding a parking place, such excess parking demand can result in the roads (in particular near junctions), footways and accesses being obstructed by parked vehicles to the detriment of road safety and the movement of pedestrians, cyclists and other road users including the emergency services.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve  the proposals as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the Hollow Way North area, but to review specific suggestions for minor adjustments as raised in the consultation responses as noted in paragraphs 11 and 17 of the report CMDE4.

Approved.

Noting that there would continue to be monitoring of parking particularly in the Cranmer Road area where there was significant student parking and an opportunity to extend the scheme to evenings. Part of the monitoring would need to gauge impact on limited daytime where there could be more parking evenings and weekends regarding problems of displacement

Following approval by the Cabinet Member for Environment in June 2018 and April 2019 of a programme of  new CPZs in Oxford she now considered (CMDE4) responses to a formal consultation to introduce a new CPZ in the Hollow Way North area.

Stephen Creed (resident of Cranmer Road/Hollow Way). Since the opening of Parade Green in James Wolfe Road there had been persistent parking of student cars in Cranmer Road at various times including overnight and weekends.  On occasion his driveway had been blocked.  Also, his car tyres had been slashed in December along with about 4 student cars being similarly damaged. There was also the noise disturbance from cars doors slamming in the late evening as students parked their cars. He considered the proposed CPZ hours for Cranmer Road (9am-5pm Mon-Fri) insufficient as it would still allow students to park in Cranmer Road in the evenings, overnight and weekends. The existing problem in Cranmer Road would also be exacerbated further because Cranmer Road only had daytime restrictions, whereas nearby roads James Wolfe Road, Hundred Acres Close and other roads had evening, overnight and weekend restrictions and only allowed permit holders in the evening and overnight (6.30pm-8am - 7 days week).  That would cause significant displacement of student parking onto Cranmer Road exacerbating the existing problem in Cranmer Road.   Students would also be able to park overnight in Cranmer Road but not other roads. One of the roads with these overnight restrictions was Hundred Acres Close which was approximately the same distance from the Parade Green main entrance as Cranmer Road. So it seemed to him sensible for Cranmer Road to have the same restrictions. As he was likely to pay for a permit anyway (for 9am-5pm) then the CPZ hours might as well be extended in Cranmer Road to evening, overnight and weekends and he asked for this to be considered.

Responding to the Cabinet Member officers confirmed that the situation in Cranmer Road could be monitored and if appropriate included in a later consultation.

Councillor Brighouse expressed her concern over student parking with their cars used predominantly for recreation left sometimes for weeks.  She had been disappointed with the level of response to the consultation but confirmed a number of residents had been in touch with her supporting implementation as soon as possible and before September.  She empathised with Mr Creed but felt many residents would speak against that change.  There was a high multi occupation in this area with upwards of 1200 students and it needed to be monitored carefully.

The Cabinet Member acknowledged the points made by Mr Creed and echoed the point by Councillor Brighouse on the desirability for priority implementation. 

Other written representations had been received from:

Darryl Ross who saw no need to implement a controlled parking zone for Hollow Way north. The majority of residents had voted against this proposal and if there was a problem at all from increased traffic or parking it was due to the increased number of  ...  view the full minutes text for item 23