Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/015

Contact: Hugh Potter, Group Manager – Area Operations Hub Tel: 07766 998704

Report by the Interim Director for Community Operations (CMDE5).

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 Cowley Marsh area, noting that local consultations may be carried out in respect of changes to proposals for part of Barracks Lane and also in respect of minor changes to proposals for no waiting at any time restrictions.

Approved but that properties on Cowley Road itself will also be eligible for permits on the same basis as those proposed for those properties on the side roads included in this CPZ

Also noting:

·      Further discussions with Barracks Lane and Elder Stubbs Charity Allotment Groups regarding arrangements to include the possibility of issuing visitor permits and eligibility of Cowley Road residents.

·      Advice from officers that it was considered that as correct procedures had been used when progressing this scheme that, therefore, a complaint lodged against this scheme should not hold up implementation.

Following approval in June 2018 and April 2019 of a programme of new CPZs in Oxford, the Cabinet Member for Environment considered (CMDE5) responses to a formal consultation on a new CPZ in the Cowley Marsh area.

Steve Malton a resident spoke in favour of a CPZ in this area. It was not uncommon to have to park over 100m from your own property, or to have to do 3 or 4 laps of the block before a space became available. Residents were parking on blind corners or across driveways, as there was simply no space available although that had improved slightly due to the absence of students due to the ongoing Covid situation.  Having reviewed other responses he had seen that a number of people had stated that they saw no issue with parking while noting that the majority of those respondents lived at the more southern end of the proposed zone - Bhandari Close, Morris Crescent, etc. While he had no doubt that they genuinely saw no issue in their area, he hoped they would also acknowledge that there were genuine issues in areas adjacent to the existing zones such as sections of Cricket Road and Ridgefield Road north of Howard Street, which lay adjacent to two existing zones, and needed this CPZ to prevent both commuter parking and spillover from the other zones. While the areas of the zone further away might not see problems now, should they be excluded from a new zone, those issues would quickly move to those areas.  Others had objected to permits even though they had dedicated parking. As you will be aware, permits are not required for parking on land that is part of the residents' own property, so I hope the concerns of these residents can be met.  He believed the creation of a CPZ in this area would make it less attractive as an informal park and ride for commuters; reduce the number of cars brought in by residents of HMOs and encourage residents just inside the boundary of adjacent zones to obtain their own permits and use the zone where they lived. Finally, he sought assurances that new subdivisions, and existing subdivisions made without planning permission, be excluded from permit entitlement.

Judith Harley spoke on behalf of the Elder Stubbs Charity who owned the allotment site adjacent to Bhandari Close, within the Cowley Marsh Area proposed CPZ. As there was no parking provision within the site allotment holders and employees parked in Bhandari Close and Cricket Road. They opposed the proposals as no provision had been made for allotment holders or employees or contractors and, if approved, as advertised would make it difficult for them and others to park near to the allotments, especially during evenings and weekends, or for longer daytime periods and as many allotment holders were elderly and often needed to transport equipment and materials to the site they needed to park close by. The proposals for Bhandari Close and Cricket Road would particularly  ...  view the full minutes text for item 24