Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/090

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

Report by Director for Community Operations (Interim) (CMDE7).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce and amend waiting restrictions on Browning Drive, Bicester where parking - in particular by commuters – is resulting in road safety and access problems for residents.  The proposals were considered at the Cabinet Member for Environment delegated decisions meeting on 21 May as part of a larger group of proposed waiting restrictions in Bicester which had been put forward following discussions and site meetings with officers and the local members. While the other proposals were approved at that meeting, a decision on the proposals for Browning Drive and Kingsley Road was deferred to allow further investigation and investigation.

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposed waiting restrictions on Browning Drive and Kingsley Road as advertised.

Approved

Review after 6 months with report back to the Cabinet Member for Environment.

The Cabinet Member for Environment considered a report (CMDE7) presenting responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce and amend waiting restrictions on Browning Drive, Bicester where parking - in particular by commuters – is resulting in road safety and access problems for residents.  The proposals had been considered at the Cabinet Member for Environment delegated decisions meeting on 21 May as part of a larger group of proposed waiting restrictions in Bicester which had been put forward following discussions and site meetings with officers and the local members and while the other proposals had been approved at that meeting, a decision on the proposals for Browning Drive and Kingsley Road had been deferred to allow further investigation.

County Councillor Les Sibley considered the need for on street parking restrictions in Browning Drive, Bunyan Road and Kingsley Road in Bicester as urgent as it was patently evident that inconsiderate and dangerous parking of vehicles at the T junctions created a hazardous and dangerous situation for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. The report stated that an objection had been received that the parking restrictions would adversely affect residential parking in Kingsley Road but he pointed out that there were no residential parking facilities in this road.   The CO-OP HGV vehicle which delivered twice a day to the local store was an ongoing traffic and parking issue that needed to be resolved as the vehicle when it parked by the bus stop/post box in Kingsley Road to load and off load blocked the entrance to either the car park at the front of the shops or the car park to the rear. This ongoing situation was a potential safety hazard for motorists, cyclists and pedestrians. Drivers of local buses had also complained about inconsiderate and dangerous parking of vehicles at both T junctions as it caused visibility and other safety issues. Thames Valley Police had not objected indicating that without traffic restrictions in place they were unlikely to prosecute an offending motorist. Bicester Town Council supported the traffic regulations requesting that yellow lines are enforced. Local Bicester Town and County Councillors also supported the proposal.

He understood the concerns from some residents that introduction of double yellow lines might lead to issues of displaced parking and should the recommendation be agreed then a review should be undertaken following completion of the signage and lines to address any issues that might arise. 

Rachael Shaer a resident of Browning Drive expressed concern over a fundamental error in regard to the Browning Drive Waiting Restriction Proposal as it stated that ‘The proposal was to introduce and amend waiting restrictions on Browning Drive where parking – in particular by commuters – is resulting in road safety and access problems by residents.’  That was not true and was very misleading as there was no commuter parking! Commuter parking insinuated cars were parked all day whereas the parking that happened in the proposed area on Browning Drive was all short term.  She added that she had  ...  view the full minutes text for item 6