Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/115

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545/Jim Whiting, Principal Officer – Parking Tel: 07584 581187

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM5).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a package of parking restriction amendments developed in discussions with local members and residents’ groups within Iffley. The restrictions proposed for Mill Lane aim to address ongoing concerns from local residents regarding vehicles parking for Iffley Lock causing an obstruction to the road and access for emergency vehicles. The proposals developed for Iffley Turn are in response to concerns regarding commuter parking close to the junction and pedestrian crossing points with Henley Avenue. A restriction to prevent HGV and Coach parking during the day has also been included within the proposals to deter inappropriate vehicles for the road parking for long periods and in response to local concerns raised with Councillors, restrictions around a sharp bend on Tree Lane are proposed to ensure road safety is maintained.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve a package of parking restriction changes for the Iffley area which includes:

a)        Mill Lane – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions, with minor amendments to the advertised proposals to accommodate feedback from residents.

b)        Tree Lane – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions as advertised.

c)        Iffley Turn – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions and timed HGV/coach parking ban as advertised.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management considered (CMDHM5) responses received to a statutory consultation on a package of parking restriction amendments developed in discussions with local members and residents’ groups within Iffley. The restrictions proposed for Mill Lane were aimed at addressing ongoing concerns from local residents regarding vehicles parking for Iffley Lock and causing an obstruction to the road and access for emergency vehicles. The proposals developed for Iffley Turn were in response to concerns regarding commuter parking close to the junction and pedestrian crossing points with Henley Avenue. A restriction to prevent HGV and Coach parking during the day had also been included within the proposals to deter inappropriate vehicles for the road parking for long periods along with restrictions around a sharp bend on Tree Lane to ensure road safety was maintained.

Paul Pemberton presented a petition on behalf of 19 residents of Mill lane opposing the measures. The vast majority in the area thought that yellow lines were not the answer and while access wasn’t perfect, which was the case in much of East Oxford, as lock keeper he was not aware of problems of access for emergency vehicles. That he felt had been greatly exaggerated with the issue instead centring on a small number of residents who experienced access problems to their properties. The scheme in its current form was completely disproportionate to the size of the problem and also inaccurate as the width of the highway had changed following clearance and removal of vegetation so on that basis alone he considered the scheme needed to be revisited. Iffley was a conservation area and these proposals would have a considerable impact on that status. Personally he did not think the scheme was necessary although many of his neighbours acknowledged the merits of a much reduced scheme focussing on the pinch point at the northern end of Mill Lane but no one agreed with lining on the southern end by the church where no one parked anyway with many residents on Church way concerned about more cars parking there as a result of the restrictions on Mill Lane He urged the Cabinet Member to reject the proposals and ask for a reconsultation on a smaller and more proportionate scheme which he would be happy to assist with.

John Mclintock a resident of over 40 years and seen numerous changes to the area including an increase in the number and size of parked cars. That had been one of the reasons why he supported the proposals today along with the recommendation that these lines should be of the narrow variety used in Conservation Areas. The support of the Friends of Iffley Village for the recommendations was also significant as was the fact that while the report contained the views of over 40 people there were only a few comments from Mill Lane residents as they had been confident that the scheme would go ahead and had felt no need to comment.  Much had been said about the problem in relation to access for emergency vehicles which was in his view one of the main reasons for supporting the double yellow lines proposed for Mill Lane and while some had commented that lining did not enhance the Conservation Area neither did so many parked cars. He walked along Mill Lane most days and drove along it couple of times a week and those who said there was no parking problem clearly did not pass down it very often.  With badly parked vehicles on most days which would prevent emergency vehicles passing and over the years there had been several occasions when ambulances had to be left at the junction of Mill Lane and Church with paramedics having to walk to treat someone and carry them back to the ambulance wasting valuable time.  The problem was particularly bad at weekends in the afternoons, especially during good weather. On a personal and less vital issue many residents often experienced access problems to their properties. He hoped that this current proposal would be approved without any reduction in the amount of double yellow lines while supporting more lining on that part of the road between the walk to the lock and the corner at the Church end.

Councillor Brad Baines spoke in support of the proposals. Thanking county officers, City Councillor colleagues and the local community for their work in developing the scheme he acknowledged that parking in Iffley village was a complicated issue requiring difficult balances but these proposals were needed in order to protect the unique character of the village while maintaining safety on these narrow roads. Residents would be particularly relieved to see the HGV restrictions which prevent Iffley Turn being used as a de facto HGV layby.

The Cabinet Member noted a written representation from the Friends of Iffley Village which, while recognising that the central issue, particularly in relation to Mill lane was access for emergency vehicles and general road safety had offered the following comments:

1) In relation to Mill Lane the major issues were poorly parked cars and access to Iffley Lock for Emergency vehicles and Mill Lane residents. The proposals would address the access and safety issues while preserving limited parking, thus reducing the danger of displacement onto neighbouring streets but there were concerns about the type of yellow lines in a Conservation Area.

2) The Iffley Turn proposals. While there was concern about the large buses/lorries which often parked there restricting access and about safe child-crossing areas especially at school times, there was also concern that the proposal maybe somewhat excessive and particularly in relation to schoolchildren crossing could be addressed by a pelican crossing and that extensive restrictions would have a knock-on effect on the east side of Iffley Turn and neighbouring streets where there was already evidence of overflow parking from Iffley Turn.

3) Regarding concern about cars parking and speeding round the corner of Stone Quarry Lane into Tree Lane, was again thought somewhat excessive and that the same issue could be addressed by broken white lines and either a stop or warning sign.

4) Concern about excessive street furniture in a Conservation Area suggesting that any approved should be of the narrow muted cream-yellow type.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management knew the area well and the speakers along with the written representation had clearly highlighted the complicated issues involved.  He agreed that yellow lines in a conservation area while not everyone’s preferred choice were on balance better than parked cars.  Therefore, having regard to the information set out in the report before him and the representations made to him at the meeting he confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve a package of parking restriction changes for the Iffley area to include:

a)        Mill Lane – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions, with minor amendments to the advertised proposals to accommodate feedback from residents.

b)        Tree Lane – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions as advertised.

c)      Iffley Turn – Introduction of No waiting at any time restrictions and timed HGV/coach parking ban as advertised.

Signed……………………………………..

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

Date of signing……………………………