Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/195

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545 / Vicki Neville, Technical Officer, Parking Management Tel: 07917 921437

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM6).

Following the implementation of a Controlled Parking Zone in Headington Quarry in February 2021, as part of the planned monitoring of the operation of the scheme, officers have been requested by the local member to consult on localised amendments to address issues raised by local residents. The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to introduce and amend no waiting at any time restrictions on parts of Gladstone Road, Trinity Road & Quarry High Street, and to provide additional 2-hour parking places for non-permit holders at Green Road, Pitts Road & Trinity Road.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to:

a)        Approve the removal of ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Gladstone Road outside No. 4.

b)        Not approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Gladstone Road outside No. 35

c)        Approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) as advertised on the Northern side of Trinity Road outside No. 21

d)        Not approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) on the Southern side of Trinity Road.

e)        Not approve the proposed ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Quarry High Street & Bushnell Close.

f)          Approve the proposed ‘Two-hour parking bays (No Return in 2 hours) Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm’ as advertised on Green Road, Pitts Road & Trinity Road but that consideration is given as part of any future amendment Orders to increase the time limit if required.

Following the implementation of a Controlled Parking Zone in Headington Quarry in February 2021 and as part of the planned monitoring of the operation of the scheme, officers had been requested by the local member to consult on localised amendments to address issues raised by local residents. The Cabinet Member for Highway Management considered (CMDHM6) responses received to a statutory consultation to introduce and amend no waiting at any time restrictions on parts of Gladstone Road, Trinity Road & Quarry High Street, and provide additional 2-hour parking places for non-permit holders at Green Road, Pitts Road & Trinity Road.

Maurice Daly spoke on behalf of the owner of Quarry Motoring Centre (QMC) a family run business which had been serving the local and wider community for more than 35 years. During that time they been able to rotate customer vehicles between the forecourt and Green Road for service, repair, or MOT servicing on average between 30-35 cars per/day with a maximum of six cars on the highway at any given time. However, introduction of the CPZ had prevented this leading to a reduction in its turnover of 25% with the loss of two full time members of staff in the past quarter. Despite the difficulties thrown at the business over the past 20 months, the garage had remained open throughout the pandemic servicing hundreds of vehicles owned by key workers all whilst small and medium sized businesses had received grants, assistance through changed and amended traffic orders while the owner of this business had been told pre-consultation, that ‘no’ policies could in this case be changed to help his business survive.  The owner had asked the County Council many months before consultation to discuss and try to identify possible solutions but, unfortunately, no meaningful engagement had taken place, other than advising him to comment upon any amendments to the scheme when it was advertised but as the changes were made without prior consultation with him, or the business it presented nothing more than a ‘fait accompli’. It transpired that while daily permits at a cost of £1.00 per day were available to both hotels and guest houses, if required, the owner had been told that QMC could not be treated in the same way. It was difficult to see how such business (Hotels & Guest houses) could be treated as an ‘exception’ and ‘unique’ but different to Quarry Motoring Centre when the former group required permits for guests daily and whose customers need not bring their car to the premises whereas for the latter it was a necessary requirement for their customers to do that as without their vehicles coming with them QMC’s business could not exist or survive.  It was hoped that a possible solution might be put forward which, hopefully the Cabinet Member, would be able to support.

County Councillor Roz Smith reiterated her comments as set out in paragraph 12 of the officer report. However, regarding the issues raised on behalf of QMC motors. Using the highway in this way was within the gift of the County Council and clearly a 4 hour stay would help in this case and she asked whether such an extension could be introduced on 2 bays without the requirement for further consultation.

Officers responded that that request could be looked at but confirmed that any extension would require further consultation.

The Cabinet Member noted a written representation from City Councillor Chewe Monkonge suggesting that bays on Green Road be extended to four hours and lengthened. Thanking everyone for their comments and having regard to the information set out in the report before him together with the representations made to him at the meeting confirmed his decision as follows:

a)        approve removal of ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Gladstone Road outside No. 4

b)        not approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Gladstone Road outside No. 35

c)         approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) as advertised on the Northern side of Trinity Road outside No. 21

d)        not approve the proposed additional ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) on the Southern side of Trinity Road

e)        not approve the proposed ‘no waiting at any time’ (double yellow lines) in Quarry High Street & Bushnell Close

f)          approve the proposed ‘Two-hour parking bays (No Return in 2 hours) Mon-Fri 9am to 5pm’ as advertised on Green Road, Pitts Road & Trinity Road but that consideration is given as part of any future amendment Orders to increase the time limit if required.

Signed…………………………………………

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

Date of signing……………………………….