ITEM CMDT4
CABINET MEMBER FOR TRANSPORT – 17 JULY 2008
DISABLED PERSONS’ PARKING PLACES – VALE OF WHITE HORSE DISTRICT
Report by Head of Transport
Introduction
1. This report considers the proposed provision of new Disabled Persons’ Parking Places (DPPPs), the formalisation of existing “advisory” DPPPs and the removal of DPPPs that are no longer needed in the Vale of White Horse District following the publication of the draft Oxfordshire County Council (Vale of White Horse District excluding the Parish of North Hinksey) (Disabled Persons’ Parking Places) (Amendment No.3) Order 20**.
Background
2. The increasing demand for parking in Oxfordshire can lead to particular difficulties for disabled people who need to park close to their homes or place of work. The County Council may provide a DPPP on a public road where there is a need.
3. On 7 December 2004 the Executive agreed to rationalise policy with regard to disabled parking which included proposals to adopt a uniform approach to be implemented throughout the County. Previously in Oxfordshire (as opposed to Oxford City) disabled parking was provided by the use of advisory bays. These bays are marked up on the ground but no disabled sign plate is provided and, as they do not appear in a Traffic Regulation Order, are not enforceable. A review of these DPPPs is being carried out across Oxfordshire to ensure they are still required and those that are will be formalised. It will then be possible to enforce them. At the same time, new requests for DPPPs are considered.
Procedure
4. A fact sheet listing the criteria required to qualify for a DPPP is available in the Members’ Resource Centre. A primary condition for qualification is that the applicant has to be a Blue Badge holder. Applicants have to complete a detailed application form and provide a copy of their driving licence and vehicle registration documents to prove that both the driver and the vehicle owner are resident at the address where the DPPP is requested.
5. The site is then assessed by a Highways Inspector to see if a DPPP is feasible. If it is, informal consultation is carried out with various authorities, such as the Emergency Services. If no comments are made, formal consultation is commenced. This report considers comments in respect of the DPPPs referred to in paragraph 1 received at the formal stage.
Formal Consultation
6. The Directorate sent a copy of the draft Amendment Order, a Statement of Reasons for the Order and a copy of the Public Notice appearing in the local press to formal Consultees on 7 May 2008. These documents, together with supporting documentation as required, and plans of all the DPPPs were deposited for public inspection at County Hall, the main office of the Vale of White Horse District Council and Abingdon, Faringdon, and Wantage Libraries. They are also available for inspection in the Members’ Resource Centre.
7. Separately, the Directorate wrote to local residents in each area where the proposed new and formalised DPPPs would be sited asking for their comments. The Directorate also wrote to local residents in areas where it is proposed to remove existing DPPPs that are no longer required. Plans showing the location of each of the bays are available for inspection in the Members’ Resource Centre. A table showing all the bay proposals is shown at Annex 1 (download as .doc file).
8. Comments were received in respect of the proposed DPPPs in Parsons Mead, Abingdon; Pye Street, Faringdon; and Maiden’s Close, Watchfield.
9. Comments were received in respect of the proposed formalisations of the informal DPPPs in Finmore Close, Radley Road, St John’s Road, Swinburne Road, and Tennyson Drive, Abingdon and Courtenay Road, Wantage.
10. A synopsis of each comment with an officer response is set out at Annex 2 (download as .doc file). Copies of the responses can be viewed in the Members’ Resource Centre.
11. The only statutory Consultee to comment was Thames Valley Police Traffic Management Unit who advised that they had no objections to the draft order.
Recommended Changes to the Proposals
12. The following are locations where it was proposed to provide new DPPPs or formalise existing DPPPs but as a result of consultation it is recommended they should not now proceed, or should only proceed if certain conditions are met, or the location should change:-
(a) Proposed new DPPP outside 7 Pye Street, Faringdon – there are a number of Blue Badge holders locally because this is an area of sheltered housing. The applicant now appreciates more fully that she might have to share the proposed DPPP with a number of other users and would have difficulty parking should the bay be occupied. She has decided not to give up her rented garage and has withdrawn her application. It is recommended that the proposal does not proceed.
(b) Proposed new DPPP at Maiden’s Close, Watchfield – the applicant and spouse rent a garage in a block nearby from the Housing Association. They have been advised that they would need to give this garage up should the proposal be approved. As they have not advised that they will comply with this despite several requests, it is recommended that the proposal does not proceed unless confirmation is received from the Housing Association that they no longer rent a garage.
(c) Proposed formalisation of DPPPs at St John’s Road, Abingdon – the original proposal was to extend the length of the bay outside No 11 to 6.6 metres to comply with DfT regulations. However, as a result of comments from residents and the disabled users of the two existing informal DPPPs, a second consultation was carried out into fresh proposals to combine the two into one long 11.5 metre bay, large enough for two cars. This will free up more space for able bodied residents to park while still allowing room in the DPPP for two cars. It is recommended that the new proposal, which has the agreement of all the residents in the immediate vicinity, is progressed
(d) Proposed formalisation of DPPP in Tennyson Drive, Abingdon - since the publication of the proposal to formalise this bay the applicant has informed us that the family has recently decided to move and their property is on the market. In the circumstances it would not make sense to formalise the existing informal DPPP for what is likely to be a relatively short period. It would be preferable to leave the bay as informal and remove the markings when they move. It is recommended that the proposal does not proceed.
(e) Proposed formalisation of DPPP in Courtenay Road, Wantage – in response to comments from two residents, Social and Community Services advise that the current disabled resident who uses the informal bay only has a 1 year Blue Badge which expires in September 2008. The disabled resident has since been re-diagnosed as suffering from a degenerative condition, so it is possible the badge will be renewed as a 3 year one. It would be best if the bay is left as informal and if the badge is not renewed, the markings can be removed. If the badge is renewed for 3 years this can be dealt with as a fresh application for a formal DPPP outside the applicant’s house. The applicant is in agreement with this and it is recommended that the proposal does not proceed.
All the other proposals are recommended to go ahead as advertised.
How the Project supports LTP2 Objectives
13. The introduction of new DPPPs will help in Delivering Accessibility by enabling disabled people to park near to their homes and thus access a wider range of services.
14. Removal of DPPPs that are no longer required will improve the street environment by reducing sign clutter and result in better management of parking. Financial and Staff Implications (including Revenue)
15. The cost of installing the DPPPs is approximately £6,000 and will be met from the existing revenue budget provided for these.
RECOMMENDATION
16. The Cabinet Member for Transport is RECOMMENDED to authorise variations to the Oxfordshire County Council (South Oxfordshire District) (Disabled Persons’ Parking Place) (Amendment No 2) Order 20** as amended in this report to provide for:
(a) five new DPPPs as set out in Annex 1 to this report;
(b) one new DPPP in Maiden’s Close, Watchfield provided that the condition set out in the report is met;
(c) the formalisation of fourteen existing advisory DPPPs as specified in Annex 1 to this report; and
(d) the removal of 2 DPPPs as detailed in Annex 1 to this report.
STEVE HOWELL Head of Transport Environment & Economy
Background papers: consultation documentation
Contact Officer: Mike Ruse, Tel 01865 815978
July 2008
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