Agenda item

Forward Plan Ref: 2020/078

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

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

In June 2018 and April 2019 the Cabinet Member for Environment approved a programme of new CPZs in Oxford to address numerous local issues and help support the delivery of wider transport initiatives across the City. This report presents responses to a formal consultation on a new CPZ in the Sandhills area.

The Cabinet Member for Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone (CPZ) in the Sandhills area.

The Leader of the Council considered (CMDE4) responses received to a formal consultation on a new Controlled Parking Zone in the Sandhills Area.

Councillor Glynis Phillips the local member spoke against approval of the   proposal as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone in the Sandhills area. She had been disappointed at the level of response from residents to the consultation but of those 43 (69%) were either opposed or strongly opposed to the proposal with only 14 in support. She suspected that the low response rate could be attributed to the large number of properties in Sandhills which had drives.  However, despite the low response the consultation had reached a clear outcome which should be respected. There was no point holding a consultation exercise if the outcome was then ignored and it would not be reasonable to impose charges on an area when only 14 people were supportive. She supported the objections from the residents in Green Ridges which had no road link to Sandhills, was in Barton with no parking problems and so would be wholly unreasonable to include it on the back of a Sandhills consultation.  The objectors, the majority of whom were residents not adversely affected by inconsiderate parking by people who parked in Sandhills to avoid the charges at the Thornhill Park & Ride, had queried the need for a CPZ.  A number of them considered that existing parking restrictions with extended double yellow lines in certain areas would be adequate given proper enforcement priority and they saw as the way forward for this area. The Cabinet Member for Environment had previously made it clear that there was no funding available to initiate CPZ consultations in Barton and Risinghurst so the risk of displacement parking from these areas was not imminent. Residents seemed aware of the risk in not becoming a CPZ now but on balance had decided by a considerable margin that they did not want Sandhills to become a CPZ.  Sandhills was effectively a cul de sac and she could not see its relevance on its own in a strategic plan for Oxford.  She asked the Leader of the Council to support the considered and strongly held views from Sandhills’ residents and not approve the proposal.

The Leader of the Council noted that written representations had been received from Risinghurst Parish Council who had resolved to support the outcome of the consultation which had been a clear majority against a CPZ in Sandhills.

A second submission from Neal Rupani a local resident who felt that the recommendation to approve the CPZ in Sandhills was unjust and unwarranted at this stage. There was a clear majority against on the grounds of lack of need and that residents would be penalised in paying to park their vehicles. The threat of displaced parking had not been based on evidence but had been an assumption and rather than adopt a blanket approach problems in specific roads could be addressed if and when that became an issue.  The number of visitor permits was too restrictive and no consideration had been given to the possible effect on house prices. Clearly there was no local support and, if approved, went against the primary function of regulation which was to protect.

Officers referred to the longer term strategic approach across Oxfordshire which was aimed at avoiding displaced parking.  Proposals were planned for  Barton & Risinghurst but there was no firm funding yet. With regard to issues of parking at school times then any specific issues could be looked at.

Councillor John Sanders endorsed Councillor Phillips’ comments and expressed surprise, in view of the objections raised to this in April 2019, that it had gone ahead.  He acknowledged the low response but what had been received had been clearly and heavily against the proposals.  At the very least it should be put on hold with implementation delayed to coincide with proposals for Barton & Risinghurst.

The Leader of the Council thanked everyone for their contributions.  He understood the concerns raised. The County Council was working with the City Council to improve the environment in Oxford and the CPZ programme formed part of the that and the Connecting Oxfordshire programme.  Therefore, having regard to the information set out in the report before him and the representations made to him at the meeting confirmed his decision as follows:

Approve the proposals as advertised for a Controlled Parking Zone in the Sandhhills area but defer implementation to try and align the Sandhills scheme with the introduction of a CPZ scheme for the Barton & Risinghurst area subject to funding being available for the latter and also confirming that should the Sandhills scheme be progressed as a separate issue then it should not include Green Ridges.

Signed………………………………………

Leader of the Council

Date of signing…………………………….