Agenda item - Preston Park Triangle Informal consultation

Report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing (copy attached).

1.                  That the Committee authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to progress, with the exception of the section of Preston Drove between Preston Road and Harrington Villas (eastern kerb line)an extension to the Area J London Road station (North) residents parking scheme as set out in this report to the final design stage.

2.                  That the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to publish statutory notices of the necessary traffic orders to implement the proposed scheme to allow formal representations to be made.

94.1         The Committee considered a report of the Executive Director of Environment, Development & Housing that presented the results of a consultation for a proposed residents parking scheme in the triangle roads between Preston Drove and Stanford Avenue.

94.2         In his presentation of the report, the Programme Manager explained that the report recommendations proposed to exclude Preston Drove, the reasons for which were set out in paragraph 5.32.  However since publication of the report, officers had received a large number of representations requesting Preston Drove is included if the rest of the scheme went ahead. Many of those representations asserted that it was not made clear in the consultation that this road could be excluded if residents voted against. The Programme Manager explained that 32 emails had been received from separate households in Preston Drove requesting its inclusion, 29 of those were from numbers 129 eastwards, all in Preston Park ward and 3 are from the southern side of Preston Drove between Preston Park Avenue and Beaconsfield Villas, again all in Preston Park ward. A further three emails were also  from the Tennis club and club members asking for Preston Drove in whole or part, to be excluded from the scheme. The Programme Manager added that Ward Councillors for Preston Park ward had also requested an amendment proposed to include that part of Preston Drove that is within their ward boundary. Furthermore, one of the three ward councillor for the area in Withdean ward had requested inclusion in the scheme with the other two ward councillors against. The Programme Manger explained that there were many advantages to inclusion of this area benefits to local businesses, road safety benefits and uncontrolled parking retained for visitors to the Tennis Club. Possible disadvantages included a possible increase in parking in uncontrolled parking locations in the area. The Programme Manager explained that due to the high number of representations to the proposals and the advantages aforementioned, it was his professional judgement that recommendation 2.1 be amended to include a section of Preston Drove. The amended recommendation is shown in bold italics below:

2.1              That the Committee authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to progress, with the exception of the section of Preston Drove between Preston Road and Harrington Villas (eastern kerb line)an extension to the Area J London Road station (North) residents parking scheme as set out in this report to the final design stage.

94.3         Councillor Davey noted there had been an empathic response from residents with 66% of the high number of respondents in favour of the scheme. Councillor Davey added that whilst the original proposals were well intended, it was clear from correspondence received from residents that it would be pragmatic to support the inclusion of the section of Preston Drove identified in the amended officer recommendation.

94.4         Councillor Theobald stated that in 2010 he assured residents that he would not support any further controlled parking schemes as there were already too many. Councillor Theobald added that his position remained the same and he did not support the proposals.

94.5         The Chair put the recommendations, as amended, to a vote.

94.6         RESOLVED-

1.                  That the Committee authorises the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing to progress, with the exception of the section of Preston Drove between Preston Road and Harrington Villas (eastern kerb line)an extension to the Area J London Road station (North) residents parking scheme as set out in this report to the final design stage.

2.                  That the Executive Director Environment, Development & Housing be authorised to publish statutory notices of the necessary traffic orders to implement the proposed scheme to allow formal representations to be made.