Agenda item

This report requests approval to advertise proposed amendments to the Traffic Regulation Order (TRO), required to introduce new restrictions. In addition, if there are no objections raised to the Statutory Consultation for proposals, approval is also requested to implement the amendments to the Traffic Regulation Order.

This provides the Council with the opportunity to progress the proposals to the Statutory Consultation for the amendment of the TRO, which is a legal requirement. The Statutory Consultation will allow for the Council to make a balanced decision on the implementation of any restrictions following representations made by all relevant stakeholders.

Resolved:   To approve the advertisement of the proposed restrictions set out in the report.

Each of the areas and reasons are detailed below.

1.      Osbaldwick Link Road:

Previously there were double yellow lines on Osbaldwick Link Road, these were removed, as it was considered they were no longer required due to the nature of the businesses and the available parking at each site. Following the redevelopment of some businesses off Osbaldwick Link Road and an increase in vehicle access to the sites, the issue of footpath parking started.

The proposed restriction will remove parking to the whole length of Osbaldwick Link Road.

2.      Murton Way in the direction of Murton Village:

The parking in this location is occurring on the verge and footpath and removing access to the footpath for pedestrians. There is footpath to only one side of the carriageway.

The proposed Clearway restriction from the end of the existing No Waiting restriction to the village of Murton will remove all parking, including on the footpath and verge (with additional text signage).

3.      Murton Way in the direction of Osbaldwick village:

During the previous consultation we received representations in support of the proposed restriction from residents, who also requested we extend the proposed No Waiting restriction (Double yellow lines) as the proposal would lead to vehicles parking close to the tactile crossing points and restrict visibility when exiting their driveways.

The proposed extension to the existing restriction will provide access to the tactile crossing points and improve visibility for pedestrians and vehicles using the Beckett Drive junction.

4.      Osbaldwick Village/Osbaldwick Lane:

Our Sustainable Transport team have reported bus access issues in the area of the junction of Osbaldwick Village and Osbaldwick Lane, including the straight section and round the bend of Osbaldwick Lane. They report the issues can be at all times of the day due to funerals/weddings at the church and parking opposite the church on Osbaldwick Lane.

The proposed No Waiting restriction (double yellow lines) will remove parking close to the junction and along Osbaldwick Lane. The Sustainable Transport team support the proposed restriction and have not reported access issues in any other location of the village.

The Traffic Projects Officer presented the report, noting that it had been previously agreed to remove the requirement to present requests at a decision session, leaving approval to advertise statutory consultation to the director, if impacted ward councillors agreed. He went on to discuss the recommended options (A-D) and the objection to the proposed received from Cllr Warters.

Addressing the non-recommended options, he noted that the option of an urban clearway would not allow for exemptions (such as weddings and funerals) in the way that double yellow lines did, and that while bollards would restrict parking in the bollarded area, this would merely lead to displacement of parking to other areas.

The Executive Member thanked officers, and recognised the frustrations raised by Cllr Warters and Osbaldwick Parish Council. She acknowledged that while the suggested urban clearway was more discreet than double yellow lines, there was a need to also recognise needs of bus traffic and legal parkers, blue badge holders, and people needing to access schools and churches, including for weddings and funerals. Parking restrictions would address problems of bus access, footway access and legitimate parking across all times of the day. She conceded that any solution would ultimately push parking further down the road.

The Executive Member asked officers whether the proposed Tranby Avenue Traffic Regulation Order was intended to be implemented at the same time as these changes. The Traffic Projects Officer responded that he believed so. The Executive Member suggested that if this was the case, the two sets of restrictions should be implemented at a similar time.

The Executive Member stated that enforcement would be key here; she emphasised that it was more straightforward to ensure successful enforcement of parking on double yellow lines. She stressed that this was not a decision intended to force residents to adopt ResPark, but to find a balance which ensured prioritised parking for blue badge holders, prioritised access for walkers and wheelers and access for public transport. She also suggested the decision would dissuade parking on verges.

Resolved:   To approve the advertisement of the proposed restrictions set out in the report.

Each of the areas and reasons are detailed below.

1.      Osbaldwick Link Road:

Previously there were double yellow lines on Osbaldwick Link Road, these were removed, as it was considered they were no longer required due to the nature of the businesses and the available parking at each site. Following the redevelopment of some businesses off Osbaldwick Link Road and an increase in vehicle access to the sites, the issue of footpath parking started.

The proposed restriction will remove parking to the whole length of Osbaldwick Link Road.

2.      Murton Way in the direction of Murton Village:

The parking in this location is occurring on the verge and footpath and removing access to the footpath for pedestrians. There is footpath to only one side of the carriageway.

The proposed Clearway restriction from the end of the existing No Waiting restriction to the village of Murton will remove all parking, including on the footpath and verge (with additional text signage).

3.      Murton Way in the direction of Osbaldwick village:

During the previous consultation we received representations in support of the proposed restriction from residents, who also requested we extend the proposed No Waiting restriction (Double yellow lines) as the proposal would lead to vehicles parking close to the tactile crossing points and restrict visibility when exiting their driveways.

The proposed extension to the existing restriction will provide access to the tactile crossing points and improve visibility for pedestrians and vehicles using the Beckett Drive junction.

4.      Osbaldwick Village/Osbaldwick Lane:

Our Sustainable Transport team have reported bus access issues in the area of the junction of Osbaldwick Village and Osbaldwick Lane, including the straight section and round the bend of Osbaldwick Lane. They report the issues can be at all times of the day due to funerals/weddings at the church and parking opposite the church on Osbaldwick Lane.

The proposed No Waiting restriction (double yellow lines) will remove parking close to the junction and along Osbaldwick Lane. The Sustainable Transport team support the proposed restriction and have not reported access issues in any other location of the village.