MINUTES OF THE EXTRA-ORDINARY MEETING OF THE HIGHWAYS COMMITTEE HELD ON 3RD NOVEMBER 2010
Present: Cllr Boulton (Chair) Cllr Hinton Cllr Mumford
In attendance: Vanessa Lawrence(Clerk), Cllr Harwood, Cllr Wardle, Mr Jim Daniels – GCC Parking Manager, 11 members of the public.
H58 Declarations of Interest
Cllr Wardle declared a prejudicial interest.
H59 To confirm the Minutes of previous meeting held on 28th September 2010.
An amendment was made to H41 at the end of last paragraph following ‘Saturday’ include ‘and Bank Holidays’. It was RESOLVED to sign the minutes of the meeting held on the 28th September 2010 (pp 062-065 10/11) with amendment, as a true and accurate record of the proceedings.
H60 To agree to adjourn the meeting for Public Question Time – there is a 10 minute time limit.
It was RESOLVED to adjourn the meeting for Public Question Time, allowing an extension of time if required. All in favour.
Points raised by members of the public
Restrictions were put in place at the request of a former shop keeper some 15/20 years ago. This particular shop no longer exists.
Fairford is a lively town and unrestricted parking would encourage people to visit and shop. A viable town centre is what is required and unrestricted parking would help.
If there are no parking spaces in the High Street and Market Place then the ECT car park at the top of the High Street could be used as this normally always has spaces available.
Private survey was conducted by a resident and there were always spaces available in the High Street and Market Place.
Points made by Mr. Daniels – Parking Manager – GCC
There are not enough signs at the present time to fully enforce limited waiting. Additional signs would be required. Could not leave things as they are as the existing Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) and road markings mean that it is incumbent on GCC to make restrictions enforceable
Confirmed that many people are law abiding and tend to take note of signs even if not enforceable. Some even take notice of a pole from which the sign has been removed, assuming it to be an error.
Supportive of community – 1 hour too restrictive. However he felt that restrictions should be placed outside the shops, as no restrictions could mean long stay parking here. Long stay doesn’t attract people, but a lack of available spaces deters them.
JD said that GCC were trying to adopt a common set of standards across the County: unrestricted, 1 hour, 2 hour and 4 hour.
GCC and DfT are pursuing methods to reduce number of signs/street clutter, including powers (not available yet) to ensure signs can be located on buildings.
The possibility of a trial of unrestricted parking had been raised with GCC in advance of the meeting. Enforcement Team at Cirencester and Portfolio holders are happy to run a trial and there have been no objections.
The presence of the parking bays does not prevent a trial. However, in order for a trial to be conducted properly the current signs would have to be taken down and one or two ‘Free Parking’ signs installed. Free Parking would have to be painted in the parking bays. A survey of availability of spaces would have to be conducted before, during and after the trial period and the opinion survey repeated and a report produced at the end of the period. New signs showing “Free parking” would have to purchased and erected by FTC, to reduce costs to GCC.
Advised enhanced signage to advertise the Car Park at the top of the High Street.
JD said that enforcement generally makes a loss, contrary to public opinion. The additional cost of enforcing limited waiting is low as the main cost is staff time and staff need to visit to enforce yellow line restrictions. It does not cost much more to add in a length of restricted parking. The problem in Fairford was lack of signs not cost of enforcement.
GCC would be happy to set up link on their website so people could comment on the trial. There would need to be a Press Release about the trial prepared jointly by FTC and GCC.
JD would be going back to brief the Portfolio holders, and would be prepared to begin work on the trial once a resolution had been passed by FTC.
The trial would be similar to an Experimental Order but on an informal basis. During the first 6 months changes could be made, and then the trial would continue unaltered for another 6 to 12 months.
If following the trial it was decided to amend the existing TRO (i.e. to anything but 1 hour parking restriction) there would be a cost of £1,500- £3,000, and the process would take 6 to 9 months. FTC would be asked to contribute but this could be in kind e.g. arranging public meetings.
H61 To agree to reconvene the meeting following Public Question Time.
It was RESOLVED to reconvene the meeting following Public Question Time – all in favour.
Cllr Wardle left the room
H62 To consider and agree a response to County Highways following public consultation regarding parking in High Street and Market Place.
It was RESOLVED to recommend to Full Council that unrestricted parking should be put in place in the High Street and Market Place on a trial period. After 6 months the situation should be reviewed with a possibility of extending the trial period for up to a further 12 months. Proposed Cllr Mumford, seconded Cllr Hinton – all in favour.
H63 Items the Chair considers urgent
None
H64 Date of next meeting – Tuesday 23rd November 2010
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