Agenda item

Name of Councillor

Members Item

Councillor Levine

Knoll Drive, Brunswick Park

"Residents in Knoll Drive, Brunswick Park, have raised concerns at the state of the verges on this road. They report that people, including those dropping off/collecting children from the local school, park on the verges sometimes causing damage and slippery mud on the footpaths when wet. This is experienced on Knoll Drive on either side of Monkfrith Way not just the school side.

May we please have a report back to the Chipping Barnet Area Committee on options for preventing parking affecting the verges in this road? Some options for consideration include use of bollards, geo-grid, placement of planters (possibly in collaboration with the school?), and other measures or a combination of these in different locations on the road. "

Officers explained that a report on footway parking was to be considered by Environment Committee and it would be appropriate to await the outcome of that meeting before reporting back to this Committee on whether footway parking would be an option. However, a number of committee members (including the Chairman) felt that formalised footway parking would not be an appropriate solution .

The Chairman stated that he thought it highly unlikely that residents would accept the imposition of concrete bollards on the grass verges down the entire length of both sides of the street. Cllr Levine agreed that concrete bollards would be detrimental to the street scene. The Highways officer added that Highways had estimated that 60 posts would be required to cover the full length of both sides of the road at an approximate cost of £100 per post (Wooden or Concrete similar cost) so £6,000. Historically, these grass verges have utilities running through them so this might affect were posts can be could be installed.

The Highways Officer then stated that based on a quote received at another location it would cost £200 per square meter to lay Geo-Grid. They estimated that the street would require 30 sections of 10 meter length Geo-Grid sections talting about £60,000. The committee agreed that the cost of Geo-Grid was prohibitively expensive and not an option.

The Committee then discussed planters but these would require ongoing Council maintenance making them an unsuitable option.

Cllr Levine asked Officers to ascertain if the few bollards previously in place had been removed deliberately and if not then could they be re-instated.

Councillor Levine also agreed to speak to the Monkfirth School, in her capacity as a Governor, to seek possible solutions.

RESOLVED that

1.    An update be provided to this  Committee, following the outcome of the report to Environment Committee on footway parking;

2.    Officers be requested to ascertain why the bollards, previously in place, have not been re-instated;

3.    Councillor Levine requested, in her capacity as a school governor, to speak to Monkfirth School about possible solutions.

Councillor Coakley-Webb

Parking situation in Pembroke and Hampden Road N10

I would like the Chipping Barnet Area Committeeto agree for Highways to look at the parking situation in Pembroke and Hampden Road N10. This is partly because of a previous committee decision. Correctly it was agreed to have double yellow lines at junctions near Hollickwood School to prevent parent’s parking dangerously.

This situation arose along Sydney Road. However lines were also placed along Pembroke Road despite the smaller entrance being at the end of a cul-de-sac and only used by pupils walking to the school. This has taken 20 parking spaces away on a densely residential area where 2 garages use the roads as an over-flow for customers. So residents do not mind some restrictions such as single yellow with a couple of hour’s restriction but the unintended consequences have caused havoc in the area.

Officers explained that to remove the double yellow lines would be a contravention of the Highway Code and make the junction dangerous as it would allow cars to park on the junction impeding sight lines.

There was a request from Councillor Rawlings to install double yellow lines in Newton Road for consistency. This was ageed by the committee. Cllr Rawilings further requested that Trading Standards should clarify whether the two garages using the two roads as an overflow for customers contravened trading standards.

RESOLVED that

1. Yellow lines be installed in Newton Road at an estimated cost of £2,000 from the CIL budget;

2. Trading Standards be requested to clarify the issue relating to garages using the roads as an overflow for customers.