THE MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

MAIDSTONE BOROUGH COUNCIL

 

REPORT OF THE ASSISTANT DIRECTOR OF

ENVIRONMENT AND REGULATORY SERVICES

 

MAIDSTONE JOINT TRANSPORTATION BOARD

 

19th January 2011

 

 

REPORT PREPARED BY: Parking Services Manager

 

 

1.                     OBJECTIONS TO TRAFFIC ORDERS

1.1                 Issue for decision

1.1.1            To consider the objections received as part of the formal consultation following the advertising of;

 

·         The Kent County Council (Borough of Maidstone) Waiting

Restrictions Order (variation No 5) Order 2010.

 

·         The Kent County Council (Borough of Maidstone) Designated

Parking Places Order (variation No 5) Order 2010.

 

1.2                 Recommendation of the Assistant Director of Environment and Regulatory Services

1.2.1            That the Joint Transportation Board recommends to the Cabinet Member for Environment each of the recommendations identified in the appendices to the report be agreed and the objectors informed of the outcome.

 

1.2.2            That the Board recommends to Kent County Council as the Highway Authority that the orders be implemented as outlined in Appendix A and B.

 

1.3                 Reasons for recommendation

 

1.3.1            Various requests have been received by Parking Services for the introduction of parking restrictions at several locations across the Borough. These have been surveyed and evaluated to assess the impact on parking provision within each local area were significant parking difficulties were identified. Proposed orders were advertised and all comments received during the formal consultation were reviewed and considered.

 

 

1.3.2            A Public Notice formally advertising the orders was published in Local Press during the week ending Friday October 22nd 2010.

 

1.3.3            Full details were contained in the draft orders which, together with a copy of the Public Notices, site plans and a statement of the Council’s reasons for proposing to make the orders were placed on deposit at the Main Reception, County Hall, Maidstone, Kent, ME14 1XX, and at the Gateway reception desk, Maidstone House, King Street, Maidstone, ME15 6JQ.

 

The details were also available on- line at www.kentonline.co.uk and at www.digitalmaidstone.co.uk.

 

1.3.4            Letters were sent to statutory and non statutory consultees and residents.  Street notices were also posted in the affected roads.

 

1.3.5            Appendix A provides the proposed orders not receiving objections and the relevant recommendations.

 

1.3.6            Appendix B provides the proposed orders receiving objection, together with a summary of the objections and the relevant recommendations.

 

1.3.7            Appendix C provides maps of the proposed orders.

 

1.4                 Alternative actions and why not recommended

1.4.1            To not proceed with the recommendations would result in some much needed orders not being implemented, which are intended to regulate parking to reduce identified difficulties.     

 

1.4.2            To make the orders as advertised would not take account of comments received during formal consultation.

 

1.5                 Impact on corporate objectives

1.5.1            The proposals are intended to resolve parking problems and improve traffic flow by reducing localised congestion; this is in accordance with the Council’s priority to improve access across the Borough through better roads.

 

1.6                 Risk Management

 

1.6.1            Consideration must be given to objections and formal letters of support with regard to each proposal.  However this must be balanced against the risks involved in relation to road safety, free flow of traffic, environmental impact and vehicle migration.


Impact on Corporate Implications

 

1. Financial

 

X

2.Staffing

 

 

 

3.Legal

 

X

 

4.Equality Impact Needs Assessment

 

 

 

5. Environmental/Sustainable Development

 

 

6. Community Safety

 

 

7. Human Rights Act

 

 

8. Procurement

 

 

9. Asset Management

 

 

 

 

1.6.2            Financial

The costs of the order variation and implementation will be met from within the existing Parking Services budget.

1.6.3            Legal

Formal orders will need to be made and signed by Kent County Council as the Highway Authority.

 

1.7                 Background Documents

None

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

 

Appendix A

 

 

Proposed orders receiving no objection.

 

 

HEADCORN:  Forge Lane;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  High Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN; Kings Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  Knaves Acre;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  Lenham Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  Rushford Close;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  Station Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN:  Ulcombe Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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RESIDENTS PARKING -

 

MAIDSTONE; Albany Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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DESIGNATED FREE PARKING PLACES

 

HEADCORN; High Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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DESIGNATED FREE PARKING PLACES

 

HEADCORN; Forge Lane;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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DESIGNATED PARKING PLACES AT PAY AND DISPLAY MACHINES

 

MAIDSTONE; Union Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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DESIGNATED DISABLED PERSONS PARKING PLACES.

 

MAIDSTONE; St Faiths Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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MAIDSTONE; Whitmore Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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DESIGNATED PERMIT PARKING PLACES

 

MAIDSTONE; St Faiths Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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MAIDSTONE; Grove Road / Sutton Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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MAIDSTONE; Wheeler Street;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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BOXLEY;  Impton Lane;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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COXHEATH; Heath Road;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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COXHEATH; Park Way;

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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Appendix B

 

 

Proposed orders receiving objections.

 

DYL – means waiting to be prohibited at all times by double yellow lines.

SYL – means no waiting at the times prescribed.

 

HEADCORN; Oak Lane;

1 objection was received on the grounds that although some restrictions were needed to prevent commuters parking close to the junction and corner for extended periods, some allowance should be made for residents and they have suggested a SYL 30 minute restriction, a shortening of the current proposal or residents parking spaces, concern was also expressed that commuters would disperse further into the Oak Lane where it narrows considerably.

 

The Parish Council is in full support of the proposals and we also have received 37 letters of support for the scheme overall.

 

Although we understand the concerns raised by the resident, dispersion is inevitable however we consider that the overall benefits of the scheme out-way the disadvantages, we have been working closely with the Parish in an effort to alleviate the present parking situation and we believe that this proposal is necessary to assist with the parking difficulties within the Headcorn Village as a whole and will improve the general environment by reducing inconsiderate parking and improve parking availability for residents and visitors who wish to use the amenities afforded to them within the village.

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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HEADCORN; Kings Road;

1 objection was received on the grounds the objector has to park his vehicle on the road as there is nowhere else to park and the four hour limit will cause them problems, they have raised the possibility of obtaining a residents parking permit.

 

Although we sympathise with the residents situation there will be areas that are unrestricted were the residents could park freely without time limit, we have been working closely with the Parish in an effort to alleviate the present parking situation and we believe that this proposal is necessary to assist with the parking difficulties within the Headcorn Village as a whole and will greatly improve the general environment by reducing inconsiderate parking and improve parking availability for residents and visitors who wish to use the amenities afforded to them within the village.

 

The Parish Council is in full support of the proposals and we also have received 37 letters of support for the scheme overall.

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to proceed with the proposal and make the Order.

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MAIDSTONE;  Bargrove Road;

6 objections were received one with a 7 signature petition on the grounds the imposition of restrictions within the area would greatly inconvenience the residents who have no other parking provision, the current parking situation also serves as a traffic calming, the possibility of obtaining a residents parking was also raised.

 

11 letters were received with comments on the proposal which expressed their concerns on vehicle dispersion into side roads that currently are unrestricted, we also received 10 letters of support. The parking restrictions on the junction of Hampton Road also received substantial support.

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to amend the proposal to reflect the views expressed and amend the order to; Place a 24 hour restriction from its junction with Hampton Road for a distance of 45 metres, and SYL Monday to Friday 10.30am to 11.00am, North-east side from its junction with Northfleet Close to the north-west boundary of 28 Bargrove Road, South-west side from its junction with Northfleet Close to the southern junction of The Medlars.

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MAIDSTONE; Fant Lane;

5 objections were received one with a 97 signature petition on the grounds the parking restrictions would cause unnecessary hardship due to the severe lack of parking available in the local area, and further restrictions only compound the problem and have an adverse effect on the residents, also having parked vehicles reduces the speed of vehicles. 

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to not to proceed with the proposal.

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MAIDSTONE; Hartnup Street;

5 objections were received one with a 97 signature petition on the grounds the parking restrictions would cause unnecessary hardship due to the severe lack of parking available in the local area, and further restrictions only compound the problem and have an adverse effect on the residents, also having parked vehicles reduces the speed of vehicles. 

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to not to proceed with the proposal.

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THURNHAM; Aerodrome Approach;

One objection was received from the Police who although have no objection to restrictions being installed where there are currently no restrictions, Aerodrome Approach is effectively a lay-by consisting of slip roads from/to the A249 with some parking areas. The Parking areas are regularly used throughout the day by all types of vehicles, and in their view an overnight parking restriction in the marked parking areas would be more appropriate to allow parking during the day.

 

Recommendation: To recommend to the Cabinet Member to amend the proposal to reflect the views expressed and amend the order to; DYL, South/South-east side from its south-western junction with the A249 for its entire length, North-west side from its south-western junction with the A249 for a distance of 128 metres in a north-easterly direction, from a point 148 metres from its south-western junction with the A249 for a distance of 12 metres in a north-easterly direction, North side, from its western junction with Bimbury Lane for a distance of13 metres in a westerly direction, from its eastern junction with Bimbury Lane to its north-east junction with the A249.