Item no 8.4 + EDI N BVRG H+ THE CITY OF EDINBURGH COUNCIL Controlled Parking Zone Extension Proposed Amendments ~ The City of Edinburgh Council 26 April 2007 Purpose of report 1 To allow the Council to consider representations received on proposals related to the extension of the Controlled Parking Zone. In the absence of any further meetings of the Executive before the Council election, this meeting represents the only legislative opportunity to determine these proposals before the Council election. 2 To notify the Council of the representations made when the following draft traffic regulation orders were advertised: a Proposal to bring forward the implementation date for the Dalry/Fountainbridge Controlled Parking Scheme (Zone S4). b Proposal to extend the Controlled Parking Zone S3 (Merchiston area) to include the Gillsland area. Main report implementation date Zone S4 When the decision was taken to implement the extended Controlled Parking Zone Orders, the commencement dates were set on the basis that each zone would take approximately six months to place on-street. During post tender negotiations with the appointed contractor it was noted they would be able to complete the necessary works within a shorter period and on 29 August 2006 (item 11 refers) and 14 November 2006 (item 29 refers) the Executive therefore decided that the various implementation dates, for the new zones, should be brought forward. The implementation date for the Dalry/Fountainbridge Area Controlled Parking Zone Order (S4) is 3 September 2007. The draft Order proposes that this date be amended to 16 July 2007. In accordance with the statutory procedure for promoting traffic regulation orders the draft Order was advertised from 19 February to 12 March 2007. Ten objections were received and these can be summarised in two categories as follows. 80953 .doc/JFUMT 1 6 Objection 1 Mr Shearer made the objections with regard to the introduction of the whole Controlled Parking Zone Extension in principle. He considers that there is not a parking problem in the area and that there is no demand to introduce the scheme or to bring the start date forward. He also considers that the decision to bring the scheme forward should not be taken until after the Council elections. 7 Objection 2 All of the other objections (9) were from residents of Ardmillan Terrace, Ardmillan Place and Henderson Place. They made the objection that the only nearby parking is situated on Ardmillan Place and this is insufficient to meet the needs of all residents. They requested that the implementation date should remain the 3 September 2007 to allow further consultation to take place. 8 The purpose of this Order is to vary the start date of the Controlled Parking Zone. It does not vary any other aspect of the scheme. The decision on the principle and detail of controlling parking in the Dalry/Fountainbridge area by means of a controlled parking zone was taken by the Council in 2005. The original Order was made in accordance with the statutory procedure and included a Public Hearing prior to the decision to proceed being taken by the Council. The recommendation of the hearing was that the scheme should go ahead with a number of amendments. It is now not possible to object to the introduction of the controlled parking zone and therefore the points raised by the objectors, on these matters are not relevant to this proposal. 9 One of the stated aims of the Controlled Parking Scheme is to improve parking for residents. The introduction of the neighbouring Zone S3 has placed additional pressure on the parking in the Fountainbridge area and led to an increase in demand for kerbside parking space. There is some evidence that displaced commuters are already parking on the non-controlled roads in this area. The introduction of waiting restrictions will deter long term non-residential parking and give local residents and their visitors some priority when parking in the area. 10 After the introduction of the new Controlled Parking Areas this Department will monitor the parking allocation and if necessary propose alterations to the layout within the zone and/or to the zone boundaries. Extension of Zone S3 11 The draft Order to extend Zone S3 to include the Gillsland area was advertised from 23 March to 17 April 2007. Six objections to the proposal and 59 letters of support for the proposal have been received. 12 Objection 1 Mr Savage of the Craiglockhart Carpets Centre made the objection to the proposal to introduce double yellow line waiting restrictions adjacent to his shop. This restriction would prevent customers parking outside his shop at all times. He appreciates the need for waiting restrictions in the area and has suggested that this section of road should be controlled by a single yellow line restriction or by introducing limited waiting in the vicinity ofthe shop. This would allow customers to park adjacent to his shop outwith the Controlled Hours. 2 13 Objection 2 Mr and Mrs McLean made the objection that no drop off or pick up loading bays were being provided in the vicinity of George Watson’s Primary School on Myreside Road. Parents picking up their children at 3.00pm will be penalised by the proposed scheme. 14 Objection 3 Mr Macdonald made the objection that drivers who presently park on Myreside Road will now leave their vehicles in Myreside Court which will be the near roads outwith the Controlled Parking Zone. 15 Objection 4 Mr Purcell, 94 Polwarth Terrace asks if the proposed single yellow line area on the south side of Polwarth Terrace could be altered to provide residents parking and parking for tradespersons etc. who require to visit the area. 16 Objection 5 J F Calder, 96a Polwarth Terrace makes objections to the proposal as a whole on the grounds that this a money making scheme. 17 Objection 6 Marian Kirton, 133 Liberton Brae makes the objection to the proposal that very few residents require to park on-street and the restrictions proposed do not allow persons with long stay requirements to park in the area. The Council should consider amending the time limits and tariffs charged at the public and shared use parking bays. 18 The aim of this extension to the Controlled Parking Zone S3 is to deter commuters from parking for long periods on these roads and return them to residents and persons visiting the local area. There is no evidence that there are parking pressures outwith normal working hours. Therefore, reducing the waiting restrictions from 24 hours each day to 08.30 to 17.30 Mondays to Fridays will not affect this aim. Relaxing this waiting restriction can be done without the need to advertise a variation order. It is therefore recommended that this change be made. 19 The proposed parking controls have been brought forward in response to requests from local residents as expressed at public meetings and through the local elected member. The controls are intended to improve access for local residents and businesses by deterring intrusive long-stay commuter parking. Unusually during the period for making representations on the draft traffic regulation order the Council has received many letters of support for the proposal. 20 The proposals will introduce shared use parking bays on the east side of Myreside Road adjacent to George Watson’s School. Parents who require to park whilst picking up their children will be able to use these bays. The minimum tariff in the new zones is 20p for 17 minutes and rises in 5p increment to a maximum period of 4 hours. 21 This Department is monitoring the effect on the roads in the surrounding area to the new zones. The area to the south of Myreside will be included in these surveys and if necessary further restrictions considered. 3 22 Polwarth Terrace is approximately 8.5 metres wide and a main arterial and bus route. Allowing parking bays to be introduced on the south side of the road would reduce the wide to 6.5 metres and place both parked and moving vehicles in danger. The proposed single yellow line restrictions will permit vehicles to park outwith the controlled hours, when the road is quieter Financial Implications 23 None. Recommendations 24 To repel the objections to the revised start date for Zone S4 and make the Variation Order as advertised to come into effect 16 July 2007. 25 To instruct the Director of City Development to review the provision of residents parking on roads in the original controlled parking zones which are adjacent to the new parking zones and to report back to Committee, after all of the new zones have been implemented, with any proposals for the amending any or all of the zone boundaries. 26 To uphold the objection to the waiting restrictions proposed on Colinton Road as part of the proposed extension to Zone S3 and make the Order with the alteration to that waiting restriction described above to come into effect 16 July 2007. An drew Holmes Director of City Development Appendices None Contactltel John Richmond - 01 31 469 3765 Wards affected 26 - Craiglockhart 30 - Dalry 45 - Merchiston 4 Background S4 Implementation Papers Letters of objection from 1 Ann Bulloch & Peter Bruce, 8 Henderson Terrace of 5 March 2007 2 Simon Shearer, 26 Carfrae Road of 6 March 2007 3 Darren Martin, 6 Henderson Terrace of 6 March 2007 4 Jonathan Kinnell & Niki Jenkin, 14 Henderson Terrace of 7 March 2007 5 John Merrilees, 2 Ardmillan Place of 7 March 2007 6 Gillian Brodie, 27 Ardmillan Place of 7 March 2007 7 Julia Pendreigh, 4 Ardmillan Place of 9 March 2007 8 Duncan Primrose, 7 Henderson Place of 9 March 2007 9 Mary Brownlee,