Issue details
Proposed Traffic Regulation Order to implement waiting restrictions and residents permit parking at various roads in the vicinity of Green Lane, Leominster.
Concerns were originally raised by local
residents in 2017 via a petition routed through the Town Council
concerning a desire for residents parking bays on Green Lane and
Townsend Court. A review of the situation on the site was
undertaken by officers and it was decided that details should be
entered onto the prioritised Traffic Regulation Order (TRO) Waiting
List.
As a result of its entry onto the TRO Waiting List, this scheme was
identified for commencement of investigations in the 2020/2021
Annual Plan. Therefore, Balfour Beatty Living Places (BBLP) set
about investigating the potential for a new Traffic Regulation
Order that would necessitate any changes within the area under
investigation.
An on-site assessment and meeting with the Local Member were
undertaken in November 2020. During the meeting, the currently
unrestricted bay adjacent to properties on the southern side of
Green Lane was discussed as being the primary point of
consideration for a residents parking bay. The Local Member alerted
officers to residents’ concerns regarding difficulty in
parking close to their property at present for these properties in
particular but also a general trend of non-resident vehicles
parking in the area on Green Lane.
Officers observed the saturated parking situation on the northern
side of Green Lane west of its junction with Oldfields Close. It
was explained that those properties on the northern side of Green
Lane would not strictly qualify for residents parking bays given
that they all had either rear access driveways for two vehicles, or
front access driveways for two vehicles. It was suggested that a
Limited Waiting Bay could be beneficial here as it could allow
parking for a limited amount of time but prevent vehicles being
parked for significant periods. The Local Member informed officers
that often parents park to drop children at the local pre-school
and shoppers occasionally park for short periods which, it was
agreed, should be retained as this does not cause any significant
issues.
It was suggested by officers that No Waiting at Any Time (Double
Yellow Line) restrictions should be implemented at the currently
unrestricted junctions of Green Lane/Townsend Court, Green Lane/The
Meadows and Green Lane/Townsend Close to prevent parking close to
them which leads to more difficulty for vehicles utilising these
junctions. It was also suggested that it would be beneficial to
prevent double parking at any time on Green Lane and, therefore, to
consider the implementation of No Waiting at Any Time (Double
Yellow Line) restrictions on the southern side of Green Lane from
its junction with Townsend Court to its junction with Townsend
Close.
Following the meeting, as part of the scheme assessment the
collision history for the site was investigated. It was found that
no collisions had taken place in the latest five-year period from
2016-2020 (inclusive).
Having completed the initial assessment, a set of proposals was
designed by officers and approved by the Local Member and Town
Council. It was agreed that the proposals should first be sent to
directly affected residents for comment in the first
instance.
Consequently, a resident’s consultation exercise was
undertaken from 16th December 2020 to 13th January 2021. A summary
of the responses received is included as Appendix C. The results
are summarised below.
No. %
Support 7 78%
Objection 2 22%
TOTAL 9 100%
Total Consulted 26 (approx.)
Response Rate 35%
The results of the consultation showed that the majority of
respondents were in support of the proposals. The response rate of
35% is typical of this nature of consultation. Therefore, the final
proposal shown in Appendix A was designed and approved by the Local
Member and Town Council before progressing to the next phase.
An Initial Statutory Consultation process was undertaken from 15th
January 2021 to 8th February 2021, whereby an initial consultation
letter and proposal plan was sent to all Statutory Consultees via
email. During this process, no objections were raised in relation
to the recommendations as part of this TRO. A summary of the
responses received during the Initial Statutory Consultation
process is included as Appendix D.
During the Initial Statutory Consultation, the Ward Councillor
commented that the proposed residents parking bay on the southern
side of Green Lane should retain the current trend of ‘nose
in’ parking in order to maximise the spaces available.
However, officers resolved to design parallel parking bays in the
interest of road safety by not encouraging vehicles to potentially
reverse out of spaces into live traffic on Green Lane.
The Traffic Management Advisor (TMA) for West Mercia Police issued
no objections to the proposals but did state that they may result
in a migration of parking onto The Meadows and Townsend Close.
However, as the TMA themselves stated, these roads are better
suited to accommodate any additional parking than Green Lane. Any
migration that does occur is unlikely to be large in scale, the
risk is considered negligible.
A Formal Consultation (Notice of Proposal) process allowing the
general public and Statutory Consultees to issue comments/concerns
was undertaken from 4th March 2021 to 26th March 2021 during which
four objections were raised by residents. All Statutory Consultee
respondents issued support for the scheme. A summary of the Formal
Consultation (Notice of Proposal) responses is included as Appendix
E. The objections received are outlined and addressed below in
alignment with Local Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure)
(England and Wales) Regulations 1996.
The first objection (Residence 2 in Appendix E) was related to the
cost of permits for the proposed parking bays and a concern that a
parking place directly outside their property was not guaranteed
which would result in difficulties in access to their alleyway. It
was also stated that the car parks in Leominster should be made
free to encourage shoppers to utilise them.
In response, the cost of permits is Council policy, it was
highlighted in the consultation letter to residents. Regarding the
access to premises, the purpose of the residents parking bay on the
southern side of Green Lane is to ensure that residents are able to
park close to their properties without any obstruction from
non-resident vehicles. Whilst a space directly outside each
residents property cannot be guaranteed, the proposals are a
significant improvement on the current situation in providing
exclusive bays for residents. No comment can be made on the charges
within local car parks in Leominster, which is not part of the
consideration for this TRO process.
The second objection (Residence 3 in Appendix E) issues concerns
that the proposals will lead to a migration of parking onto
Oldfields Close.
In response, this is an understandable concern. However, current
parking habits on Green Lane and its surrounding junctions are
causing safety issues and creating difficulty for residents of the
southern side of Green Lane and Townsend Court, who do not possess
off-street parking, in parking close to their properties. The
proposals will prevent parking at the various junctions and on the
southern side of Green Lane for non-residents but will still allow
parking for 2 hours for non-resident vehicles on the northern side
of Green Lane. Therefore, it is considered that there is a low risk
of migration of parking and that if this does occur it will be
limited. Additionally, as the Traffic Management Advisor for West
Mercia Police has stated (see paragraph 15), these roads are better
suited to accommodate any additional parking than Green Lane which
is a particularly narrow stretch of road.
The third objection (Residence 4 in Appendix E) stated concerns
that the proposals would result in more vehicles utilising the
private car park in Townsend Court, which is Private and for the
sole use of residents of the flats. Concern was also raised that
vehicles utilising the church for services and functions would no
longer be able to do so and would, as a result, utilise the private
car park at Townsend Court.
In response, the car park at Townsend Court is a private car park
which is not adopted by the Council. It is extremely unlikely that
vehicles will migrate to park here. The proposed residents parking
bay and limited waiting bay do not restrict parking on Sundays
which would allow for some parking for church users on this day.
From Monday to Saturday, the limited waiting bay provides two hours
free parking to accommodate short term stays. The Central Area Car
Park is located just east of Green Lane and is a 3-minute walk from
the Methodist Church.
The fourth objection (Residence 5 in Appendix E) was from a
resident of central Leominster who stated opposition for the
further expansion of resident permit parking for individual
streets. It was stated that on-street parking is limited in
Leominster and certain streets are under restrictions which mean
that residents of those streets cannot park close to their
properties so rely on parking on other streets.
In response, the primary purpose of the proposals set out in
Appendix A as part of this TRO project, is to ensure that the
residents of Green Lane and Townsend Court are able to park close
to their properties without obstruction by non-resident vehicles.
Another key aim is to improve road safety at the various junctions
and prevent all day parking by non-residents on the northern side
of Green Lane. If there are issues on another residential street in
Leominster, this should be investigated as part of a separate TRO
request. It is Council policy to allow for qualifying individual
streets to request the implementation of residents parking
bays.
Considering local guidance, Herefordshire Council’s
‘Resident Parking Schemes – Policies and
Criteria’ document sets out criteria to be considered when
assessing a potential residents parking scheme which includes: A
majority of residents or survey respondents report difficulty in
finding a parking space and support the introduction of a permit
parking scheme; The kerb space in the area under consideration is
regularly occupied by extraneous vehicles; The availability of
parking off-street for residents and their visitors; The majority
of property which fronts the roads concerned is residential, or
there is deemed sufficient capacity in a commercial area for a
limited number of residential permits (subject to review);
Proposals in nearby or adjacent streets are likely to have a
detrimental impact on the locality; The views of the ward
councillor and / or parish council.
When applying these criteria to the proposed scheme: throughout the
process there has been an overwhelming show of support from
residents whom responded to the residents consultation and during
the formal consultation which raised just four objections; there is
evidence (gathered during the site assessment) that non-resident
parking is taking place on the southern and northern side of Green
Lane and anecdotal evidence of commuter parking; the eligible
properties for the proposed resident parking bays possess no
available off street parking; the potential migration of parking
has been considered and is deemed to be low risk as a result of
parking available in the limited waiting bay and the Central Area
Car Park nearby and the neighbouring streets, in any case, are
better suited to accommodate a slight increase in parking and; the
Ward Councillor and Leominster Town Council have issued their
support for the proposals to be implemented.
Regarding national policy, according to the Road Traffic Regulation
Act (RTRA) 1984, it is the duty of a highway authority to
‘manage their road network’ and ‘to improve road
safety’. Section 122 of the RTRA 1984 states that local
authorities must, so far as is practicable, exercise their
functions under the RTRA so as to ‘secure the expeditious,
convenient and safe movement of traffic’. Additionally,
Section 1 of the RTRA states the permitted purposes of a TRO which
include ‘avoiding danger to road users’ and
‘preserving/improving the amenities in the area’.
Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 also states
that local authorities must exercise their functions under the RTRA
so as to ‘provide suitable and adequate parking facilities on
and off the highway’. It is important to maintain a balance
when imposing parking restrictions so as not to be ‘over
restrictive’. The proposals will seek to improve road safety
and access to premises for those who do not possess off-street
parking where restrictions are proposed, however parking for short
stays is permitted in the limited waiting bay provided. The
residents parking bay and limited waiting bay are unrestricted on
Sundays.
Further national guidance from Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3
(2019) states ‘Permit parking is provided where residents
could have difficulty in parking close to their homes because road
space would otherwise be taken up by commuters, shoppers
etc.’.
The Highway Code Rule 242 states ‘You MUST not leave your
vehicle or trailer in a dangerous position or where it causes any
unnecessary obstruction of the road’. In addition, Highway
Code Rule 243 states ‘DO NOT stop or park opposite or within
10 meters of a junction’.
In order to ensure that the Highway Code Rules 242 and 243 are
complied with, a Traffic Regulation Order comprising the
recommended waiting restrictions should be implemented in order to
make the current parking habits illegal and enforceable at all
times on the southern side of Green Lane and its junctions with
Townsend Court, Townsend Close and The Meadows. Keeping the
junctions clear of parking will be of significant benefit to
pedestrians crossing the various roads who will have improved
visibility as a result of the proposals.
In conclusion, the proposals accord with National Policy in the
form of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984, National Guidance in
the form of the Traffic Signs Manual Chapter 3 and The Highway
Code, and Herefordshire Council’s ‘Resident Parking
Schemes – Policies and Criteria’ document (June 2020).
The proposals supported by the majority of residents, the Ward
Councillor and Town Council.
The objections have been considered in alignment with the Local
Authorities’ Traffic Orders (Procedure) (England and Wales)
Regulations 1996. Notwithstanding these, for the reasons set out
above, it is recommended to proceed with the scheme according to
the original proposals as set out in drawing 3409-99
Decision type: Non-key
Decision status: Recommendations Approved
Notice of proposed decision first published: 19/01/2023
Decision due: 16 January 2023 by Acting Assistant Director for Highways and Transport
Contact: Bruce Evans, Engineering Manager Email: bje@herefordshire.gov.uk Tel: 07792880548.
Decisions