Issue - meetings
Parking on Pavements
Meeting: 10/04/2014 - Constituency Committee - Birkenhead (Item 22)
22 Pavements & Grass Verge Parking - Update Report 
PDF 88 KB
At its meeting on 27 January 2014 the Policy and Performance Committee - Regeneration and Environment considered the attached report and it was
‘Resolved –
(1) That the progress being made in continuing to address pavement and verge parking issues be noted.
(2) That the report be referred to each of the Constituency Committees for their consideration.’
Consequently, the Committee is invited to give the report its consideration.
Minutes:
The Committee received a report in respect of pavement and grass verge parking which had been referred to it from the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014 (Minute No. 34 refers) where it had agreed that it should be considered by each of the Constituency Committee.
The Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee had noted that there were a high number of enquiries made to Streetscene which indicated the extent of the problem across Wirral, particularly in areas with narrow streets and no off road parking.
Councillor George Davies referred to the nine pilots and asked for Councillor Harry Smith’s view on them. Councillor Harry Smith agreed to provide Councillor George Davies with the appropriate information.
A member of the public who lived in Bidston Road, off Bidston Hill informed that she had the use of a disabled bay but had to park on the pavement. She considered that it would be better if the road was one way. Councillor Harry Smith informed that before the road could become one way there would have to be a consultation process with all the residents in Boundary Road and a high percentage of them would need to be in favour of the proposal. Councillor Harry Smith informed that he would instigate the consultation but was unsure of the exact percentage required to be in favour of a one way system so Officers would be asked to provide it.
A member of the public asked if Boundary Road could be widened and was informed that it would be expensive to do that and that the land in question was probably in the green belt.
A Member considered that a sensible policy on parking enforcement in relation to parking on pavements was required as it would be inappropriate for the Council to have a blanket ban on it.
RESOLVED:
That the content of the report be noted.
Meeting: 27/03/2014 - Constituency Committee - Birkenhead (Item 4.)
4. Pavements & Grass Verge Parking - Update Report PDF 88 KB
At its meeting on 27 January 2014 the Policy and Performance Committee - Regeneration and Environment considered the attached report and it was
‘Resolved –
(1) That the progress being made in continuing to address pavement and verge parking issues be noted.
(2) That the report be referred to each of the Constituency Committees for their consideration.’
Consequently, the Committee is invited to give the report its consideration.
Meeting: 06/03/2014 - Constituency Committee - Wirral West (Item 26)
26 Pavement and Grass Verge Parking Update PDF 46 KB
This report was referred to each Constituency Committee for their consideration by the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014. The relevant minute and report are attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Head of Legal and Member Services presented the update report of the Head of Environment and Regulation on Parking on Pavements and Grass Verges, which had been referred by the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee (minute 34 (27 January 2014) refers) to each Constituency Committee for consideration.
Members of the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee commented that the high number of enquiries to Streetscene indicated the extent of the problem across Wirral, particularly in areas with narrow streets and no off road parking. However, the problem was also prevalent in areas with wide roads and pavements, with damage to pavements frequently caused by utility vehicles. In addition, it was noted that parking on pavements outside schools at peak times was also a major problem. Many motorists were either ignorant or unconcerned of the obstruction caused to pedestrians or the impact of their actions on the condition of the pavement surface, with maintenance and repairs estimated to be in excess of £40k annually.
The Strategic Director – Regeneration and Environment commented that the matter had been discussed in detail by the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee. Although the Police could take action if a footway or carriageway was fully obstructed, it was difficult to define what constituted obstruction under the law. Pilot TRO schemes in a variety of locations had led to improved compliance and notices placed on cars had produced a positive response. The Cabinet was expected to allocate additional funding to Constituency Committees, who would soon have to come to a view as to how it should be spent and whether any of it should be allocated to address parking on pavements and verges.
The Chair noted that the allocation had not yet been made and highlighted the need for clear criteria to be in place for the allocation of funding. Following the meeting of the Cabinet on 13 March 2014, he proposed to work with the officers to come forward with proposals to make best use of any additional resource.
Resolved – That the minute and report be noted.
Meeting: 26/02/2014 - Constituency Committee - Wirral South (Item 22)
22 Pavements & Grass Verge Parking - Update Report (Councillor Jerry Williams) PDF 88 KB
At its meeting on 27 January 2014 the Policy and Performance Committee - Regeneration and Environment considered the attached report and it was
‘Resolved –
(1) That the progress being made in continuing to address pavement and verge parking issues be noted.
(2) That the report be referred to each of the Constituency Committees for their consideration.’
Consequently, the Committee is invited to give the report its consideration.
Minutes:
The Committee received a report in respect of pavement and grass verge parking which had been referred to it from the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014 (Minute No. 34 refers) where it had agreed that it should be considered by each of the Constituency Committee.
The Chair and Councillor J Williams explained the issues that had been raised at the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee. The high number of enquiries that were made to Streetscene indicated the extent of the problem across Wirral, particularly in areas with narrow streets and no off road parking.
Members were concerned over the number of complaints they received about motorists parking on pavements and grass verges. Parking on pavements was dangerous as people had to step into the road to get passed. This was particularly hazardous for the elderly and people pushing prams. Parking on pavements and grass verges affected the surfaces of the pavements and churned up the grass verges so that they looked unsightly. Consequently, maintenance work was required and it proved costly. However, it was noted that it was possible for the Council to invoice people for the repairs needed if it could prove who had caused the damage.
It was reported that there had been so many complaints received in Bebington about parking on pavements and grass verges that a scheme had been introduced in an attempt to try to reduce them.
It was noted that the police were able to take enforcement action if a vehicle was causing an obstruction.
RESOLVED:
That this Committee looks forward to working with Highway Officers to tackle the problem of parking on pavements and grass verges and they be invited to attend the next meeting to progress this.
Meeting: 19/02/2014 - Constituency Committee - Wallasey (Item 20)
20 Pavement and Grass Verge Parking Update PDF 47 KB
This report has been referred to each Constituency Committee for their consideration by the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014. The minute and report are attached.
Additional documents:
Minutes:
The Committee received a report which had been referred from the Regeneration and Environment Policy and Performance Committee at its meeting on 27 January, 2014 (minute 28 refers) for consideration by each Constituency Committee in respect of pavement and grass verge parking.
The Chair explained the issues raised at the Policy and Performance Committee.
A Member suggested that this should be something that that Committee itself looked at and what were the Constituency Committees themselves being asked to do.
The Constituency Manager suggested she convene a Problem Solving Meeting with relevant officers and individuals to bring recommendations back for further consideration. In response to a question from a Member she stated that the Constituency Managers would liaise with each other on this issue and share any good practice. She also confirmed the proposed meeting would include representation from the Community Safety Team. She noted in response to a question, that there may be issues at a local level which could be addressed through this approach.
Resolved – That the minute and report be noted and the Constituency Manager report back on the situation to a future meeting.
Meeting: 27/01/2014 - Policy and Performance - Regeneration and Environment Committee (Item 34)
34 Parking on Pavements and Grass Verges - Update Report PDF 88 KB
Minutes:
The Head of Environment and Regulation presented an update report upon progress related to pavement and grass verge parking, since the last report to the Sustainable Communities O&S Committee on 21 November 2012 (minute 33 refers). He commented that the issue was particularly sensitive for the public and Members and was the subject of many enquiries to Streetscene, with parking on pavements outside schools at peak times a major problem. He indicated that many areas, particularly those with narrow streets were designed when car ownership was not high. The same was also true in other areas that had a significant number of amenity areas and large verges with narrow access roads, where it would be costly to introduce a widescale programme to provide parking bays. However, officers had estimated that even if such a programme was undertaken, demand for parking would still be likely to outstrip provision.
He reported that, unless there was a specific signed Traffic Regulation Order in place, enforcement of was only generally possible through the Police. Individual instances of parking on footways or verges could be considered by police officers to be obstructive or dangerous and whilst those offences appeared to clearly indicate that parking on footways and verges was not permitted, officers within the police had pointed out that unless there was evidence that a footway or carriageway was fully ‘obstructed’, there were no other definitions of what constitutes ‘obstruction’, ‘wilful obstruction’ or ‘unnecessary obstruction’ and in such cases they were less likely to secure a successful prosecution. Additionally, as Members were aware, the recent economic downturn had resulted in limitations in police resources, with such offences being seen as a lower priority than burglary, violence and other crime.
There had been 9 ‘pilot’ verge and pavement TRO schemes introduced to date at a variety of locations, which were reasonably well respected by motorists with good compliance in most areas and few prosecutions having been undertaken. An initiative to issue leaflets to warn ‘offending’ drivers was also in its early stages but was having some positive effect.
Members referred to particular problems of vehicles parking on pavements and grass verges and obstructing driveways in a number of areas across Wirral. The offences being committed were in relation to both residential and commercial properties and Members also highlighted a trend for drivers of certain heavy utility vehicles to routinely park across pavements. Members noted that in terms of reactive maintenance/repairs, the cost to the Council was thought to be in excess of £40k per annum with the majority of the cost related to damage done to flagged footways. Consideration was given to progress that had been made by other local authorities to address the issue and a range of measures were discussed including the introduction of by-laws and billing offenders for damage caused by their vehicles.
Members noted however that a blanket ban on pavement parking could have a detrimental effect in some areas, particularly with regard to access by emergency vehicles in neighbourhoods with ... view the full minutes text for item 34