Earlier this week I posted an article setting out the council's intention to impose parking restrictions at a number of defined locations throughout the Scheme Houses. It is understood that these measures are deemed necessary to enable access for refuse and recycling bin motors to the side streets which are sometimes blocked by vehicles parked at the street ends. You can read full background details here: Council set to impose parking restrictions at the Scheme Houses and Blackhall Rocks
Since I posted that article I've made written representations to the officer dealing with the council's proposals. I've published my communication below for information.
Good morning ******,
Ref: 10386989
I was contacted last night by several residents from the Scheme Houses estate in Blackhall Colliery after notices had been erected earlier in the day advising of the traffic order mentioned in your email.
Many of the residents were concerned about the potential impact of the traffic order which will restrict parking at several locations on the estate. Their main issue was with the potentially unintended consequences of parking restrictions which would force residents to park elsewhere in streets that are already fully occupied with vehicles. Some had concerns that this would impact on road safety at children’s play area nearby at Coleridge Avenue, while others were worried that they would have nowhere at all to park due to the heavily congested streets along Shaftesbury Road and others branching off from it.
I was also told by some residents that they had no idea about the proposals until yesterday when the notices were put up. I’m aware that a form of consultation was carried out earlier this year to gauge residents’ feelings about the parking plans but I’m not sure about the extent of the consultation nor of its outcome. If this information could be supplied it might well allay local concerns, although it is unlikely to address residents’ frustration that no other options were offered to deal with obstructive parking at these locations.
As with almost all residents in the area I acknowledge that measures need to be put in place to enable refuse and recycling motors to access the bins left in the side streets, however it would be helpful if more information could be given on the points raised above.
I notice you are out of the office for the time being so I look forward to receiving your comments when you return next week.
After I posted details earlier this week on social media I was contacted by a resident at the Scheme Houses who suggested a compromise proposal whereby the planned restrictions would only be applied during a time-limited period, for example on a Friday morning and early afternoon when the majority of bins are empties at the Scheme Houses.
This seems to be a sensible and workable alternative that would free up the streets at peak times and also address the concerns of the residents who have contacted me about this matter so I've raised it with the officer concerned with a request it is considered as a compromise.
Good morning ******,
Ref: 10386989
Further to my email to you yesterday a resident has contacted me to ask if time-limited restrictions could be applied rather than the blanket restrictions set out in the notice received earlier this week. It is suggested for example that parking restrictions could be imposed during the hours preceding and during the hours of refuse and recycling collection operations (ie, 7am to 3pm each Friday).
This seems to be a sensible compromise that might also address the concerns of many residents as detailed in my email yesterday. Could you let me know please if this alternative could be workable.
The officer dealing with this issue is away from the council until next week so I'll update on progress as soon as I have a response.
