Agenda item

            The Board was advised a petition had been received from 18 residents of Cronton Lane, Widnes to request the introduction of bollards and waiting restrictions to prevent parking on part of Cronton Lane, Widnes. The petition raised concerns over abuse of the existing waiting restrictions in the area, obstruction of driveway entrances and sight lines, and vehicles being parked on the footway. It requested that the existing “At Any Time” waiting restrictions at the east end of Cronton Lane be extended in effect as far as Hill View and that drivers be prevented from driving up onto the footway by the installation of a number of bollards on both sides of the road, installed as per the existing units in the area which have proved effective in stopping “driving on” near the Cronton Lane shops.

            Members were advised that the requested waiting restrictions and installation of bollards would not be problem-free and a number of issues needed to be considered:-

·         Problems for the customers of the shops and potentially displacement of parking onto Norlands Lane, where parking was already becoming an issue and other adjacent roads;

·         These measures would be visually detrimental to the area;

·         Extra waiting restrictions could potentially be abused by “just for a minute” parkers. Parking in this area was mainly by customers of the shops, which was mainly short stay with a frequent turnover and by residents;

·         The measures would be highly inconvenient for the residents themselves as it would prevent them from parking outside their own homes;

·         These proposals could trigger objections from customers of the nearby shops and the business owners as happened on previous occasions; and

·         There have been no other requests for parking restrictions in this area.

            It was noted that Ward Councillors had contacted Cheshire Police for more enforcement of the existing waiting restrictions. However, this could be exacerbated by the existing complaint. They have also been asked to ensure parked vehicles do not cause an obstruction to through traffic.

            In accordance with Standing Order No.34 (9), the following public question was submitted to the Board by Mrs Upton from Cronton Lane, Widnes by email:

“The residents of Cronton Lane have asked for an extension of the current double yellow lines and/or bollards along Cronton Lane because, at the moment we are at risk of having an accident trying to exit their own drives and pedestrians being injured on the paths as vehicles mount the kerb at speed to park. We have photographs to prove this.  We need safety to be taken into account and H bars are not generally long enough over drives to clear a path of sight.  We would like you to consider the safety of the residents and pedestrians that use the busy Cronton Lane.”

            In response Officers advised the Board that in addition to the issues previously highlighted, when the existing waiting restrictions were proposed in 2002, a counter petition was submitted. Also to install bollards without extending the existing waiting restriction would result in drivers parking vehicles on the carriageway causing an obstruction.  It was noted that Cronton Lane was part of a major bus route into Liverpool.

            Arising from the discussion, it was agreed that Officers should carry out a wider consultation exercise on the request to install bollards and waiting restrictions on part of Cronton Lane and a further report be brought back to the Board.

            RESOLVED: That

1.    with regard to the residents request for waiting restrictions and bollards on part of Cronton Lane, wider consultation be carried out to seek views on the proposal from the surrounding area, following which a further report be brought back to the Board; and

2.    on behalf of the Board the Operational Director Policy, Planning and Transportation write to the Police to request enforcement of the existing waiting restrictions in Cronton Lane.