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Report of Interim Corporate Director
of Enterprise, Tourism and the
Environment
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to |
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Traffic & Parking
Working Party
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On |
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25th January 2007 |
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Report prepared by: David Caldwell |
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Parking Near Stations –
Shoebury, Southend East and Leigh
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A Part I Public Agenda Item
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1
Purpose of Report
1.1
To consider the issue of parking around Shoebury, Southend East and
Leigh Stations and investigate the possibility of providing additional pay and
display car park areas close to these facilities.
2.1 That the possibility of providing pay and display parking areas around Shoebury, Southend East and Leigh Stations be investigated further and if it is Members wish that a more comprehensive report be brought to a future meeting for full discussion on the financial and environmental implications.
3.1 This report has been prepared in response to a request from the members of the Cabinet Committee and the Portfolio Holder for Sustainable Southend. Ward Councillors have also raised concerns. The report is intended for discussion and information only at this time.
3.2
The problems caused by commuter parking around rail stations in the
Borough have been an issue for over fifteen years. In the early 1990s’
environmental orders banning parking for one hour were introduced to many roads
around Leigh Station and Thorpe Bay Station and these have been successful in
removing commuter parking from the streets.
3.3
These types of Order are more effective when off street car parking is
available for commuters as an alternative and where residents have adequate
off-street parking.
3.4
More recently an experimental environmental order around Chalkwell
Station has received more mixed acceptance because of a lack of suitable
alternative parking for commuters.
3.5 The two tree island access road leads to a free grasscrete parking area opposite the civic amenity site. Commuters who either cannot find space in the station car park or are unwilling to pay for parking use it on a daily basis.
3.6
This area can accommodate approximately 90 vehicles and is full during
most weekdays. Vehicles also park on the access road to the west of this car
park and this parking sometimes causes obstruction to other vehicles using the
road.
3.7
It has been suggested that this car parking area could be turned into a
pay and display facility but it would require an at any time prohibition being
introduced to the access road at the same time to force vehicles to use the car
park.
3.8
The change of the carpark to pay and display would require one ticket
machine and this could be the solar powered type as an electricity supply would
be extremely expensive to provide.
3.9
An outcome of this proposal might however be to displace vehicles into
some of the roads to the north of Western Road where an outward migration of
commuter parking has increased over the last few years. It would be necessary
to at least consider a one hour environmental waiting prohibition as far north
as London Road.
3.10 On the south side of Riviera Drive between Chase Road and Surbition Avenue is an area of highway owned land where 160 vehicles can park free perpendicularly to the kerbline.
3.11
Here again a suggestion has been made that this area could be changed
to a pay and display car park. The area is already hardsurfaced and would
therefore require little accommodation works other than the installation of 3
or 4 ticket machines at around £3,000 per installation.
3.12
As discussed previously however it is likely that some vehicles will be
unwilling to pay the daily charge and try and find space in the surrounding
streets, this area is already one of considerable parking stress and some
measure to safeguard residents amenity would need to be considered if this
proposal were implemented. As most residents do not have off-street parking it
would be necessary to consider an area wide residents permit scheme providing
an exemption from a waiting limit, with or without some day permit/voucher
scheme for visitors.
3.13
Complaints regarding parking around Shoebury Station have been received
for many years and despite the railway station having a reasonably sized car
park, the catchment area for this station is extremely large taking in Shoebury
and Wakering Areas. This gives rise to widespread parking on the street
particularly in Shoebury High Street and adjacent roads.
3.14
It has been mentioned that there is a parcel of land which forms part
of Shoebury East Beach carpark which has pedestrian access off the High Street
just south of the point where the railway crosses the road.
3.15
This area is grassed but could be made available for parking if the
access were widened and the whole area hardsurfaced. Clearly implementation
costs would be high and because of the shape of the land it would seem possible
to accommodate no more than 60 vehicles. However assuming that some form of parking control were to be
introduced at the same time, it is possible that good use could be made of this
area.
4
Corporate
Implications
Resource Implications (Finance, People, Property)
4.1
The resource implications of this report are staff time for
investigation and report
Contribution to Council’s Vision and Critical Priorities
4.2
Implementation would add to customer satisfaction by reducing the
conflict between resident and non-resident parkers
Consultation
4.3
Full public consultation would be carried out on any proposals
formulated.
Equalities Impact
Assessment
4.4 Proper management of the parking areas
described could lead to improvements for disabled persons who would have a
better opportunity to park near their home or chosen destination. Further
consideration would be given in the proposed detailed report
Risk
Assessment
4.5 The principle risk to the Council from
the outcome of this report is a negative impact on Customer Satisfaction. The
proposed detailed report will need to consider the impact on the Council's
different customers. Resident's satisfaction may increase and Commuter's
decrease. The detailed report will also need to pay attention to the financial
risks which have yet to be considered.
Value
for Money
4.6 The potential for value for money will
need to be considered as part of the work for the proposed detailed report.
Community Safety Implications and Environmental Impact
4.7 Community safety implications could
benefit by reducing tension over on-street parking that might otherwise give
rise to arguments or even threats of violence.
Environmental
Impact
4.8 There is no direct Environmental Impact
related to this report. However the development of managed parking areas has
the potential to improve local residential environments by reducing unnecessary
traffic movements and commuter parking on residential streets. These matters
would need further consideration in the proposed detailed report.
5
Conclusions
5.1
Members be requested to consider:
(1)
The concept of providing additional pay and display car parking areas
near to the three main line railway stations mentioned.
(2)
If in agreement, resolve to agree for a further report to be brought to
committee on the implications both financial and environmental.
6
Background Papers
6.1
LTP - Local
Transport Plan 2 - 2006/2011 published 31 March 2006
6.2
Local
Transport Plan 2001/2006 – 5 year Monitoring Report published 31 July 2006.
6.3
LTP
Settlement Letter – December 2006.
7
Appendices
7.1 There
are no appendices to this report.