Agenda item

Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/32), attached

(Councillor Leech declared a Personal Interest in this matter by virtue of a relative residing near the location of a proposed parking restriction) 

(Mr J McKechnie, Mr S Powell, Mr A Pearce and Mr Maunder attended and spoke in accordance with the Public Participation Scheme objecting to the proposals for additional parking restrictions in South Zeal relating to, inter alia, the limited on and off-street parking available for residents and visitors, the impact on local businesses, the need for an additional car park which was currently being investigated and the levels of objections received).  

The Committee received written statements from Mr McKechnie, Mr Pearce and Mr Powell.

The Committee considered the Report of the Chief Officer for Highways, Infrastructure Development and Waste (HIW/19/32) on revised proposed restrictions which would result in the control of approximately 180m of road over 11 locations, with Double Yellow Lines (as shown at Appendix II to the Report and in the Plan attached). 

The Report included: 

·         details of survey results undertaken by the County Council on Thursday, 28 February 2019 and Monday 4 March 2019;

·         the outcome of the consultations undertaken between 17 January 2019 and 7 February 2019 (Devon County Council (Various Roads, South Zeal) (No Waiting & Parking Restrictions) Amendment Order B13396-2 5730);

·         details of two petitions (one within the consultation period) the first (e-petition) objecting to previous proposals and the other objecting to the current proposals with analysis by Officers;

·         a South Tawton Parish Council survey (South Zeal Traffic and Parking Consultation results, March 2016) of local parishioners and users of the centre of South Zeal; and  

·         three options available to this Committee: Option 1.  Implement the Proposals as Advertised; Option 2.  Implement the proposals removing the section on the Road from Shilhayes shown on Plan No. ENV 5730-004; and Option 3.  Do not implement the proposals.

The Officers responded in detail relating to the objections received and questions raised by the speakers and Members and confirmed that both the Devon and Somerset Fire and Rescue Service and the local bus operator Country Bus were in favour of the proposed restrictions to limit potential access problems.   The Officers also confirmed that the provisions of Section 122 of the Road Traffic Regulation Act 1984 had been given due consideration by Officers and had been met as far as was practicable. This view had been endorsed by the County Solicitor.  The Officers acknowledged that an additional off-street car park would alleviate current issues should a suitable site be identified, subject to planning permission. 

Members referred to the limited restrictions now proposed and the requirement to balance the needs of residents and visitors (noting the available current on and off-street parking provision) and ensuring access for emergency and local bus services and other users.

It was MOVED by Councillor Sanders, SECONDED by Councillor McInnes and

RESOLVED

(a) the contents of the report be noted; and

(b) that the proposals be implemented as advertised.

(N.B. location of the sources of the objections indicated on the attached Plans)