Residents' Only Parking

I have only recently received an update, from a resident of Kings Drive, about what went on in Kings Drive towards the end of last year. A letter was sent to all households in Kings Drive by Kevin Ridpath (Engineering Services Manager of Highways and Transportation, NTMBC) asking for views on a proposal to introduce a Business Permit Parking scheme within Kings Drive.

I'm glad to say that the response from the residents was typically robust. As well as individual letters from residents rejecting the idea of anything other than residents' only parking in Kings Drive, a petition against the idea was organised. In 3 days 35 signatures were gathered from residents in the street which has 19 households (one property being empty at the time).

The proposal was by the local Chamber of Trade and is backed by local councillors. The letter from Mr. Ridpath was followed up by a special "Intouch" leaflet from Cllr. McIntyre. I have since written to Mr Ridpath suggesting that Business Permits be extended only to the "main shopping frontage" of Park View and Whitley Road; and that none should be allowed in residential streets throughout Whitley Bay, including the 'back lanes' at the rear of residential properties.

 

YMCA Site Planning Application for Category 2 Sheltered Housing (see item 32)

The second of the full planning applications by McCarthy & Stone was refused by the Council's Planning Committee (unanimously) and went to appeal. The appeal was heard over 2 days, starting on 4 December 2007. The formal Appeal Decision was issued in January. The appeal was dismissed. A copy of the inspector's report is available on request.

It is likely that the prospective developers will submit a new planning application with a modifed design.

 

Update on Parking (continued - see items 33 and 34)

Following the meeting with Council Officers at Killingworth there was a further exchange of correspondence and this included a detailed response to my complaint about the lack of response to my submission on the Draft Parking Strategy proposals. As it is requires a lot of hard work by me to summarise this I have given the complete text (in PDF) of the document that I submitted to Cllr. McGarr late October 2007 with a request that the Traffic Regulation Order of May 2006 be fully implemented (thus making all 3 streets in the Grosvenor Estate residents only parking).

 

Update on Parking (see item 33)

I had a meeting with Mr Cowey and Mr Flynn at Killingworth Council offices on the 26 September, 2007. I summarised that meeting in an email sent later that same day: -

"You advised me that there had been an error in the April 2007 TRO re Kings Drive and that had been correct in the actual TRO issued post the Planning Committee meeting that I attended. The signage and time limits of 8 am to 6 pm, Monday to Saturday is now correct and as intended.

You also advised me that the current signage for the east end of Grosvenor Drive (from its junction with Marden Road to its Junction with Kings Drive is incorrect; a TRO will be issued to return the limits to 24 hours per day and 7 days per week.

In connection with the 'engagement' of "Resident Permit Holders" as indicated on the plan for engagement, published on the Council's website, I noted that 'consult' is not a synonym for engage. I also expressed my view that letters delivered to local residents should also have been delivered to those in in the permit holders only area of Grosvenor Drive as they are effected by traffic flows influenced by parking conditions in the remainder of the 3 streets.

You explained that consultation was based on those streets that would be directly effected by the proposals for short, medium and long stay zones described in the Draft Parking Strategy Report. Similar letters had been distributed throughout the Borough with appropriate references to short, medium and long stay zones.

You will supply me with the figures requested for the Grosvenor Estate streets per questions 5 and 6 of my earlier e-mail to you."

At the same meeting I referred to the lack of response to a submission that I had made about the Draft Parking Strategy,when I naively thought that 'engageement' with residents meant something more than sending letters with an invitation to fill in a form giving "Hobson's Choice"!

 

Draft Parking Strategy - No letter?! (See item 31)

If you did not get a letter it is because you live at the east end of Grosvenor Drive. It seems at the last moment the 'engagement' of resident permit holders actually meant 'residents near the town centre in potential medium stay parking areas (as defined in the Draft Parking Strategy Report) who were not already in a permit holders only street'.

This definition included the unrestricted stretch of Grosvenor Drive (where there are no permit holders) and it appears that the majority of those who responded to the the question - would you like charged parking (i.e. ticket machines) with permit holders exemptions? - ticked the box on the reply sheet that indicated, "Yes"!

What you should have done is declare that you wanted permit holders only throughout the Grosvenor Estate, even through this was not an option!

I am following up the unsatisfactory manner in which residents were consulted about the Draft Parking Strategy with NT Council with a view to getting residents permit holders only scheme for which a Traffic Regulation Order was issued in May last year (2006) - SEE ITEM 20 BELOW.

The TRO was issued after the meeting in the YMCA in February 2006 set up by residents in the west end of Grosvenor Drive and after consulation by the Council with all residents in the Grosvenor Estate, who confirmed they wanted permit holders only scheme throughout the 3 streets (and without ticket machines).

Because of opposition from the Whitley Bay Chamber of Trade a decision on the permit holders only part of the TRO was deferred until after the consultation on the Draft Parking Strategy. The associated part of the same TRO dealing with double yellow lining of the road junctions was implemented.

I will update you via this message board when I get some more information from NTMBC!

 

Development of ex YMCA Site (see also items 26, 25 and 23 below)

The prospective developer, McCarthy & Stone, has submitted a new, full planning application (07/01960/FUL). At the same time they have put in an appeal against the refusal of the the earlier full planning application (07/00280/FUL).

From discussion with a Councillor of another local authority it is the usual practice for McCarthy & Stone to submit an outline plan for a modest proprosal and then submit a full appplication of double the size. Evidence obtained from the Internet and other sources indicates that. if the full application is refused, and the appeal against the refusal is NOT upheld, the next step is an appeal to the high court!

The minor modifications in the recently submitted application are - the addition of 1 parking space - 2 no. additional 1-bedroom flats in place of 2 no. 2-bedroom flats - a slight reduction in the footprint of the building and in the width of the 4-storey element on the south elevation.

The grounds for our objections still apply but there is a danger of the local authority planners buckling under the pressure from the prospective developer. So it is essential that we continue to get objections submitted, again, even though the grounds are the same.

It is now possible to submit comments via NTMBC's Planning website. Get the planning application up on the screen and you will find an invitation to submit comments near the top. There is a drop-down menu of objections and you can select several of these as you wish by holding down the "Ctrl" key. You can then submit comments of up to 1000 characters.

If you wish to contact me by telephone - use 2513104 (not the number under item 24).

Draft Parking Strategy

All resident permit holders will get a letter soon from NTMBC as part of the 'engagement' in consultation on the Draft Parking Strategy 2007 - 2011.

I suggest you also take the opportunity, in response to the letter, to raise the issue of residents' only permit parking in the whole of the Grosvenor Estate as well as the recent signage that limits the current restrictions to 8am to 6pm, Monday to Saturday only.

More on Parking!

Extract from email (27 April, 2007) from Council Officer in the Development Directorate (in response to my letter - item 29), referring to the Grosvenor Estate: -

A report will be prepared for cabinet in July with proposals and timescales. It is likely that we will be introducing some form of residents permit scheme to the area however it may be a mixed use scheme allowing motorists into the area who purchase tickets. This however will be a decision made by cabinet after consultation with the residents and consideration of the survey information.

This would mean the introduction of ticket machines and thus encouragement of non-resident parking in the area.

Incidentally, the Draft Parking Strategy report (see item 24 below - copy can now be found in the local library) does not refer to additional yellow lining that will certainly be introduced to stop free parking on roads near the Grosvenor Estate (for example, Norham Road).

Update on Parking (Part 2)- TROs Issued 5 April 20007

The following is the text of a submission on the TROs in a letter to Dave Parkin at the Town Hall, Wallsend (see also item 20 below about the earlier TRO referred to in the letter): -

Dear Mr Parkin,

Traffic Regulation Orders (TROs) Issued 5 April 2007

We object to these TROs as they affect Whitley Bay on the following grounds: -

They do not reflect the TRO issued 18 May 2006 for the streets of Grosvenor Drive, Kings Drive and Queens Drive (the Grosvenor Estate) for residents' only permit scheme area.

The details in Plan WHITRES/005 do not show the correct residents' only area of the earlier referred to TRO, nor the current permit holders' only restrictions, nor that covered by paragraph 4 (f) and the schedule referred to by this paragraph in the TROs published in the Whitley Bay News Guardian of 5 April 2007.

The earlier TRO followed consultation with the residents of the Grosvenor Estate, Ward Councillors and the Chamber of Trade during February 2006. Residents were overwhelming in favour of a residents' only permit scheme as they were some 20 years ago when the Grosvenor Estate Residents Association was formed largely in response to Highway Engineers proposal for the 3 streets.

The enclosed copy of a letter, incorrectly dated 5 May 2006 (should have been 5 June), to the News Guardian was also submitted to the Town Hall in support of the case for the residents' permit only scheme. This is now re-submitted in opposition to the recent TROs. The schedule referred to by paragraph 4 (f) provides a list of 'back lanes', also shown on Plans WHITRES/001-4. The Grosvenor Estate comprises residential streets without retail businesses but has no equivalent to the back lanes of other residential areas referred to in the schedule.

In the recent TROs there is nothing about line markings on roadsides - single and double yellow lines - near the Grosvenor Estate area. If these are introduced where they do not currently exist (as indicated to me during a visit for discussion with a Council Officer at the Killingworth Site, 18 April 2007) they will have an adverse effect on the traffic problems arising from non-residents using the Grosvenor Estate as a place to park for shopping expeditions, for retail business employees and commuters. Currently there are long lengths on the north side of Norham Road, starting near the junction with Kings Drive, and along the Monkseaton Metro side of Norham Road, starting near the junction with the west end of Grosvenor Drive. Much of this space is filled from morning to early evening, indicating it is being used by retail businesses in the town centre and commuters using the Metro system.

Details of all waiting restrictions such as those I have referred to, which are omitted from the 5 April TROs, are essential for the engagement of residents in the consideration of the "Draft Parking Strategy 2005-2011" report that is understood to be open for consultation until (the end of) June 2007.

To:
Dave Parkin
Legal and Democratic Services
Town Hall
High Street East
Wallsend
NE28 7RR

The letter has been sent to Mr Parkin as an attachment to an email. This thanks him, and the other, un-named Council Officer referred to, for their help in getting at relevant information.

Update on Parking (Part 1)- Traffic Regulation Order 5 April 2007 (further update to follow tomorrow)

The deadline for objections is 29 April 2007 - please see last paragraph for basic reason for objection!

The following is the text of an email to a Council Officer (Highways & Transportation Department) at the Killingworth (Block A) Site, following a visit last Wednesday: -

First of all, thank you for your time in discussion with me at the Killingworth Site (Block A) on Wednesday last afternoon (18 April) on the issues of parking arising from the recently posted (literally!) Traffic Regulation Orders. As promised here are some notes as a follow-up with specific requests for information (in bold).

All the public notices that I have seen about the Traffic Regulation Orders indicate that the details may be viewed at the Town Hall in Wallsend. I went to the Town Hall on Wednesday and was told that there was no Plan WHITRES/001-005 (or Plans for other town centres) at the Town Hall and was given your name and telephone number. Subsequent to my telephone call to you I came to the Killingworth Site to view the missing plans; that for Whitley Bay in particular. In the event you showed me a draft drawing that you told me was incorrect in a number of respects, covering the streets of Grosvenor Drive, Kings Drive and Queens Drive (the "Grosvenor Estate").

Even bearing in mind the high workload on Council Officers at the Killingworth Site it is still very unsatisfactory that such an important set of Traffic Regulation Orders do not have an a set of correct Plans that can be checked and commented upon by residents and traders in North Tyneside that are directly affected by them.

I am aware of the Draft Parking Strategy Report of December 2006 that refers to 6 months public consultation and view the recently published Traffic Regulation Orders as part of this consultation. I am also aware of meetings held with local Chambers of Trades in consultation - but I am not aware of any consultation of residents that has taken place, or that is proposed during the remainder of the period up to June. How are residents to be consulted on the Draft Parking Strategy?

In our discussion I referred to a Traffic Regulation Order (18 May 2006) covering the Grosvenor Estate area and junctions with adjoining roads. In a report for Planning by Kevin Ridpath, dated 31 October 2005, it was recommended that the part dealing with residents only permits be deferred but that on waiting restrictions at junctions (double yellow lines) be implemented "in the interests of highway safety". (This has not yet been done.) In this report there is a reference to a Parking Survey (paragraph 4.3). I would like a copy of the report of this survey to allow residents in the Grosvenor Estate to assess its validity in the light of the special circumstances applying to our area that I covered in a submission to the Town Hall in response to the 18 May Order. This submission outlined the case for residents only parking throughout the Grosvenor Estate area, but was not referred to in Kevin Ridpath's report. Do you have a copy of this submission on file?

In discussion over the draft plan/drawing you referred to double yellow lines being introduced from the junction of the west end of Grosvenor Drive, along the Norham Road, past Monkseaton Metro station, to the junction with Marine Avenue - and to another length of Norham Road from its junction with Park View. I cannot recall seeing a Traffic Regulation Order on this and if it exists, I would like a copy as it may have an influence on the residents' case for residents' only parking throughout the Grosvenor Estate. Road markings have not been implemented yet and I wish any submission on the Draft Parking Strategy report - and on the recent Traffic Regulation Orders - that I wish to make is informed by details that should be on the final version of the Plan WHITRES/001-005. To this end, I ask for a paper copy of the Plan that I suggest you/your colleagues mark up (by hand or otherwise) with corrections. In addition I ask for an extension of two weeks subsequent to the receipt of the draft/corrected Plan to allow for preparation of my comments and of those of any other residents who may wish to comment on the 5 April Traffic Regulation Orders.

Please find 4 photographs attached in one graphics file. They illustrate current parking on streets near to the Grosvenor Estate - from Grosvenor Drive (east end) up Marden Road (DSCF1908), along Norham Road from the junction with Kings Drive (1909), along the same side of Norham Road from near the west end junction with Grosvenor Drive towards the junction with Kings Drive and Park View (1910) and from similar viewpoint along Norham Road to Monkseaton Station and Marine Avenue (1911).

Thank you again for your help on Wednesday last. I understood that you were fairly new to the work in the Highways & Transportation Department. I hope you will find it both challenging and rewarding!

I have since (earlier today) obtained some paper copies of relevant documents after a further visit to the Town Hall, including incorrect plans for the Grosvenor Estate area. I was advised by a Council Officer at the Town Hall that objections/observations on the Traffic Regulation orders should be submitted by this Friday (29 April) as there was to be a Planning Committee meeting on 1 May!

By far the simplest statement of objection is that details in the recent Traffic Regulation Order for the Grosvenor Estate do not implement the scheme for Residents' only Permits as envisaged in the Traffic Regulation Order issued 18 May 2006. The earlier Traffic Regulation Order followed consulation by the Council with residents, who overwhelmingly supported the proposal.

Parking - Traffic Regulation Order

For the latest traffic regulation order use the following link (copy and paste it from this note)

http://www.northtyneside.gov.uk/news/newsinfoitem.shtml?p_ID=4287

This page does not include the schedule or maps - these have to be viewed at the Town Hall (Wallsend)! This version is the same as that tied to lamp posts but the lamp post version includes the Schedule.

Objections and observations must be sent in by 29 April 2007!

Development of ex YMCA Site (see also 23 and 25 below)

At the NTMBC Planning Committee meeting on Monday 16th of April the McCarthy & Stone application was refused, as recommended in the Planning Officer's report. The 4 basic reasons for refusal included: -

3. The design by reason of its size, massing, scale and density would result in a poor layout and inadequate design and unacceptable relationship with its surroundings, out of character with the area, contrary to PPS3 Housing and North Tyneside Unitary Development Plan Policies H5, H11 and H12.

4. The development will lead to additional vehicles parking on the adjacent highway,to the detriment of road safety and would be contrary to North Tyneside Unitary Development Plan policy H16.

A revised application is to be expected. I spoke at the meeting and also to the McCarthy & Stone representative (privately), advising him that our preference was for something similar to the scheme described in the earlier outline planning application for 14 appartments and 2 town houses.

I also ensured that copies of my submission in response to the more recent application for 34 flats were circulated to all Planning Committee members at the same time as the officer's report.

Whitley Bay YMCA Site - Housing Development (see also entry 23 below)

The (new) Planning Application (07/00280/FUL) should be rejected on the following grounds: -

The number of apartments now proposed (34) is well over that suitable for the site, bearing in mind its size (0.25 hectare) and location.

The access road from Grosvenor Drive to the main site is very narrow and the only access route to the site for traffic to and from the site during demolition, building works and subsequent occupation of the dwellings. Access to the town centre and local transport is not convenient for elderly people as claimed by the applicant in submissions.

The number of proposed spaces for parking (14) is too small, even if the number of apartments were changed back to that of the earlier scheme (14) proposed in the Outline Planning Application (06/01238/OUT). Grosvenor Drive has a residents' only parking scheme so assumptions about there being nearby parking in local streets are not justified.

The above is a summary of a written submission # to NTMBC Planning Department that expands on these objections. (Smith to Development Control, dated 2 March 2007 - ref. "PlanningYMCA2.doc".)

(# Full copy available on request.)

More on Parking!

Over the next 6 months there is supposed to be a consulation no homepage) wrote:

Do you have any veiws on the parking in Grosvenor Drive and also the lack of attention drivers take to the newly enforced speed restrictions?