The Strategic Director, Place will submit Document “O” which considers objections to the recently advertised proposals for No Waiting At Any Time restrictions on Harrogate Road, Apperley Bridge, Bradford.

Recommended-

(1)       That the objections be overruled and the proposed No Waiting At Any Time restrictions on Harrogate Road be implemented as advertised.

(2)       That the objectors be informed accordingly.

(Environment and Waste Management Overview and Scrutiny Committee)

                                                                        (Andrew Smith – 01274 434674)

The Strategic Director, Place submitted Document “O” which considered objections to the recently advertised proposals for No Waiting At Any Time restrictions on Harrogate Road, Apperley Bridge, Bradford.

The Principal Engineer, Traffic and Road Safety attended the meeting and advised Members that the restrictions had been proposed in response to the requirement for a new access for a development of 130 properties. He also advised that 78 objections had been received in respect of the proposed scheme, mainly centring around the impact on St John’s Church Hall.

A ward Member attended the meeting and spoke in objection to the proposed TRO, stressing that it was adjacent a significant junction improvement scheme which would itself result in the loss of 17 parking spaces. She also advised the meeting that St John’s Church Hall was a very well used community facility and that this, coupled with the impact of the junction improvement meant that the TRO needed to be reconsidered. She circulated photos of a field at the side of the church which she considered could provide alternative parking.

A Member expressed sympathy for the view of the objectors as he noted that the TRO would remove both parking and access for the church hall. He stressed the need to plan for the ramifications of the housing development and to come up with a creative solution.

Members stressed that they were not attempting to prevent the development of the junction as the planned scheme was impressive but they had concerns that the TRO had not been considered in context.

Members asked what the impact of a delay to the TRO would be and were informed that there would be a concern about the impact on the operation of the junction but that any impact would be on a sliding scale as the new housing was not yet occupied.

A local resident attended the meeting and also spoke in objection to the proposed TRO, stressing that the hall had 300 users per week and that a meeting had been held with a Council engineer to discuss alternative parking but residents’ suggestions had not been taken up. He stressed that if there was no access or parking at the church hall, especially for the elderly and disabled, the hall would close.

Members queried the cost to the Council of any delay and were informed that there would be none as costs would be borne by the developer.   

Resolved-

(1)  That it be noted that the major junction improvement referred to in paragraph 2.4 of Document “O” removes around 75% of the on-street parking used by the community attending community activities in the Community Hall at St John’s the Evangelist, Greengates.

(2)  That the objections raised be noted and residents and Ward Councillors be thanked for attending the meeting to raise these concerns.

(3)  That a decision be deferred until outline proposals for car parking in and around Harrogate Road between the new junction (Appendix 1) and Greengates/New line Junction are developed in conjunction with Ward Councillors and key stakeholders.

(4)  That a report on progress be presented to the Committee within three months.

ACTION: Strategic Director, Place