Traffic & Parking Working Group   

MINUTES of a meeting held at  7.30 pm Tuesday 7 June 2016 at the Village Centre, Hurstpierpoint. 

Present: 

Tony Lank  (Chairman)  

Rodney Jackson 

Steve Whitehead 

Gill Blackburn In attendance: 

Stephen Hoyles (CLERK to the COUNCIL) 

Paul Mayne (Assistant Clerk)  

TP16/001.  Election of the Chairman :  The Working Group was asked to elect its chairman for the Council Year from 26 May 2016 and Tony Lank was duly appointed.  

TP16/002.  Apologies for absence and declarations of interest: The following apologies for absence from members of the Working Group were received and accepted:  Stephen Hand, Peter Griffiths,  Richard Speller.  There were no declarations of interest in accordance with the Council’s Code of Conduct.   

The Working Group was asked to note that co-opted member Barry Stokes had stepped down from this role.  He had attended the Working Group since its inception in  May 2013  and the Clerk had written to thank him for his valuable service to the Council.   

TP16/003.  Minutes of the meeting of the Working Group 22 March 2016:  The Minutes were received and accepted and signed by the Chairman.    

TP16/004.  Off-street carparking review:  The Working Group considered requests from some High Street traders that additional short-term off-street parking is provided at the eastern end of the Hurstpierpoint to improve the retail trade.  Suggestions of parking on South Avenue Recreation Ground and/or the Cemetery Access Road had been made.  The matter was first raised at the meeting with District and County ward members  on 2 March 2016, and further noted at the High Street Economy Working Group (meeting 10 March 2016  Minute HS15/004) and subsequently noted by Council.  The Working Group was now asked to consider the BRIEFING NOTE and make a RECOMMENDATION to Council.  In both cases there would be considerable cost, lack of clarity about operational matters, and significant loss of amenity.  With these concerns, coupled with a lack of evidence that Hurstpierpoint justifies additional short-term off-street carparking, the Briefing Note recommended that these options were not taken forward for further investigation.  The Working Group discussed the matter in detail and noted the issues raised by the Briefing Note.  However, it was agreed that the Council should explore all possibilities for additional parking, and agreed that further investigation should be made into possible carparking spaces at South Avenue (the ‘cemetery road’ section) notwithstanding the possible impacts on existing users.  The matter of the roles and responsibilities of Mid Sussex District Council, as owner and operator of the carparks, was noted, and questions raised why the District were not pursuing the matter.  (Re:  

BRIEFING NOTE  26 May 2016  Off-street parking review) 

RECOMMENDATION to COUNCIL:   

1. (1) That no further investigations are undertaken for off-street parking on South Avenue Recreation Ground, due to loss of amenity, operational issues, insufficient justification, and cost.  
2. (2) That further investigations are undertaken for parking on the Cemetery access section of South Avenue.   

TP16/005.  High Street Scheme  –  Post scheme review:  As reported to the meeting of the Working Group on 

22 March 2016 arrangements had been made with WSCC (as Highway Authority) to undertake an independent postscheme review, to assess the general operation of the scheme following the changes made in August 2015.  The Working Group was reminded that the three-stage safety audits have been completed satisfactorily.  The Clerk advised that a meeting had been held with Richard Speller (WSCC) on 12 May 2016, at which the initial review following discussions with users, was noted.  Mr Speller had indicated that there were no major and inherent failings with the scheme, but some minor adjustments might be helpful.  Further investigations would be taking place before a final report was offered.   

TP16/006.  Progress review: 

1. (1) Cuckfield Road:  Further to Minute TP15/019  (Meeting 8 December 2015) the Working Group noted that pothole repair work remains to be undertaken by WSCC and that further information on the traffic management study is awaited.  

It was noted that a very large pothole in Cuckfield Road had just been repaired.  

1. (2) Chalkers Lane:  Further to Minute TP15/019  (Meeting 8 December 2015)  the Working Group noted that the additional footpath has not yet been installed.   

1. (3) Trinity Road carpark:  Further to Council’s decision to request an extension of waiting time at the carpark from 2 to 3 hours  (Council  28 April 2016  MinuteC15/117.4) MSDC have advised that the necessary public consultations will shortly take place and, following the regulatory processes, it was hoped that the new arrangement will be in place in late 2016.  (Ref:  MSDC email Trinity Road carpark   31 May 2016)  

TP16/007.  Other traffic and parking matters:  The Working Group  noted the following and agree any action to be taken:   

1. (1) Hassocks road, Hurstpierpoint – parking issue:   A resident had expressed concern about carparking adjacent to the entrance to her property at 21 Hassocks Road, which makes exit difficult.  A potential solution would be parking restrictions and the Parish Council could place a request to WSCC for a possible TRO.  However, it was known that TRO numbers are rationed by the County Council and under these particular circumstances it was suggested that action is not justified.   The Working Group agreed that no action be taken on this occasion. (Ref:  Ltr  Mrs S Norris – 17 May 2016)   
2. (2) New Way Lane, Hurstpierpoint – parking issue:  A resident had expressed concern about carparking around the junction of New Way Lane and Hassocks Road, which makes exit difficult.  A potential solution would be parking restrictions and the Parish Council could place a request to WSCC for a possible TRO.  However, it was known that TRO numbers are rationed by the County Council and under these particular circumstances it was suggested that action was not justified.  The Working Group agreed that no action be taken on this occasion.  (Ref:  Ltr  Mr Goodwin – 5 May 2016)   
3. (3) Gothic House, Hassocks Road, Hurstpierpoint – parking issue:  A resident had expressed concern about carparking on Hassocks Road, which makes exit difficult.  A potential solution would be parking restrictions and the Parish Council could place a request to WSCC for a possible TRO.  However, it was known that TRO numbers are rationed by the County Council and under these particular circumstances it is suggested that action was not justified.   The Working Group agreed that no action be taken on this occasion. (Ref:  email Gothic House  – 21 April 2016)   

In each of the last three instances there are concerns about long-stay on-street parking.  It appeared that this was a growing concern, probably due to the increasing business activity around the High Street.  The Council’s parking survey in October 2015  highlighted the shortage of long-stay parking, and the overspill onto side roads.   

TP16/008.  Future meeting dates:  The Working Group noted that the following dates have been set in the Council’s diary for 2016/17:   

20 September 2016 13 December 2016 14 March 2017.   

There being no other business the Meeting closed at   8.45 pm.   

Chairman 

Dist:   

Members of the Working Group: 

Barry Stokes (Co-opted Group  Member)   Gill Blackburn (Co-opted Member) 

Tony Lank (HP&SCPC Member)    Stephen Hand  (HP&SCPC Member) 

Julia Shorrocks (HP&SCPC Member)   Rodney Jackson (HP&SCPC Member) 

Richard Speller  (WSCC Highways) 

Cc:      Members of Council 

               Peter Griffiths (MSDC District Ward Cllr)  

  District Council Ward Members