Parking Survey in Whitegates

WBC carried out a Parking Survey just for Whitegates in November 2022. It was misleadingly titled “HILLTOP ROAD AREA PARKING SURVEY”. ACER submitted a response which included all the parking issues reported by residents, plus the root causes which needed to be addressed, in order to halt and reverse the amount of on-street parking.

The written response as sent by ACER is as follows:

• The map showing the extent of the survey area comprises the majority of the residential area of Whitegates, which is the northern area of the Bulmershe and Whitegates ward.
• We note the survey area excludes Church Road, Pitts Lane and Oldfield Close which also have the same parking issues to resolve as the rest of Whitegates.
• The geographical location of Whitegates is significant, as it is immediately to the east of Reading, and is the gateway to Reading East for many Reading commuters.
• Please note the response of residents will be limited as the title of the survey implies it is focussed on Hilltop Road.

The following issues in respect of parking are concerns to Whitegates residents.

1. Reading commuters and residents commonly park in WBC streets nearest Reading.
   1. There has been a marked increase in such parking since Reading recently increased their parking restrictions. This has been especially noticeable on rat-run routes used in rush hours, and commonly contributes to traffic jams.
   1. Parked vans cause particular problems due to their width and visual obstruction of oncoming traffic.
   1. Culver Lane, Milton Road and Palmerstone Road often come to a halt in rush hours, due to rat-running Reading commuters trying to make their way on roads which do not freely allow two-way traffic movement due to parked vehicles (left by Reading commuters and residents in WBC streets). 
   1. All options for resolution should be listed, together with their pro’s and con’s, and the reason for WBC’s preferred solution given. If residents parking permits for affected streets is considered, this may be unpopular with many residents despite being an effective option, so it is important that acceptable justifications are made.
   1. Solving the problem in a group of streets is likely to move the problem onto other streets.  This was noted when yellow line restrictions were painted in Blackthorn Close. Overnight, parking increased in Culver Lane causing major traffic flow hold-ups on a busy commuter route.
   1. Rat-Running itself is due to the failure of Reading BC to resolve the traffic jams on the primary routes in and out of East Reading, notably at Cemetery Junction and at Watlingon Street, where incoming traffic and outgoing traffic cross each other. Reading BC need to be constantly pressured into finding an imaginative solution, such as those implemented in Hong Kong and Manila, using flyovers and elevated roadways.

• Additional on-street parking from enlarged and rented properties.
  • This need for additional on-street parking is due to inadequate allocated parking within the curtilage of developed properties.
  • It should be noted that WBC do not have specific parking policies for HMO’s or enlarged properties containing additional bedrooms, so Highways assess parking needs during the Planning stage for a ‘house’ as stipulated in Para 1.12.4 of MDD Appendix 2 “Car Parking Standards”, which, with a maximum of 2 allocated spaces per property, has proven to be unrealistic for households with between 4 to 8 cars per property.
  • It should be noted that Reading BC have recognised this issue and have a number of policies in place, including restrictions on tenant ownership of cars associated with each HMO.
  • WBC Parking Standards need to be amended to take into account increased vehicle ownership at HMOs and enlarged family homes
  • A simplified Parking Standard for properties has been proposed by ACER based on the number of bedrooms plus unallocated parking space directly outside the property. Copies of ACER’s proposal, as previously sent to WBC, are available on request and can be seen on the acerwhitegates.org.uk website.

..

• Parking on Pavements.
  •  Parking on pavements has been increasing in recent years.
  • This causes obstructions to pedestrians, particularly those using buggies, wheeled walking aids and wheelchair users.
  • Vehicles parked on pavements also reduces visibility for residents exiting their driveways.  
  • Reducing visibility and forcing pedestrians to use roads when passing parked cars raises the risk of accidents to an unacceptable level.
  • It is noted that vehicles causing an ‘obstruction’ come under the jurisdiction of the Police, who understandably. have competing priorities for their limited resources. The Police typically require repeated reports and photographic evidence concerning the same vehicle over a number of days before they will consider taking action.
  • It is noted that ‘London Rules’ banning parking on pavements would be helpful but country-wide legislation is held up in Parliament and may not come into effect for many years. Local action is therefore needed

• Parking on Grass Verges. 
  • Routine parking on grass verges eventually destroys the soft landscaping, which was part of the designed streetscape and is valued by many residents.
  • This damage is particularly evident both sides of London Road South between Chiltern Crescent and The Drive. This area has particular problems on Fridays due to worshipers attending the Mosque.
  • Parking on grass verges often reduces visibility for residents exiting their driveways.
  •   It is noted that most verges come under the jurisdiction of Highways, who rarely take action over obstructions on verges, despite assurances given to ACER over planned action.
  • It is noted than banning parking on verges may come under the ‘London Rules’ legislation but this is not certain.
  • Other local authorities have installed flower beds for wild flowers and planted trees on verges which are effective in prevent parking. Both wild flower gardens and tree planting are in accordance with WBC Climate Emergency policies and are within the remit of WBC to implement quickly.

• Vehicles used for commercial gain parking in streets designed for residents and their visitors. 
  • The number of vehicles used for commercial purposes parking in residential roads has markedly increased in recent years.  This includes vans and taxis. 
  • It is noted that this issue was recognised by WBC when the housing estates were built in the Arundel Road area of Woodley, where parking of commercial vehicles was only allowed in driveways and not on the public highway.  This condition is stipulated in the covenants within the respective property deeds.
  • Introduction of Residents Parking Permits may be an answer, as it is in Reading, which limit the number and type of vehicles allowed under the residents parking permits scheme. Parking Permits may not be popular with local residents and must be justified with reasoned argument and listing of alternative options together with their pro’s and con’s, if parking permits are proposed.

• Excessive numbers of parked cars cause single lane traffic.  
  • The sheer number of cars parked nose-to-tail in a typical residential street causes single line traffic flow with very few passing places for vehicles travelling on the same side as the parked cars.  Traffic regularly comes to a halt in rush hours and desperate measures are taken by drivers including driving on pavements and grass verges. 
  • Staggered parking bays would allow oncoming traffic to move into the gaps between parked cars.
  • Staggered bays would also have the advantage of stopping excessive speeding by boy-racers who routinely use the existing straight sections to enjoy the acceleration and exhaust notes of their powerful cars. These drivers have caused serious accidents, and Milton Road/ Erleigh Court Drive roads have had to be closed twice in recent years while emergency vehicles attended to clear the roads, including cutting out an innocent driver whose car was hit by a speeding motorist.
  • Staggered and defined parking bays was the preferred traffic calming measure in an independent survey done in 2003, to which the majority of the residents in Milton Road responded and 40% were in favour of staggered parking bays

• Amendments and Additions to recent Yellow Line Parking Restrictions. Amendments and additions are required to the current yellow lines to:-

1.  Keep additional junctions clear of parked vehicles, particularly Byron Road/Whitegates Lane and Erleigh Court Gardens/ Whitegates Lane junctions. The London Road spur to the Suttons roundabout also gets congested on Fridays, with parked vehicles at the corners obstructing buses entering and leaving the spur to the roundabout.

• To allow safe short-term parking outside the corner shop at the junction of Culver Lane and Palmerstone Road. Double yellow lines limited to 15 metres from the corner would be in accordance with Highway Code rule stating no parking within 10m of a junction.  The remainder of double yellow lines changed to single yellow lines with waiting time limited to 10 minutes at all hours.

• To allow off-peak visitor parking outside corner properties where double yellow lines were painted in July 2022, preventing all visitor parking outside the front of corner properties. Single yellow lines permitting parking outside rush hours in place of the double yellow lines at distances greater than 15m from the corners are requested. The only exception would be at the bottom of Eastcourt Avenue due to buses turning.

• To restrict parking opposite ‘T’ junctions with single yellow lines during rush hours. This would be in compliance with the Highway Code which states vehicles should not be parked opposite T junctions.

• Single yellow line restrictions: No parking between 0730 and 0900 also 1600 to 1800 on single yellow lines Monday to Friday to ensure clear of parked vehicles during rush hours.  Applied to all single yellow locations except outside corner shop.  Corner shop single yellow line restrictions: 10 minutes maximum at all times.