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Report to:
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Lead Member for
Transport and Environment
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Date of
meeting:
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25 October
2021
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By:
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Director of
Communities, Economy and Transport
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Title:
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Proposed installation
of an advisory disabled parking bay – James Avenue,
Herstmonceux
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Purpose:
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To consider the
objections received to the proposed installation of an advisory
disabled bay.
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RECOMMENDATIONS:
The Lead Member is
recommended to: -
(1)
Note the concerns
raised by the objectors; and
(2)
Approve the
installation of an advisory disabled parking bay
1
Background Information
1.1.
In areas not covered by formal parking restrictions, disabled
parking bays are provided in line with adopted County Council
Policy No PS05-11. This policy was approved by the Lead Member for
Communities and Safety at their meeting on 16 March 2018 and is
attached as Appendix 1.
1.2. The provisional cost of the
advisory disabled bay is approximately £250 and will be met
from existing revenue budgets.
2 Supporting
Information
2.
2.1.
An application for an on-street disabled parking bay was received
from a resident of James Avenue in Herstmonceux on 23 April 2021.
The application was assessed against the relevant policy criteria
and the application was successful.
2.2.
Due to the nature of the area, the closest and most suitable place
to site a disabled parking bay is on the north-west side of the
road outside No. 33 James Avenue. Due to the narrow width of James
Avenue parking can only take place on one side of the road and
there is also a turning circle at the north-eastern end with
private accesses which further restricts available parking. The
proposed bay would be installed adjacent to the existing advisory
disabled parking bay in James Avenue in order to maximise available
space for other vehicles. Whilst a disabled bay can be used by any
vehicle displaying a valid blue badge, the existing disabled bay
was provided for a different resident. Further investigations have
confirmed that it is still required by the original applicant.
2.3.
James Avenue is a residential area with few properties in this
section having off-street parking facilities. There are no parking
restrictions. The trend of parking in this section of James Avenue
is on the north-west side of the road. Appendix 2 shows the
proposed location of the disabled parking bay, the location of the
existing disabled parking bay and site photographs of the
area.
2.4.
In line with our working practice, consultation with the affected
residents was carried out. This involved consulting with one
property. The resident of this property
has informed other residents of the proposals and we have then
received comments from three further properties, all stating they
are against the proposal. A summary of the objections with
comments by the Local Traffic and Safety Officer can be found at
Appendix 3. Full copies of the objections are available in the
Members’ Room.
2.5.
Section 149 of the Equality Act 2010 also provides that a public
authority must, in the exercise of its functions “have due
regard to the need to” among other things, “advance
equality of opportunity between persons who share a relevant
protected characteristic and persons who do not share it”.
This involves having due regard to the need to “take steps to
meet the needs of persons who share a relevant protected
characteristic that are different from the needs of persons who do
not share it”. Section 149(4) states how this applies
specifically to the treatment of disabled persons and provision for
steps to take account of disabled persons' disabilities.
2.6.
The need for a disabled parking bay on traffic management grounds
was established by the local Traffic and Safety Officer. This was
supported by the information given in the initial application from
the applicant.
3 Conclusion
and Reasons for Recommendations
3.
3.1.
The need for a disabled bay has been identified through site
assessments and supported by information provided by the applicant,
who meets all of our criteria requirements as set out in our
policy.
3.2.
The requirements of Policy PS05-11 have been met in this case and
it is recommended that the disabled parking bay is provided in line
with this policy.
Director of Communities, Economy
and Transport
Contact Officer: Clare
Akehurst
Tel. No. 01323 463402
Email: clare.akehurst@eastsussex.gov.uk
LOCAL
MEMBERS
Councillor
Bowdler
BACKGROUND
DOCUMENTS
None