Further to Minute 30 of the meeting held on 14 November 2019, the Executive Director of Environment and Neighbourhood Services submitted a report providing the Sub-Committee with the results of the Statutory Consultation on the Wokingham Road Shared Use Bays.  The plans that had been advertised publicly showing the location and detail of the parking proposals were attached to the report at Appendix 1 and the objections and other comments, which had been formally submitted during the consultation period were attached to the report at Appendix 2.

The report explained at the meeting in November 2019 the Sub-Committee had agreed on shared use Resident Permit Parking (Zone 14R)/Pay and Display proposals (and agreed to a tariff) for currently unrestricted bays along Wokingham Road to be publicly consulted.  Following the implementation of the East Reading Study resident permit parking scheme (area 1), these proposals were intended to meet the needs of residents and other establishments by providing additional parking permit bays within the wider scheme area, but also providing flexible parking for visitors throughout the day along with the turnover and relative ease of enforcement that Pay and Display restrictions provided.  The statutory consultation had taken place between 5 and 26 March 2020.

The report recommended that the restrictions should be agreed for implementation, as advertised, particularly in context of the imminent delivery of the second part of the East Reading Resident Parking scheme.  The restrictions would allow free parking, for up to two hours, at any time of the day, which was extendable via a small incremental charge to all visitors.  Those with full or visitor Zone 14R resident parking permits could also utilise these bays for their parking needs.

At the invitation of the Chair Bernadette Cowling, addressed the Sub-Committee on behalf of the Earley Christian Fellowship.

Councillor Page stated that the scheme would continue to be monitored, including feedback from local Ward Councillors, and would be reviewed again in 12 months’ time if need be.

Resolved –

(1)     That the report be noted;

(2)     That having considered the objections set out in Appendix 2, attached to the report, the restrictions be implemented as advertised;

(3)     That the Assistant Director of Legal and Democratic Services be authorised to seal the resultant Traffic Regulation Order and no public inquiry be held into to the proposals;

(4)     That the respondents to the statutory consultation be informed of the decision of the Sub-Committee, following publication of the meeting minutes;

(5)     That the delivery of the resultant restrictions be progressed by officers.