HILLINGDON UNITARY DEVELOPMENT PLAN - London Borough ...

COMMERCIAL DEVELOPMENT SCHEMES IN TOWN CENTRES AND OTHER AREAS TO
BE AVAILABLE FOR USE BY THE PUBLIC.
It will seek legally binding agreements with developers to specify the system of management and the times
the spaces are to be made available to the public, and to ensure that the use of such spaces is regulated to
support Council policies contained in this Plan and elsewhere.
AM17 THE COUNCIL WILL, SUBJECT TO THE CONSTRAINTS OF ROAD CAPACITY AND
ITS OBJECTIVE OF REDUCING TRAVEL DEMAND, PROMOTE ADDITIONAL SHORT
STAY OFF-STREET PARKING SPACE FOR TOWN CENTRES, INCLUDING THE
ESTABLISHMENT OF CAR PARKS OUTSIDE TOWN CENTRES LINKED BY PUBLIC
TRANSPORT OR DEDICATED SHUTTLE SERVICES, IN ASSOCIATION WITH MAJOR
DEVELOPMENT PROPOSALS
14.37 The Council is anxious to ensure all car parks used by the public, together with their accesses and
surroundings, in common with other public spaces, are well lit, clean, of good appearance, and maximise
the security of their users. On-street parking control is used to prevent parking which presents safety or
environmental problems or inhibits the movement of pedestrians, wheelchair users and cyclists, the free
flow of the general traffic stream and the safe and convenient operation of buses, especially in the vicinity
of bus stops. Road space in the Borough is most congested during the morning and evening peak hours
when car commuting is highest. The availability of all-day parking in town centres for commuters is a
contributor to peak hour congestion. Such parking is also an inefficient use of parking spaces compared to
the higher turnover associated with short stay shopper parking. The Council will therefore set its charges
for on- and off-street parking spaces under its control to discourage commuter long-stay parking. This
pricing policy will assist the achievement of the objectives for town centres set out in Chapters 8, 10 and
15. It also accords with the Secretary of State's Traffic Management and Parking Guidance which refers to
the use of parking charges as an instrument of local traffic management policy and as a support for land
use, transport, economic and social policies and objectives of the Plan.
Freight
14.38 Most freight is carried by road in this country and road transport fulfils a vital role in servicing
local industry, commerce and retailing. However, many long distance bulk goods such as aggregates are
carried by rail. Efforts to increase the share of other types of freight to be carried by rail and water are
receiving support from Central Government and by the introduction of new freight handling technology.
The availability of freight trains through the Channel Tunnel should promote greater use of rail for freight
movement and the use of canals for freight carriage is being promoted both in the public and private
sectors.
14.39 Lorries experience operational problems resulting from poor road geometry in some parts of the
road network in the Borough. Lorries also cause environmental problems and can intimidate vulnerable
road users, especially children, elderly people and people with disabilities. Where environmental problems
occur in residential areas, weight and width restrictions and traffic calming schemes are used. Access-only
lorry controls have been implemented in the Harefield, South Ruislip, Wood End Green, Kingshill Avenue
areas and in several individual roads throughout the Borough. There are six designated lorry parking areas
in the Borough, but there remains a need for secure lorry parking facilities.
14.40 In order to reduce the number of lorry movements through sensitive environments in the Borough,
the Council has introduced lorry bans relating to both their movements and overnight parking. The
Council's transport strategy acknowledges the conclusion of the Government's Green Paper on Transport
that more efficient practices among fleet operators regarding empty running, re-scheduling deliveries to
off-peak times and improving fuel economy practices hold the best prospects for environmental benefits.
The Council will seek lorry management measures in accordance with road hierarchy and traffic calming
policies where appropriate and when opportunity permits, where sensitive environments require control of
lorry movements or lorry parking. The Council will continue to assess the need for restrictions on lorry
London Borough of Hillingdon Unitary Development Plan