Council Cabinet agrees to plans of £30m investment in roads and pavements and protect resident parking
Havering Council agreed at its Cabinet meeting to deliver one of the biggest investments to local roads and pavements in London.
Extra funding of £30 million over the next three years has been earmarked for road and pavement improvements and is part of the Council’s commitment to create better journeys for residents.
This significant funding to improve what is the second largest highways network in London, will follow the £3.2 million already invested this year. The investment comes in response to residents’ concerns around increased congestion, as well as demands to upgrade road surfaces and fix potholes.
The Council have also agreed to a new parking strategy so Havering can be prepared to meet the challenges of the future of supporting local businesses, more cars and population growth, while at the same time protecting residents parking.
With over 75 percent of households in the borough owning at least one car, the plans include increasing spaces by converting grass verges and consulting on Controlled Parking Zones. There will also be a review of parking prices and better enforcement will take place.
Councillor Osman Dervish, Cabinet Member for Environment, said:
“People told us both in the budget consultation, and in our Residents Survey, that the quality of roads and pavements is a key issue and concern. We have listened to these concerns, which is why we are fixing the problem by prioritising the roads and pavements across the borough that need urgent attention. We also encourage our residents to alert us to potholes.
“Our priority is to make Havering a place that is easy to get around – improving our roads is a big part of that as well as calling for investment in better public transport.
“At the same time we know parking is becoming a real problem for residents, with more cars on our roads and more people using our excellent transport links to London. Although Crossrail has been delayed, this is sure to impact further in the future. This is why we are looking at our parking and making sure it is safeguarded for residents rather than out of town commuters.
“And this is why we are looking at controlled parking zones and increasing parking by doing away with grass verges. We will of course be consulting with residents and business on the parking zones and this will take place early next year.”
The council budget will be approved by Full Council on 21 Feb 2019.