“This Council is proud to have been part of the East-West rail partnership that will deliver phase 2 of the programme by 2023, linking Oxford to Milton Keynes. This will remove a large number of freight vehicles from the A34 but the road will still be at capacity in places, with substandard lay-by facilities and poor layout of some junctions.
This Council recognises that more work needs to be done to improve capacity and safety on the A34 to avoid the gridlock that frequently happens, causing problems for businesses, commuters, towns and villages along the route as drivers try to find alternate routes.
This Council calls upon the Cabinet Member for Environment to work with Central Government and its agencies to improve the A34.”
Minutes:
With the consent of Council, Councillor Clarke moved and Councillor Emma Turnbull seconded his motion amended at the suggestion of Councillor Emma Turnbull as shown in bold italics and strikethrough below:
“This Council is proud to have been part of the East-West rail partnership that will deliver phase 2 of the programme by 2023, linking Oxford to Milton Keynes. This will remove a large number of freight vehicles from the A34, but the road will still be at capacity in places, with substandard lay-by facilities and poor layout of some junctions.
This Council recognises that more work needs to
be done to improve capacity reduce
congestion and pollution and improve safety on the A34 to avoid the gridlock that
frequently happens, causing problems for businesses, commuters,
towns and villages along the route as drivers try to find alternate
routes.
This Council calls upon the Cabinet Member for Environment to work with Central Government and its agencies to improve the A34, by promoting green transport infrastructure, improving public transport networks, strengthening road safety measures, and transferring freight from road to railway”
Councillor Bob Johnston moved and Councillor John Howson seconded an amendment as shown below in bold italics below:
“This Council is proud to have been part of the East-West rail partnership that will deliver phase 2 of the programme by 2023, linking Oxford to Milton Keynes. This will remove a large number of freight vehicles from the A34, but the road will still be at capacity in places, with substandard lay-by facilities and poor layout of some junctions.
This Council recognises that more work needs to be done to improve capacity and safety on the A34 to avoid the gridlock that frequently happens, causing problems for businesses, commuters, towns and villages along the route as drivers try to find alternate routes.
This Council calls upon the Cabinet Member for
Environment to work with Central Government and its agencies to
improve the A34.and provide alternatives. These could include
the re-opening of the Wantage/Grove station and a feasibility study
into the re-opening of the Didcot to Winchester railway line.
the latter would provide the capacity to take much intermodal
traffic going from Southampton to the midlands off the A34
altogether.”
Following debate, the amendment was put to the vote and was carried by 30 votes to 29 (the Chairman having exercised her casting vote):
The substantive motion as amended was carried unanimously (58 votes to 0).
RESOLVED: (58 votes to 0)
“This Council is proud to have been part of the East-West rail partnership that will deliver phase 2 of the programme by 2023, linking Oxford to Milton Keynes. This will remove a large number of freight vehicles from the A34, but the road will still be at capacity in places, with substandard lay-by facilities and poor layout of some junctions.
This Council recognises that more work needs to be done to reduce congestion and pollution and improve safety on the A34 to avoid the gridlock that frequently happens, causing problems for businesses, commuters, towns and villages along the route as drivers try to find alternate routes.
This Council calls upon the Cabinet Member for Environment to work with Central Government and its agencies to improve the A34, by promoting green transport infrastructure, improving public transport networks, strengthening road safety measures, and transferring freight from road to railway” including providing alternatives. These could include the re-opening of the Wantage/Grove station and a feasibility study into the re-opening of the Didcot to Winchester railway line. the latter would provide the capacity to take much intermodal traffic going from Southampton to the midlands off the A34 altogether.”