Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2017/023

Contact: Anthony Kirkwood, Assistant Principal Engineer Tel: (07392318871)

Report by Director for Infrastructure Delivery (CMDE7).

The report presents responses received in the course of a statutory consultation on a proposal to provide a zebra crossing on the B4445 Thame Road just north west of its junction with the B4009 Lower Road and to close the existing junction of Mill Lane with the B4445 and B4009, with a new junction being constructed with the B4445 Thame Road approximately 75 metres north west of the existing crossroads junction of these roads. The proposals have been promoted to accommodate additional transport demands arising from the development of land to the north of Mill Lane and west of Thame Road

The Cabinet Member for the Environment is RECOMMENDED to approve the proposals as advertised.

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Approved

The Leader of the Council considered (CMDE7) responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to provide a zebra crossing on the B4445 Thame Road just north west of its junction with the B4009 Lower Road and to close the existing junction of Mill Lane with the B4445 and B4009. A new junction would be constructed with the B4445 Thame Road approximately 75 metres north west of the existing crossroads junction of these roads. The proposals had been promoted to accommodate additional transport demands arising from the development of land to the north of Mill Lane and west of Thame Road.

Councillor Jeanette Matelot the local member had been unable to attend but had asked that the following comments be considered.  It appeared to her that respondents were generally happy with the zebra crossing although slightly concerned about proximity to bus stops. Although permission has not yet been given for the new road layout it appeared to her that work had already begun on the new route which raised a number of questions:

An alternative roundabout scheme suggested by many of the respondents. seemed to offer an effective solution and she asked if this had been thoroughly investigated as an alternative to the developer funded scheme?

Several of the respondents had expressed concerns regarding school access if this new scheme went ahead. Had those concerns been adequately addressed?

She concluded by saying whichever scheme went ahead, it would have *major* implications on traffic flows and parking in the rest of the village and that perhaps it should be combined with a “holistic” review of the village's needs in order to (a) identify and remove the daily problems that residents had to deal with, without merely exacerbating them; and (b) 'future-proof' the way that the village could accommodate increasing traffic flows and parking needs.

Mr Kirkwood confirmed this was another developer related scheme. The new junction layout had been approved by South Oxfordshire District Council in conjunction with Environment Control and as such was effectively a formality. He confirmed there were no issues with proximity to bus stops and although speed of traffic was high at the edge of the development that had reduced by the crossroads.

Having regard to the arguments and options in the report before him and the representations made to him at the meeting the Leader of the Council confirmed his decision as follows:

to approve as advertised provision of a zebra crossing on the B4445 Thame Road just north west of its junction with the B4009 Lower road and closure of the existing junction of Mill lane with the B4445 and B4009 with a new junction being constructed with the B4445 Thame Road approximately 75 metres north west of the existing crossroads junction of these roads.

Signed……………………………………..

Leader of the Council

Date of signing…………………………..