Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2021/

Contact: Tim Shickle, Group Manager – Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07920 591545 / Anthony Kirkwood, Principal Engineer Traffic & Road Safety Tel: 07392 318871

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM6).

The report presents responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to make permanent the provisions of a temporary traffic regulation order (made under the Department for Transport COVID regulations) prohibiting all vehicles using the 50 metre length of the street west of its junction with Cornmarket Street to enable outdoor seating to be provided for the adjacent hospitality businesses. This proposal has been received from Oxford City Council’s Business Liaison Officer at the request of the adjacent businesses with the intention - should the proposal be approved – for the permanent measures to be in force before the expiry of the current temporary order on 3 March 2022. Exemptions to the restrictions would apply to emergency service vehicles and for vehicles requiring access to adjacent premises.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve as advertised the prohibition of all vehicles from its junction with Cornmarket Street westwards for approximately 50 metres but as an experimental rather than permanent order noting the concerns raised.  This would allow potential actions to mitigate the impact of the closure on cyclists to be investigated – as set out in paragraph 12 of the report CMDHM6.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management is RECOMMENDED to approve as advertised the prohibition of all vehicles from its junction with Cornmarket Street westwards for approximately 50 metres but as an experimental rather than permanent order noting the concerns raised. This would allow potential actions to mitigate the impact of the closure on cyclists to be investigated – as set out in paragraph 12

DECISION: To approve the recommendation.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management, Councillor Bearder, considered a report of the Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM6) RECOMMENDING the prohibition of all vehicles from the junction of Cornmarket Street westwards for approximately 50 m but, in response to concerns raised about the proposal, as an experimental order and not a permanent order. It was proposed that, in so doing, this would allow investigation of potential actions to mitigate the impact of the closure might have on cyclists.

The report presented responses received to a statutory consultation on a proposal to make permanent the provisions of a Temporary Traffic Regulation Order prohibiting all vehicles using the 50-metre length of the street west of its junction with Cornmarket Street to enable outdoor seating to be provided for the adjacent hospitality businesses.

This proposal has been received from Oxford City Council’s Business Liaison Officer at the request of the adjacent businesses with the intention - should the proposal be approved – for the permanent measures to be in force before the expiry of the current Temporary Order on 3 March 2022. Exemptions to the restrictions would apply to Emergency Service vehicles and for vehicles requiring access to adjacent premises.

Having heard the presentation by Mr Yee, Councillor Bearder noted it was difficult for cyclists to get across the City and there were only two routes that they could use: the High Street & Queen Street; or Broad Street & George Street, which tended to get blocked off leaving Saint Michael’s Street and Ship Street.

[Councillor Gant subsequently gave a presentation in support of the proposals].

Having carefully considered the report authored by the Director of Growth and Economy; the written representations that had been received in response to the consultation; and the presentations by those persons present at the meeting, either in person or online, Councillor Bearder announced his decision, as follows:

DECISION: to approve the report’s recommendations.

Signed ……………………………………….

Cabinet Member for Highway Management

 Date of Signing …………………………….