Issue - meetings

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/225

Contact: Geoff Barrell, Developer Schemes Coordinator and 20 Limits Project Manager.

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 14).

To consider proposed 20mph speed limits.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED the following proposals as advertised:

a.    Village wide 20mph speed limit, and

b.    40mph speed limit on the B4017 High Street.

The report presented responses to a statutory consultation on the proposed introduction of 20mph and 40mph speed limits in Steventon as shown in Annexes 1 – 5 of the report.

The existing temporary 20mph and 40mph speed limits were brought in due to ongoing structural issues with the bridge were proposed to be incorporated into the wider proposals as a permanent measure.

The scheme was originally presented to the Chair in February however due to ongoing concerns from the Council’s bus partners decision was deferred to enable further discussion to address the concerns raised.

Following a comprehensive review of the proposals between officers, the Local Member and bus operators, relaxation of the existing proposals was agreed upon.

The Chair invited speakers to address the meeting and responded to the points made.

The Chair thanked the bus company for its instructive and constructive engagement since deferral of this decision in February.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management APPROVED the following proposals as advertised:

a.    Village wide 20mph speed limit, and

b.    40mph speed limit on the B4017 High Street.

Forward Plan Ref: 2022/225

Contact: Geoff Barrell, Principal Engineer, 20mph speed limit project.

Report by Corporate Director Environment & Place (CMDHM 26).

Forms part of Oxfordshire 20mph speed limit project.

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management AGREED to defer a decision to approve the following proposals as advertised pending further discussions:

a)    Village wide 20mph speed limit; and

b)    40mph on the B4017 High Street.

The report presented responses to a statutory consultation on the proposed introduction of 20mph speed and 40mph in Steventon. The existing 20mph and 40mph speed limits on the b4017 high street were brought in due to ongoing structural issues with the bridge are proposed to be incorporated into the wider proposals as a permanent measure.

The Chair invited speakers to address the meeting and responded to the points made in their statements.

The Chair noted that the Oxford Bus Company objected to the proposals. Stagecoach did not operate services in Steventon but also suggested areas where they did not consider 20mph to be appropriate.

The objections and concerns from members of the public were comparable to those expressed and considered in earlier similar schemes and were not seen as warranting a change in those previous proposals. However, the nature of the bus companies’ objections and concerns needed to be considered carefully. The Chair also felt that evidence from the bus companies’ submissions was lacking and thus a decision could not be made. The Chair informed the meeting that he would defer a decision on this matter.

The Cabinet Member informed the meeting that recommendation would be amended to read:

The Cabinet Member for Highway Management AGREED to defer a decision to approve the following proposals as advertised pending further discussions to assess the acceptability of reduced proposals that meet the needs of all parties:

a)    Village wide 20mph speed limit, and

b)    40mph on the B4017 High Street